purchased is not generally difficult. The shops are extremely narrow, or rather shallow, being seldom deeper than two yards, so that a man's stock in trade can be generally handed down from the shelves without his rising from his carpet; though all the shops have a little recess in the wall for the bestowal of valuable articles. There are no windows, and the place is closed by letting down a shutter which is kept aloft by a long pole. Locks, bolts, or bars are not of much use, as no one remains at night except the watchman. The majority of shopkeepers are Jews or Armenians, though there is a fair sprinkling of Turks and Greeks; certain articles, as cloths, brocades, silks, &c., require not only a larger place of business, but greater energy in the tradesman, as customers here come to spend a deal of time and very little money. Brilliant and shewy patterns in Cashmeres and shawls from Persia dazzle you for two or three hundred yards, succeeded by muslins of every shade and pattern: those for the heads of the women are quite plain, and white; but all classes vie in the tawdriness, if not richness of their pocket-handkerchiefs; and certainly those which are presented to superior people are ornamented in gold embroidery and tasteful device, that does them credit. The shoemakers are here, as everywhere, a numerous class; and the countless phantasies in design were highly amusing; black, green, red, yellow, and white in leather; every shade in silk, satin, and brocade; some beautifully petite and à la Frank, some with the toe turned up, and others again with the high-heels of our grand-mammas, arranged in groups, festoons, and drapery the most grotesque; and the back ground bristling with a phalanx of a sort of seven league boots, in which the men encase their legs (pantaloons included) during the winter season. Only think of a pair of monstrous Hessians with iron heels, and all for five shillings! To be sure you may take up a pair of Cinderella looking slippers, with bullion fringe, and of the richest workmanship, for which the shopkeeper would think it no sin to ask you more than as many pounds. The legal colours for slippers are, for a Turk, yellow; Armenian and Greek, red; and Jew, slate colour or black. If, however, a Jew or Armenian receives any appointment under government, he is permitted to wear the yellow slippers, and a high privilege it is considered. In pipes equal diversity prevails; from the common cherrystick and bowl of red clay to ivory and precious stones. The mouthpiece is generally amber, but the difference of the quality varies the price, from a piastre to four or five thousands. Some of them are studded with gems, forming flowers and mottos from the Koran. Every Turk of fortune has a slave who carries his tchibouk, and attends to the changing his rose or orange water when he chooses to smoke the narghily, or Persian pipe, which has a long flexible tube of leather. No range of shops pleased me more than the tobacconist. The back part of each is occupied by small bales of Latachia or Syrian tobacco, open at the ends. Before the dealer, who sits squatted on his rich Turkey mat, runs a handsome counter of polished walnut wood; at one corner is his desk and money drawer. Except a small space for serving customers, the counter is occupied by glass globes, with every variety of cut and roll tobacco. The ceiling of the shop is a series of mirrors, slightly inclined; in winter hung with festoons of coloured paper, but in spring and summer redolent with the perfume of choice flowers, disposed in garlands, and as bouquets. The air of neatness and comfort is really quite enticing. The cloth merchants require deeper premises, and have a long counter to display cloth on. The Jews in this quarter have generally a barker, like our auctioneers, who almost pulls you into the shop, and exclaiming "Neh istersin"- -"what do you wish?" The measure here is a peek, about 27 inches English. But to particularize the half of the quarters would be a repetition of eulogy, and I am sure I never saw the whole. There are avenues of turbans, of shawls for the waist, embroidered cloth of gold, swords and arms, lapidaries, workers in gold, and scores of others. One attraction, which those only can duly appreciate who have been half roasted under an eastern mid-day sun, I cannot pass unnoticed. The corner shops, where the avenues diverge, are devoted to the sale of cooling drinks, or mehlibeh, an article made of rice, not unlike blanc-mange, served on china plates with sugar and cream, and a double portion only costing a piastre, (about two-pence halfpenny); on the centre of this retreat a jet of pure water plays into a marble basin, around which are ranged orange myrtle trees; the ceiling is festooned with vines; and around, on marble divans, the weary take their pipe and a siesta. or Every pleasure has its drawback; and though the sights are so novel and striking, there is a set-off. Except in the drug quarter, the avenues are narrow, and the footpath being worn and slippery, you are apt to slip into the kennel, which runs down the middle; and, whilst you are gaping at some wonder, you may chance to be felled to the earth by a bale of goods supported on the brawny shoulders of four, or perhaps eight, porters. To be sure, in London you may encounter a chest of drawers or a butcher's tray, if you are not circumspect. Owing to the plague, the Bazaars are more thronged in spring than in summer; and I counted thirty distinct national costumes, from the splendidly attired Albanian chief down to the Nubian slave; and from the Sultan down to the water carrier, who jostle each other in the most independent spirit. Turkish women, attended by an eunuch, spend much time here, more in gossip than in purchases; and so dangerous had the practice become lately, that a decree issued from the Sultan that no shopkeeper's assistant should be under thirty years of age! But my limits are passed, and I must leave the subject with this brief and imperfect sketch. THE CORSAIR'S BARK. How gloriously her gallant course she goes! Bright and beauteous, fearless and free, On stormy winds, o'er the cresting sea, On, on she glides in her eager race, In vain shall we seek her eddying trace, But glorious in power, with form of light, And laugheth to scorn the eagle's flight, The spray is dashed from off her prow, The billows rise, now high, now low, The stormy-petrel's boding scream Is borne along the main, While the lurid flash of the lightning's gleam Streaks the sky with deathly stain. Her sails with one loud crash are rent, Or e'er an arm can save; Her spars like boughs of aspen bent, Yet, onward, onward, is the word, Whose homes for ever on the flood, With agile step and hearts of oak Far on the lee, away, away, As, soft, the moon's bright silv'ry ray But whence that bark that thus doth urge Her course through danger's hour? Comes she from out proud Albion's surge, Or Athens' classic towers? Her's is the land of the distant West, Their's is a life of joy and ease, Down sinks the wind-from every pole MY FATHER'S GRAVE. "My Father's grave :" I heard her say, Some tender tears in silence start, Pleasure may shine in colours gay, |