Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1878-04-11

C0NSTANTlNOPLE.

At this moment, when the attention
of all nations is concentrated upon the
Turkish capital, whatever information
can be impaired to the public regard
ing that city cannot fail to be of in
terest. James Bryce has just published
a book from which we gather some very
striking facts. COnstantinople is stu
ated on the great commercial highway
which connects the Black Sea with the
Mediterranean, and separates Europe
from Asia, thus at once commanding
two seas and two continents. All the
marine trade, both export and import,
of the vast territories which are 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 its walls.
| When the neighbOring countries are
opened up by railways it will be the
centre from which lines will radiate
over European Turkey and Asia Minor
| With foot, so to speak, on each con-
tinent, the power that possesses it can
transfer troops or merchandise at will
from the one to the other, and can pre-
Consider also how strong it is against
attack. 1t is guarded on both sides by
long and narrow strait-to the north
east the Bosphorus, and to the south
west the Dardanelles, each Of which
can, bytheerection of batteries. possibly
by the laying down OF torpedoes, be
easily rendered impregnable to naval
force. For the BOsphorus, as is gener-
ally known, is fifteen miles long, with
bold rocky hills on either side, and a
channel which is not only winding but
is nowhere over two miles. and in some
places scarcely halfa mile, wide. And it
possesses splendid harbor, land-locked,
tIdelesS, and with water deep enough
to float the largest vessels On the
land side it is scarcely less defensible,
being covered by an almost continuous
line of hills, lakes and marshes, with a
comparatively narrow passage through
them, which offers great advantage for
the erection Of Notifications. There is
no other such site in the world for an
imperial city. In other respects it is
equally fortunate. Although the eli
mate is very hot in Summer, and pretty
keen III Winter, it is agreeable for the
air is kept deliciously fresh 10y the
seldom falling breeZes that blow down
from the Euxlne or up from the Hgean
Sea, and the sea itself is great purifier.
Though there IS no tide, there is swift
current sweeping down into the Sea of
MarmOra and the Mediterranean.
current at one point so strong that
boats have to be tOWed up along the
shore, which carries off whatever is
thrown into the water. So, though it
is one Of the dirtiest towns iii the East,
it is one Of the most healthy.
After showing the impress which
Greek, Roman and Asiatic influences
have left on the city, Mr.. Bryce pro-
ceedS to give some notion of its struc-
ture and aspect. 1t consists of three
main divisions. First, there's the oldcity
the city of Constantine, which the Turks
now call STEAMBOAT, lying between the
Golden Horn and the Sea Of Marmora,
and narrowing down to a point of land,
the point which was the site of the first
N1eessrian colony and which marks the
entrance from the sea into the long
strait of the Bosphorus. Secondly,
over against STEAMBOAT, on the other
side of the Golden Horn, is Galata-a
long, low, dirty district, running along
the waters edge, and full OF Greek
sailors and bad smells. Behind and
above Galata, rising up the steep hill,
is the quarter called Peru, where Euro
peans of the better sort live and all the
European shops are to be found. The
third and last division is in Asia, on
the further side Of the Bosphorus, OPP
posite both STEAMBOAT and Galata, and
consists of series of towns, the chief
of which is Scutari, forming an almost
continuous line of houses along the
shore, and virtually part of the great
city though separated by more than
mile of Whitewater which is some
times so rough that the steamer cannot
cross.
COnstantinople is a city not of one