The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-05
FORElGN TRAYE.

travel, and will, therefore, resume my
narrative at the time OF our departure
from Athens, trusting to the probabili-
ty that you will derive the story from
Athens from another source.
We retraced our way from Athens
and the Piraas to Syria by the same
steamer on which we came, for this is
| voyage that has no connection with
Others. The steamers to and from the
parts east and south from here, of the
Austrian Lloyd Line, transfer their
passengers at Syria. We changed
from the little Cteamer that runs be-
tween Syria and Piraas to one of the
best class of the line, on which to
proceed to Constantinople. At four
O'Clock on the second morning a gun
upon our ship announced that we were
opposite Dardanelles. The firing of
this gun is the only formality required
OF this line, while all others must come
to anchor, and be subjected to ipspec-
ton by the health officers. We had al
ready passed the Archipelago, and
were passing through the narrow wa
tiers and the sea of Marmon during the
day. Late in the afternoon the tow
ers and minarets of ConstantinopIe
were in view, but it was after twilight
had passed that We came to anchor
within the harbor of Constantinople,
which is commonly known as the
Golden Horn.
Constantinople is unlike any other
city in its general form and in the ar
rangement of its streets. 1t is said to
be no less than twenty-five miles
along the shore, from its commence
meat, near the upper termination of
the sea of Marmora, along the Golden
Horn and the Bosphorus. The most
remarkable feature of the city is found
In Its many Mosques and Minerets.
Our landing was delayed until morn
ing, as no persons are permitted to go
on shore who arrive after the light of
day has passed. Our party of sixteen
persons landed at the Custom House,
and were speedily passed, which was
accomplished by the skillful use of
little backshosh by our Syrian man
ager. The party needs walk a mile to
the hotel, while the baggage was con-
veyed upon the backs of faithful port
ers. The word "faithful" is employed
In its truest sense, for these sons of
toll are said to be the most faithful
and trustworthy class of persons to be
found in Constantinople.
Our first day was employed in view
ing the Mosques and public buildings,
for they were to be closed to christians
or others than Mohammedans on the
following morning, and not to be
opened again during our sojourn. The
Mosque of Saint Sophia is the most at
tractive, both on account of its canon
of architecture and the massiveness of
the structure. But we Visited three
others, among which was the little
Mosque of the deceased Sultan Moham-
med, where his body is deposited in q
rich carpet, surrounded by railing of
silver. This Mosque is situated on the
grounds of the Saraglia, and around
the large covert are buildings, with
high windows, where his many wives
or widows remain, unseen and seclud-
ed from a view of the outer world.
We assembled an ancient tower,
which is now occupied by firemen, and
serves as a watch tower, from which a
view of the whole city and its sur
roundings is readily obtained. We
discovered that Constinople is built
along the water, and does not in any
place extend but short distance back.
Its population of less than hundred
thousand is distributed along the shore
and extends through its meanderings
for a distance of less than twenty-five
miles, including the shores of the Sea of
Marmora, Golden Horn and the BOs-
| phorus.
One day was occupied in an excur-
sion up the Bosphorus to its junction
with the Black sea. From our last
landing place we had a view OF it's
dark waters and of ships coming in,
driven by q swift wind. A portion of
our party had intended to cross the
Bosphorus and ascend the Giants
mountain, in order to obtain better
view of the Black sea, but a shower
which came upon US on the short pass
age deferred them from this purpose.
On our way back we called at the lit
tie village of Huzzar, in order to visit
Robert College, an institution which
was founded by a citizen of the United
States. We found in this place, and
surrounded by population OF Turks,
an institution of learning that would
be credit to any country. There are
eighteen teachers, of all grades, seven
of whom were from the United States,
and the number of regular pupils was
about two hundred and fifty. They
have a good supply OF chemical and
philosophical apparatus and a cabin
ct of natural historic specimens. The
department of natural science is in
charge of Rev. DR.. Long, from the
Methodist Theological Seminary of
Boston. The college building is situa-
ted upon high bluff, which overlooks
the Bosphorus and the hills of Asia
upon the opposite shore. A short dis
taEce in rear Of the college grounds is
large esta blishment of one of the or
ders of the Deroishes, of which there
are about seventy. These people are
followers of Mohammed, although they
are not held in high esteem by the Mo-
hammedans. OF the Deroishes 1 have
observed that their orders are distin-
guished representatives of Downing,
Howling, and Whirling. The last are
the only kind I have had an opportu-
nifty to observe while engaged in their
performances, and it seemed the most
unmeaning affair, as q religious cere-
mSny, that can be conceived of. After
variety of marches, prostrations and
thwarts they almost simultaneously
commenced whirling, like a top, and
their motion became so rapid as to
cause their sheet to extend out for
some distance.
This old city has not been subjected
to much of the influence of modern inn