LITERARY NOTICES

OF NEW WORKS AT HOME AND

ABROAD.

SKETCHES OF TURKEY, IN 1831-32, by an American. Svo. pp. 527. NewYork; J. & J. Harper.

We have long derived all our notions from Europeans, and the knowledge of Turkey possessed by Europe for many centuries, has amounted to little else than profoundest ignorance. For hundreds of years that vast empire was never mentioned in international relations, and its very existence was unmarked and uncared for, except when the thunder of the cannon of its Sultans before Rhodes, Malta, or Vienna, alarmed Christendom with the terrors of the old Crusades. In intermediate times, the public curiosity was sufficiently satisfied as to a people with whom there was little or no commercial interchange, by hereditary stories of decapitations and dethronements, of impenetrable harems and luxurious Pachas, and a thousand nursery wonders of Arabian Tales. The enterprising mind, of Lady Mary Wortley Montague, first helped to break this singular crust of ignorance and prejudice, and her entertaining, though incorrect and exaggerated letters, and above all, her mode of life and residence in Turkey, contributed to create an interest in knowing more of the singular people with whom that accomplished woman was so much attracted. Since her time, many Travellers have published volumes minutely, but often with striking incorrectness, detailing all they could see of the country and manners of its inhabitants. It was hardly however, until the war of the Greek Revolution had attracted the sympathy of Europe, and above all, until the daring genius of the Sultan Mahmoud II. and of the Pacha of Egypt, had opened an intimate relation between their countries and Europe, that much of real importance was known of Turkey and its politics. So rapid has been the change induced by the decisive and liberal policy of these men, that every day is more intimately developing its interior, and more openly extending the commercial relations of other nations with every part of its wide possessions. The late treaty with this country is a proof of this, and there can be no doubt, that this general intercourse and the consequent effect of the wide diffusion of knowledge and more liberal principles throughout the empire, will give a new turn for years to come, to the advancing civilization of the age; and commerce, as well as civilization, will each acquire an additional impetus in diffusing their benefits over the fertile plains of a beautiful and extensive country, which, in the very heart of Europe, still retains the characteristic barbarity of the middle ages. So true is this remark, that if we were to take the respective years of the Hegira and the Christian era, as a standard of comparative civilization, we could hardly find a juster; and 1247, the present year of the Hegira, will nearly correspond, as regards the advancement of the people in social comfort and political liberty, with the same comparatively barbarous period in the Christian Calendar, when European Society was but a vast mass of conflicting materials, controlled and held together by a relentless despotism,

We feel much national exultation that a citizen of our republic should have added so essentially to the knowledge we possess of this great empire. Dr. De Kay's work is indeed every way creditable. It is written with a direct and manly frankness, that pleases us much; there are no circuitous paraphrases, no elaborate straining after effect, he comes directly to the point, seems anxious to give all the information in his power, and gives it without circumlocution, or unnecessary detail. He is neither felicitous, or learned, however, when he meddles with the disputes of scholars, and holds rather heretical opinions on points of some moment to men of letters, and there is too much narrow and unmeaning flippancy, when he has occasion to remark on foreigners; the anecdote about the English officer, Chap. I. would have been much better left out. However, where there is so much to commend, we have no wish to be hypercritical-and fulfil a more pleasing duty, in presenting our readers some entertaining passages from this valuable work.

We have the following interesting account of the Volcano, whose sudden appearance above the waters of the Mediterranean, formed such a subject of speculation to the Geologists of Europe. That a new Island should be in a state of actual formation in the bosom of a great sea, is a fact that may well interest all who take an interest in Terrestrial phenomena. The account is graphic, and the accompanying sketch which we likewise give, is a useful illustration.

'On the morning of the 16th of July the first officer reported, that during the whole of the preceding night he had observed at intervals a singular illumination of the heavens. We were then south of the island of Maretimo, and our course was southeasterly along the southern coast of Sicily, and the light proceeded from the eastern quarter of the horizon. At daybreak a large volume of smoke was seen which was at first supposed to proceed from the Malta steampacket known to ply in these seas. This conjecture received new strength when one of the men aloft sung out that he saw the chimney; as we approached, it became evident that the volume of smoke was too considerable to proceed from any or all the steam-vessels in the world united together, and, moreover, its vertical position was entirely different from that long horizontal stream of smoke which accompanies a steamboat in motion. Etna was then summoned to our aid, but a reference to the chart and to our position indicated that it could not proceed from that source. At meridian we were in latitude 36° 55', and the column of smoke bore from us due north; we were then naturally led to the opinion that this smoke must proceed from some new volcanic source on the southern coast of Sicily, or, what was more probable from its apparent distance, that a subaqueous volcano was in operation between us and the land. The appearances presented during this day were of the most sublime nature; an immense column of dense white smoke appeared to issue from the ocean, and, although continually changing in form and volume, constantly preserved an elevation of one thousand feet. At times it would appear like a lofty pyramid, again it would curl out into immense wreaths, apparently covering miles of surface, like an enormous umbrella, and then it would shoot up and branch out in various directions, assuming somewhat the appearance of a grove of gigantic trees. These changes in the form of the column of smoke were no doubt owing to successive eruptions which observed no regular periods of intermission, but varied in intervals of from three to ten minutes. The base of the column near the water resembled a cone about twenty feet above the horizon, and this was the only part which remained unchanged. At intervals, which we

judged to occupy the space of one hour, the eruptions, as manifested by the increased volume of smoke, became much more violent, and at such times, with a glass, I could distinctly perceive the ascent of a shower of stones, which was marked by numerous perpendicular black streaks appearing through the white smoke; this ap pearance would last several minutes. During the afternoon the sky became overcast with a thick reddish haze, owing, no douht, to the immense quantities of volcanic ashes and dust dispersed through the air. We afterward fell in with a brig whose decks had been literally covered with these ashes. During the night this white pillar of smoke continued to be distinctly visible, and sharp flashes, resembling lightning, were observed to issue from its bosom. As we proceeded on our course, the next morning it became gradually less distinct, and at three in the afternoon was no longer visible.

We have thus for more than thirty-six hours been spectators of one of the most grand and terrific operations of nature, a spectacle which rarely occurs, except after the lapse of centuries. I have already mentioned, that when the smoke bore from us due north, our latitude was 36° 55', and, consequently, it could not be very far from the island of Sicily. The fact of our seeing the shower of stones so distinctly would seem to prove that we could not have been more than ten or twelve miles distant from the volcanic focus.

Our conjecture respecting this subaqueous volcano was afterward verified at Constantinople; and from a painting, which was made on the spot two days after we passed, we are enabled to present our readers with the annexed sketch.*

With regard to its exact situation, we could, of course, only make an approximation; according to the most recent accounts it lies in latitude 37° 7′ 30′′ north, longitude 12° 44' east of Greenwich.'

The Caiks, or Boats in such continued demand upon the waters around Constantinople, and which form such a main feature in the peculiarities of the Turkish Capital, are well and graphically described.

'We took a caik (pronounced cah-eek) this morning, and crossed the Golden Horn to Constantinople. These caiks are the neatest and prettiest boats that ever floated on the water. Light as our Indian bark canoes, they are far more tasteful in their form, and skim over the water with surprising velocity. In their shape

By the kindness of the publishers we are enabled to give additional value to our extracts by adding the illustrative cuts.

&c. they strongly reminded us of those ancient paintings of boats in which Charon is represented as ferrying departed spirits over the Styx, and as they have no rowlocks their noiseless progress heightens the resemblance. They are elaborately carved within, and nothing can exceed the scrupulous cleanliness with which they are con stantly preserved. The watermen are dressed in a loose white Canton-crape shirt, and wear on their heads a small scarlet scull-cap, which appears to be a feeble protection against a burning sun. They have the reputation of being very civil, notwithstanding their mustachios, which give them a ferocious look, and they afford the finest specimens of the genuine Tartar physiognomy to be found in the neighborhood of Constantinople.

'These caiks are so very light that passengers are compelled to sit down on a carpet in the bottom of the boat, and the least motion, even the turn of the head, is sufficient to disturb the equilibrium. They are so numerous that one is in continual apprehension of being jostled or run over, in which case they would, from their delicate construction, inevitably be destroyed. Accidents of this kind are, however, very rare; they shout as they approach each other, glance off to the right or left as required, and hundreds may frequently be seen crowded together, and yet shooting forward in various directions, and avoiding each other with matchless dexterity. The number of these caiks has been variously estimated at from eight to fifteen thousand; they cost from fifty dollars to one hundred and fifty dollars a piece, and the men are paid fifteen dollars per month, finding themselves. Gentility is measured by the number of oars. A shabby fellow uses a caik with a single pair of oars; a gentleman must have two, but cannot exceed three. Foreign ministers are permitted to use seven, while the sultan frequently figures with twenty. From various opportunities which we subsequently had of testing their speed, there is no question that a threeoared caik, manned by Turkish rowers, would far outstrip our fleetest Whitehall barges.'

New-York has long been celebrated for its wretched waters, and on that account, we deem the full and admirable account which Dr. De Kay has given of the Waterworks at Constantinople so valuable, that we extract the whole. The real, and in fact, the only utility in travelling, is tous attained when the objects visited are rendered, by the advantage of a luminous description, subservient to the interests of mankind at large; or, even in our case, of particular communities. Our city citizens will thank the doctor for his accurate description.

'Every stranger is struck with the numerous contrivances around Constantinople for supplying it with pure and wholesome water. Belonging to a city in the United States which has long been distinguished for its nauseous and detestable water, and for the culpable negligence of its rulers on a subject of so much importance, no opportunity was neglected to obtain all the information in our power in regard to the hydraulic establish ments in this neighborhood. The result, however mortifying, must not be concealed, and we therefore state, that on a subject intimately connected, not only with the comfort, but with the health of the people, the commercial emporium of the United States is some centuries behind the metropolis of Turkey.

Under the Greek emperors, Constantinople was supplied with water by means of aqueducts, and large reservoirs were established in different parts of the city. These lat. ter, however, have now gone into disuse, as expensive and inadequate for the purposes intended. Under the present system, all the water-works about Constantinople are under the management of an officer, termed the soo naziri, or inspector of waters. It is his business to keep them in good repair, and he is responsible for any accidents which may obstruct or diminish the supply. As no time is to be lost to repair injuries, this officer is clothed with great power, and he compels every one to assist in restoring the line of communication. This resembles the corvee of old France in some measure, but is much more oppressive; for the soo naziri fines most rigorously all who dwell in the vicinity of any breach or injury unless they give immediate information of the disaster. So important are these water-courses considered that the sultans have always been in the habit of making annually a formal visit of inspection, which is accompanied with much ceremony, and ordering such improvements and alterations are deemed necessary.

'It is impossible to travel anywhere in the vicinity of Constantinople without being struck with the great pains taken by the Turks to treasure up every rill, or the minutest trickle from the face of the rocks. These are carefully collected in marble or brick reservoirs, and the surplus is conveyed by pipes to the main stream. In passing through se. questered dells, the traveller frequently comes suddenly upon one of these sculptured marble fountains, which adds just enough of ornament to embellish the rural scene. They are frequently decorated with inscriptions, setting forth the greatness and goodness of Providence, and inviting the weary traveller to make due acknowledgments for the same. Unlike our civilized ostentation, the name of the benevolent constructor never appears on these sculptured stones. The quaint Turkish adage, which serves as a rule of conduct, is well exemplified in this as well as in many other instances; 'Do good and throw it into the sea; if the fishes don't know it, God will.'

'Among the hills at various distances, from fifteen to twenty miles from the city, are constructed large artificial reservoirs. These are termed bendts, a word of Persian origin, and are built in the following manner: Advantage is taken of a natural situation, such as a narrow valley or gorge between two mountains, and a strong and substantial work of masonry is carried across, sufficiently high to give the water its required level. Four of these bendts were visited and examined, but there are several others which we did not see. A description of one of the largest will give an idea of the manner in which they are constructed.