Show RETURN TO constantinople ANOTHER LETTER FROM A missionary constantinople may 6 1886 president D ff wells dear brother on the of april we met an english steamer at bebout a circumstance which saved us six days on our journey here the principal islands passed on the way are cyprus rhodes and patmos the latter note dai the place of banishment of john the revelator Bev elator at Ts chanak dalessi Ka lessi ive we left the ship and took a small boat down the Dardan nelles to kum hum kale from whence we set our foot over the the plains of troy to the excavations at the city made world renowned by homeric inspiration kum kale probably occupies ane place of landing of the grecian heroes on their way to conquest and to fame the rich lands of of the trojan plains are carelessly cultivated the shepherd boy gazes with carlo curiosity sity upon the stranger and the plowman stops his donkey and ox to take a look at the passer by the turkish dogs here are so near starvation wat that I 1 was not obliged to pay them the homage I 1 did those of greece and palestine at the point of a small plateau extending about three miles from the base of the mountains has discovered ruins which which he claims to be those of ancient troy his claims though not lot perfectly satisfactory in answer to some important features of the excavations vat ions are generally accepted as sufficient for historical resea researches some classicists however contest the point as an open question but we accept it as all right of course and would feel somewhat indignant I 1 suppose it if anyone any one should hint that we had not been on the site of ancient troy the place is known to the turks by the name of we entered the gateway at the southwest side and after climbing up and down wandering around in the trenches and gazing at the few remaining scattered relied relics for a couple of hours we wended bended our way back to the little which lay rocking locking in the waters near the mouth of the homeric Sim moesis the principal relies relics were removed to european museums and a part to the museum eurn in constantinople on our return from we followed in our skiff the east shores of the dardanelles Darda nelles till sunset As soon as the sun sinks in in the west no ship is allowed further u up the dardanelles Darda nelles than valess dalessi Ka lessi and no person allowed to pass the quarantine at dusk we found our way 0 on n 8 shore bore near 8 some ome fl floering flouring flou buring ring J mills and obtained a bed and bench in a bar house there are several advantages derived f from rom such slumbers one never over sleeps and stagnation of tile the blood is not likely to set in f from rom lying too long in the sime same position then besides the average bench is too high for a common flea to make it in one jump long before daybreak day break next morning our oars were away in the waters by starlight and a little after sunrise we entered the port at dalessi from whence we took an english freight steamer over the marmora sea to constantinople we asked the captain if he could take some passengers on board yes 21 he replied ic plied if you ou can sleep on deck we had bad slept in worse places than on deck and had an answer in less than a second we reached constantinople on the morning of the 2nd and lust at a very early hour in time to rouse rousa our companion here from slumbers made sweet by dreams of being released on the way home etc how consoling it is that one may dream of things months and sometimes years before they occur we found brother sport in good spirits but with bad eyes too much study by lamp light the turks armenians Armen ians and greeks have had their spring festival since we returned an event we were indeed pleased to witness we are glad to be back it is so homelike home like to listen to the night revel ries of the constantinople dogs and hear bear the unearthly shouts of the rant ham als selling on the streets every species of merchandise from beads and buttons to household furniture we were delighted to see the orient and learn something of its people the weather has been all and the household fauna more than we could have desired we preached the gospel wherever we could and had many interesting and remarkable times discussing with fellow travelers and others the meaning and intent of holy writ we often bore our testimony to the restoration of the gospel and felt the better for it every time the jewish and christian colo colonies inies of palestine with a single exception do not inspire one with much hope of their conversion brother lyman leaves here tuesday the alth dinst for vienna kind regards from the brethren yours in the gospel J M mill star may |