DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.62355#0242
106
BEAUTIES OF THE BOSPHORUS.
MOSQUE OF SULTAN BAJAZET.
—-" This enchanted ground,
And all its thousand turns disclose
Some fresher beauty varying round:
The haughtiest breast its wisli might bound
Through life to dwell delighted here."
Byron.
The Mosque of Sultan Bajazet is situated in the angle of a large open area,
known as the " Square of the Seraskier," from the circumstance that his palace,
or rather its extensive court, forms another side of the enclosure ; its large and
lofty projecting gate, elaborately wrought and fretted with gold, and surmounted
by a dome crowned with an immense gilded star, being, perhaps, the most
oriental feature of the scene.
The Mosque of Bajazet is built in the immediate neighbourhood of the
great Tcharchi, or Bazar, and hence the square is constantly thronged with
merchants, traders, and strangers, passing to and from this vast commercial
mart; while groups of khamals, or street-porters, lounge on every side with their
baskets, waiting to be hired by such visitors to the Tcharchi as chance to make
purchases. Numbers of Greek and Armenian mahalibe* and yahourtf mer-
chants are also perpetually to be seen; the first with their dainty fare
temptingly set forth upon fine linen cloths, and protected from the sun by huge
white umbrellas, looking like gigantic mushrooms; and the others, wander-
ing from side to side, balancing the large wooden scales on which the small
basins of red clay, containing the yahourt, are arranged with extreme care and
cleanliness; while, at intervals, the water-venders cross the path, with their
classically-moulded earthen pitchers on their shoulders, and their capacious
goblets of crystal, carried on a narrow tray attached to the leathern girdle about
their waists ; giving out, as they move along, the low, plaintive, and by no means
unmusical cry peculiar to their calling; and exerting a very successful rivalry
with the sherbetjhes, who plant their portable fountains under the cool shadows
* A composition resembling blanc-mange, and very popular in Turkey.
+ Sour and congealed milk.
BEAUTIES OF THE BOSPHORUS.
MOSQUE OF SULTAN BAJAZET.
—-" This enchanted ground,
And all its thousand turns disclose
Some fresher beauty varying round:
The haughtiest breast its wisli might bound
Through life to dwell delighted here."
Byron.
The Mosque of Sultan Bajazet is situated in the angle of a large open area,
known as the " Square of the Seraskier," from the circumstance that his palace,
or rather its extensive court, forms another side of the enclosure ; its large and
lofty projecting gate, elaborately wrought and fretted with gold, and surmounted
by a dome crowned with an immense gilded star, being, perhaps, the most
oriental feature of the scene.
The Mosque of Bajazet is built in the immediate neighbourhood of the
great Tcharchi, or Bazar, and hence the square is constantly thronged with
merchants, traders, and strangers, passing to and from this vast commercial
mart; while groups of khamals, or street-porters, lounge on every side with their
baskets, waiting to be hired by such visitors to the Tcharchi as chance to make
purchases. Numbers of Greek and Armenian mahalibe* and yahourtf mer-
chants are also perpetually to be seen; the first with their dainty fare
temptingly set forth upon fine linen cloths, and protected from the sun by huge
white umbrellas, looking like gigantic mushrooms; and the others, wander-
ing from side to side, balancing the large wooden scales on which the small
basins of red clay, containing the yahourt, are arranged with extreme care and
cleanliness; while, at intervals, the water-venders cross the path, with their
classically-moulded earthen pitchers on their shoulders, and their capacious
goblets of crystal, carried on a narrow tray attached to the leathern girdle about
their waists ; giving out, as they move along, the low, plaintive, and by no means
unmusical cry peculiar to their calling; and exerting a very successful rivalry
with the sherbetjhes, who plant their portable fountains under the cool shadows
* A composition resembling blanc-mange, and very popular in Turkey.
+ Sour and congealed milk.