The San Francisco call., 1896-09-22

appearance. They fully appreciate their
situation, and recognize the inHpossibllity
on the part of the few war vessels now IN
port of protecting and sheltering the Brit
ish subjects, to say nothing of the Ameri-
cans and others who have no refuge IN
the shape of man-of- war present.
OF the 100000 or 100000 people in the
cities and towns about the Golden Horn
little over so per cent are Turks, or rather
Mohammedans. Greeks and Armenians
come next in mum bers, about 10000 each.
and the balance is made up of Circassians
and other Asiatics-Jews, Albanians, Bull
garians, etc. There are comparatively few
Western Europeans and Americans among
the number. All these, with few excep-
tions, reside IN Pera and transact their
business in Galata, and when occasion re-
ouires in Stamboul. Formerly the Eu-
ropeans all resided IN Slamboul, but when
the several embassies led by the. British,
one after another. moved across the water
and located permanently on the hills OF
Pera the members of the various nation
alities followed them and have built up
city as unique in character and customs
as is to be found in the world. The archi-
lecture is essentially European, but it is
ike 10 ObneT Clig III
With the exodus of the English and
others to Pera Stamboul was no longer
the center of the trade incident to their
presence. This gradually followed them
across the bridge to Galata, on the slope of
the hill crowned by Pera. In time the
two cities grew into one, as it were, and
now number together over $4,000 people.
Pera is the residence part and seat OF
diplomacy and Galata the commercial
part. In Galata are the various shipping
houses, the Ottoman and other banking
institutions, most of the foreign con-
sulates and hospitals, postcffices, ETC.,
with some churches and schools The
business quarter, in which nearly all the
Europeans are engaged, lies mainly few
blocks on either side of the main street
leading right up from the outer bridge
pas the tower of Galata and joins the
grand Rue de Pera at the brow of the hill.
a line OF streetcars starts from the Otto
man Bank and runs up the hill through
Pera, on out to the suburbs. The short
est route down the hill from the principal
part of Pera, however, is through the
tunnel, several hundred yards long,
which begins some distance below the
Russian Embassy and terminates Just be-
low the Ottoman Bank.
Pera is, as it were, entirely surrounded
by Turks. On the northeast is Taksim,
east is Fundukli and Tapkhani, on the
west Cassimpacha, Husa-kini and others,
and on the south and through which the
only available routes to the landing
places lie is Galata, which, as far as the
residents are concerned, is as Turkish al
most as STAN ho1l ifseIf
In case OF trouble passage through
Galata from Pera would be impossible for
unarmed men and women and children,
and sailors and marines from such war
vessels as are now present would find
much difficulty and serious delay in pass
ing up to Pera. The ground around the
various embassies are extensive and sur
rounded by strong walls, and the build
ings are substantial and large stone
structures. These would afford a tenn
porary refuge in case of sudden out
break.
Out the Rue de Pera, in Taksim and
near the Italian and German embassies, is
the artillery barracks, and in care of any
other soldiers would be guarantee OF pro-
lection to the Perites, but being Turks
there is no counting on them or on their
officers