1807.] 
Asiatic suburbs now unfolded themselves 
more and more; for in the distance we 
could already distinguish the minarets 
and mosques of Skutari, could gee the 
crescents glistening, and perceive the 
Streets crossing each other like labyrinths, 
On «a nearer approach, another olject, in 
the midst ofthe sea, fixed my attention. 
At the entrance of the channel into 
the White Sea, or Sea of Marmata, on 
an immense mass of stone, in the midst 
of the waves, stands a tower, which, after 
ai ancient and icerrect tradition, still 
bears the natne of Leandei’s tower. It 
is said that here the lover, inflamed with 
passion swam from one quarter of the 
world to another, and met’ with his déath 
in the waves. ‘The Hellespont has been 
confounded with the Bosphorus, and the 
catastrophe occasioned by the former has 
been ascribed to the latier. 
Skutari is only a suburb, and the num- 
ber of its inhabitants was stated to mé at 
70,000. Every one knows how much 
dependance ought to be placed on such 
general data ; bat certainly all its exten- 
sive quarters and numerous streets are 
populous in the highest degree. Among 
the suburbs of Constantinople, if that 
term may be applied to large towns situ- 
ated in the viemi ty of the metropolis, 
Skutari, doubtless, occupies the first 
place; for no other is equal to it in ex- 
tent, and in population it far surpasses 
them all. 
Vhe situation of Skutari bears a great 
resemblance to that ofthe capital. It is 
composed of alternate hilland dale; the 
rows of houses and mosques rise gradu- 
ally one above another, and alford the 
most picturesque prospects. Between 
the habitations we behold the variegated 
verdure of lofty trees grouped in the 
most pleasing manner, and in the back 
ground appear still higher hills, imter- 
spersed with clumps of trees and Turkish 
tomb-stones, which command a view of 
the whole subjacent city. 
On these hills is situated a spot which 
T shall never forget. It is, perhaps, the 
highest station on the whole Sosphorus, 
and no other affords such a distant view, 
Constantinople, with the sefaglio, lying 
exactly opposite, appears there in’ its 
Whole ae Hg extent, and no less mag~ 
_hificent is the prospect of the opposite 
peninsula of Topana, Galata, and Pera. 
Yo the right the channel ae a 
boundless perspective. Never do I re- 
tember to have enjoyed a view which, 
both in the whole and i li its parts, made 
so décp an impression upon my muid as 
that from the hills of Skutavi. 
Sketches of Constantinople, by F. Murhard. 
451 
My eye ranged over the sea, and 
along the shores of both continents, 
every where decorated with a thousand 
objects ou which it could repose with de« 
lint, aud furming a whole so infinitely 
gt and, that we might i imagine ourselves 
tr ansported to the celestial regions. 
Here glistened the néarest part of the » 
channel, and there lay the capacious and 
busy harbour, thé end of which the eye 
could scarcely discern. Here the sea 
dashed against the ‘Tower of Leander, 
there the arched horizon descended to 
the water In the distant back ground 
of the sea side, towards the south, ap- 
peared masts and sails of all sizes, as if 
placed upon high mountains, and nearer, 
ships of al! sorts and forms sailed to and_ 
fro, 
Here, between and above the thick fo~ 
rest of masts of the vessels, partly in 
motion, partly at anchor in the harbour, 
towers el immense city of Constantine- 
ple on its picturesque hilis, with its glis- 
tening mosques and the pinnacles of its 
numerous minarets; there on the Ope 
- posite side. the hills of the peninsula, 
covered with houses, present them- 
selves. : 
There behind the city and the havbauk 
extend ranges of blue hills, belonging to 
the European continent; yonder, on both 
sides of the channel, as far as the eye can 
reach, it discovers éelightful villas and 
smiling fields. Here, on either side of 
the suber *b, lay the gardens ofthe Grand 
Signior ; theré rose a multitude of sum- 
mer pavillions in the Oriental style, a 
style that appears strange to an Europe- 
an eye, 
Thos to the east and to the west, to 
the north and to the south, the spectator 
is presented with the most beautiful 
scenes of nature, m which thousands of 
objects produce upon the eye an effect 
like that of harmonious music on the 
ear, and throws the sehses into sweet 
confusion. Every thiig there concurs to 
form the most enchanting whole. 
‘Yhe north coast of the harbour of Con- 
stantinople, together with the opposite 
southern shore forms but one extended 
city, joining Galata and Pefa to the east 
and south, and composing with those sub- 
urbs only ovie vrand whole. The north side 
of the harbour is nevertheless considera- 
bly ditterent from the south side, not only 
with respect tosituauion but extent. On 
the latter, the eye discovers no end of 
streets and houses; on the former, the 
buildings wind along the shore, and ba- 
wind them appear unculivated heids, au. 
risi-planess aud groves, a3 far as the cint- 
G ajoeec 
