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 162 THE FALL OF CONSTANTINOPLE. grain of the country, for the silks of the Peloponnesus, or the embroidered cloths of Spain. Syrian, Egyptian, Italian, and even Spanish merchants attended this famous fair, and met Russians, Bulgarians, Greeks, and Arabs. Venetians, Pisans, and other Franks had a large and wealthy quarter in the city. A little to the south of Salonica, Yolo possessed also a large settlement of Latin colonists, mostly Venetians, who had oc- cupied a considerable number of towns in the Greek peninsula to the south of Volo. At Almyro and at Corinth ^' the Latins had settled, the Arab merchants bringing their goods to one side of the isthmus, the Latins to the other. The islands of Eubcea, Andros (which produced silk), and Lemnos had permanent settlements of Venetians. Ithodes, Chios, and Crete had also admitted Latins to the benefit of their commerce. In all the great trading cities the native population found serious rivals in men who had now become hostile to the empire. It was, however, to the capital that most foreign merchants in constanti- Aockcd. There each Italian state had its own khans, nopie. known to the population as emholoi^ buildings look- ing like fortifications, and each surrounding a square court- yard upon which the shops fronted. These eiriboloi^ as well as many of the streets in the city, were provided with arcades for protection alike from sun and rain. The Genoese occupied a position near the present Seraglio Point. To the west of them and around the former arsenal gate or Neorion were the Pisans. Still farther west, and ad- joining the site of the Stamboul end of the present bridge, around the Porta Peramaris, then as for centuries afterwards the principal place of entrance and exit to the city from Galata, were the favored Venetians. Between them and the Pisans the colony of Amalfians still retained possession of their emloloi? There were probably both Genoese and Vene- 1 The topography of Constantinople at the period of the fourth crusade has been carefully studied by Dr. A. Paspati (see "Mcletai"), and also by Dr. Mordtmanu. I may mention here that I am greatly indebted to Dr.