CHAPTER XVII

Return to Constantinople.—St. Sophia.—The Relics.—Statue of Con¬
stantine {Justinian).—A Holy Pidure,—The Hippodrome,—The
Serpent Column.—A Statue called The JuSl.—The Palace,—The
Library,—The miserable condition of the city.—Summary JuSlice,
—A feint by the Turks.—They are bought off.

We sailed in the same ship, and continuing our course
we returned to Trebizond, where, as I have said, the
Emperor did his beft to detain me, but he could not
succeed, and we departed and came to Conftantinople.
But orders having been issued that no ships coming
from the Black Sea were to enter the harbour, either
at Conftantinople or Pera, because it was feared that
they would bring the plague with them, they built
a shelter two leagues from Conftantinople where the
ships could discharge their cargo, and where they had
to remain for sixty days unless they were prepared to
put to sea again. Certainly the foreign nations bring
much sickness with them, and I myself saw in that
lodging men dead of plague. I sent one of my men to
ask permission of the Despot Dragas to enter the city,
notifying him that I and my people had left the ship,
and that I had not lodged with the others, but had
remained two days in the fields. He ordered a boat,
which was very well fitted out, to be sent for me, and
certain of my friends came out to receive me. I sent
my people to the place where they were to lodge, and
went to make my reverence to the Despot, who received
me very graciously, as did also the Empress and her
ladies. The Empress enquired of me how I had
fared in the Black Sea, especially if I had seen her
brother, the Emperor of Trebizond, and her other
brother was there at that time.    I told them what had

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