352 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



current rushing so angrily by them. Tall window- 

 frames of intricate wood-work, into which tiny frag- 

 ments of painted glass are fastened, pierce the sides 

 of the houses. As you glide under them a casement 

 is run up, and a light floating cloud of white muslin 

 gauze betokens the presence of some carefully barred- 

 in, secluded inmate of a harem. Whether the " sweet 

 soul that breathes beneath " the cloud is passing fair 

 or the contrary, young or aged, it is impossible for 

 mortal eye to distinguish. But, of course, your innate 

 gallantry inclines you to invest the mysterious ap- 

 parition with all the bloom and with all the charms 

 of youth and extreme beauty. On the flat terraced 

 roofs a few figures veiled from head to foot, shapeless 

 forms of blue drapery, are moving about, engaged 

 apparently in various domestic occupations. You 

 silently wonder how woman so disguised can make 

 use of either hand or foot at least to any purpose. 

 In a shady verandah overhanging the waters is a fat 

 Turk, resting his august person on piles of silk cush- 

 ions, and motionless as a statue. A crowd of white- 

 robed menials stand near ; and the only thing moving 

 about the group is a wreath of blue smoke, curling up- 

 ward from the fragrant latakia, kindling in a pipe- 

 bowl. The domes of mosques and graceful tapering 

 minarets some ruined, some brilliant with gold-leaf 

 and porcelain rise from the sea of flat-roofed houses 

 around. Away to the left, appearing from behind the 

 mud-bank of a canal, is a curious-shaped building, 



