SAILING ROUND CONSTANTINOPLE.


Hiring a _peramidias_, or one of the beautiful boats which ply on
the canal, I proceeded, accompanied by my janissary and dragoman, to
make the circuit of the city, by rowing round the Seraglio Point into
the sea of Marmora, then landing at the Seven Towers, and walking across
the isthmus by the famous wall to the Golden Horn, where we again
embarked, and returned to Pera. On passing the Seraglio Point, we
remarked a number of cannon of different forms, ranged apparently more
for effect than defence, as a sloop of war with a commanding breeze
might dislodge the men; such is their exposed situation. Although two of
the guns appeared to be of the calibre of sixteen or seventeen inches,
and calculated to throw some immense stone-balls, which we observed near
them, others were of small calibre, but having twelve barrels; over
them, were suspended some very large bones, about which I could not get
even a marvellous account, both my companions declaring honestly their
ignorance of their history. The current sent us, with astonishing
rapidity, round the Point, (on which men are always stationed with small
lines to track boats upwards,) and we soon landed under the Seven
Towers. The town on the west side, towards the sea presents a poor and
miserable appearance. We were allowed just to enter the outer court of
the castle, as it may be more properly called than the Seven Towers,
because there are only two conspicuous towers, and I suspect that the
term Seven Towers was originally applied to the whole wall which runs
across the isthmus, and which has seven gates, over each of which was
formerly placed a tower.