The one great port of Asia Minor is Constantinople. To reach the centre, known as Anatolia or Armenia, there are two routes from Constantinople. One by way of the Mediterranean Sea to Alexandretta, the southern port or gateway; the other by the Black Sea, to reach the northern ports of Samsoun and Trebizond, lying along the southern coast of the Black Sea. There is no land route, but a "pony post," like the overland days of California, takes important dispatches for the government, or money. The way is infested by brigands. There are no regular passenger boats, but Russia, Austria, France and Greece have dispatch--in reality, coasting boats--one of which aims to leave Constantinople each week, although at first we found it at least two weeks between the times of sailing and irregular at that. The time from Constantinople to Alexandretta is eight to ten days. From Constantinople to Samsoun, two days. From either of these ports the interior must be reached by land. From Alexandretta to Harpoot is fifteen (15) days, " " " Marash is five (5) days. " " " Zeitoun is seven (7) days. " " " Oorfa is six (6) days. " " " Diarbekir is twelve (12) days. On the north from Samsoun to Harpoot is fifteen (15) days. These journeys were made by horse, mule or donkey, over mountain paths, rocks and precipices. Only in comparatively a few places are there roads allowing the passing of a wheeled vehicle of any kind, even the passing of a horse along the steep declivities is sometimes dangerous. COMMUNICATIONS. As will be seen, the sending of a letter from Constantinople to the interior, requires at the best six weeks, or forty-six days with no delays. Only the large and more important towns have telegraphic communication. This requires two, three, four days of a week, according to circumstances. These dispatches are all sent and must be answered in Turkish. [Illustration: Head of Turkish Telegraph Blank.] [Translation of above Telegram.] ARABKER, May 17, 1896. MISS BARTON: Since three days we are attending with our doctors and their attendants to one hundred sick per day. The contagious fever (typhus) is diminishing. Miss Bush and all the party are distributing clothing and bedding. Lemme is giving implements and seed to the farmers. The needs here are extreme. Wistar's party are at Pyre. Wood with his party are working in the district of Palou. HUBBELL. The larger towns have mails usually leaving once a week, carried on horses with a military guard. No newspaper is published in Asia Minor.