MS 
CHAPTER XXIV. 
Cistern of Phyllosine. — Column of Constantine. — Market for Females. — Bezes- 
teinn or Great Bazar. — District of the Light-House. — Alai Kiosk of the 
Sultan. — Point of the Seraglio. — Banks of the Sea of Marmara. — Barracks 
of the Bombardiers.— Sultan's Pleasure-House. — Illuminations of the Rama- 
dan.— Festival of the Beyram or Easter- Waters of Constantinople. — Charac- 
ter of the Turks. — Amusements. — Women. — Climate. 
The cistern of Phyllosine, constructed in the time of 
the Constantines, to furnish the city with water, is at 
present nothing but a dry cavern without water, in 
which a silk manufactory is established. The descent 
into it is by a bad staircase, which terminates in a place 
nearly dark, and supported by some hundreds of co- 
lumns, and occupied by machines for spinning and 
twisting silk, the threads of which, being almost in- 
visible in this half obscurity, are extended horizontally 
between the rows of columns, so that it is hardly pos- 
sible to advance a step without the risk of destroying 
thousands of them; on this account the porter is a ne- 
cessary guide in this obscure labyrinth. 
Led by him, and followed by my attendants, I went 
through the whole of this cavern, which presents a 
strong contrast between its present and its original des- 
tination. There are apertures at certain distances in the 
upper part of the vault, which serve as skylights, but 
which in former times must have served as wells for 
obtaining the water. 
Each column is composed of two shafts, one upon 
another. The under one is surmounted with a base 
instead of a capital, about a foot broad, upon which the 
Vol. II. | D 
