Trebizond is situated on the southeastern shore of the Black Sea, and competes with Constantinople on the score of natural scenery.

The author retains a vivid impression of it, as seen in the winter of 1844.

The city, half surrounded by verdant trees, had cultivated fields rising gently behind it, and beyond were forest-clad hills, looking green as in midsummer.

And back of all, far in the distance, rose a lofty range of snow-clad mountains, as if to guard this earthly paradise, stretching from sea to sea, and forming a magnificent amphitheatre..