The Fish, by a strange kind of instinct, pass in vast shoals twice a year, Autumn and Spring, through the _Bosphorus_, that is, out of one Sea into another, of which the _Greeks_, who live several months of the year upon them, take great numbers, and supply the markets at easie rates; the Cormorants and other ravenous water-fowl, which the _Turks_ will not suffer to be destroy'd or otherwise molested, preying upon them. The weather in some months is very inconstant, great heats and colds happening the same day upon the change of the wind. The winters at _Constantinople_ are sometimes extraordinary severe. I have heard it related by several old _Greeks_, as a thing most certain that the _Bosphorus_ was frozen over in the time of _Achmed_, and that a Hare was coursed over it. It hapned thus, that upon a thaw huge cakes of Ice came floating down the _Danube_ into the black Sea, and were driven by the current into the _Bosphorus_, whereupon the return of the frost, they were fixed so hard that it became passable. In the year 1669 there was Ice in the Haven to the great amazement of the _Turks_; and some were so frighted at this unusual accident, that they lookt upon it as a dismal prodigy, and concluded, that the World would be at an end that Year. The _Aguglia_ or _Obelisk_ in the _Hippodrome_ is betwixt fifty and sixty Foot high. The Historical Pillar in _basso relievo_, raised in honour of the Emperors _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, may be in height about an hundred seven and forty feet. _Alexius Comnenus_ lies buried in the Patriarchal Church against the wall, and his daughter _Anna Comnena_, the Historian, who lived about the year of Christ 1117. They pretend to shew there the reliques of St. _Anastasia_, who suffered Martyrdom under the Emperor _Valerianus_, and of St. _Euphemia_, Virgin and Martyr, who lost her life most gloriously for _Christ's_ holy religion at _Chalcedon_ under _Dioclesian_. In _Sancta Sophia_ there are pillars so great, that a Man can scarce fathom them at twice. At the end of the Gallery, that joins the other two, each about thirty of my paces wide, there is a piece of transparent Marble, two or three Inches thick. In the North gallery upon the Pavement is a reddish sort of a Marble Stone, brought, as the _Turks_ and _Christians_ relate, from _Palestine_, on which they Fable, that the blessed Virgin used to wash the linnen of our Saviour. I observed but one step from the Body of the Church to the _Bema_ or place where the Altar formerly stood. The great _Mosch_ at _Chasim-bassa_ on _Pera_ side to the West, was formerly a Church dedicated to St _Theodosia_. _Gianghir_, a Mosch so called, upon a hill at _Fondaclee_ near _Tophana_.