CONSTANTINOPLE. 





Constant: 

 nople. 



tions of the ancients, which is in every respect both 

 more luxuriant and refreshing. The fountains are 

 low square buildings, with leaden roofs. They are, in 

 general, profusely covered with gilding and a variety 

 of colours, and inscribed with verses. * 



The bazars of Constantinople are very extensive, 

 and form numerous streets, where articles of every 

 description are daily exposed to sale. They consist 

 of lofty cloisters, built of stone, and lighted by 

 domes, which are admirably adapted for the climate, 

 and in summer afford a cool and pleasant retreat. 

 Every trade has its particular quarter ; and each 

 dealer has a small shop in front, with a room behind 

 for his wares. In one street, nothing is to be seen 

 but arms of different kinds; another is filled with 

 jewels, diamonds, and precious stones ; some are lined 

 with India stufTs, with brocade of ' silver and gold, 

 while others are set apart for Egyptian minerals and 

 drugs ; or for booksellers, who have always on sale an 

 excellent assortment of Arabic, Turkish, and Persian 

 MSS. Whole streets are occupied by shoemakers, fur- 

 riers, pipe-makers, cooks, or confectioners, &c. each 

 being confined to its distinct district. The different 

 trades are also appropriated to different nations ; and 

 each has the proper costume of his respective country 

 or profession, which forms a curious and almost infi- 

 nite variety of dress and appearance. t Every evening 

 the bazars are shut at an early hour, and no one is a£ 

 lowed to remain but the guard. There are also khans, 

 or hotels, built of stone, and fire proof, where mer- 

 chants, from all quarters of the empire, who travel with 

 caravans, find ample accommodation both for them- 

 selves and their merchandise. The Avret bazars, or 

 woman-market, is held in an inclosed court, surround- 

 ed with a cloister and small apartments. Here female 



are always shut after sun-set, except the one leaning to Cnnstantf- 

 Peva, which is opened at almost any hour of the night, wyple. 

 for the accommodation of the Franks, Avho annually T*™* 

 pay a small sum to the chief of the guard for this pri- 

 vilege. Pera stands immediately above Galata, and 

 stretches for more than two miles along the summit of 

 a lofty hill. The houses, with a few exceptions, are 

 built of wood and unburnt bricks. The streets, in ge- 

 neral, intersect each other, and are narrow, ill paved, 

 and irregularly buHt. The air, however, is uncom- 

 monly healthy, the prospect delightful, and the town 

 is well supplied with water. Pera has long been ap- 

 propriated for the residence of the corps diplomatique* 

 from the different nations of Europe, who have each of 

 them a palace here ; and the inhabitants are judged by 

 the laws, or the ambassador of the nation that protects 

 them. Formerly no person was allowed to build or to 

 reside here, unless such as were attached to these mis- 

 sions ; but of late it has become the abode of the most 

 wealthy of the Greeks and Armenians, who find them- 

 selves more at liberty here, and less exposed to exac- 

 tions and insults, than under the government of the 

 Turks. Scutari, the ancient Chrysopolis, which lies- 

 on the Asiatic side of the channel, is also considered a 

 suburb of Constantinople. It is situated on a sloping- 

 ground, and has a very picturesque appearance, from 

 the mixture of trees, houses, mosques, and minarets. 

 It serves at present as a rendezvous and an emporium 

 to the caravans of Asia; but it is chiefly distinguished 

 for its extensive burying grounds, which are the hand- 

 somest in the Ottoman empire, both from the luxury 

 of the tombs, and the height and closeness of the trees. 

 These cemeteries extend for some miles on the east and 

 south of the town, towards the sea. The rich Turks of 

 Constantinople prefer this spot to any on the European 



slaves, trom different countries, are publicly exposed side, from the belief, which seems to be very generally 

 e every Friday morning. Those from Egypt 



and Abyssinia are generally purchased for domestic 

 purposes ; while the Georgians and Circassians are re- 

 served for the seraglio, or the harems of the opulent, 

 and are usually sold for several thousand piastres. 



The suburbs of Constantinople, which are very ex- 

 tensive and populous, stretch chiefly towards the north 

 beyond the harbour. Of these, the principal are Ga- 

 lata, Pera, and Scutari. Galata, which lies on the 

 W&ter side, was built by a colony of Genoese, who, in 

 1261, obtained from the Greek emperors the privilege 

 of being governed by their own magistrates ; and this 

 colony increased so rapidly in commercial consequence, 

 that, before the conclusion of a century, they extorted 

 from Michael Paleologus the liberty of surrounding 

 their city with a strong wall. They soon afterwards 

 became the most determined enemies of the empire, 



entertained among them, that their capital will one 

 day be regained by the Christians ; and, consequently, 

 they wish to escape the disgrace of having their ashes 

 trodden on by the infidels. To these may be added 

 Tophana, or the* cannon foundery, which lies on the 

 north side of the harbour, near Pera, and opposite to 

 the seraglio; and the village of Eyub, which recei- 

 ved its name from Eyub, or Job, the standard-bear- 

 er of Mahomet, who was killed in the first siege of 

 Constantinople by the Saracens; and to whose me- 

 mory Mahomet II. having discovered the place of his 

 sepulture by a revelation, erected a mausoleum and 

 mosque. 



The environs of Constantinople, except on the shores Environs. 

 of the channel, exhibit, in general, nothing but na- 

 ked and waste lands, without verdure or inhabitants. 



Though the soil is every where adapted for various 

 ana are supposed to have afforded assistance to the kinds of corn and fruits, yet cultivation is almost en- 

 J. inks m tne last siege of Constantinople. The walls tirely neglected, and horticulture scare 



rcely known. Tin- 

 Greeks have attempted to sow some of these waste 

 lands, and have been repaid with most abundant crops; 

 but unless the government take some more effectual 

 measures for repressing the devastations and pillage of 

 the Turks, and of securing to the agriculturists the 

 product of their industry, this good example will be 

 but slowly imitated. On the banks of the channel, 



lenvJiu-? n'rw'^'T or /' onstantin0 ! ) le- composed about a century after its foundation, there are enumerated, a capital or school of 

 four naciLThl.,: V™.^^* "** ' ,ubIic ' and 153 P" vat « hath3 > J2 l'o" icos . 5 gMnorira, 8 aqueducts or reservoirs of water, 

 I ac<ou halls f or the me e tl ng of the senate or courts of justice, 14 churches. 14- palaces, and 4388 houses, which, for their size 

 + A- P .„ ■ be .? ,s i| n g--'shed from the multitude of plebeian habitations. Gibbon's Roman. Empire, vol. iii. p. 20. 



nation- hES '" T ™? ]s '™ the Mt >«*, &<=■ has given a list of the arts and trades carried on in Constantinople, with the 

 nations Dy whom, they are exercised. See p. 288. 



VOL. VII. PART I. n 



formed a circuit of nearly four miles, but they are now 

 in rums ; and the place is chiefly inhabited by mer- 

 chants of all nations, who are confounded under the 

 general name of Franks. They prefer it to Constanti- 

 nople, on account of its vicinitv to the harbour, and 

 also because most of the buildings are fire-proof. A 

 1 urkish guard is stationed at each of tile gates, which 



