The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1889-07-26
ON THE ROSPhORuS.
Extraordinary Beauties of the Sail De
scribed BY n Traveller.


Extraordinary Beauties of the Sail De
scrbed BY Traveller.
wish it were within the compass oil
a letter to fully describe our trip up
the Bosphorus. AS we slowly sailed
through its serpentine channel | had
ample opportunity. partly by night
and partly by day, to contemplate the
grandeur and beauty of it's unrivaled
scenery. Nature has been particularly
prodigal in the disposition and forma-
ton of these glorious shores. High
hills and rugged promontories succeed
one another with beautiful variety,
and present scenes that beggar de-
scription. Either shore is covered
with continuous villages. splendid
gardens, gorgeous and most fantastic
palaces, many of which are appro-
priated to Sultanas or ladies of the
imperial family. Majestic groves of
chestnut, oak, platane and numerous
fragrant trees spread their outrageous
branches and embalm the air far and
wide; while roses, myrtles, arbutus,
frankincense and an immense variety
of other plants and flowers, with which
nature has so literally hedecked
these woodland scenes, enrich these
lovely shores and transform them into
veritable terrestrial paradise.
Right opposite the Castle of Europe,
also called the fortress of Moham-
med, or Prison of the Janissaries," one
commands most glorious view of
Constantinople. The great Seraglio.
the majestic church of Ais Sofia ST.
Sophie), with the magnificent temples
of the successive Sultanas, the
light and Enthusiastically construct
ed palaces which garland both
the European and Asiatic shores of the
BOsphOrus. complete a panorama of
unequaled grandeur and magnificence.
Casting parting glance at the lovely
and ever-tO-be-remembered city of the
Sultan | babe a last farewell to Istam-
boul Effendi, which a sharp bend of
the BosphOrus, soon after screened
from our sight.
The image of this parting scene had
scarcely vanished when another no less
enchanting gradually evolved itself
before our eyes. THE Sweet Waters
Of ASIA" shouted the "Arnoout" or
Turkish boatman, and five or six of
our Mussulman travelling companions
babe us goodbye and swiftly rowed
towards the shore. The valley of the
''Guink Suy," or of the Sweet Waters,
is the most fashionable and delightful
resort of the Mussulman "grand
monde" This lovely spot. shut in on
three sides by lofty hills, is covered
with the most luXuriant vegetation.
The stretch of turf on which the ladies
spread their carpets, drive their ara
has and spend the long summer days,
gently and gradually slopes towards
the Bosphorus, only partially screened
from view by a thinly wooded lawn of
trees, shrubs and flowers. This charm
ing nook, with it's background of hills
affords one of the prettiest coups d'oeil
that can be imagined. Here the wives
of the effendis, of the beys,
the emirs and the pashas. with
their sisters and daughters, find
Their pastime in driving about the
spacious lawns and smoking their de-
licious chibouks; Or. spreading their
carpets and their crimson rugs, group
together to gossip, sip their sweet
sherbets and enjoy their watermelOnki
1t is from the Bosphorus that one can
see the ladies of the harems really at
home, adjusting their yashmaks and
head-dresses with the assistance of a
hand mirror held by a black slave,
who kneels at the edge of the carpet.
These hand mirrors are the prettiest
toys imaginable, and the taste dis
played in their decorations proves
their great Importance in the eyes of
an Oriental beauty, of whom it is a
constant travelling companion.
Leaving these blessed houris in the
midst of their enjoyment and happi
ness, we soon entered the waters of the
Black Sea, which. by the by, are not
black, but rather blue. Three hours
after doubling Cape Sinope, which
from the sea looked like a giants
head. we obtained the first glimpse of
the whitewashed houses of Trebizond,
which. clustered in groups on the sides
of the well-timbered hills with snow
capped crests, seemed from distance
so many focks of sheep grazing on the
green and picturesque Asiatic slopes
Two hours later we landed at Batoum,
but as it was dark | could form no
opinion of the place. N. Y. Mail
and Express.