The following book, embody the results of an earnest attempt to set forth the chief characteristics of those heterogeneous nationalities which, in process of time and by virtue of conquest, have fallen under the dominion of Islam. The work deals with the Ottoman and Christian subjects of the Sultan generally, but chiefly with the Turks of Constantinople.

In the preparation of this edition of his work the author has endeavoured to bring the contents up to the present date, without, however, entering into too many details, whereby the book, already a bulky one, would have become both tedious and cumbersome. Many friends have aided him in this task by their advice and assistance, amongst them being His Excellency D. G. Metaxas, the Greek Plenipotentiary to our Court, who most kindly read, and in part revised, the chapter on the Greeks in Constantinople.