Papers of Arthur Carrighan

Has arrived in Constantinople. Comments on the lack of beds available in the country and how they have been sleeping in their clothes. Describes the trials and tribulations of the journey from Salonika with four Cambridge men, including a boat trip into Constantinople harbour. Describes Constantinople generally and the city walls and aqueducts supplying Constantinople particularly. Describes a trip on the Bosphorous to the Black Sea and notes the castles alongside the waterway. Has visited Scutari to see the stupendous view and to visit the only mosque open to Christians, the rest being closed after a member of the Russian Ambassador's entourage was seen to spit on the floor of the Santa Sophia. Notes that even bribes appear not to work, though they did manage to briefly see inside the Mosque of Sultan Achmet before being chased away. Gives a description of a religious ceremony involving 'gyrations of spinning'. Describes the city of Constantinople and notes the vast and strange array of headdresses seen on the street. Has inspected the harem. Has seen the Sultan when he was leaving church, gives a brief description of him and his style of leadership and popularity. Puts the inhabitants of Constantinople at 700,000. Describes the cemeteries and tells of the Turkish habit of using old Greek remains for headstones. Thinks that though much of the old Greek remains have been lost the city still looks like that of an old Greek town. Describes the Cistern. Is disappointed by the small number of antiquities in Constantinople and also on the way to Larisa but is impressed by the countryside. Encounters the playing of bagpipes and compares it to the instrument from Scotland. Is very complimentary about the British Ambassador, Sir Robert Lister, and his wife. Has made the acquaintance of a Cambridge man who has just returned from Persia and gives a very bad report of that country.