Early this morning I betake myself to the enjoyment of the same diverting prospect, whilst the ship, by the benefit of tacking, passes by Grande and Piccolo Ponte; and so betwixt nine and ten of the clock comes to an anchor within a short league of the Seven Towers, a castle which forms the extreme point of Constantinople. Here we continued wind bound the remainder of this day, because the narrowness of the chanel, into which we were now to enter; and the force of the current, which runs very rapidly out of the Thracian Bosphorus; did not suffer us to advance against the violent north wind.
April viii.
This morning about nine a clock the wind, which changed nothing of its point, yet abated so much of its strength, that it permitted us to turn from the Seven Towers along the bending walls of Constantinople, as far as the Seraglio point. But the violence of the current prohibiting us to make the harbour of Galata, the ship was again obliged to drop anchor, and wait till she could either make sail with a fair wind, or take the opportunity of a calm to be towed in by hamáls. We had not long cast anchor, when my esteemed freind, Mr. Matthias Goodfellow, was pleased to visit me on board the ship; and carrying me ashore in the boat, which brought him, first introduced me to his excellency, the Lord Paget, and then kindly allotted me a pleasant and convenient apartment in his house at Galata.
April xiii.
This day I attended the funeral of Signior Demetrasco, chief dragoman to the English ambassador, who tho by faith a Latin, yet by birth was of the Greek nation. And accordingly in the way of burying proper to this latter, I observed the manner of carrying the corps of the deceased barefaced, clothed in his late usual habit, and supported by four of his nearest relations; who were followed by women slaves, hired to make a hideous pomp, by tearing their hair, extorting forced and counterfeit tears, and repeating in a continual loud and frightful lamentation, ὦ ἀφέντη μου; that is, O my master!
April xv.
I paid a visit to Signior Rombarts, a gentile and ingenious merchant of the Dutch nation, at his house in Curuchesmée, a village on the Thracian Bosphorus. Here I observed a sophá room remarkably adorned after the richest Turkish fashion, the roof formed into a cupola, and the gilding and painting of the whole so splendidly curious, that it amounted at first to the sum of four thousand hungárs, or two thousand pounds sterling.