DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62355#0083
THE TCHARCHI, OR BAZARS OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
29
The mosque stands near the edge of the harbour, and its court stretches
down almost to the water. It is overshadowed by two of the most majestic
maple-trees in the city, whose gnarled and knotted trunks and fantastically
twisted branches bespeak them of a date coeval with that of the gleaming temple
which they so greatly embellish. Beneath their long cool shadows congregate
groups of idlers, attracted thither by the calm stillness and refreshing breezes;
and there they loiter for hours, erecting in the court their awnings of striped
cotton, and spreading their mats for the mid-day siesta; while the melon and
sherbet-venders ply their fragrant trade, and the perfumed vapour of the
Salonica tobacco exhales from many a chibouque.
The court of Yeni Djami generally presents the characteristic scene which I
have here described; and of the mosque itself, the Turks have a popular tradi-
tion, that it was built from the produce of one of the Sultana-mother's diamond-
studded slippers, piously disposed of for the purpose of its erection; a legend
which doubtlessly owes its origin to the probable fact of the expenses having
been defrayed from the bishmalik (or slipper-money) of the imperial lady—a
national grant to the female members of the reigning family, bearing some
analogy to the " privy purse" in England.
THE TCHARCHI, OR BAZARS OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
“ Richly furnished with plate and gold;
Basons and ewers, -■
My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry:
In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns;
In cypress chests my arras counterpanes,
Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,
Fine linen, Turkey cushions host with pearl,
Valance of Venice gold in needle-work,
Pewter and brass -"
Shakspearb.
The Bazars of Constantinople have ever been to home-staying Europeans as
a vision of the " Arabian Nights ;" travellers have lost themselves in hyperbole
in their descriptions of them; and the antique glories of the Atmeidan, and even
the solemn grandeur of St. Sophia, do not subject the returned pilgrim to half
29
The mosque stands near the edge of the harbour, and its court stretches
down almost to the water. It is overshadowed by two of the most majestic
maple-trees in the city, whose gnarled and knotted trunks and fantastically
twisted branches bespeak them of a date coeval with that of the gleaming temple
which they so greatly embellish. Beneath their long cool shadows congregate
groups of idlers, attracted thither by the calm stillness and refreshing breezes;
and there they loiter for hours, erecting in the court their awnings of striped
cotton, and spreading their mats for the mid-day siesta; while the melon and
sherbet-venders ply their fragrant trade, and the perfumed vapour of the
Salonica tobacco exhales from many a chibouque.
The court of Yeni Djami generally presents the characteristic scene which I
have here described; and of the mosque itself, the Turks have a popular tradi-
tion, that it was built from the produce of one of the Sultana-mother's diamond-
studded slippers, piously disposed of for the purpose of its erection; a legend
which doubtlessly owes its origin to the probable fact of the expenses having
been defrayed from the bishmalik (or slipper-money) of the imperial lady—a
national grant to the female members of the reigning family, bearing some
analogy to the " privy purse" in England.
THE TCHARCHI, OR BAZARS OF CONSTANTINOPLE.
“ Richly furnished with plate and gold;
Basons and ewers, -■
My hangings all of Tyrian tapestry:
In ivory coffers I have stuff'd my crowns;
In cypress chests my arras counterpanes,
Costly apparel, tents, and canopies,
Fine linen, Turkey cushions host with pearl,
Valance of Venice gold in needle-work,
Pewter and brass -"
Shakspearb.
The Bazars of Constantinople have ever been to home-staying Europeans as
a vision of the " Arabian Nights ;" travellers have lost themselves in hyperbole
in their descriptions of them; and the antique glories of the Atmeidan, and even
the solemn grandeur of St. Sophia, do not subject the returned pilgrim to half