€LAIiKE 5 S TRAVK-LBv- 
count of the interior of the seraglio would be satisfactory 
from the secluded nature of the objects to which it bears re, 
ferente, and the little probability there is of so favourable aa 
opportunity being again granted, to any traveller, for its in¬ 
vestigation. 
CHAP. II, 
CONSTANTINOPLE, 
Procession of ike Grand Signior , at (he opening of ike Bairam 
Observations on the Church of St Sophia—Other Mosques 
of Constantinople—Dance of the Dervishes—Howling Der¬ 
vishes—Cursory Observations—Bazar of the Booksellers — 
Greek Manuscripts^—Exercises of the Athletic—Hippodrome 
—Obelisk—Delphic Pillar . 
One of the great sights in Constantinople is the procession 
of the grand signior, w hen he goes from the seraglio to one 
of the principal mosques of the city. At the opening of the 
bairam, this ceremony is attended with more than ordinary 
magnificence. We were present upon that occasion; and -al¬ 
though a detail of the procession would occupy too much 
space in the text, It may be deemed unobtrusive, perhaps in¬ 
teresting, 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 persons attached to the em¬ 
bassy, in the small boats which ply at Tophana, landed in Con¬ 
stantinople ; and were all stationed within the stall of a black¬ 
smith’s shop, w hich looked into one of the dirty, narrow streets 
near the hippodrome, through which the procession was to 
pass. It w as 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, 
IJpoo his first arrival, some cats, taking alarm, brought dow n a 
considerable portion of the tiling from the roof; and this, as 
It embarrassed his party, excited the laughter of the Turks in 
the neighbourhood, who seemed much amused with the humifi- 
aliag figure presented by the groupe of infidels in the smithy*.. 
