So, sailing and rowing, we neared the islands with the storm, but it advanced slowly enough to allow a sight of the mosques of St. Sophia and Sultan Achmed, gleaming far and white, like icebergs astray on a torrid sea.

The pinnacles of the Seraglio shot up from the midst of cypress groves; fantastic kiosks lined the shore; the minarets of St. Sophia and Sultan Achmed rose more clearly against the sky; and a fleet of steamers and men-of-war, gay with flags, marked the entrance of the Golden Horn.

The festival is inaugurated by a solemn state ceremony, at the Seraglio and the mosque of Sultan Achmed, whither the Sultan goes in procession, accompanied by all the officers of the Government.

The marines lined the way to the mosque of Sultan Achmed, and a great crowd of spectators filled up the streets and the square of the Hippodrome.

Until within a few years, a visit to the mosques, especially the more sacred ones of St. Sophia and Sultan Achmed, was attended with much difficulty.

Around the centre of the dome, as on that of Sultan Achmed, may be read, in golden letters, and in all the intricacy of Arabic penmanship, the beautiful verse:"God is the Light of the Heavens and the Earth.

From St. Sophia we went to Sultan Achmed, which faces the Hippodrome, and is one of the stateliest piles of Constantinople.

In the tomb of Sultan Achmed, in one corner of the court, we saw his coffin, turban, sword, and jewelled harness.

I had just been reading old Sandys' account of his visit to Constantinople, in 1610, during this Sultan's reign, and could only think of him as Sandys represents him, in the title-page to his book, as a fat man, with bloated cheeks, in a long gown and big turban, and the words underneath: "Achmed, sive Tyrannus.

My last view of Stamboul was that of the mosques of St. Sophia and Sultan Achmed, shining faintly in the moonlight, as we steamed down the Sea of Marmora.

* * ACHMED AND HIS MARE.

* * Brave Achmed owned a mare of wondrous speed; He prized her much above his wife or creed.

he cries,"'tis I, the thief, who call; See now if she in flight is chief of all!" Mount Achmed and his tribe in wrath and shame, And chase him as a tempest chases flame.

Hot Achmed nearly to the robber came, When thus he thought: "My mare will lose her fame.

Before this self-betrayal blank surprise Fills Achmed's comrades, and their wondering cries Demand, "How shall thy foolish act be named?" "My mare is lost, her glory is not shamed.

SEE Abdullah, Achmed.

SEE Abdullah, Achmed.

ABDULLAH, ACHMED.

R58384, 9Feb50, Elizabeth M. Gilmer (Dorothy Dix) (A) MIRZA FATEH KHAN, by Achmed Abdullah. (In the American boy, Apr. 1923) © 25Mar23, B573098.

R77831, 25Apr51, The Lawyers Co-operative Pub. Co. (PCW) ABDULLAH, ACHMED.

SEE Abbott, Lawrence F. ABDULLAH, ACHMED.

George Abbott & Philip Dunning (A); 21Sep54; R136025. ABDULLAH, ACHMED.

SEE Ahdullah, Achmed.

Alias Emerald Annie, by Fulton Oursler & Achmed Abdullah.

Paradise Kate, by Fulton Oursler & Achmed Abdullah.