w even far into
the sea, beneath the protection of which the panting rowers
repose from their toil. These stately groups of trees are from
time to time interrupted by palaces, pavilions, kiosks, gilded
and sculptured domes, or batteries of cannon. These maritime
palaces form part of the seraglio. You see occasionally through
the muslin curtains the gilded roofs and sumptuous cornices of
those abodes of beauty. At every step, elegant Moorish
fountains fall from the higher parts of the gardens, and murmur
in marble basins, from whence, before reaching the sea, they
are conducted in little cascades to refresh the passengers. As
the vessel coasted the walls, the prospect expanded--the coast
of Asia appeared, and the mouth of the Bosphorus, properly so
called, began to open between hills, on one side of dark green,
on the other of smiling verdure, which seemed variegated by all
the colours of the rainbow. The smiling shores of Asia, distant
about a mile, stretched out to our right, surmounted by lofty
hills, sharp at the top, and clothed to the summit with dark
forests, with their sides varied by hedge-rows, villas,
orchards, and gardens. Deep precipitous ravines occasionally
descended on this side into the sea, overshadowed by huge
overgrown oaks, the branches of which dipped into the water.
Further on still, on the Asiatic side, an advanced headland
projected into the waves, covered with white houses--it was
Scutari, with its vast white barracks, its resplendent mosques,
its animated quays, forming a vast city. Further still, the
Bosphorus, like a deeply imbedded river, opened between
opposing mountains--the advancing promontories and receding
bays of which, clothed to the water's edge with forests,
exhibited a confused assemblage of masts of vessels, shady
groves, noble palaces, hanging gardens, and tranquil havens.

"The harbour of Constantinople is not, properly speaking, a
port. It is rather a great river like the Thames, shut in on
either side by hills covered with houses, and covered by
innumerable lines of ships lying at anchor along the quays.
Vessels of every description are to be seen there, from the
Arabian bark, the prow of which is raised, and darts along like
the ancient galleys, to the ship of the line, with three decks,