CONSTANTINOPLE. 39 
goes from the Sei-aglio to one of the principal chap. 
mosques of the city. At the opening of the > 
Bairam, this ceremony is attended with more Procession 
than ordinary magnificence. We were present Grand sig- 
ttior, at the 
Upon that occasion; and although a detail of opening of 
, -1-1 1 thc^aiVam. 
the procession would occupy too much space 
in the text, it may be deemed unobtrusive, and 
perhaps interesting, as a note. 
Our ambassador invited us, on the preceding 
evening, to be at the British palace before sun- 
rise ; as the procession was to take place the 
moment the sun appeared. We were punctual 
in our attendance ; and being conveyed, with 
the ladies of the ambassador's family, and 
many other persons attached to the embassy, 
in the small boats which ply at Tophana, we 
landed in Constantinople; and were all stationed 
within the stall of a blacksmith's shop, which 
opened into one of the dirty narrow streets 
near the Hippodrome; and through this street 
the procession was to pass. It was amusing 
to see the Representative of the King of Great 
Britain, with his family and friends, squatted 
upon little stools, among horse-shoes, anvils, 
old iron, and horse-dung. Upon his first 
arrival, some cats, taking alarm, brought down 
a considerable portion of the tiUng from the 
roof; and this, as it embarrassed his party. 
