Page:Constantinople by Brodribb.djvu/160

 contributions of the two islands and the towns and villages adjacent. All the other places of worship in the whole world do not equal St. Sophia in riches. It is ornamented with pillars of gold and silver, and with innumerable lamps of the same materials. The hippodrome is a public place near the wall of the palace, set aside for the royal sports. Every year the birthday of Jesus of Nazareth is celebrated there with public rejoicings. On these occasions there may be seen there representations of all the nations, with surprising feats of jugglery. Lions, bears, leopards, and wild asses, trained to fight, are also exhibited. All these sports, the equal of which can nowhere be seen, are carried on in the royal presence.

Manuel has built a large palace for his residence on the seashore, near that built by his predecessors, and to this edifice is given the name of Blachernes. The pillars and walls are covered with pure gold, and all the wars, the ancient as well as his own, are represented in paintings. The throne in this palace is of gold, ornamented with precious stones: a golden crown hangs over it, suspended by a chain of the same material, so as to admit the emperor to sit beneath it. This crown is ornamented with precious stones of inestimable value. The diamonds are of such lustre that they illumine the room. Other objects of curiosity are also here, the which it would be impossible to describe adequately. The tribute brought to Constantinople every year from all parts of Greece consists of silks, purple cloths, and gold, and it fills many treasuries. These buildings are equalled nowhere else in the world. It is computed that the tribute of the city alone amounts every day to twenty thousand florins, arising from hostelries and bazaars, and the duties paid by merchandise arriving by land and by sea. The Greeks who inhabit the country are exceedingly rich, possessing great wealth in gold and precious stones. They dress in garments of silk, ornamented with gold and other valuable decorations. They ride on horses, and appear like princes. The country is rich, producing all sorts of delicacies, as well as abundance of corn and meat and wine. The people are skilled in the Greek sciences, and live in comfort, every man "under his vine and under his fig-tree." They hire soldiers, whom they call barbarians, out of all nations, for their wars with the sultan of the