all was gloomy silence; but on nearing a Greek village, the enlivening
sound of the song, the guitar, and followed by bursts of merriment,
broke upon the ear; and the frequent clapping of hands, and the strain
of the romaika, or the Italian waltz, which came floating over the
water, told of the merry joyous inmates, who are ever seen to prefer
the dance and song, to the pipe and coffee-cup; the twinkling feet, and
sparkling smile, to the grave nod and solemn demeanour of their former
tyrants. A little below Jene Keni, near one of the Turkish batteries,
the Turkish Punchinello was exhibiting his grotesque antics. It is long
since this merry devil has been allowed to stroll about, and amuse the
lower orders; but he does sometimes make his appearance. A transparent
skreen, illuminated from behind, concealed him from the spectators, so
that his shadow was the sole actor of all his tricks and adventures,
which appeared to resemble very closely those of his English and
Neapolitan namesake. His conversation must have been exceedingly
humorous, from the bursts of laughter which it extorted from the
soldiers and boatmen; for I lay to some time, in order to give them a
view of master Punch, who appeared to have his hands fully occupied with
the contests of his white and black slaves. On one occasion, his four
wives, jealous of his favourite black sultana, attacked him together;
but he eventually got the upper hand, by thrashing them all. Of course
he breaks the head of a pasha; sets the bowstring at defiance;
decapitates the eunuch sent to perform that merciful office on himself;
and at last provokes the attack of the Shaitanculy, or devil's
assistant. Just, however, as the prince of darkness had made his
appearance, an alarm was given, away scampered the crowd, out went the
lights, Punch disappeared, and before my men had the caique well on her
way again, all was quiet and solitary, as if nothing forbidden had been
there.
[Sidenote: BEAUTIFUL NIGHT SCENE.] How lovely Terapia appears as I
approach it; not a breath of wind ruffles the surface of the water,
while the blaze of innumerable lights, which flash and glitter through
the leafy skreen of the casement-covered hill, reminds me of the fabled
splendours of Aladdin's cave. An almost perfect silence prevails,
interrupted only at intervals by the faint splash of some distant oar,
or the notes of thousands of nightingales, which swarm in every
rose-garden and orange grove, pouring forth "their amorous descant
through the livelong night."
The only persons I met, were the soldiers composing the Turkish guard,
which perambulates the streets every hour. Their leader carries a staff
armed with a large iron ferrule, which he strikes against the pavement,
to give notice that he is on duty.
[Sidenote: THE MUEZZIN.] _Friday, 7th._--This was the first morning that
I heard the Ezan, or cry of the muezzin from the minaret, calling the
faithful to prayer. I believe the invocation he makes, is something like
the following:--"Come to prayer; come to the temple of salvation. Great
God! there is no God but God.
"La Allah ila Allah, Muhammed[14] Resoul Allah:"
No God but God! Mahomet, prophet of God.
This exhortation is uttered in a loud and piercing tone of voice, which
steals through the calm morning, producing a powerful effect: it is like
the shrill call of a spirit to devotion, and has an unearthly sound.
Though the bell tolling to prayer, possesses over the soul a power whose
influence is very generally acknowledged, yet the awful voice of the
priest crying from the minaret is infinitely more solemn, and seems as
if it proceeded from the Divinity itself. There are few Mohammedans in
Terapia who obey the summons, except those in authority.
I walked out this afternoon with the ambassador, and took him to a
garden belonging to my landlord, an entrance into which I had
stipulated for on taking the house. It commands a view of Terapia and
the Bosphorus, and the prospect is so beautiful and picturesque, that it
has even been visited by the Sultan.
[Sidenote: MADAME MAUVROMATI.] On entering, we found Madame Mauvromati
and her pretty daughters sitting under the wide-spreading plane trees;
and they presented us with some delicious strawberries. Madame
Mauvromati is a very old woman, and has been a witness of most of the
atrocities inflicted on the Greeks during their recent struggles: she is
herself of Genoese parents, but was married to a Greek, who perished in
the great massacre. Of course she speaks Italian fluently; and her
children, like their mother, are well educated, as, in addition to their
native language, they understand Italian, French, and one of the sons,
English: I suspect also, that the dark-eyed beauty, who so modestly
proffered the strawberry basket, understood me better than she chose to
acknowledge. We sat listening to tales of the cruelties perpetrated on
the Greeks and Armenians; the exploits of the Sultan, and the
destruction of the janissaries; interspersed with various little
anecdotes of individuals well known in Stamboul, till it grew late, and,
in consequence, dinner was not served at the palace till much beyond
the usual hour. The French ambassador having sent word he should come
in at ten o'clock, our meal was despatched at double quick time. Admiral
Roussin was accompanied by two of his suite: politics, the most
interesting of topics at the present crisis, were not the order of the
evening; and, by one o'clock, I believe we were all glad to hear the
pipe to hammocks. I then strolled up to my lodgings, where, however, I
found that the piping had not reached.
[Sidenote: THE PLAGUE.] _Saturday, 8th._--A short time since, as two of
the midshipmen were strolling about the country, they discovered a
retired valley, and on proceeding towards the only dwelling in it, they
were suddenly stopped by a sentinel. On inquiry, they learned that it
contained part of a family resident in Terapia, three of whom had died
of the plague in April last. They are now shut up in this solitary
building, doing their eighty days penance or purification; and, of
course, no one is allowed to approach them. The guard places water,
bread, and, perhaps, some other coarse provisions in a certain spot, and
the half-starved wretches are allowed to remove it, some time after they
have seen their keepers retire.
[Sidenote: GREEK MASSACRE.] In the evening I visited my landlord's
garden, in the hope of meeting with Madame Mauvromati, and learning the
concluding portion of her history of the massacre of her countrymen,
and the destruction of the janissaries. The dark-eyed houri, with her
basket of strawberries, was there as usual; and the old lady led us to a
seat under the plane trees, commanding a view of Terapia and the
Sultan's kiosk.
"Observe," said she, "that range of dark houses which lines for some
distance the shore beneath us: they were once the happy homes of my
dearest friends and connexions. The evening which preceded the fatal day
to which you allude, had been passed in their society, and when I
quitted them, to return to my own residence, it was with feelings of
security as great as could be reasonably indulged in a city, where, at
that time, the life of a Greek was exposed to a thousand perils. Alas!
it was the last time I ever saw them alive. On the following morning,
when I looked from my window, I beheld the body of each of my friends
suspended from his own threshold, where they remained for the greater
part of the day. In vain we petitioned to have them delivered up, that
we might perform towards them the last sad duties of humanity. No! the
request was denied, and they were delivered to the Jews, who, with a
brutal feeling unequalled, except among the most ferocious savages,
mutilated and defiled the remains of these descendants of the Grecian
princes;--yesterday men of rank and fortune,--to-day treated as dogs,
and refused even Christian burial.
[Sidenote: ANECDOTE OF THE SULTAN.] "Though this occurrence took place
in 1822, ten years ago, yet the horrid spectacle is still as fresh in my
memory as if it had happened but yesterday. My husband, being a great
favourite with the Sultan, was allowed to purchase his life by the
sacrifice of nearly all he possessed; but he was long obliged to remain
in concealment. Those were, indeed, times of misery and distress: there
was not a single family belonging to my nation but had to deplore the
loss of some one of its members; and every Greek village presented a
scene of pillage and wanton massacre.
"But enough of this; let us now converse on more agreeable subjects. Two
years ago, our noble Sultan,--may his beard be white!--having heard of
the beauty of this garden, and the extensive prospects it commands, sent
a message to signify it was his pleasure to pay me a visit; and, a day
being appointed, he came with his sword-bearer, and two other officers
of the court. Let me first inform you, however, that some hours
previous, every dish and sweetmeat intended to be placed before his
Highness, was commanded to be sent over to the kiosk, in order that they
might be tasted before he partook of them, to prevent the possibility
of poison being administered through their means. After each dish had
undergone the necessary scrutiny, it was returned to me, enclosed in a
gauze net, carefully sealed by the proper officer.
"Well, the Sultan came, as I said before, and eat, drank, and was merry.
He is passionately fond of music, and the piano-forte was placed out
under the trees, where Anna and Zuleika sat singing and playing Greek
and Italian music to him, until he was quite enraptured.
"In the course of the evening, several of the young people of Terapia
were sent for by his Highness's special desire; and we waltzed, and
danced quadrilles, until long after the morn had shed its golden beams
on the smooth waters of the Bosphorus.
"Our sovereign remained during the whole time, so perfectly did he
relish and enter into the entertainments we had provided for him. Next
day, I received a magnificent present of flowers, sufficient to deck
some half dozen churches, and sweetmeats enough to last for a whole
year; accompanied by a message from the Sultan, expressive of the
pleasure he had experienced the evening before.
"But he could not be more delighted with my poor efforts to entertain
him, than I was by his affability, condescension, and engaging
demeanour. He promised to renew the visit; but, the aspect of public
affairs has ever since been too stormy and menacing, to allow the
anxious Mahmoud any opportunity of relaxation. Should days of peace
return, and the father of his people still remember his promise, he may
again delight us by his presence."
Whilst thus expatiating with an air of enthusiasm on the virtues of
Sultan Mahmoud, all the cruelty, indignity, and outrage committed on her
countrymen and relations, by his orders, seemed to vanish from the old
lady's recollection, as though she had tasted of the fabled Lethe.
Happy the tyrant, who, by a single act of condescension, can thus
obliterate the sanguinary records of his earlier days; and wash out the
remembrance of blood in libations to Bacchus, and draughts of the too
seductive and all-powerful Champagne!
[Sidenote: NEAPOLITAN STEAM-BOAT.] On returning to the house, I found an
express from Pera awaited me, announcing the arrival of the Neapolitan
steam-boat Francesco, with the Prince of Bavaria.
_Sunday, 9th._--I went down to Pera at an early hour this morning, and
found the Francesco Primo floating proudly in the centre of the Horn.
She was surrounded by hundreds of caiques, full of Turks and Greeks,
admiring this fine vessel, the largest steamer that had ever visited
Constantinople.
At Tongo's, I roused up some of its passengers, whom I had expected, and
who were in our old quarters. They had been delighted with their trip,
but were highly dissatisfied with the treatment on board, where they had
to quarrel with bad provender, bad wine, and disobliging servants. In
the course of the voyage, they had visited Corfu, Napoli, Egina,
Corinth, Athens, and Smyrna. At the consul's I found Taylor, and near
the house, Lord Wiltshire, Ruddel, and Hatfield: every lodging-house,
every thing which went by the name of an albergo, was occupied; and such
an immigration of visitors with purses full of money, and pockets
crammed with note books, had probably never happened in Stamboul before.
The Prince of Bavaria and his suite occupied the Palace of Austria.
[Sidenote: JEWISH MUSICIAN.] After dinner, we sallied forth for the
Sweet Waters of Europe, where I believe the whole crew of the boat had
gathered together. The crowd of natives was also considerable to-day;
and I saw many very beautiful Greeks among them. We stopped to observe a
party of Turkish ladies, to whom a Jew was singing, and accompanying
himself on a guitar. After listening to various songs, they asked him
for a French or English ditty, as he professed to have visited all
countries; but he attempted to evade the request, afraid, no doubt, of
being detected by the Europeans standing round, for, probably, he had
never been five miles from Constantinople in his life. As the ladies
insisted, he at last commenced the following ditty;
Alendo falendo
Malendo Calendo
Li fuli Culendo
Buon Giorno.
which he repeated five or six times, much to the satisfaction of his
Turkish auditors, but more to our amusement, for most of us laughed
heartily, notwithstanding the sour looks of the old Turks, who, I
presume, were scandalized at seeing us expose ourselves in the presence
of the fair. The poor singer was heartily glad when we moved away, when
he, no doubt, treated his attentive listeners to another series of
English or Italian airs.
Boat loads of laughing, joyous Greeks now began to crowd the
landing-place; and every caique had either a guitar, flute, or violin
on board. After landing, the parties strolled about, while their
servants spread the carpets and viands upon the velvet turf. This done,
each jovial company squatted down on their cushions, and commenced
feasting and merry-making, which generally lasted until the night was
far advanced.
[Sidenote: BEAUTIFUL GREEK.] Many of the Greeks present were from the
Fanal, and three ladies from that quarter, who stepped out of the same
caique, attracted universal admiration wherever they moved; for, if not
princesses by birth, they were, at all events, entitled to claim that
distinction in the court of beauty; and the eldest was the most lovely
creature I ever beheld. She possessed one of those fine intellectual
faces, which, once seen, can never be obliterated from the gazer's
remembrance; and there was a languor and a softness in her countenance,
and in the expression of her large, dark, sleepy eyes, inexpressibly
fascinating, though more allied to Oriental than Grecian loveliness.
They were,
"Black as death, their lashes the same hue,
Of downcast length--in whose silk shadow lies
Deepest attraction."
Her hair was of a deep glossy brown, nearly approaching to black, and
fell in luxuriant ringlets on a neck of ivory; while her tall,
commanding figure seemed to have been moulded by the Graces; and though
somewhat inclining to the _embonpoint_, she moved with an elegance and
dignity befitting Juno herself.
I have already observed, that the ankle of the true Grecian race is
remarkable for its exquisite symmetry; and hers was a model of
perfection, which plainly indicated her descent from a people, among
whom beauty is the most decided national characteristic. Her delicate
small foot was _chaussee'd_ in a very neat black shoe, with a stocking
of snowy whiteness: in a word, she seemed the personification of Dudu,
"Somewhat large, languishing, and lazy,
But of a beauty that would drive you crazy."
[Sidenote: ELEGANT COSTUME.] The ferridge or cloak, worn by this "Queen
of the Sweet Waters," was thrown loosely on her shoulders, disclosing a
dress remarkable for its elegant simplicity. Her veil of white gauze,
worked at the ends with silk and gold, floated at random over her head
and shoulders; a rich shawl was bound round her waist, and served to
confine the tunic close to her bust: the remainder of her dress was of
muslin, plain, neat, and of the purest white. She appeared perfectly
unconscious of her superior beauty, and though this costume was
calculated to display her attractions to the greatest advantage, her
whole demeanour was characterised by the most perfect modesty.
The other ladies, if seen elsewhere, might have been considered
handsome; but on this occasion their charms were completely eclipsed. In
attempting to describe the person of so singular and lovely a female, I
feel conscious how inadequate my language has been to convey any idea of
the reality; which, like a Peri descended from the celestial paradise,
flits before my eyes, "rich in all woman's loveliness."
"Who hath not proved how feebly words essay
To fix one spark of Beauty's heavenly ray?
Who doth not feel, until his failing sight
Faints into dimness with its own delight--
His changing cheek--his sinking heart confess
The might--the majesty of loveliness?"
I could not discover who the enchantress was, further than that her
party came from the Fanal. After remaining but a very short time, they
reentered their light bark, and sped swiftly down the stream.
[Sidenote: TURKISH LADIES.] Some Turkish ladies present were exceedingly
affable, lowering their gashmaks, and conversing for some time with us,
through Tongo's brother, who performed the office of interpreter. They
made various inquiries respecting our nation--why we had come to
Stamboul?--how long we intended to remain? And then came that question,
at once so natural and delightful to a pretty woman, "Did we think them
handsome?" To this home-thrust at our gallantry, we of course made a
suitable reply; which, unlike such answers in general, was strictly
consistent with truth, for they were really beautiful, though the
artificial junction of their painted eyebrows, and their stained nails,
by no means heightened the effects of their natural charms. Our
compliments appeared to amuse them exceedingly, for they laughed and
chattered to each other with a vivacity not surpassed by the most
accomplished gossips of any country, and which formed a perfect contrast
to their affected sober demeanour. Just as they were beginning to be
delightfully familiar, and had presented us with some delicious ices,
two or three old Turks hove in sight. In an instant, every dimpling
smile vanished; their countenances were again enshrouded in the odious
linen masks; their ample veils dropt around them, and making a hasty
sign for us to depart, our talkative and merry friends were again as
demure and discreet, as any "magnificent three-tailed bashaw" in the
empire could possibly have desired.
This was my farewell excursion to the Keathane, for I had no
opportunity of visiting it afterwards; but the happy moments I passed
there, will ever be among the most delightful recollections of my visit
to the East.
[Sidenote: THE SERASKIER.] _Monday, 10th._--To day I took upon myself
the duties of a cicerone, and volunteered to pioneer the uninitiated,
and show them the wonders of Stamboul. The first place we visited was
the arm bazaar, with the others in succession; and when they closed, we
went to the Seraskier's tower. As we were coming away, the pilot of the
Actaeon joined us, and we climbed up the circular stair a second time. In
descending, the cavash who had conducted us, observed, that he thought
he had hit upon the means of getting admitted into St. Sophia. As he
addressed himself to me, I promised to give him 100 piastres if I could
accomplish it; and after consulting his brother cavashes, he returned,
saying, it would only be necessary to ask permission of the Seraskier.
Ask the Seraskier! beard the lion in his den! Who would undertake to
present himself before him on such an errand? George, however, the
fearless pilot of the Actaeon, would have belled the Sultan himself in
his divan; so he was unanimously chosen to represent the company of
English nobles, and pushed into the presence forthwith.
He found the Seraskier seated smoking upon his divan, and he politely
inquired the purport of his visit. George, who was in his plain sailor's
clothes, addressed his Excellency by all his titles, and replied, that
he was a British officer, one of several others, who were waiting
outside, because they felt unwilling to intrude on his Seraskiership;
that the party could remain in Stamboul but a few days, and having heard
much talk of the magnificent mosque of St. Sophia, they were most
anxious to be admitted within its sacred precincts; for which favour
they should be ever grateful, and devoutly pray, &c.
To this the Seraskier replied, that he highly applauded the laudable
curiosity of the spokesmen and his friends: that truly, the mosque was
an object worthy of their inspection, and did the order for admission
depend on him, he would grant it _instanter_. It was, however,
entirely foreign to his department, and he could only refer them to
the Scheik Islam, or to the Reis Effendi, either of whom, on his
recommendation,--and he desired George to convey to them his humble
respects,--would grant the object of their petition. He prayed to God
they might succeed, for God was great.
So saying, he bowed George out of the audience chamber into the court,
where we stood, bursting with laughter at the ridiculousness of the
scene, and well aware, that the permission was never granted, except as
an especial favour, and always by a firman regularly signed and sealed
by the Sultan, and delivered through the various officers about the
court, on the payment of heavy fees.
[Sidenote: FOREIGN VISITORS.] To console ourselves for this
disappointment we bowled away to a cabob shop, and having made a good
luncheon, repaired to Mustapha's, to assist our digestion with a pipe,
and make ready for the consul's dinner, to which we were invited. The
shop was full of English, French, Germans, and Russians, all passengers
in the Francesco; indeed, there was hardly a bazaar where some one of
them was not to be found. The Jew interpreters were making a rare
harvest, and the price of every article had nearly been doubled.
Mustapha pawned off Attar Gul, as well as every other scent,
manufactured for the occasion: having promised, if I would not peach, he
would serve my friends honestly, he probably did so; but I am certain he
made a good thing of the contraband.
[Sidenote: ORIENTAL BEAUTY.] _Tuesday, 11th._--I enjoyed the pleasure,
this morning, of being introduced to a very handsome Turkish lady, whom
Madame Giuseppino purposely invited to her house, in order to give me
an opportunity of witnessing a perfect specimen of Oriental beauty.
After a good deal of persuasion, she allowed me to copy her profile.
Her eyes and eyelashes were intensely black; though I suspect the latter
were stained of a dye deeper than the natural one. Her complexion was
beautifully fair, with the slightest tint of carnation suffused over the
cheek. Her lips! sweet lips! "that make us sigh even to have seen such."
Her glossy hair, which was bound with a kalemkeir or painted
handkerchief, representing a whole parterre of flowers, fell in loose
curls upon her shoulders, and down her back: she wore a short black
velvet jacket, embroidered with gold lace; trowsers of sky blue silk; an
under-jacket of pink crape, and one of those beautiful transparent
shirts which ravish the beholder, and "half reveal the charms they fain
would hide." A magnificent Persian shawl encircled her waist, which had
nature's own form, never having been compressed by the cruel bondage of
stays.
Her feet were in slippers, and two or three ugly rings deformed her
white and slender fingers, the nails of which were dyed with henna.
Around her neck she wore a double row of pearls, from which hung an
amulet. Her skin was very white and beautiful; the constant use of the
dry vapour bath having reduced it to a fineness, which I can only
compare to highly polished marble; and it looked as glossy and as cold.
She was well pleased with the drawing I made of her; and, on rising to
go away, she put on her yellow boots over the beautiful white foot and
ankle, which it was a sin to conceal: then donning her gashmak and
cloak, she bade us adieu, with a grace and elegance which few English
ladies could equal.
No wonder the Turks sigh for paradise, when they believe heaven to be
peopled with houris such as these! Egad! it requires the exertion of all
one's philosophy and self-denial to resist the temptation of turning
Turk too.
It was really delightful to watch the elegant manner in which this young
and lovely creature moved, and with how graceful, yet unstudied attitude
she accepted the sweetmeats I presented to her. Who would wish for
spoons, forks, or knives, when such fair hands are plunged with yours
into the dish, and draw forth the contents with an air that fills one
with admiration? So soft, so gentle is the touch with which every thing
is handled,--the contact being effected with the extreme tip of the
finger alone,--that it reminds you of the half hesitating, half
fearful, yet graceful, motion with which a well-bred cat dips her paw
into water.