EUROPEAN TURKEY. 



705 



listria, comprising Bulgaria ; 2. Romelia or Rumeli, comprising Ronielia, Macedonia, and Al- 

 bania ; 3. Bosnia ; and 4. Dshazair, composed chiefly of the islands and Asiatic possessions. 

 Beside these divisions, are the 3 tributary principalities of Moldavia, Wallachia, and Servia, 

 which are rather appendages to the empire than integral parts of it. Servia has now a heredi- 

 tary prince, with its own laws, and an independent administration, but pays an annual tribute, 

 and is obliged to receive a Turkish garrison in certain posts. Moldavia and Wallachia are gov- 

 erned by hospodars appointed by the Sultan, and pay an annual tribute, but no Turkish troops 

 are allowed to enter their limits. The population of these principalities is 1,800,000. 



2. Towns. Constantinople^ the metropolis of this extensive empire, is situated at the con- 

 fluence of the Bosphorus with the Sea of Marmora, and stands on the site of the ancient By- 

 zantium. Constantine, sensible of the immense advantages of its position, fixed his residence 

 here, in 330, in preference to Rome. The 7 hills on which it is built, ascend as they recede 

 from the shore, and a beautiful green hill forms the back-ground. An arm of the Bosphorus 

 affords it an excellent harbor, with an open navigation to the Black Sea on the north, and the 

 Mediterranean on the south. The whole circuit of the city is about 12 miles. A wall from 

 14 to 20 feet high, flanked with towers, and having 6 gates, runs along the side next the sea. 



The external appearance of Constantinople is 

 magnificent. Palaces, mosques, seraglios, 

 baths, bazars, domes, turrets, and spires, 

 tower one above another. But the magic of 

 the prospect disappears on entering the city. 

 Here is seen nothing but narrow, crooked, 

 dirty streets, and houses of wood, of brick, 

 and of mud, covered with cement. The num- 

 ber of mosques has been stated at more than 

 340, most of which are built of marble, and 

 covered with lead. The grand mosque of St. 

 Sophia is the most renowned of the public 

 buildings ; it was formerly a Greek church, 

 dedicated to the Holy Wisdom, or Sancta 

 Sophia, and was built by the emperor Justi- 

 nian. Its length is 270 feet, and its breadth 

 240. The cupola, which is lined with mosaic 

 work, rests on pillars of marble. Many of the 

 other mosques of more recent erection, though 

 of less magnitude, are handsome, and display 

 considerable taste. 



The Seraglio of the Sultan is one of the 

 peculiarities of Constantinople. It includes 

 the harem, or apartment of the women, the 

 buildings inhabited by the Sultan and his court, and the public offices, which are separated from 

 the city by a vast wall, and entered by several gates, two of which are of magnificent architec 

 ture. It presents a confused assemblage of objects, houses, domes, trees, and pavilions. Con- 

 nected with many of the mosques are madrasses or schools for the higher branches of education ; 

 itnarets or hospitals for the sick ; places for the preparation and distribution of food for the 

 poor ; courts, with fountains for ablution, &c. There are also numerous monasteries for the 

 dervishes, sophis, and other monastic orders of Mahometans. The public places are called 

 meidans or plains ; the most remarkable of these is the Atmeidan, or ancient hippodrome, in 

 which the young Turks perform equestrian exercises. The baths, of which there are above 

 300 ; the khans or warehouses of the merchants ; the caravanseries, in which are lodged the 

 traders belonging to the caravans, &c., are also worthy of note. The principal suburbs are the 

 Tophana, or cannon-foundery, containing the arsenal ; Galata, the residence of the Christian 

 merchants ; and Pera, which contained the houses of the European diplomatic agents, until its 

 destruction by fire, in 1831. The Fanar is a quarter of the city inhabited by the old and 

 wealthy Greek families, hence called Fanariots. Population of the city, about 600,000. Scu- 

 tari is on the Asiatic side of the strait. The strait or Bosphorus is thronged with light calks or 

 boats, and is remarkable for the picturesque beauty of its shores, covered with smiling villages, 



89 



while the ancient wall incloses the land side. 



Mosque of St. Sophia. 



