6 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP. Constantinople, a certain portion of the city was 
still retained, in undisturbed possession, by 
those Grecian families whose services to the 
conqueror obtained for them privileges which 
their descendants enjoy even at this hour': yet, 
in their domestic habits, and in all things, 
except in their religious ceremonies, there is 
nothing which distinguishes them from their 
fellow-citizens the Turks. The temples of the 
citizens, we further know, were appropriated 
to the new religion*. The sumptuous baths of 
the vanquished were not less prized by the 
victor. Few, if any, of the public buildings 
were destroyed ; and, from the characteristic 
disposition of Oriental nations to preserve things 
as they are, we may reasonably conclude, with 
the exception of those edifices which have 
yielded to the attacks of time, of earthquakes, 
and of fire, that Constantinople exhibits one, at 
least, of the cities of the Antients, almost 
unaltered. Passing thence into Asia, the tra- 
veller may be directed to other examples of the 
same nature, in which the similarity of the 
(1) They live in a part of the city which, from its proximity to tlie. 
Light-house, goes by the name of Plianar. 
(2) Of which tlie Church of St. Sophia is a particular instance: and 
it may be added, that the crescent, which blazons the Turkish banner, is tlie 
most antieiit symbol of lij/zunUum, as appears by tlie medals of the city. 
