Daily Honolulu press. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1886, 1885-09-25

knowing Capt. Holland to be within
100 miles outside of port"
nstantimopfe, the Queen of tho Lcvant
The lecture last evening by Major
Dane in the hall Of the Y. M. c. A.
building was listened to by a large
audience, and was most interesting
and vivid description of the ancient
city of Constantinople and its surround
ings.
The lecturer prefaced his description
by stating that visit to the "Queen of
the Levant" had been looked forward
to by him with intense longing for
years and that when he at last ap-
preached it from the sea and found it
hid in smooth dense fog he was
inclined to do what all now do when
they are not thinking that is-grum-
Bile.
However, the fog melted away as the
steamer neared the harbor, one minaret
after another appearing above the
vapor, and then the domes of the
mosques, and finally the whole vener-
able and picturesque CITY lay before
him, seated, like Rome upon seven
hills.
There were the great palaces, the
domed churches and other massive
buildings, behind and about which dark
expresses stood in solemn groves. One
felt that beneath those funereal trees
dark deeds had been done. One
recalled the assassinations upon assas-
sinations which the history of the city
was full of, until it seemed as though
the view charmed one like glittering
serpent, repelling yet fascinating
At the hour at which the steamer
dropped her anchor, 6 A. NJ, there rang
from many minarets throughout the
city the call to prayer "Allah II Allah
God is great "Come to prayer
Prayer is better than food-God is
good--Come to prayer" Five times
each day this call is repeated, and each
time all good Mussulmen kneel in
prayer.
The speaker described how from the
swarm of boats of every shape and size
that surrounded the steamer one can
select the one that bears the name of
the hotel one is bound to, and how the
traveller surrenders himself and his
baggage to the care Of the porter in
the boat and is taken to the custom
house and afterwards up steep, narrow
streets, that make up in length what
they look in width, until safely lodged
in his hotel in that part of the city
called Para, where we foreigners live
Stamboul is the home of the Mussul-
men, Para, that of the Americans,
Greeks, Arabs, and foreigners"
Many sketches were given of street
vendors of all kinds, of goods and eat
ables, and the peculiarities of the dog
of Constantinople were depicted in a
vivid manner. To them, aided by the
daily breeze from the Bosphorus and
its flowing stream, Constantinople owes
what it possesses of cleanliness and
health.
After looking about him in the Hotel
the lecturer took his audience into the
streets where every variety of tongue is
heard and costume SEEM 1t is a
PECULIARLY of the Eastern brain that it
can acquire languages with ease and
everybody speaks from five to fifteen.
From one Of the two lofty fire towers
the grandest view is obtained Of the
city, its environs, and the Bosphorus,
fiften miles long withseven promontories
on one side and seven on the other,
and on its bosom lay nineteen iron
clads, black powerful engines of wal
and destruction.
The lecturer had the honor of meet
ing Osman Pasha who, as Commander
of the Turkish Army, made the tre'
mendous defense at Plevna, and also
Hobart Pasha, the chief naval officer OF
Turkey, with the first he attended a
grand military review, and with the
latter visited the iron-clad squadron
in the harbor.
A glowing description was given OF
the contents of the great Treasury
filled with gold and precious stones-ol
the magnificent palaces and superb
mosques, the language used by the
lecturer recalling the pages of the
Arabian Nights.
The concluding remarks having re.
ference to the present and future con
dition of the Mussulman Turk were
full of interest, and we regret that our
available space will not permit us to
give more than this too brief synopsis
of the lecture. 1t extended over an
hour and half and was full of interest
throughout.