BEAUTIES OF THE BOSPHORUS.       55

its figs almost rival those of Smyrna; and there is no island throughout the Archipelago where the pome-granate is richer or more juicy. Oranges, lemons, peaches, and the delicate golden apple, which resembles that of the West only in form, also abound; and with a handful piastres, the amused Frank, determined on a harmless experiment, may freight his caique with an offering which would do no discredit to Pomona herself.

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PLATE: MUSICIANS AT THE ASIAN VALLEY OF SWEET WATERS.

MUSICIANS AT THE ASIAN SWEET WATERS.

"We're coming, we're coming to gladden the throng,
With laughter and legend, with music and song;
Dark eyes gleaming round us; light tones on the air;
And the greetings of childhood to welcome us there;
A sun in the sky, and a breeze on the sea,
Oh! shew us the minstrels more happy than we !
MS. POEM.

A DESCRIPTION has already been given of the Asian Valley of Sweet Waters, of its majestic plane trees, its laughing river, and its delicious greensward; of the young beauties who throng its recess, the Sultanas who grace its drives; and the rosy children who make its echoes vocal. But its musicians are a race apart, and the artist demand for them

"A separate mention and a guarded page."

and in truth they are well worthy of it !

Their minstrelsy is none of the sweetest; it requires not the ear of science to detect their discords, nor the taste of the poet to smile at their absurdities; and yet, it is impossible not to welcome them with smiles, for you know that joy and laughter follow in their train; the calpac of the one, and the turban of the other; alike covers a shrewd and a busy brain. How much may be told in a song, or hinted in a stanza! Look at the group around them! The matron is there, wary and watchful, remembering the years of her own youth, and the evils by which she was then surrounded; and yet beguiled by the "cunning minstrelsie" of the wandering bards into temporary forgetfulness of all save the charm of their ready wit and simple seeming: