Veu. 23, 1857.] IN ASIA MINOR. 303 



the capital, in time of peace, as well as of war, by means of an 

 internal communication, plentiful supplies of corn, provisions, and 

 wood, independently of the customary arrivals from the Black Sea 

 and the Mediterranean. 



The idea of connecting the Black Sea and the Gulf of Nicomedia 

 through the lake Sabanja was again taken into consideration during 

 the reign of Sultan Mahmoud, of glorious memory ; but it seems 

 that a certain Osman Effendi represented that the establishment of 

 this system of canals might facilitate the entrance of a hostile 

 fleet from the Black Sea into the Sea of Marmora, or even 

 military operations against the capital; and these considerations 

 were amongst the principal causes of the last abandonment of this 

 great and noble enterprise. 



The danger is altogether imaginary. The undersigned has 

 travelled through the provinces of Niceea, Nicomedia, &c., and he is 

 firmly convinced that no hazard to Constantinople can arise from 

 the canalisation in question. It is not intended to establish a 

 water communication for ships of the line and frigates, but rather 

 for coasting vessels and small steamboats ; and thus to provide for 

 the capital all the advantages of an extensive internal navigation, 

 and a means for the continual and eheap supply of wheat, barley, 

 straw ; wood for fuel, carpentry, and shipbuilding ; charcoal, and 

 other articles of daily consumption. 



The country around the Lake of Sabanja, and all along the river 

 Sakaria both upwards and downwards, is remarkably rich in timber 

 and vegetation, and is capable of the highest culture. Though even 

 at present in a very satisfactory and prosperous condition, its pro- 

 ductive powers are susceptible of very great augmentation. It is 

 superfluous to add, that the city of Nicomedia, and the public 

 establishments already existing or to be founded there, would 

 derive considerable advantages from the canals indicated. It may, 

 besides, be considered certain that the tolls to be paid by vessels, 

 as well as the augmentation of the public revenues, and of the value 

 of the forests and other state property in the province of Nicomedia 

 alone, would pay the most liberal interest for the capital expended 

 on the hydraulic works. 



What has been stated as to the advantages off'ered to Constanti- 

 nople and the province of Nicomedia, relative to the supply of 

 provisions to the capital by means of an internal communication, 

 will also apply nearly in an equal degree to the country around the 

 Lake of Nicasa. The distance from the Lake of Nicaea to the Gulf 

 of Gemlik is nearly the same as that from Lake Sabanja to the 

 Gulf of Nicomedia, with the difference, however, that there already 



