CONSTANTINOPLE. 27 
Having inspected every alley and corner of chap. 
the garden, we advanced, half-breathless, and 
on tip-toe, to the great vi^ooden door of the 
passage leading to the inner court of this 
mysterious edifice. We succeeded m forcing 
this open; but the noise of its grating hinges, 
amidst the profound silence of the place, went 
to our very hearts. We then entered a small 
-quadrangle, much resembling that of Queens 
College, Cambridge, filled with weeds. It was 
divided into two parts, one raised above the 
other ; the principal side of the court containing 
an open cloister, supported by small white 
marble columns. Every thing appeared in a 
neglected state. The women reside here on|y 
during summer. Their winter apartments may 
be compared to the late Bastille of France; and 
the decoration of these apartments is even 
inferior to that we are about to describe. From 
this court, forcing open a small window near 
the ground, and having climbed into the building, 
we arrived upon along range of wooden beds, or 
couches, covered with mats, prepared for the 
reception of a hundred slaves, which reached 
the whole extent of a very long corridor. 
Hence, passing through some narrow passages, 
the floors of which were also matted, we came 
to a staircase leading to the upper apartments. 
Of such irregular and confused architecture, it 
