s more acutely realized by the contrast
he sees about him, and he feels how much he is alone. Thus it was
with the young traveller who had made his way into the city as we
have described; he was indeed solitary though surrounded by hosts,
for he was a stranger and knew no one in the Sultan's beautiful
capital.

Still he wandered on amid the crowd until at last he found himself
in the drug bazaar, where a scene so peculiarly oriental and rich
met his observation as to make him forget for a while his own sad
and weary mood. Strange and antique jars of every shape crowded the
shelves of the various stalls, their edges turned over with
brilliant colored paper, each drug bearing its own appropriate one.
The shelves were bending under the weight of rich gums, spices,
incense-wood, medicinal roots, and cunning dyes. The sedate Turk
who presides over each stall at this hour, sits with his legs
crossed and his eyes rolling in a sort of dreamy languor from the
powerful narcotic of his opium-drugged pipe. He is happy and
thoughtless in the dissipation that sooner or later hurries him to
the grave.

It was the corflew hour, and from out the lofty spires of the
neighboring mosques there came a voice that called to prayer. Each
Mussulman prostrated himself, no matter in what occupation he was
engaged, and bowing his head towards Mecca, the tomb of the Prophet,
performing his silent devotion. In famine, in pestilence, or in
plenty, five times a day the Turk finds time for this solemn
religious duty; whether right or wrong in creed, what a lesson it is
to the Christian. And so thought the lonely traveller, for he bent
his own head upon his breast in respectful awe at the exhibition he
beheld.

Pausing in silence until the scene had changed from the solemn act
of prayer to that of busy life, he passed out of the dim-lighted
bazaar once more into the open street. Night was fast creeping over
the city, and he remembered how much he required rest and
refreshment, and availing himself of the proffered services of a
Jewish interpreter, he told his wants, and not long after found
himself seated in one of the little Armenian houses of resort in the
outskirts of Stamboul.

Here again he found enough of character to study in the singular and
medley company that resorted thither, but wayworn and weary, after
partaking of some refreshment, he soon lost himself in sleep.

It was late on the subsequent morning when the traveller awoke,
grea