SMYRNA, sinena. The capital of the Vilayet of Aidin (or of Smyrna). the chief city of Asia _Minor and the second seaport of the Ottoman Empire, situated at the head of the Gulf of Smyrna, in latitude 38° 26' N. and longitude 27° 9' E., and somewhat eve] 200 miles southwest of Constantinople, with which it is now connected by rail (Map: Turkey in Asia, B 3). The city is laid out partly on level land and partly on the slopes of Mount Pagus, and presents an imposing appearance from the sea. It is divided into five quarters: the Moslem Quarter, with its numerous minarets and narrow crooked streets; the Jewish Quarter, poor. overcrowded and dirty: the Armenian and Greek quarters, well built and European in their cleanliness; and, finally. the European Quarter. with its fine quay. shops. and hotels. The centre of archaeological interest is Mount Pagns with its ruined castle and portions of the Acropolis walls, in which Greek masonry can be traced. Of considerable interest. also is the Caravan Bridge. with its Greek and Roman foundations, although the statement that the stream crossed by it is the celebrated Meles is generally discredited. The mosque called Hissar ,Iami is of some interest. The finest Christian churches are the Greek Cathe dral of Saint Photini and the Armenian Cathedral of Saint Stephen. Smyrna contains numerous schools maintained by the various nationalities which make up the heterogeneous population of the city. A number of interesting collections and
libraries are attached to some of the higher schools, and hospitals and other benevolent insti tutions are maintained by the foreign colonies. The industries are limited in extent, and the product for which the town is most famous. Smyrna rugs, comes from the small places around the city. The chief manufactures are silk, woolen, and cotton goods, pottery. leather, and some ma chinery and iron and steel products. The chief exports are figs, raisins, tobacco, rugs, silk, sponges. hides, cereals, etc. The imports are manufactures, coal, iron, dairy products, etc. The annual value of the trade averages over $25,000,000 and the value of the exports in 1901 was over $20,000,000. A considerable proportion of the commerce is with Great Britain.
Smyrna has a curious municipal form of gov ernment. The Christian and Jewish communities have separate elected councils presided over by the respective religious heads of the communities. The population is estimated at 250.000, of whom over one-half are Greek, including about 45,000 Greek subjects. The Mohammedans constitute about one-fourth of the population.