10 
CLARKE^S TRAVELS. 
sketches of any thing we might find interesting, either in the 
eharem, or gardens in the seraglio. The apprehensions of 
Monsieur Preaux were, however, so great, that it was with the 
greatest difficulty I could prevail upon him to venture into 
the seraglio; and he afterward, either lost or secreted, the 
only drawing which his fears would allow him to make while 
he was there. 
We left Para, in a gondola, about seven o’clock in the 
morning; embarking at Tophana, and steering toward that 
gate of the seraglio which faces the Bosporus on the south- 
eastern side, where the entrance to the seraglio gardens and 
the gardener’s lodge are situated. A bostanghy, as a sort of 
porter, is usually seated, with his attendants,.within, the por¬ 
tal. Upon entering the seraglio, the spectator is struck by a 
wild and confused assemblage of great and interesting objects: 
among the first of these are, enormous cypresses, massive and 
lofty masonry, neglected and broken sarcophagi, high rising 
mounds, and a long gloomy avenue, leading from the gates of 
the garden between the double walls of the seraglio. This 
gate is ih£ same by which the sultanas came out for the air¬ 
ing before alluded to; and the gardener’s lodge is on the right 
hand of it. The avenue extending from it, toward the west, 
offers a broad and beautiful, although solitary, walk, to a very 
considerable extent, shut in by high walls on both sides. Di¬ 
rectly opposite this entrance of the seraglio is a very lofty 
mound, or bank, covered by large trees, and traversed by ter¬ 
races, over which, on the top. are walls with turrets. On the 
right hand, after entering, are the large wooden folding doors of 
the grand signior’s gardens; and near them lie many frag¬ 
ments of ancient marbles, appropriated to the vilest purposes; 
among others, a sarcophagus of one block of marble, covered 
with a simple, though unmeaning bas-relief. Entering the 
gardens by the folding doors, a pleasing coup deceit of trellis work 
and covered walks is displayed, more after the taste of Holland 
than that of any other country. Various and very despicable 
jets d\eau , straight gravel walks, and borders disposed in 
parallelograms, with the exception of a long greenhouse, filled 
with orange trees, compose all that appears in the small spot 
which bears the name of the seraglio gardens. The view, on 
entering, is down the principal gravel walk; and all the 
"walks meet at the central point, beneath a dome of the same 
trelliswork by which they are covered. Small fountains spout 
a few fuarts of water into large shells, or form parachutes over 
