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existence of the lower current in a contrary direction is 
equally shown, by the same principle which indicates 
also that the water of the Blaclf Sea ought to be less 
salt than that of the Sea of Marmara. 
Both banks of the channel are remarkable for a great 
number of suburbs, which are almost joined to each 
other, and form a continued street more than a league 
and a half in length. It is to the painter of the periods 
of nature, it is to the author of Mahomet and of Zaira, 
that the power belongs of faithfully tracing this picture, 
presented by this immense aquatic street, in the middle 
of which I have seen the whole Ottoman squadron in 
full sail, besides an amazing number of other vessels, 
and thousands of sloops and little boats; palaces, kiosks 
or superb belvideres; the pleasure- houses of the Sultan, 
of the Sultanas, and of other grandees of the empire, 
constructed in the eastern style, rival each other in ex- 
quisite taste, and in splendour of display. The pictur- 
esque hills, which border both shores, are covered with 
the finest verdure and beautiful small isolated houses; 
the colossal group of the city of Constantinople presents 
itself surmounted by a forest of minarets, cupolas, and 
handsome kiosks, the whole painted of a thousand co- 
lours, intermixed with the verdure of large clusters of 
various kinds of trees; lastly, the Sea of Marmara, 
which terminates the horizon to the south; this mag- 
nificent whole forms a picture which it is quite impos- 
sible to describe, but the impression of which, when 
once received, can never be obliterated from the 
memory. 
Beyond this space, a league and a half in extent, the 
villages which are upon the banks of the Bosphorus are 
a little more distant from each other. The mouth of the 
Black Sea is defended by two fortresses, one on each 
