The City of the Sultan

Excerpt: «Seagulls were flying past us in clouds, and sporting like domestic birds about the vessel, while many of the adjoining roofs were clustered with them; the wild-duck and the water-hen were diving under our very stern in search of food; and shoals of porpoises were every moment rolling by, turning up their white bellies to the light, and reveling in safety amid the sounds and sights of a mighty city, as though unconscious of the vicinity of danger.»