224 M. Steamboats (agents at Constantinople, see pp. [538], 539; at Constantza, see p. [563]). 1. Royal Rumanian State Maritime Service (Serviciul Maritim Român; in correspondence with the North German Lloyd; comp. R. 76), from Constantinople on Tues. and Sat. aft. in 14 hrs. (from Constantza on Sun. and Thurs. night in 12 hrs.; comp. p. [563]); fare 55 or 35 fr.—2. Austrian Lloyd (for Odessa and Nikolayev) from Constantinople every other Sat. aft. viâ Burgas (from Constantza on Thurs. night viâ Varna), in about 1½ days (fare 51 fr., 20 fr.; in the reverse direction 44 fr., 20 fr.); also by Line Braila B, from Constantinople every other Frid. aft. viâ Varna, in 2 days (from Constantza direct to Constantinople Wed. aft., in 19 hrs.); fare 58 (back, 46) or 25 fr. (without food in 2nd cabin).—3. Società Nazionale, Line XIII (for Braila), from Constantinople Sun. aft. (from Constantza Mon. aft.), in 17 hrs. (fare 40 or 28 fr.).
For Constantinople and the voyage through the Bosporus, see p. [536] and pp. [557]–560.
The Rumanian and Italian vessels pursue a N. course through the Black Sea, long affording fine retrospects of the precipitous shores of Anatolia and the fissured promontories of the Rumelian coast.
Steering to the N.W. the Odessa steamer of the Austrian Lloyd reaches the open sea off Rumelí Fanar (p. [560]). It again, however, approaches the Rumelian coast abreast of Cape Iniada (Turk. Kuru Burnu), the Thynias Promontorium of the ancients.
Beyond the far-projecting Cape Kuratan or Zeitün Burnu (lights), belonging to S. Bulgaria (formerly E. Rumelia), opens the wide Gulf of Burgas. We pass the peninsula of Sozopolis and the lighthouses of the islands of Megalo Nisi and Anastasia, and enter the Bay of Burgas, which runs deeply into the land from the middle of the gulf.
Burgas (Hôt. Commercial, etc.), the modern Greek Pyrgos, is the chief harbour of S. Bulgaria (11,700 inhab.) and lies at the head of the bay between large lagoons. The harbour is tolerably sheltered from the E. wind by two moles. The chief exports are grain and attar of roses.
In continuing our voyage we pass the peninsula of Mesembriya (the ancient Mesembria) and Cape Emine (lighthouse), the N. horn of the Bay of Burgas, forming a spur of the well-wooded Little Balkan Range, the old frontier between E. Rumelia and Bulgaria.
On the N. margin of the Balkan Mts. lies Varna, the ancient Odessos, now the chief seaport of Bulgaria (pop. 35,000), where some of the Austrian Lloyd steamers call. The entrance to the bay of Varna, open towards the E., is bounded on the S. by Cape Galata (Galata Burnu; lighthouse) and on the N. by Cape St. George. The anchorage, between two long moles, is similar to that of Burgas. The Devna Canal connects the bay with Lake Devna.
Farther on the steamer rounds Cape Kaliakra (Turk. Chiliga Burnu; lighthouse), jutting far to the S., and rejoins the course of the direct steamer from the Bosporus to Constantza. Next comes Cape Shabla (lights), 10–12 M. to the N. of which lies the village of Ilanjik, on the border between Bulgaria and the Rumanian Dobruja. At night the position of the flat coast is revealed by the lights of the small port of Mangalia and of Cape Tusla, stretching in front of the lagoon of Mangalia.
After a short halt in the open roads all the steamers pass through the entrance to the harbour of Constantza and moor alongside the quays of the E. mole. The landing-place of the Rumanian mail-steamers (see below) is close to the harbour-station.