New-York tribune., 1878-02-15
sTAMBOUL AND THE DARDANELLEs.

THE POSITION, IMPORTANCE, AND GENERAL ASPECT
OF CoYsTANTfNoPLE-IHE DEFRNCEs OF TIE
DARDANELLEs
At this moment, when the attention of Eu-
rope is concentrated the Turkish capital the infor
nation given by the English writer James Bryce,
gardng that city, is peculiarly interesting Constant
nopc he says, book just published by the Harpers'
il on the great highway which connects the Black Sea
with the Mediterranean and separates Europe from
Asia Thus it commands at two seas and two con-
nents Ali the marine trade both export and import.
OF the vast territories which arc drained
by the Danube and the great rivers OF
Southern Russia, as well as that OF the
North coast Of Asia Minor and OF those rich Eastern
lands that lie around the Caspian must pass under It's
walls. When the neighbOring countries arc opened up
by railways it will be the centre IRON which lines VII
radiate European Turkey and Asia Minor. with
foot speak, each continent, the Power that pos
1t can transfer troops OF merchandise at MI from
doing TneD consider how strong IS against attack
IL is guarded both SIDES by long and narrow strait
10 the n. Z. the Bosphorus, ana 10 tbe .. W the
Dardanees-each of which can. by the erection OF bat
rendered mpre gnabe to naval force For the BOsphor
us, is generally known. Is hftcen miles ohg WIN
bold rocky hills either side, and channel which Is
not only winding but Is no where over TWO lhiies anu III
places scarcely half mile vide Andit possesses
a splendid harbOT laDdl0cked tdeess ana with water
sde is scarcely less de'ensbe being covered by an
almost continuous line OF hills lakes and marshes, with
a cOmparaty yely narrow passage through them, which
offers advantage for the erection OF fortcaions
city. In other respects 1t is equally fortunate. Although
the climate Is hot in Summer, and pretty Keen In
Winter II Is agreeable for the air Is Kept declOusy
fresh by the seldom falling breezes that blow
down from the Euxine up from the /Egean
sea, and the itself is great purifier.
Though there Is no tide, there is swift current sweep
ing down into the Sea of MaTmora the
an AT point strong that boats have to be
towed along the shore, which carries off whatever is
thrown INTO water &c. though Is OF the drtiest
towns in the East, it is OF the healthy After
showing the impress which Greek, Roman, and Asiatc
Influences have left the city, Mr. Brice proceeds
give notion OF It's structure and aspect Ii consists
of three main divisions First there Is the old city, the
CIV of Constantine which the Turks call stambOul,
living between Golden Horn and the sea OF Marnora,
and narrowing down TO point OF land, the point which
Was the oite OF the FIST Megarian colony, and
which marks the entrance from inc sea mo
the Ion strait OF the Bosphofus secondly over against
STEAMBOAT, on the other side OF the Golden Horn, is
Galata-a long low dirty district running along tlc
waters edge, aud full OF Greek sailors ana Dad sihes
quarter called Pera, where Europeans Oh l.e
better live, and all the European shops are 70
be found The third and last division is n ASA on te
further side OF the BOsphorus, opposite D0th siapo
and Galat consists OF series OF towns the chei OF "cn
is scutari forming almost continuous line OF houses
though separated by more than mile OF water wafer
which sometimes rough that the steamers cannon
cross ~, -.
Constantinople is q city not OF one nation, but OF
MANY and hardly more Of one than Of another The In
babtants are not less than 100000 100000, and OF
these about half rather over half are Moham
nedans. This half lives mostly In stambonl proper ana
in Scutar while Pera, Galata and kadikenl tChalce-
don are left 10 Christians. Nearly equal In numbers
TO The M0hammedane are the Turkish Chrlsuans,
Greeks, Armenans, and Bulgariais. The Armenlans
seem to be the most numerous (they are SAID 10 Do