48 CONSTANTINOPLE. 
CHAP. The engravings published by Banduri\ from 
'■ y. < drawings by Grelot, connected with his own 
description, afford so accurate a representation 
of this building, that any further account of it 
would be superfluous. Many absurd stories 
have been circulated concerning the contents of 
some small chapels once used as oratories, the 
doors of which are seen in the wails of the 
galleries. Great interest was making, while 
we remained in Constantinople, to have these 
chambers examined. A little gold soon opened 
all the locks ; and we scrutinized not only the 
interior of these apartments, but also every 
other part of the building. They were all 
empty, and only remarkable for the Mosaic 
work covering the ceilings. Some of the doors 
were merely openings to passages, conducting 
to the leads and to the upper parts of the 
building ; these were also either empty, or filled 
with mortar, dust, and rubbish. Still more 
absurd is the pretended phosphoric light, said 
to issue from a mass of lapis lazuli in one of 
the gallery walls. This marvellous phsenomenon 
was pointed out by our guide, who consented, 
for a small bribe, to have the whole trick 
exposed. It is nothing more than a common 
slab of marble, which, being thin and almost 
(l) Imperium Orienta^le, torn. II. Pam, IT 11. 
