| Transcript |
WITH THE SEVEN CHURCHES OF ASIA MINOR. 51
" the butcher," conveying the same idea of a homicide, but meant as a term of bitter
reproach.
On the shores of the Bosphorus, opposite Therapia, on the Asiatic side, is one of
those lovely, and extensive valleys, which open on the strait, and add so much to its
beauty. Here the sultans possessed a kiosk, to which they sometimes retired for
recreation; and for their accommodation, a scala, or slip, was constructed on which they
landed from the caique: hence the valley has been called Hunkair iskellessi, or
"the landing-place of the Manslayer;" an appellation rendered famous by the treatv
recently made there.
This noble valley is distinguished by other circumstances. When Sultan Selim
wished to excite a literary feeling among his subjects, and a printing-press was reared
at Scutari, he converted his kiosk in this place into a manufactory, to supply it with
paper. When first established, its arrangements corresponded with its former use, and
its princely founder. The reservoirs for water were ornamented marble basins; and
the whole gave the idea of a sultan's palace given up for a mechanic's workshop, and
excited a feeling of respect and admiration for the enlightened and patriotic prince who
had surrendered his splendid dwelling and delightful retreat for such a purpose.
Paper is an article to which a Turk annexes a certain degree of sanctity, and beyond
that which it claims for its ordinary use. It is that on which, they say, the sacred
name of Allah is written, and they never suffer it to be defiled, or used for any unworthy
purpose. Wherever they see a fragment of it lying about, they carefully take it up, and
throw it into some receptacle. It is often seen, in this way, stuffed into any hole or
crevice in a wall which may present itself. With the same feeling, they have not yet
suffered their Koran to be printed. They think it a profanation of the name of God, to
have it*squeezed, as it must be, in the press. The more sensible, however, assign
what they consider a more reasonable cause. They call their sacred books, as we do, the
Scriptures, or " Writings;" and, with an adherence to the mere letter, they say they could
no longer be scrijrtures, if suffered to be printed.
The eminence on the right is the Jouchi Daghi, or "Giant's Mountain," impending
over the valley. The reason assigned for this name is a singular one. Among the many
persons of our Scriptures, recognized by the Koran, is Joshua the son of Nun ; to wdiom
its commentators attribute an immense stature. They affirm that he was sent against the
Roum or Greek infidels, whom he defeated in a battle, during which the sun went down
in his ordinary course, but immediately rose again; so they could not be saved. It was
his custom to sit on this mountain, and bathe his feet in the waters of the Bosphorus
below ; and when he died, they could find no place large enough on the hill for his grave,
so they buried only one of his feet. These extravagant fictions they support by two
authorities. There is a dervish mosque on the summit, and a large enclosure beside it. In
the enclosure is a tomb seven yards long, which they show as the evidence of the length
of the foot buried there ; and on the walls of the mosque is an inscription in Arabic,
detailing the history of Joshua, whom they call Usha ben Nun. It concludes with a caution
to the incredulous: "If any one doubt, let him look to this inscription, and believe." |
