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June 27, 1841: Sunday at Pera |
This is Sunday and is strictly observed by both Greeks, Arminians and Catholics - the turks whose business depends on the Frank population make also a holiday of it -
There are several catholic churches at Galata and Pera - entered one which though not in a conspicuous situation was a neat edifice internally adorned with gilding and paintings - the congregation were mostly ladies and of respectable appearance - the Armiman churches are small - and in appearance similar to the greek- there is a profusion of paintings of saints and madonnas -
In the afternoon the sweet Waters situated at the termination of the golden horn outside the city and abt 4 miles from Seraglio point is a place of recreation - rowing past the government dock yards and arsenals and under the floating bridge - among a crowd of pleasure seeking cayiques soon arrived at the termination of the horn - when under the shade of wide spreading platane trees - were gay parties of women, children and men - ices, lemonades and pipes were occupying the attention of many - the arminian women veiled like the turks were seated in groups to themselves - in fact there were men and women of all countries and dresses - up to the fashionable parisian belle -
Jews with turbans and grave looking arminians in cloth robe and spherical cap (view sketch) in our place a mixed crowd had formed a circle round three old men who were performing the part of jesters - and by their jokes exciting the laughter of the audience — in other places musicians and vocalists had their listeners - one man an egyptian as I was told sang in an uncommon but to me a pleasing strain -
Apart from the women was a large circle formed and kept in order by several policemen as many as a dozen boys dressed in scarlet & crimson were dancing with castanets in their hands or rather performing lascivious motions for the gratification of the admiring spectators - many of whom were gravely smoking their chibouks and nargales - these long haired youths afterwards came round to collect paras and piastres from their admirers —
Turning away from the boys - rambled towards the Sultans Kiosk which is only occupied by his harem in the month of May and when intruded are not allowed to approach the sweet waters - and is nothing more than a neat country seat -
Evening drawing nigh left the sweet waters with others of its pleasure seeking visitors - after dinner went to the promenade at Pera a rough unpaved road on the brow of the hill overlooking the petit champs des morts - one of the numerous burying grounds of the Ottomans - a plain frequented by the better classes of Europeans - french,- Italians, Greeks - and a few English - with nothing of the oriental like the frequenters of the sweet waters.
view pages: 1, 2, 3, 4
There are several catholic churches at Galata and Pera - entered one which though not in a conspicuous situation was a neat edifice internally adorned with gilding and paintings - the congregation were mostly ladies and of respectable appearance - the Armiman churches are small - and in appearance similar to the greek- there is a profusion of paintings of saints and madonnas -
In the afternoon the sweet Waters situated at the termination of the golden horn outside the city and abt 4 miles from Seraglio point is a place of recreation - rowing past the government dock yards and arsenals and under the floating bridge - among a crowd of pleasure seeking cayiques soon arrived at the termination of the horn - when under the shade of wide spreading platane trees - were gay parties of women, children and men - ices, lemonades and pipes were occupying the attention of many - the arminian women veiled like the turks were seated in groups to themselves - in fact there were men and women of all countries and dresses - up to the fashionable parisian belle -
Jews with turbans and grave looking arminians in cloth robe and spherical cap (view sketch) in our place a mixed crowd had formed a circle round three old men who were performing the part of jesters - and by their jokes exciting the laughter of the audience — in other places musicians and vocalists had their listeners - one man an egyptian as I was told sang in an uncommon but to me a pleasing strain -Apart from the women was a large circle formed and kept in order by several policemen as many as a dozen boys dressed in scarlet & crimson were dancing with castanets in their hands or rather performing lascivious motions for the gratification of the admiring spectators - many of whom were gravely smoking their chibouks and nargales - these long haired youths afterwards came round to collect paras and piastres from their admirers —
Turning away from the boys - rambled towards the Sultans Kiosk which is only occupied by his harem in the month of May and when intruded are not allowed to approach the sweet waters - and is nothing more than a neat country seat -
Evening drawing nigh left the sweet waters with others of its pleasure seeking visitors - after dinner went to the promenade at Pera a rough unpaved road on the brow of the hill overlooking the petit champs des morts - one of the numerous burying grounds of the Ottomans - a plain frequented by the better classes of Europeans - french,- Italians, Greeks - and a few English - with nothing of the oriental like the frequenters of the sweet waters.
view pages: 1, 2, 3, 4
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