VENICE.
Venedik, as described in the Atlas, has various significations: it is also called Venechia and Venetia. It is a large city, built upon sixty small islands in a corner of the sea like a lake. Its waters ebb and flow every six hours; and some of the isles are raised like ramparts to prevent the water from overflowing. This city has three or four passages to the sea; and although it is not guarded by walls and towers, its being so completely surrounded by water renders it quite safe and free from all danger. Between the houses there are roads and passages by which passengers and boats may pass from house to house. Over these waters there are about four hundred and fifty bridges, both of stone and wood. The largest of these roads they call a canal; it divides the city into two parts, and over it there is a wonderful bridge. Eight thousand vessels are constantly in motion, some of which are ornamented with covers, and these they call gondolas. The circumference of the city is nearly eight miles; and its principal streets are sixty-four in number. The public and private buildings are excessively grand and ornamental, especially the church dedicated to the Four Evangelists, which is called St. Marco, and is an astonishing building. It is adorned with the most valuable and expensive stones, and its interior is gilt with pure gold. In the treasury, which they say is a sacred deposit, there are kept the most costly and precious articles; and affirming that the city with all its castles and ships belongs to it, the priests have shackled these fools, and by this artifice have brought under their power all the Christians, small and great. The city has three fine market-places, all adjoining each other: in the square of the principal one is the above-mentioned church; and close to the quay there are two massy columns; upon one of which is set up the standard of St. Marco, and upon the other the image of St. Theodorus. On the flag is represented a lion with wings; by which, and on their coins also, they celebrate the valour of St. Marco, who is said to have been a brave and valiant person. The space between the two columns is the Hall of Justice. The centre of the city they call the Arsenal; which has a spacious building, and being two miles in circumference, it forms a strong castle. Here naval armaments and cannons are daily manufactured and repaired; and the wrecks of fleets, the arms taken from pirates, old vessels, and colours, being deposited in this place, are exhibited to visitors.
The population of Venice is estimated to be three hundred thousand, and it is divided into three classes. Those of the first are called Patricii, and correspond to our Meshaiékh. To these belong the management of the state, and the affairs of government. Their principal is called Doge, which signifies Duke. He enters into all questions of law, but has not power to act until he has the voice of the people. Amongst the Christians a Duke corresponds to the Begler Beg of the Mussulmans, except that the former has his own coin. Those constituting the second order are called Istadinū,[5] and to them are committed civil affairs, customs, and education. The third class is composed of merchants and artisans. In former times the power of this people was vested in a consul, but in the year 555 from the birth of Christ (upon whom be peace!) it was committed to a tribune or chief of a tribe; and this government continued two hundred and fifty-two years, till, in A. D. 707, it became a dukedom: so that from the commencement of the dukedom to the time of the writing of this book, which is A. H. 1067 (A. D. 1656), is a period of nine hundred and fifty years. To proceed: Mercator, the author of the Atlas, describing this city, speaks very highly of it, and says that it is the most celebrated city in the world; and being the common port of the universe, merchants of all sorts, and from the most distant countries, trade in it. The number of its inhabitants, and the extent of their wealth, are beyond conception. On this account the Christians call it the Paradise of the Earth: for although during a period of one thousand years it suffered much, yet it never was under a foreign power. For this reason the Venetians represent their city by the figure of a virgin holding a sword; and this figure they place in all their offices: for they state that her still holding the sword, signifies her having continued a virgin down to the present time. The above-mentioned book, which is an European work, in describing this city, gives the following statement: “that the first founding of Venice was, according to several historians, in A. D. 421, when the inhabitants of Patavia, being attacked by the Hungarians, left that town, and settling on these islands, commenced the building of Venice.” Several rivers from the territory of Lombardy fall into the Gulf near it; and the greatest part of the provisions consumed in the city are brought down these rivers. Here terminates the description as given in European books; but Piri Reis in his Bahria says, that ships bound for Venice first touch at Parenza, which is a fort in the territory of Istria, and distant about one hundred miles from Venice. They cannot proceed without a pilot on account of the shallows; they therefore engage one to conduct them from this place. They then proceed till they come in sight of Iskandil and Marco-chaklik: the latter is a high castle, which appears first, and then when they can see the city they cast anchor. Soon after another pilot comes from the city with a small boat, which takes the vessel in tow; and thus they proceed to the harbour. It is forbidden to pilot foreign vessels. The quays are always kept open on account of the tides. In the city there are also water-boats; these they fill with water, and going about the streets they sell it by measure. Fish is plentiful here. The fishermen have boats like skimmers, in which they keep the fish alive; and carrying them through the streets, sell them. On the east side of the city is an island, which they call Muran, where crystal vessels and other glass articles are manufactured.