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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..b8b206d --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #50229 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/50229) diff --git a/old/50229-0.txt b/old/50229-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index b987571..0000000 --- a/old/50229-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,11346 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea Curiosa. Volume 3, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Miscellanea Curiosa. Volume 3 - containing a collection of curious travels, voyages, and - natural histories of countries as they have been delivered - in to the Royal Society - -Author: Various - -Release Date: October 16, 2015 [EBook #50229] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA CURIOSA. VOLUME 3 *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, deaurider and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - - _Advertisement._ - -There is now Engraving, and will speedily be Publish'd, _A New Pair -of_ GLOBES, sixteen Inches Diameter; the _Terrestrial_ has on it all -the New Discoveries that have been lately made, together with an -useful View of the General and Coasting Trade-Winds, Moonsoons, _&c._ -The _Cœlestial_ has the Stars laid down from the Correctest Tables of -the best Astronomers of our Age, with eighteen Constellations never -Engraven upon any Globe. - -All those Gentlemen that are willing to Furnish themselves with them, -are desired speedily to inform the Undertakers _J. Senex_ and _C. -Price_, next the _Fleece_-Tavern in _Cornhill_; They intending to fit -up no more than what are Subscrib'd for. - - - - - _Miscellanea Curiosa._ - - Containing a - - COLLECTION - - OF - - Curious Travels, - - VOYAGES, - - AND - - _Natural Histories_ - - OF - - COUNTRIES, - - As they have been Delivered in to the - - ROYAL SOCIETY. - - VOL. III. - - - _LONDON_: - - Printed by _J. B._ for _Jeffery Wale_ at the _Angel_ in St. - _Paul_'s Church-yard; _J. Senex _&_ C. Price_ next the _Fleece_ - Tavern in _Cornhill_, 1707. - - - - -THE - -CONTENTS. - - - _A Journal of a Voyage from _England_ to - _Constantinople_, made in the Year, 1668. - by _T. Smith_, D. D. and F. R. S._ 1 - - _Historical Observations relating to _Constantinople_. - By the Reverend and Learned _Tho. - Smith_, D. D. Fellow of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._ - and of the _Royal Society_._ 32 - - _An account of the City of _Prusa_ in _Bythynia_, - and a continuation of the Historical Observations - relating to _Constantinople_, by the Reverend - and learned _Thomas Smith_ D. D. Fellow - of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._ and of the _Royal Society_._ 49 - - _A Relation of a Voyage from _Aleppo_ to _Palmyra_ - in _Syria_; sent by the Reverend Mr. - _William Hallifax_ to Dr. _Edward Bernard_ - (late) _Savilian_ Professor of Astronomy in - _Oxford_, and by him communicated to Dr. - _Thomas Smith_, _Reg. Soc. S.__ 84 - - _An Extract of the Journals of two several Voyages - of the _English Merchants_ of the Factory - of _Aleppo_, to _Tadmor_, anciently call'd _Palmyra_._ 120 - - _Some Account of the Ancient State of the City - of _Palmyra_, with short Remarks upon the Inscriptions - found there. By _E. Halley_._ 160 - - _A Voyage of the Emperour of _China_ into the - Eastern _Tartary_, Anno. 1682._ 179 - - _The Distances of the Places thro' which we passed - in the _Eastern_ Tartary._ 195 - - _A Voyage of the Emperor of _China_, into the - Western _Tartary_ in the Year, 1683._ 196 - - _An Explanation, necessary to justify the _Geography_ - supposed in these Letters._ 210 - - _Some Observations and Conjectures concerning - the _Chinese_ Characters. Made by _R. H._ - R. S. S._ 212 - - _A Letter from _F. A._ Esq; R. S. S. to the Publisher, - with a Paper of Mr. _S. Flowers_, containing - the Exact Draughts of several unknown - Characters, taken from the Ruins at _Persepolis_._ 233 - - _A Letter from Monsieur _N. Witsen_ to Dr. - _Martin Lister_, with two Draughts of the Famous - _Persepolis_._ 236 - - _A Description of the Diamond-mines, as it was - presented by the Right Honourable the Earl - Marshal of _England_, to the _R. Society_._ 238 - - _A Letter from the _East Indies_, of Mr. _John - Marshal_ to Dr. _Coga_, giving an Account of - the Religion, Rites, Notions, Customs, Manners - of the Heathen Priests commonly called - _Bramines_. Communicated by the Reverend - Mr. _Abraham de la Pryme_._ 256 - - _Part of two Letters to the Publisher from Mr. - _James Cunningham_, F. R. S. and Physician - to the _English_ at _Chusan_ in _China_, giving - an account of his Voyage thither, of the Island - of _Chusan_, of the several sorts of Tea, of - the Fishing, Agriculture of the _Chinese_, _&c._ - with several Observations not hitherto taken notice - of._ 269 - - _A Letter from Mr. _John Clayton_ Rector of - _Crofton_ at _Wakefield_ in _Yorkshire_, to the - Royal Society, _May 12 1688._ giving an account - of several Observables in _Virginia_, and - in his Voyage thither, more particularly concerning - the Air._ 281 - - _Mr. _Clayton_'s second Letter, containing his - farther Observations on _Virginia_._ 293 - - _A Continuation of Mr. _John Clayton_'s Account - of _Virginia_._ 301 - - _Mr. _John Clayton_, Rector of _Crofton_ at - _Wakefield_, his Letter to the _Royal Society_, - giving a farther Account of the Soil, and other - Observables of _Virginia_._ 312 - - _A Continuation of Mr. _Clayton_'s Account of - _Virginia_._ 337 - - _Part of Two Letters from Mr. _J. Hillier_, dated - _Cape Corse_, _Jan. 3. 1687/8._ and _Apr. 25. - 1688._ Wrote to the Reverend Dr. _Bathurst_, - President of _Trinity Colledge, Oxon_; giving - an Account of the Customs of the Inhabitants, - the Air, _&c._ of that Place, together - with an Account of the Weather there from - _Nov. 24. 1686._ to the same Day 1687._ 356 - - _An Account of the _Moorish_ Way of Dressing - their Meat (with other Remarks) in _West-Barbary_, - from Cape _Spartel_ to Cape _de Geer_. - By Mr. _Jezreel Jones_._ 381 - - _A Letter from Mr. _John Monro_ to the Publisher, - concerning the Catacombs of _Rome_ and - _Naples_._ 394 - - _An accurate Description of the _Lake of Geneva_, - not long since made by a Person that had visited - it divers times in the pleasantest season of - the Year; and communicated to the Publisher - by one of his Parisian Correspondents: English'd - as followeth._ 404 - - _Part of a Journal kept from _Scotland_ to _New - Caledonia_ in _Darien_, with a short Account - of that Country. Communicated by Dr. _Wallace_, - F. R. S._ 413 - - _A Discourse tending to prove at what Time and - Place _Julius Cæsar_ made his first Descent - upon _Britain_: Read before the _Royal Society_ - by _E. Halley_._ 422 - - _Miscellanea Curiosa._ - - VOL. III. - - - - - _A Journal of a Voyage from _England_ to _Constantinople_, made in - the Year, 1668. by _T. Smith_, D. D. and F. R. S._ - - -On _Monday_ Evening _August 3, 1668._ we took Barge at _Tower-Wharf_, -and at _Greenwich_ went on Board the _Bezant_ Yacht for the _Downs_, -where we arrived the next day in the Afternoon, and went on Board -the _Leopard_ Frigat, a Ship of 56 Guns mounted, Captain _O Bryen_ -Commander, appointed to carry Sir _Daniel Harvey_, his Majesty's -Ambassador to the Port of the _Ottoman_ Emperor at _Constantinople_. -Here, upon his first Arrival, the Ambassador was Complemented by Sir -_Jeremy Smith_, then riding Admiral, Sir _Edward Spragg_, and several -other Commanders of the Men of War, and afterwards Saluted with -Fifteen Pieces of Ordinance by the Admiral, to whom we returned as -many; then by the Vice-Admiral, and several other Ships. All which were -answered together at the same time with 21 in the whole. - -Here we were forced to Ride for several days, the Winds being contrary. - -In the _Offing_ between the _North Foreland_ and _South Foreland_ it -runs Tide and half Tide, that is, it is either ebbing Water or Flood -upon the Shore, in that part of the _Downs_, three hours, which is -grossly speaking the time of half a Tide, before it is so, off at -Sea. (For the flux and reflux of the Sea is not made exactly twice in -24 hours, but, as it appears by accurate observation, it requires an -overplus of almost 50 minutes.) The reason of this diversity of Tides, -I take to be from the meeting of the two Seas in that narrow Streight. - -Oftentimes when the Wind has blown hard at N. E. or at W. or W. and -by S. there has hapn'd an alteration of the Tides in the River of -_Thames_, which ignorant People have mistakenly lookt upon as a Prodigy. - -It is a most certain Observation, that where it flows Tide and half -Tide, tho' the Tide of Flood runs aloft, yet the Tide of Ebb runs under -foot, that is, close by the _ground_; and so at the Tide of Ebb, it -will flow under foot, as that great and experienc'd Sea-Commander, Sir -_H. Manwaring_, words it. - -_August 9._ We sailed from the _Downs_, but were soon forced back -by distress of Weather, and came to an Anchor S. W. of the _South -Foreland_. - -10. The Wind blew at S. S. W. and the Sea run very high, so that we -were in danger of losing our Cable and Anchor; the Ground, where we -rode, at 16 Fathom ½ water, being somewhat gruff. - -15. The Wind coming about at W. N. W. we sailed, and were Saluted with -nine Guns from _Dover_ Castle, and seven from one Fort, and five from -another. We carried a Flag upon our Maintop, after we came out of the -_Downs_. The Wind in the Afternoon at N. E. brought us by seven of the -Clock to the _Ness_, where we lay at Anchor during the Tide of Flood; -during which time the Mariners caught good store of _Whitings_, baiting -their Hooks with raw Mutton. - -16. We were in the morning athwart St. _Helen_'s Point in the _Isle of -Wight_; where we discovered Sir _Thomas Allen_ with his Squadron under -Sail, bound for the _Straits_. - -17. In the morning we got to the West of _Portland_, the Wind at N. by -E. our Course lying thereupon S. S. W. but about noon, sailing over -part of the Race of _Portland_, where we met with a tumbling Sea, we -Anchored at the N. W. part in the Bay, over against the Point that -looks towards _Weymouth_. We were ashore in the Island, which seems -to be but one continued Rock; the Soil in several places not being -above five or six Inches deep, as I found by digging a hole with my -Knife; yet the Corn flourishing enough. The Castle consists of a double -Fortification; we could not observe above five Guns mounted. They told -us, that in the Island there was but 1 Church, and 4 Villages. - -We weighed at twelve of the Clock at night: But - -18. The Wind blowing fiercely at W. directly in our teeth, we made but -little way, and could not weather the _Start_ Point that night. The -Moon upon its first emerging above the Horizon, seemed to have a colour -like burnt Brick, the Sky very cloudy: but some Rain falling, as she -advanced higher and higher, she appeared more and more fiery. - -19. We weathered the _Start_ Point by noon, but could not make much way -beyond it. - -20. We got into _Plymouth_ Sound. The Cittadel, built upon a Rock, with -large Counterscarps and Bastions, returned our Salute with nine Guns. -Sir _Thomas Allen_ with his Fleet stood to the Lizard, and came not to -an Anchor. - -21. Misty Weather. About eleven Clock Forenoon, and about six in the -Evening, we observed the Vapours in great quantity ascend out of the -Sea, soon covering the tops of the Mountains. Here we staid three days, -taking in some Provisions, ready prepared for us. - -On _Sunday_ the 23_d_ of _August_ we weighed out of _Plymouth_ Sound, -and made the _Lizard_, a Promontory in _Cornwall_, before night: The -_Manacles_, several Rocks so called, we discerned very distinctly, it -being then low Ebb; as also the Lands end. The Wind blew fresh; and we -observed the Waves in the Night-time, as if they had been liquid Fire, -but palish. - -The _Lizard_ bearing N. of us, we changed our Course, and taking leave -of _England_, we sailed into the Ocean. God of his Mercy send us a -happy Voyage. - -24. We run this day thirty nine Leagues by a Compute from our Log-line. - -25. We were full open with the _Bay of Biscay_. Several _Gulls_ were -hovering over the Surface of the Water to catch Fish, which swam by in -vast sholes, at about 50 Leagues distance from any Land. - -At other times I have seen several Birds floating upon the Water, -which being driven by some Tempest from the Coasts of _Spain_ and -_Portugal_, have been tired in their flight, and so drowned. This -happens frequently in the great Ocean, where they meet with no Land -to fly to in several hundreds of Leagues; and sometimes even in the -_Mediterranean_, in the Mid-Seas between the _Christian_ and _Barbary_ -Shores. In blowing Weather, among other Birds flying cross, we saw a -Hawk making to our Ship, then under good and swift Sail, which perched -upon the round-top of the Main-mast; which one of the Seamen espying, -he presently run up the Shrouds, and brought down the Hawk, which made -no attempt to fly away, being quite spent. But not long after, the Hawk -recovering his Spirits by rest and meat which was given him, took wing -and got away from the Fellow, notwithstanding all the care he took to -secure his new Adventure, which he hoped to have made Mony of at the -next Port that we should come to. - -26. A strong Levant still blowing, and the Sea very rough and -boisterous, the Gale continuing almost right a stern, we run these 24 -hours above 70 Leagues. - -27. We found our selves by our observations, that we were in the -Latitude of 42 degrees 17 minutes, and began to be very sensible of our -nearer approach to the South, the Weather being excessive hot. In the -Afternoon we heard the report of several Guns fired at about seven or -eight Leagues distance, as we guessed. At eight of the Clock at night -another Gun was fired somewhat near us, which we thought might be from -an _Algerine_ Man of War, who gave a signal to his Consorts, and who -answered by several flashes of Powder. Whereupon our Trumpeters sounded -a Point of War, but no return was made. However, the Captain quartered -his Men, and the Decks were cleared, and all things made ready in order -to a Fight the next Morning; as soon as day appeared, we saw the Sea -clear, no Ships being in view any way: so that we concluded that they -were Merchant-Ships, with their Convoy, standing to the Northward. - -28. Dreadful Lightnings in the Clouds towards the Evening; after which -great Dews fell: the Weather extream hot. - -29. We saw a Pilot-fish swim by the sides of the Ship, and several -Bonito's and Albicores playing, as it were with their Heads above -Water. The Wind took us short in the night, and soon after there was -a stark Calm; and we had great reason to bless God for it: For had -we continued our Course that night, we had either run a-ground, or -had been cast upon the Rocks near to _Peniche_ in _Portugal_. The -fault was mis-reckoning, and haling in too soon to make the _Southern -Cape_: though the Seamen, to salve their Credit, and to excuse their -Error, which had like to have proved so fatal to us, pretended that we -were set in by a strong Current. God make us thankful for this great -Deliverance. - -30. This Morning we were surprized to see our selves within four or -five Leagues of the Shore, when we had thought that we had been above -twenty. In the Afternoon, the Wind coming on fresh, we weathered the -westermost Isle of the _Barlings_. On the greatest of which, being as -we guessed, above half a Mile in length, the _Portuguese_ have built a -Fort to hinder the _Barbary_ Pirates from careening their Ships there, -or taking in fresh Water. The Land of it very high, and bore off us S. -E. by E. By it lie several Rocks. The other Islands are distant about a -League. I told five of them: the greatest of which last lie somewhere -inward to the Shore. - -For two Nights together about this time (28 and 29) the Sky being -very hazy, the Sun set in a colour as deep as Blood, which was very -astonishing. We were then in the Latitude of 40. - -31. Betimes in the Morning we sailed by the Rock of _Lisbon_, at some -distance, which was scarce discernible by reason of the cloudiness of -the Weather. Two _Turks_ Men of War are now plying to the Windward of -us; but dare not come up to speak with us, perceiving that we are only -laden with Powder and Bullet. - -_September 1._ In the Morning we made Cape _St. Vincent_. I went on -Shore with the Lieutenant and several others in our Pinnace, which we -drove into one of the Coves; and were forced to climb up a Rock, the -ascent of which was very dangerous and troublesome; and made more so by -the Rays of the Sun, which were reflected with that vehemence, that the -Heat was almost intolerable. Having gained the top, we were met by an -Officer and some Soldiers, who had us into the Castle, the middlemost -of the three, which are built along that Promontory for the Security -of the Coasts, and entertained us with Wine, Grapes, and Marmalade. -They told us, that a Squadron of English Men of War sailed by the day -before. We here met with two Vessels belonging to _Dartmouth_, laden -with Fish from _Newfoundland_, bound for _Alicant_. All along the -Coasts, at the distance of about two or three Leagues, are several -Watch-towers built to give notice of Pirates. - -Becalmed for the most part these two or three days. - -5. In the Morning we weathered the Point of _Cadiz_, and came to an -Anchor in the _Bay of Bulls_, about half a League from the great -_Porgoe_; and in the Afternoon went on shore. We were entertained by -the _English_ Consul, and carried by him to view the Fortifications, -which are esteemed to be as regular as any in _Christendom_; built -in the same place where the Town had been attacked formerly by the -_English_, under the Conduct of the Earl of _Essex_ in the Reign of -Q. _Elizabeth_. Plays are usually here, as in other parts of _Spain_, -acted on a _Sunday_. During the time of our stay, was represented the -History of the Patience of _Job_, the Devil brought upon the Stage, -tempting _Job_'s Wife in a drolling way, which caused great Laughter -and Merriment among the Spectators. At _Malaga_, as the Merchants told -us, the _Sunday_ before we arrived there, was acted the _Schism of -England_ in the time of King _Henry_ the Eighth, whom the _Spaniards_ -will not yet forgive, for Divorcing himself from Q. _Catherine_, their -Country-Woman. - -9. We sailed from _Cadiz_. - -10. This Afternoon we were forced to Anchor, not far from _Cape -Spartel_ or _Sprat_, as the Seamen call it, not being able to weather -the Point. - -11. This day we came to an Anchor in _Tangier-Bay_, with Sir _Thomas -Allen_'s Squadron. - -_Tangier_ lies within the Entrance into the _Strait_ of the -_Mediterranean_, in the Latitude of about 35°, 36´. It is situated in -the bottom of a Bay, and is built on the side of the Hill, overlooking -the Sea, encompassed with high Walls to the Land-ward, and commanded -by a strong Castle. The Heats would be very troublesome but for the -Sea-breezes which cool and fan the Air. In the Castle I met with a -_Roman_ Monument, erected to the Honour of _P. Belius_, a great Officer -and Souldier in _Trajan_'s time; who, among his other Titles, is -there stiled, PPO. FIG. MAURITANIAE. TINGITANAE: which since has been -taken away, and presented to the University of _Oxon_ by Sir _Hugh -Cholmondley_, and now serves to adorn the _Area_ about the _Theatre_. - -The _English_ have two Churches here, (though they only make use of -one, the other being reserved against all Accidents) both of them -very neat and convenient; though not to be compared with the Church -of the _Portuguese_, retained still, according to the Articles of -Agreement, when the King of _Portugal_ made over the Right and Title, -and gave the Possession of _Tangier_ to the Crown of _England_, by -the Canons Regulars, belonging to it, which is very stately, and -adorn'd with rich Images, and supported by Marble Pillars. Toward one -end of the _English_ Church, just by the Vestiary, which had been -formerly a _Turkish_ Mosch, and afterward the Chappel of a Convent of -_Dominicans_, is a Monumental Stone-Table in _Arabick_ Characters, -containing an account of the Houses, Lands, and other Revenues -belonging to it, set up in the 743 year of the _Hegira_, that is, -of Christ 1341. The Mole is in good forwardness, they having gained -above 200 yards in the Sea, in order to the making of a good and safe -Harbour for Ships to ride in, which lye open to Wind and Waves; the -outward side to the Seaward somewhat sloping. The Garrison is in so -good a posture of Defence, that they defy _Taffiletta_ and all his -Forces. Here we met with great Civilities from Colonel _Norwood_, -Deputy-Governour, and the Gentlemen belonging to the Garrison. Sir -_Harry Mildmay_ and Mr. _Goodland_, two of King _Charles_ the First his -Judges, are here; but who have the Liberty of the Town. Now, at our -being here, come in several _Moors_ from _Arzilla_, and among the rest, -the Father of one of _Gayland_'s Wives, to get a Passage for _Algiers_. - -Old _Tangier_ lyes at some little distance, where they find very -frequently in digging several pieces of _Roman_ Coin. But for the -above-mentioned, and the other Curiosities and Antiquities of -_Tangier_, of which I forbear to make mention, from the imperfect and -hasty Observations of two days, the greatest part of which being taken -up by the Entertainment of our obliging Country-men, you may consult -with great pleasure and satisfaction, a little Book called _The present -State of Tangier_, written by a very ingenious Gentleman, and printed -in the Year 1676. - -There is a vast _draught_ of _water_ poured continually out of the -_Atlantick_ into the _Mediterranean_, the mouth or entrance of which -between _Cape Spartel_ or _Sprat_, as the _sea-men_ call it, and _Cape -Trafalgar_, may be near 7 leagues wide, the _current_ setting strong -into it, and not losing its force till it runs as far as _Malaga_, -which is about 20 leagues within the _Streights_. By the benefit of -this _Current_, tho' the wind be contrary, if it does not over-blow, -_Ships_ easily turn into the _gut_, as they term the _narrow passage_, -which is about 20 miles in length. At the end of which are two Towns, -_Gibraltar_ on the coast of _Spain_, which gives denomination to -the _Streight_, and _Ceuta_ on the _Barbary_ coast: at which places -_Hercules_ is supposed to have set up his _Pillars_. What becomes -of this great quantity of water poured in this way, and of that, -which runs from the _Euxine_ into the _Bosporous_ and _Propontis_, -and is carried at last through the _Hellespont_ into the _Ægæan_ or -_Archipelago_, is a curious _speculation_, and has exercised the wit -and understanding of _Philosophers_ and _Navigators_. For there is no -sensible rising of the _water_ all along the _Barbary Coast_, even down -to _Alexandria_, the land beyond _Tripoli_, and that of _Ægypt_, lying -very low, and easily overflowable. They observe indeed, that the water -rises 3 feet, or 3 feet and an half, in the _gulph_ of _Venice_, and as -much, or very near as much, all along the _Riviera_ of _Genoa_, as far -as the river _Arno_: but this rather adds to the wonder. - -I here omit to speak at large of the several _Hypotheses_ which -have been invented to solve this difficulty: such as _subterraneous -vents_, cavities and indraughts, _exhalations_ by the _Sun-beams_, the -running out of the water on the _African side_, as if there were a -kind of circular motion of the water, and that it only flowed in upon -the _Christian_ shore: which latter I look upon as a meer fancy, and -contrary to all observation. - -My conjecture is, that there is an _under-Current_, whereby as great -a quantity of water is carried out, as comes flowing in. To confirm -which, besides what I have said above about the difference of tides -in the _offing_, and at the _Shore_ in the _Downs_, which necessarily -supposes an _under-Current_, I shall present you with an instance of -the like nature in the _Baltick Sound_, as I received it from an able -Seaman, who was at the making of the tryal. - -He told me, that being there in one of the _King's_ Frigats, they -went with their _Pinnace_ into the _middle stream_, and were carried -violently by the _Current_: that soon after they sank a _bucket_ with -a large _Cannon_ bullet to a certain _depth_ of water, which gave -check to the boats motion, and sinking it still lower and lower, the -_boat_ was driven a-head to wind-ward against the upper _Current_: the -_current_ aloft, as he added, not being above 4 or 5 _fathom_ deep, and -that the lower the bucket was let fall, they found the _under-Current_ -the stronger. I designed to have made the _Experiment_ in the -_Streights-Channel_; but both times I past, the Easterly wind blew -so hard, that there was no putting out the boat with any safety; nor -indeed at those times had we any leisure for such a _Curiosity_; which -those, who liv'd at _Tangier_, might have tryed without any difficulty -or danger. - -This conjecture, how likely or unlikely soever, will stand or fall -according to the certainty of the _Observations_, which shall be made -there, which I will endeavour to procure in order to the further -establishment, or utter overthrow of it. - -13. We weighed out of _Tangier_ and turned into the _Strait_, though -against the Wind. The distance between _Gibraltar_ Cape, which gives -name to the _Straits_, and is joyned to the Continent of _Spain_ and -_Ceuta_ a well-built and strongly fortified Town, lying under the Hill -_Alybe_, called so by the _Greeks_, which the Seamen commonly call, -as do some _Spanish_ Writers, _Apes-hill_, from the great number of -Apes which used formerly to haunt there, (at which places _Hercules_ is -feigned to have set up his Pillars) may be about six Leagues; tho' both -Lands lying very high (for we saw the Clouds much below them) it does -not appear in the middle of the Current, out of a tall Ship, scarce -half so broad. - -14. Little Wind stirring. - -15. A great Mist all the Sea over, so that we could scarce see three -lengths of the Ship, which began to vanish in the Afternoon; and than -we descryed the _Cape of Malaga_ at about four Leagues distance; and -came to an Anchor that Night. The City lies under a high Hill, and -is the Seat of a Bishop, who is at this time a Natural Son of King -_Philip_ the Fourth, of the Order of St. _Dominic_. Here the Merchants -told us, that it had not rained for seven Months together, except a day -or two for an Hour: and that the _Algerines_, who were then breaking -with us, had not been able to have set a Fleet to Sea about two years -before, if they had not been furnished with Masts from _England_; and -that they were now in Expectation of another Ship laden with the same, -notwithstanding the Rupture, which was as good as began. I only make a -Query, Whether _Jews_ or _English_ Men were the Freighters? - -16. The next Morning the Governour immediately returned our Salute Gun -for Gun: soon after we weighed from _Malaga_ Road, the Weather very -hot. Some Rain fell at Night, though very moderately. In the Evening, -after we had sailed about eighteen Leagues, we were becalm'd. The Sea -being quiet, we saw a great number of _Tortoises_ swimming above Water, -several _Bottle-noses_, fish of about three yards long, and very thick, -and Hawks flying over to the _Barbary_ Coast. The Hills of _Granada_ -were seen plainly by us, though at a great distance. - -The Wind coming Easterly, we kept at Sea, beating and plying to and -again for these four days, scarce gaining sixteen Leagues of our way, -and were forc'd to come to an Anchor in the _Bay of Adera_, where there -is a strong Cittadel, about thirty four or thirty five Leagues from -_Malaga_. - -21. We passed by _Cape de Gata_: but the Levant wind still blowing, -having continued almost in that Point for above two Months, as we -computed from what they had told us at _Tangier_, we could make but -little progress in our Voyage. - -25. Between three and four of the Clock in the Morning the Tornado's -began to blow, and the Wind violent for the time, with such continued -Flashes of Lightning for several hours, as that the whole Sky seemed -to be on fire, intermixed with terrible Claps of Thunder, after which -followed great showers of Rain. - -25. The Wind still contrary, we descryed _Cape St. Martin_ at about -fifteen Leagues distance. Tacking about and standing off to Seaward, -next Morning 27. we found that we had lost about three Leagues of our -way. - -28. We were athwart _Orlando's Gap_ within two Leagues of the Shore, -_Cape St. Martin_ bearing off us _N._ by _W._ The Wind now still; but -a swelling Sea coming from the Westward, which is usual before a Wind, -which drives the Water before it. - -On _Michaelmas-day_ we were up with the Island _Ivica_, or _Ivise_, as -the Mariners call it, and the Wind blowing fair, we stood our Course; -and the next day at Noon we made the _Island Majorca_, situate over -against the Kingdom of _Valentia_, and came to an Anchor in the _Bay_ -of the City, being forced in hither for want of fresh Water. In the -Afternoon the Boat was sent on shore; but the Vice-Roy would not give -us Prattick, not bringing a Patent from _Malaga_. - -_Octob. 1._ The Secretary was sent with the King's Pass to the -Vice-Roy to demand Prattick, who presently summoned the Officers of -the _Sanita_. After long Debates and Delays they consented, and came -to the _Mole_ to receive him. He went directly to the Governour to -acquaint him, that we were ready to Salute the City with what number -of Guns he pleased, if he would engage upon his Honour to give us as -many. He replied, that he would give us three for five; and wondered, -that we being but a single Ship, should make such a Demand. The -Secretary told him, That we were to be treated as an Admiral, having -a Flag on our Maintop; and that the Governour of _Malaga_ had done -it. To this he said, That _Majorca_ was a Kingdom, that he was the -King's Representative, and that by Reason of the Miscarriage of his -Predecessor, when Monsieur _de Beaufort_, the _French_ Admiral was -there, he had received strict Orders from _Madrid_ not to do the -like. The Secretary replied, That we had an Ambassador on board, and -had as strict Orders, and should answer as severely for the Breach -of them. His last Answer was, That we might, with our Sails loose, -keep before the Town, till we had furnished our selves with what we -wanted. Upon receiving this Message, the Ambassador dispatched away one -_Joseph Gabriel Cortez_, a _Spaniard_, but employed by the _English_ -Merchants trading to that Island, then on board our Ship, to acquaint -him, That when we were ready to go away, we would loose our Sails, -and not before. We landed within the _Mole_; the Walk upon it about -four or five Yards broad; at the Extremity of which is a very large -and stately Gate, which leads into the City. We went into the great -Church, somewhat wider than _Westminster-Abbey_, but darkish within: -the Portal very magnificent, adorned with several Marble Statues in -Niches one over another. The High Altar very plain and unadorned: but -others extraordinary rich and glorious. Not far from the City are -several Mills to grind their Olives, Oyl being the great Commodity of -the Island. - -2. The next Morning we weighed, without taking any kind of notice of -the Town, sailing all along in sight of the Island, which presented -us with a pleasing and delightful Prospect; the Valleys, lying under -the Hills, fruitful of Wine and Corn. The whole Island is judged to be -about sixty Leagues in Compass, and in length about fifteen: which we -sailed from the Westermost Point, where lies the Isle _Dragovera_, at -a very little distance to the Eastermost, where there is built a small -Fort. To the S. S. E. lie several little Islands, called the _Cabreas_; -between which and _Majorca_ we steered. - -3. We were athwart _Port Maon_ in _Minorca_; a fine level Country, -having but one Hill in it N. W. by W. as it bore off us. In the Evening -the Wind very scant. - -4. This day, as yesterday, excessive hot. - -5. In the Afternoon we descryed the Main Land of _Provence_. - -6. We were over against the Islands _Hieres_ and the Highland of -_Thoulon_. - -7, 8. These two Days becalmed; and the Sea extraordinary smooth. - -9. We were over against the Westermost part of the _Alpes_, which we -distinctly saw at about twenty Leagues distance, and appeared far -higher than the Hills of _Granada_. - -10. We sailed by _Final_ and _Ventimiglia_. - -12. We came in the Morning to an Anchor over against the _Mole_, and -not far from the Lantern in _Genoa_. Having obtained Prattick of the -_Maestri della Sanita_, after a little demur about the Salute, the -Senate being assembled, and some of them protesting upon their Honours, -and ready to produce their Registers, that they never saluted the Ship -wherein was an Ambassador of _France_ or _Spain_, as not taking any -notice of the Person who did bear that Character, 'till they had first -intimation, that the Ship was arrived in their Port by its saluting the -Town. It was agreed that the Ship should Salute the Town with eleven -Guns, which they were to answer, as they did, with an equal number: -and after a little pause, they saluted the Ambassador with nineteen -more, which was answered with as many. After this, the Duke and -Senate sent the Master of the Ceremonies to wait upon the Ambassador: -who going away, returned soon after with a Present of Calves, Fowl, -Wine, Sweetmeats, _&c._ and acquainted his Lordship, that they had -deputed six of their Gentlemen to Complement him, and wait upon him; -which Civility he thought fit to refuse, desiring to be _Incognito_. -But however, going ashore, he was welcomed by the _Illustrissimi -Signiori_, the _Durazzo's_, two Brothers, the elder of which had been -Ambassador for the Republick, in the Court of _England_, and the other -at _Constantinople_, and by them carried to see the _Villas_ out of -Town. The figure of _Genoa_ is Semicircular, beginning from the Lantern -Westward, lying under an high Hill, upon the rising of which the -several Houses, built of Marble, afford a very fine Prospect, and add -much to the Beauty and Glory of the place. _Strada nuova_ perchance -is the most stately Street in the whole World. The new Church of the -_Annunciata_, built by the _Lomellini_, where a thousand may go up the -stairs abreast at the same time, for curious Painting, rich Altars, -and exactness of Architecture, incomparable. The _Duome_ also and the -Church of the _Theatins_ very stately and curious. Other matters I -purposely omit. - -14. In the Evening we set Sail from _Genoa_. - -Becalmed for the most part these three Days, though helped somewhat -forward by the Breezes that blew off the shore after Sun set. - -18. In the Afternoon we made the Island _Gorgonia_, about nine Leagues -from _Livorne_; a little round Island, with a Castle on the top. - -19. In the Morning we came to an Anchor in _Livorne_ Road, about a Mile -from the Town: the Road large and secure, especially to the Northward. -The Ambassador keeps on Board, the Governour refusing to Salute the -Ship first, though he had formerly saluted the _French_; pretending -that every Convoy might carry a Flag; and alledging that his Master, -the Grand Duke, was as great and absolute, as the Republick of _Genoa_: -and that they had rather throw themselves upon the King of _England_, -than do a thing which might prove of such an ill Consequence. Sir _John -Finch_, his Majesty's Resident, together with Sir _Thomas Baines_, -came from _Florence_ to Complement the Ambassador, and immediately -dispatched away a Courier to the Grand Duke about the Salute; who -referred the whole Affair to the Governor: and he making a Protest that -he was ready to pay all the respect which was due to the Ambassador's -Character and Quality, upon the fore-mentioned Pretensions, six days, -after our arrival, absolutely refused to Salute the Ship first. - -_Livorne_ is the great Magazine of Trade for the _Levant_, being a free -Port: Merchants of all Countries residing here, _Armenians_ especially, -and _Jews_; which latter enjoy great Priviledges, without wearing any -distinct Mark in their Hats or Habits, whereby they may be known. They -are allow'd the publick Exercise of their Religion: their Synagogue -large and handsome. The Port inward has a _Mole_ for the Duke's Galleys -and other small Vessels to ride in: the Entrance of which is chained -up every Night. Hard by is the Statue of Duke _Ferdinand_ in Marble, -raised upon an high Pedestal; under which are four Slaves in Brass, -in different Postures, very large, and above the ordinary proportion, -but done with exquisite and admirable Art. Two Castles to the Seaward -well fortified: the Town Walls very high, and the four Gates strongly -guarded: below which is a Ditch of about fifteen or twenty yards over, -and very deep. No Stranger is allowed to view the Works, nor Souldier -permitted to come out of the Castles. About four thousand Slaves are -there, as the Merchants told us, who are lockt up in the _Bagno_ every -Night. The _Piazza_, where the Merchants meet, is adorned with Marble -Pillars, which sustain the Porticos: at the East end of which is the -great Church whose Roof appears very glorious, having several Circles -richly gilded and painted with curious Figures. - -The broad Street is paved between two and three yards on each side with -Free-stone. - -27. In the Afternoon we weighed out of _Livorne_ Road, and sailed by -the Islands _Gorgonia_ and _Capraria_, seeing _Corsica_ at a distance. - -28. We lay beating at Sea all this Day, the Wind being contrary. - -29. This Day we were forced back, the contrary Winds still continuing. - -30. We weighed a second time, and sailed by three small Islands, -_Capraria_, _Planasia_, and _Monte Christi_. We saw also _Gigio_ and -_Sanuti_, two other small Islands near the Main: but we made but little -way, by reason of ill Weather for 4 or 5 Days. - -_Novemb. 5._ At Evening we saw the Eruptions of Fire from _Stromboli_, -which lies to the N. W. of _Sicily_. Sometimes it flamed very bright -Light as a _Beacon_, at other times there appeared only a glorious kind -of Light, like that of an ordinary Star when the Air is thick and hazy. -They say that it flames most in rainy Weather. - -6. In the Morning we were up within a League of it, and plainly -perceived it to smoke. It is of a round figure, and, as we gathered, -may be about three or four Miles in compass. It bore W. by S. of us. -Not far from it lye scattered several other Islands, called by the -Ancients _Æoliœ_ and _Vulcaniœ_: among which are _Lipara_, a long -flattish Island, and _Vulcanello_, which smokes most. This Afternoon we -came to an Anchor in eight Fathom Water in the _Phare_ of _Messina_, -in the mid Stream between _Scylla_ and _Charybdis_: a violent and -strong Current setting against us, and the Wind not high enough, so as -to be able to stemm it. The breadth of the _Strait_ from _Messina_ -to _Rhegium_ may be about a League. The Land is very high on the -_Calabrian_ side, where are very steep Rocks, and great depth of Water, -above 150 Fathom, as they told us: but on the _Sicilian_ side, near -_Charybdis_ Shole-water, and usually an Eddy. On the Sandy Banks stands -the Phare or Watch-tower. Several Currents meeting in this narrow -Passage, cause a great rippling of the Water: and great quantity of -Water coming in, as the Winds drive, in great quantity meeting with the -Shole, is broken into Waves. The Eddies here are caused by the meeting -of the different Currents by which the Waters are sometimes carried -N. and sometimes S. the great danger is, lest they drive the Ship on -either side. We have had Lightning for seven or eight Nights together. - -7. We sail'd by _Ætna_, now called _Mongibel_, where the Sea widens ten -or eleven Leagues over. Now we see plainly the Smoke briskly issuing -out of the _Crater_, the _Limbus_ of which was all black. The uppermost -part of the Mountain was covered with Snow, except some streaks of -Ashes, as we judge, which lie as it were in a Gutter, spread here and -there. - -8. We espied a _Saettia_ at about 3 Leagues distance, and making up to -her, found her forsaken. The Captain sent several Seamen on board, and -carried the Vessel to _Smyrna_. - -Scanty Wind for several Days: and the Lightning still continued. - -13. We were up with _Cape Modona_, the Southernmost Cape of the -_Morea_, and sailed by _Coron_. The Land very high, the Hills of -_Arcadia_ lying Eastward from us. The Weather excessive hot at -this time, as it is in _England_ at _Midsummer_. We espied from -our Maintop-mast five Sail of great Ships, which we supposed to be -_Tripolines_, who did not think fit to come up and speak with us. But -afterward we heard for certain, that they were part of the _Venetian_ -Fleet. - -14. We lay for the most part becalmed over against _Cape Matapan_: but -in the Evening the Wind blowing fresh, we sailed between the Island of -_Cerigo_ and the Main Land of _Greece_; it being about three Leagues -over to _Cape Angelo_. - -15. We entred the Arches, and steered through the North Channel, -leaving _Melo_ and _Antimelo_ on the Starboard-quarter, at some Leagues -distance. - -16. Betimes in the Morning we were athwart _Negropont_, and sailed -between it and _Andros_. The _Bocca_ lies S. W. and N. E. - -17. We sailed by _Chios_ or _Scio_, which is very mountainous toward -the middle. It is about four Leagues distant from _Cape Caraboroun_, -or the _Cape of the black Nose_, as the _Turkish_ word signifies, -which the Seamen, in their usual way of corrupting Names, call _Cape -Jobbernoule_, the _Corinœum_ of the Ancients, a Promontory of the -famous Mountain _Mimas_, which runs along the Southern side of the _Bay -of Smyrna_. - -This Day the _Smyrna_ Fleet from _England_ comes up to us very luckily, -to our great Satisfaction and Joy. - -18. We are now got into the _Bay of Smyrna_, and come to an Anchor -without the Castle, not far from St. _Jacomo's Point_, as the Seamen -call it, or rather _Sangiac Point_. In the Afternoon the Consul, with -several Gentlemen of the Factory, came to wait upon my Lord Ambassador, -and desired his Lordship to defer his Entrance into _Smyrna_ till the -Twentieth, that he might be received with greater Honour. That Evening -we heard a great howling of _Jackalls_ upon the Hills. - -20. The Consul with the Nation, accompanied with his _Druggermen_ and -_Janizaries_ in their _Habit_, together with several _French_, _Dutch_ -and _Genoese_ Merchants, residing in that famous Emporium, came to the -Village near the Castle, who there expected us with Horses. Upon our -going ashore, the _Leopard_ fired fifty one Guns. We made about 140 -Horse; and immediately upon our setting forth, we rode for about three -Miles together under the Hill to the S. W. of _Smyrna_; the places -adjoyning set thick with Olive, Fig, and Almond-trees. Afterwards -we clambered over some rocky Ascents; but the Horses of the Country -being sure-footed, we were in no danger of falling. Some little way -we were forced to ride on the Sea-shore, and soon after came to the -Jews burying place, whose Monuments lie flat upon the ground. As soon -as we entred into the City, we found the Streets full of _Greeks_, -_Armenians_, _Turks_, and _Jews_, whom Curiosity had drawn together to -see and observe our Cavalcade; the _English_ Ships, which were in the -_Bay_, firing their Guns, as we past near the Shore. And so after three -hours riding the Ambassador was brought to the Consul's House, where -Lodgings were provided for him. During our stay we met with not only -kind, but very noble Entertainment from the worthy Gentlemen of the -Factory. - -_Decemb. 8._ We took our leave of _Smyrna_, being accompanied by the -Consul and Merchants on board the _London-Merchant_, Capt. _John -Hill_ Commander, the _Leopard_ being ordered to go no further than -_Smyrna_, it being feared in _England_, that if she had sailed up to -_Constantinople_, the _Turks_ might have press'd her for their Service -in _Candia_, which they were then besieging. - -9. This Morning we weighed betimes, and sailed between _Scio_ and -_Mytilene_. But on the - -10. We were forced back near the long Island within the Bay, being -unwilling to go to _Scio_, the _Tripolines_ and _Turkish_ Galleys lying -there. Here we lay ten Days, expecting a fair Wind. - -20. The Wind coming about and favouring us, we sailed a second time -between _Scio_ and _Mytilene_. - -21. We past by _Lemnos_, and were up with the Island _Tenedos_; a fine -Champaign Country, only with one Hill toward the middle of it. The -Castle to the N. E. part of the Isle: over against which lye three -small Islands in a strait Line. Here we came to an Anchor. We saw the -Ruins of _Troas_ at a distance, but did not think it safe to go ashore. - -22. The Wind coming about at S. we entred the _Hellespont_, which -may be about two Leagues and a half over. The Castles built upon -the opposite points of Land, about 11 or 12 Years before, after the -great Defeat given the _Turkish Armata_ at the _Dardanels_ by the -_Venetians_; _Cape Janizary_ on the _Asian_ side; which, with the -_Philæum_, makes a tolerable good Bay for ordinary Vessels. The -narrowest Strait of the _Hellespont_ is at the two other Castles, -distant about six Leagues, where it may be about ¾ of a Mile wide. -These the _Christians_ call the _Dardanelli_; at which are situate the -Towns, _Sestus_ and _Abydus_, famous in _Greek_ Poesie. These Castles -we saluted with our Guns and Trumpets, as we did the first: but each, -whether out of Pride, or out of Covetousness, to save the _Grand -Signior_'s Powder, return'd us no more than two Guns. The Wind blowing -very fair we sailed into the _Propontis_. - -23. We passed by St. _Stephano's Point_, where we had a full view of -the S. E. Angle of _Constantinople_, which being situated upon several -Hills to a mighty advantage, what with the Cypress-Trees intermixed, -and what with the gilded Spires of the _Moschs_, yielded us a very -diverting glorious Prospect. Passing by the _Seraglio Point_, which we -saluted by a discharge of several Guns, in the mid Stream between it -and the _Tophana_, we came to an Anchor. - -26. On St. _Stephen_'s Day the Ambassador landed at _Galata_, (having -before been visited by the Earl of _Winchelsea_, and the Merchants -residing there) and was received there by the _Chiaus Basha_ and the -_Vaivod_ of _Galata_, the _Janizaries_ and _Chiauses_ attending, and -was waited upon by them to his Palace: and soon after the _Kaimacam_, -or Governor of _Constantinople_, sent an Officer to Complement him upon -his Arrival; the _Grand Signior_ being then at _Larissa_ in _Thessaly_. - -_January 2._ The Ambassadors, Old and New, went over to -_Constantinople_, that Morning being assigned by the _Kaimacam_ to -give them Audience, the _Chiaus Basha_ and other Officers attending at -the Water-side to receive them; Horses being brought thither for them -and their Followers to mount. This _Kaimakam Jusuph_, a little old -Man, had formerly been a Page of the Chamber, and chief Falconer, and -afterwards _Basha_ of _Silistria_. He entertained the Ambassadors and -their Company with Perfumes, Coffee, and Sherbet, and distributed about -fifteen _Koftans Orrests_ among them: after about an Hours stay they -took their leave. - -Being upon the Coasts of _Greece_ about _August_ or _September_ 69. in -the Latitude of 35°. 53´. we found by our _Azimouth_ Compass, that we -had Westerly variation there 5°. 22´. - -The variety of Colours of the Sea-Water at several times chiefly -depends upon the Wind and Weather, and the reflexion of the Light -upon it. It's usual and most natural Colour is a deep Green: but in -Cloudy and Rainy Weather, the Surface of the Water appears blackish. -On the _Goodwins_ upon the Tide of Flood, the Water was white, the -Waves by reason of the Shallows, meeting with opposition, and breaking -into Foam, till the Flood is well advanced. Sometimes the Water is -of a perfect Azure colour, as we observed for several Weeks in the -_Mediterranean_. The Sun shining bright upon the Water, sometimes the -upper part of the Waves appears Purplish, sometimes Reddish; though in -Shallows perchance it may receive this latter Tincture also from the -Sands which lie under it. When the Wind has freshened, and the Ship has -been under full Sail, I have observed the Waves to the head, and at the -sides of the Ship, to appear with a pale kind of brightness: and at -_Malaga_, and at my return, going on board our Ship, which lay about -half a League from the shore, at Night, the Wind then at East, the -Boats Crew letting their Oar fall roughly into the Water, diverted us -as it were with the sight of a continued Flame, raised by their rowing; -which I ascribe rather to the Saline Particles of the Sea-Water, which -were then put into a violent Agitation, than to the Spawn of Fish, as -some of our Company imagined. - -Sailing toward the West of _Portland_, we saw several _Porpisces_ -playing with their Heads above Water; which I mention only, because -the Seamen look upon them as fore-runners of a Storm; the Wind soon -after blowing very hard at North by East. And afterwards arriving at -_Constantinople_, the Wind blowing a stiff Gale at North, I observed -with a pleasing kind of astonishment good part of the _Propontis_, that -is, from the _Seraglio Point_ toward the Islands, which lye against the -_Bay of Nicomedia_, Eastward and South-East from us, as far as we could -see, covered as it were with _Porpisces_, which appeared every where in -great abundance. So that I am very apt to believe that _Julius Solinus_ -in _Chap._ 12. of his _Polykister_ is to be understood of _Porpisces_, -and not of _Dolphins_, now properly so called, though that be his Word, -speaking of the _Bosphorus_ and _Propontis_: _Hæc profunda Delphinas -plurimos habent_: and soon after, _ante omnia nihil velocius habent -maria, sic ut plerunque transvolent vela navium_. I could not hear that -any _Dolphins_ are caught in those Seas by the _Greeks_, whose Poverty, -added to the love which their Nation has for Fish, and the advantage -arising thence, upon the account of their solemn Fasts and Abstinences -from all Flesh, even to a wonderful strictness and scrupulosity, -has made them excellent Fishermen: nor did I ever see any in their -Fish-Markets, or see one of them brought to the Ambassador's Table by -the Proveditor for curiosity: Though otherwise it is an excellently -well tasted Fish, especially when soused. I allow, that they will swim -very swiftly, as do the _Porpisces_; and that they will follow a Ship -for several Leagues together: but then they Swim somewhat deep in the -Water, sometimes are catch'd, though not often. The Seamen have reached -them with a Fisgig, a kind of barbed Iron, at the End of a Pole tied -fast to a Rope, and have made good Chear with them. But this is only my -Conjecture, with which I end my Journal. - - _Deo Servatori Laus._ - - - - - _Historical Observations relating to _Constantinople_. By the - Reverend and Learned _Tho. Smith_, D. D. Fellow of _Magd. Coll. - Oxon._ and of the _Royal Society_._ - - -_Constantinople_, formerly _Byzantium_, was[1] by _Constantine_ the -Great, called so after his own Name, who being mightily pleased with -the beautiful and advantageous situation of the Place between two -Seas, and defended by narrow Streights on both sides, removed the Seat -of the Empire hither, and laid the foundation of its future Splendor -and Greatness. It was also by a[2]special Edict or Law of the same -Emperor, which he caused to be engraven on a Marble Pillar, placed -near his own Statue on Horse-back, in one of the Piazza's of his new -built City called _Strategium_, where the Soldiers used to Muster, -as in the _Campus Martius_, called _second or new Rome_, in emulation -of old _Rome_, which he designed and endeavoured this should equal in -all things. Accordingly he endowed it with the same Priviledges and -Immunities, and established the same number of Magistrates and Orders -of People, and divided the whole extent of it into fourteen Precincts -or[3]Regions, according to the division of _Rome_. And the _Greek_ -Writers were as elegant and extravagant in their commendations of -it; but the usual Title in their ordinary Discourses and Writings, -when they had occasion to mention it without any flourish, was ἡ -βασιλευούσα, ἡ βασιλίς, that is, the Imperial City, to the same sense -with that of[4]_Sidonius Apollinaris_, - - _Salve sceptrorum columen, Regina orientis, - Orbis Roma tui._ - -The Country about it was afterwards called _Romania_ in a limited and -restrained sense, (for that _Romania_ was anciently the same with -_orbis Romanus_, seems clear from[5]_Epiphanius_) and the People -Ρωμαῖοι. But I suppose this was not done till about the middle times -of the Empire, when it began to decline. The _Greeks_ still retain -this Name. For if you ask any of the _Greeks_ born upon the Continent -of _Thrace_, what Country Man he is? he answers forthwith, Ρωμαῖος -_Romios_, for so they pronounce it. The _Turks_ in like manner call -a _Greek_ Christian _Urum Gaour_, or the Roman Infidel, as they will -call sometimes the Emperor of _Germany_, _Urumler Padisha_ or Emperor -of the _Romans_. Hence it was, that the latter _Græcian_ Emperors -stiled themselves βασιλεῖς Ρωμαίων, Kings of the Romans, that is, such -as were Born in _Romania_ and the other Countries, which made up the -Eastern division of the Empire. Tho' perchance by this flourishing -Title they pretended a right to the Government of the West: Upon -which vain presumption they assumed also the Title of Κοσμοκράτορες, -or Emperors of the World, as if they had been the true Successors of -_Augustus_, and the Western Emperors, Usurpers, whom they called by way -of contempt and indignation, Ρῆγες, Reges, as[6] _Luitprandus_ informs -us in the accompt of his Embassy to _Nicephorus Phocas_, and afforded -the People of _Italy_ no other Title than that of[7]_Longobards_ or -_Lombards_. The present _Greeks_ call all the Western Christians -Λατῖνοι or φράγγοι _Latins_ or _Franks_, the _Turks_ only making use of -the latter, when they speak civilly of us, and calling _Christendom_ -_Phrenkistan_, in the present _Greek_ φραγγία. The _Turks_ now as -proudly call _Constantinople_ _Alem pena_, or the refuge of the World: -Where indeed seems to be a medley of all or most Nations of three parts -of it, and of all Religions, which are allowed to be publickly profest -and exercised every where throughout the Empire, except the _Persian_. -For they look upon it as a corruption of, and deviation from the Rules -and Doctrine of _Mahomet_, their great false Prophet, and therefore -absolutely forbid it, as repugnant to, and destructive of the Doctrine -of Life and Salvation, as they speak. And accordingly they condemn with -all imaginable fury the Professors of it, who pretend to follow _Ali_, -as Sectaries and Apostates, and entertain worse Opinions of them, -than of _Christians_, or _Jews_ or _Infidels_. The _Persians_ are not -behind-hand with them in their hatred and disrespect, deriding them as -gross and stupid, and looking upon them as little less than barbarous; -Interest and Zeal for their several Tenets heightning their differences -so much, that in time of War they destroy one anothers _Moschs_. I -remember, that there was a great Discourse in _Constantinople_ among -the _Turks_ concerning an impudent hot-headed _Persian_, who publickly -in the new _Mosch_ built by the Mother of the present Emperor, asserted -that _Ali_ was equal to _Mahomet_. But it seems he very luckily made -his escape out of their Hands, at which the Priests and the more -zealous _Turks_ were very much scandalized. - -The _Greeks_ have twenty six Churches within the Walls of the City, -besides 6 in _Galata_, of which I have given an Account elsewhere. They -have also two Churches at _Scutari_, one at _Kadikui_ or _Chalcedon_. -So at _Staurosis_, _Chingilkui_, and several other Villages upon the -Asian Shore off the Bosphorus, as at _Beshictash_, _Ortakui_, _Chorouch -chesme_, which Church is dedicated to St. _Michal_ the Archangel, -_Jenikui_ or _Neochorion_, _Therapia_, _Bujukdere_, and other Villages -on the _European_ side. They have also a Church at _Haskui_, where is -their Burying place, and another near the _Bagnio_, dedicated to St. -_Parasceve_. And at _Tatoula_ about a Mile from _Pera_, upon a Hill, -which from the Name of the Church is thence called by the _Greeks_ -and _Franks_, St. _Demetrius_ his Hill. Next to the holy Virgin, St. -_Demetrius_ and St. _George_ have most Churches dedicated to them. - -The _Armenians_ have not, if I remember aright, above seven Churches; -they being few in number in comparison of the _Greeks_. - -The _Jews_ may have in the City and places adjacent between twenty and -thirty Synagogues, this being the greatest shelter of that accursed -contemptible People in the Grand Signiors Dominions, next to _Caire_ -and _Saloniki_: and I believe there may be about twenty or thirty -thousand families of them. They are of great use and service to the -_Turks_, upon accompt of their Brocage and Merchandise, and Industry -in several mechanical Trades. All these I look upon as Natives, or -Slaves rather, each paying mony for his Head every year. The _Jews_ -indeed very wisely collect this Tax among themselves, and according -to an agreement made with the _Teftardar_ or Treasurer, pay a certain -sum in gross for their whole Nation residing there: by which piece of -cunning they are great gainers, and spare the poor among them less able -to pay, by a contribution of the rich to make up the sum. The _English_ -and _Dutch_ Ambassadors have their Chappels in their Palaces common to -their respective Nations. - -The Churches and Chappels of the Western _Christians_ of the _Roman_ -Communion in _Galata_, are - -St. _Peters_, belonging to the _Dominicans_, where is the famous piece -of _Madonna di Constantinopolis_ as the _Italians_ call it, or of the -blessed Virgin, holding the holy Child _Jesus_ in her arms: which they -pretend to be drawn by the hand of St. _Luke_, celebrated by some of -the latter Ecclesiastical Writers to have been a famous Painter. Out of -respect to this idle tradition the credulous and superstitious _Latins_ -and _Greeks_ of the _Roman_ Communion shew great veneration to it, -which otherwise hath little in it of proportion, art, or beauty, to -derive any reputation upon the designer, or upon his work. - -St. _Francis_, belonging to the _Conventuali_, Friars of the order of -St. _Francis_; the ground of this by the wise conduct and intercession -of _Caviliere Molino_, the Venetian _Bailo_, after the surrender of -_Candia_, upon the Peace made by the Republick with the Grand Signior, -was procured to be restored, and a handsome Church rebuilt with the -large contributions of mony sent out of _Christendom_. - -St. _Benedict_, belonging to the _Jesuits_, where is a rich Altar -curiously adorn'd with several figures in _Mosiack_. This Convent was -purchased for them by their great Benefactor, _Henry_ the fourth of -_France_. - -St. _Mary_, belonging to the _Observantines_ or _Zoccolanti_, a branch -of the order of St. _Francis_, so called from their going in _Zoccoli_ -or wooden clogs. - -The _Capuchines_ have a little Chappel dedicated to St. _George_, hard -by the _French_ Ambassadors Palace. - -St. _Ann_, a Chappel frequented by the _Perotes_. - -St. _Paul_ and St. _Anthony_, were both taken away some years since -from the _Christians_, and turned into _Moschs_. The former of which -is now known by the name of _Arab Giamesi_, or the Mosch of the -_Arabians_. Our Interpreters mentioned also to me the Church of St. -_John_, which the _Turks_ have seized upon for their use, St. _George_, -which the _Jews_ are possest of, and St. _Sebastian_, which was used to -be visited chiefly on Holy days. - -The North-wind blows for the most part at _Constantinople_. Which must -be ascribed to its nearness to the _Euxine_ Sea, which bears that point -from it. So that for want of a Southwardly wind Ships have been forced -to lye a month or two sometimes near the mouth of the _Hellespont_. -This was taken notice of long since by _Eunapius_ in the life of -_Ædesius_, who ascribes the seldom blowing of the _South_ wind to the -situation of the mountains, whereas it is checked and overpowered -by the exuberance of the Vapours continually sent forth from the -_black_ and _great Sea_, as the _Greeks_ call it in comparison of the -_Mediterranean_. _Vide ad finem Codini de origin. Constantinopol. Edit. -Paris. Pag. 80._ - -The _Hellespont_ is about forty miles in length, and at the Castles of -_Sestos_ and _Abydos_ the streight may be about three quarters of an -English mile over, or less. - -The length of the _Propontis_ is about a hundred and fifty miles, both -shores may be seen in the middle of it. In it are, - -_Cyzicus_, an Island near the _Asian_ shore, to which it is joined by -two bridges. It still retains its ancient name Κυζικὸ, and is the seat -of a Bishop, being inhabited by a considerable number of _Greeks_. - -_Proconnesus_, not far from the former; now, as for some centuries -past, called _Marmora_, from the excellent quarries of Marble there -found, the marmor _Cyzenicum_ also being famous in the time of _Pliny_. - -_Besbychus_, now called by the Greek καλόλιμνο, or the good haven, not -far from the entrance into the bay of _Montanea_ to the North and by -East. The _Turks_ call it _Imralme_. - -There are several Islands over against the bay of _Nicomedia_, formerly -called _Sinus Astacenus_, according to _Strabo_, about six or seven -leagues from _Constantinople_.[8] - -_Prote_, so called because they approach first to it, coming from -_Constantinople_; to the South of this _Prencipe_ and _Pytis_, which -I take to be the same with _Pyrgos_, that lyes inmost toward the bay: -_Chalcitis_, in modern Greek, _Chalce_ or _Chalcis_. _Oxia_ and _Platy_ -to the North-west. I have expressed the _Turkish_ names of the lesser -and uninhabited islands elsewhere, which perchance were phantastically -imposed by some _Franks_. - -The _Seraglio_ is at the extreme point of the North-east Angle of -_Constantinople_, where formerly stood old _Byzantium_, within which -towards the Haven is a stately _Kiosk_ or summer house, from whence -the _Grand Signior_ usually takes Barge, when he passes into _Asia_, -or diverts himself upon the _Bosphorus_, at which time the _Bostangi -Bashi_, who hath the principal care of the Emperors palace, and hath -the command of the _Bosphorus_, sits at the helm and steers. - -The seven Towers are at the South-east extremity. - -The only Suburbs are to the North-west, along the Haven-side; for above -the hill, where the three walls begin, lies an open champaign Country, -except that here and there at considerable distances farm houses are -scatter'd. - -The Haven runs in from the West, and so opens East. - -At the East end of _Galata_ is _Tophana_, where they cast their great -Guns. - -_Pera_ and _Galata_ have about six gates to the Seaward. The whole -tract of ground was anciently, before the times of the Emperor -_Valentinian_, who enclosed and fortified _Galata_ with walls and -towers, styled Περαῖα or Regio _Peræa_ being πέραν τῆς πόλεως, on the -other side of the City to the North, which is the reason of its name, -seated on higher hills, and whose ascent is more steep and difficult. - -Our modern _Geographers_, such as _Mercator_ and _Ortelius_, who -herein follow _Ptolomy_, place _Constantinople_ in the Latitude of 43. -degrees and 5 minutes: the _Arabian_ and _Persian Astronomers_, as -_Abulfeda_, _Nassir Edin_, _Vlugh Beigh_, and so the πρόχειροι κανόνες, -_Chrysococcas_ translated out of the _Persian_ tables, place it more -Northerly in 45. But by latter and better observation it is found, that -they have erred in assigning the Latitude of this City, as of several -other places. To salve these differences, there is no just ground -of pretence to say, that the _Poles_ are moveable and have changed -their situation since their time, whereas it may better be imputed to -their want of due care, or to their taking things upon trust, from -the reports of _Travellers_ and _Seamen_, not having been upon the -places themselves: which certainly is to be said for _Ptolomy_ whose -observations, as to places more remote from _Alexandria_, are far from -being accurate and true. The learned Mr. _John Greaves_, as I find in a -Manuscript discourse, very worthy of being Printed, which he presented -to the most reverend and renowned _Arch-bishop Usher_, took the height -of the _Pole_ at _Constantinople_ with a brass sextant of above 4 feet -_radius_, and found it to be but 41 degrees 6´. but by the observation -we made in our Court-yard at _Pera_ with a very good _Quadrant_ we -found it but 40 degrees and 58 minutes of North Latitude. - -There is no place between the _Propontis_ and the walls of the City, -except just at the Seraglio-point, which may be two hundred paces in -length; where they have raised on a platform a battery for Great guns; -but from the point to the end of the Haven West, the space to the gates -is unequal in some places about twenty paces broad, in others three or -four times as many more. - -The distance between _Constantinople_ and _Chalcedon_ upon the -opposite _Bythinian_-shore may be about three or four miles. - -In the Walls are engraven the Names of several Emperors, who reigned -toward the declension of the _Græcian_ Empire, as _Theophilus_, -_Michael_, _Basilius_, _Constantius Porphyrogenitus_, by whose care, -and at whose expence the several breaches caused in them by the Sea or -by Earthquakes, were repaired. - -_Kumkapi_ or the sand-gate lies toward the _Propontis_; this the -_Greeks_ call in their vulgar language Κονδοσκάλι, _Contoscalium_, or -the little scale or landing-place. Here formerly was an Arsenal for -Gallies and other small vessels; it being a convenient passage over -Sea. Over this Gate was anciently engraven a curious Inscription still -preserved in that excellent collection published by[9]_Gruterus_. - -_Jedicula Kapi_, or the Gate of the seven Towers, so called from its -nearness to that _Acropolis_, is that, I guess, which the _Greeks_ -formerly called χρυσῆ or the Golden Gate, and by some late _Latin_ -Writers _Chrysea_, in _Luitprandus_, _Carea_, by a mistake either of -the Transcriber or Printer, for _Aurea_, for so certainly it must be -mended. Over this Gate was this inscription, - - _Hæc loca Theudosius decorat post fata Tyranni, - Aurea secla gerit, qui portam construit auro._ - -cited by _Sirmond_ in his notes upon[10]_Sidonius_. This Gate is in -the twelfth Region, and was also called ὡραῖα from its beautiful and -curious structure. - -The Gun gate formerly called Roman gate, not because it leads towards -the continent of _Romania_ or _Thrace_, but from[11]St. _Romanus_, -where the last Christian Emperor was killed at the assault which the -_Turks_ made to force their Way into the City by it. - -Near _Adrianople_ gate is a fair large _Mosch_ called _Ali-bassa_, upon -a hill accounted the highest in the City. - -The distance between tower and tower in the upper wall to the landward -may be about ninety of my paces; the space between that and the second -wall about eighteen paces over. - -The place, where the _Lyons_, _Leopards_, and such like wild creatures -are kept, (where I saw also several _Jackalls_) was formerly, as the -_Greeks_ told me, a Christian Church dedicated to Παναγία or the -Blessed Virgin, where this Verse is still legible, - - Κατὰ Σκυθῶν ἔπνευσας θερμὸν ἐν μάχαις. - -There is no tide or running back of the water on any side of the -_Bosphorus_ into the black Sea, as[12]some have imagined, whose mistake -might possibly arise hence, that the wind being at North, and blowing -hard, the current sets more violently at such times against the several -headlands jetting out into the channel, which admits of several -turnings, and so the waters are forced back to some little distance: -or else because when the South-wind freshens and grows boisterous, it -makes a high rolling Sea in the _Propontis_ and _Bosphorous_, and being -contrary to the current, gives a check to it, so that it becomes less -sensible, and is easily stemmed. Where it is narrowest, the distance -seems to the eye to be scarce a mile over from one shore to another; -where broadest, not much above a mile and a half, unless where it runs -into the deep Bays, which by reason of their shallowness only harbour -Boats. - -The channel certainly is natural and not cut by art, as some have idly -fansied, not considering, how the _Euxine_ Sea should discharge it self -otherwise of those great quantities of waters, poured into it by the -_Ister_ and _Tanais_, now called _Don_, and the other Rivers, whereby -it becomes less salt, even very sensibly to the taste, than several -parts of the _Mediterranean_. - -The Fish, by a strange kind of instinct, pass in vast shoals twice a -year, Autumn and Spring, through the _Bosphorus_, that is, out of one -Sea into another, of which the _Greeks_, who live several months of the -year upon them, take great numbers, and supply the markets at easie -rates; the Cormorants and other ravenous water-fowl, which the _Turks_ -will not suffer to be destroy'd or otherwise molested, preying upon -them. - -The weather in some months is very inconstant, great heats and colds -happening the same day upon the change of the wind. - -The winters at _Constantinople_ are sometimes extraordinary severe. I -have heard it related by several old _Greeks_, as a thing most certain -that the _Bosphorus_ was frozen over in the time of _Achmed_, and that -a Hare was coursed over it. It hapned thus, that upon a thaw huge cakes -of Ice came floating down the _Danube_ into the black Sea, and were -driven by the current into the _Bosphorus_, whereupon the return of the -frost, they were fixed so hard that it became passable. In the year -1669 there was Ice in the Haven to the great amazement of the _Turks_; -and some were so frighted at this unusual accident, that they lookt -upon it as a dismal prodigy, and concluded, that the World would be at -an end that Year. The _Aguglia_ or _Obelisk_ in the _Hippodrome_ is -betwixt fifty and sixty Foot high. - -The Historical Pillar in _basso relievo_, raised in honour of the -Emperors _Arcadius_ and _Honorius_, may be in height about an hundred -seven and forty feet. - -_Alexius Comnenus_ lies buried in the Patriarchal Church against the -wall, and his daughter _Anna Comnena_, the Historian, who lived about -the year of Christ 1117. They pretend to shew there the reliques of St. -_Anastasia_, who suffered Martyrdom under the Emperor _Valerianus_, and -of St. _Euphemia_, Virgin and Martyr, who lost her life most gloriously -for _Christ's_ holy religion at _Chalcedon_ under _Dioclesian_. - -In _Sancta Sophia_ there are pillars so great, that a Man can scarce -fathom them at twice. At the end of the Gallery, that joins the -other two, each about thirty of my paces wide, there is a piece of -transparent Marble, two or three Inches thick. In the North gallery -upon the Pavement is a reddish sort of a Marble Stone, brought, as the -_Turks_ and _Christians_ relate, from _Palestine_, on which they Fable, -that the blessed Virgin used to wash the linnen of our Saviour. - -I observed but one step from the Body of the Church to the _Bema_ or -place where the Altar formerly stood. - -The great _Mosch_ at _Chasim-bassa_ on _Pera_ side to the West, was -formerly a Church dedicated to St _Theodosia_. - -_Gianghir_, a Mosch so called, upon a hill at _Fondaclee_ near -_Tophana_. - -In _Constantinople_ there are several narrow streets of Trade, closed -up with sheds and pent-houses, which I suppose were in use before the -_Greeks_ lost their Empire, and are the same with the σκεπαστοὶ καὶ -φρακτοὶ δρόμοι in _Chrysaloras_ his[13]Epistle. But besides these -places, several Trades have their distant quarters. The streets are -raised for the most part on each side for the greater convenience. - -Not far from _Suleimania_ is the house of the _Aga_ or General of the -_Janizaries_, which so often changes its Masters. - -_Pompey_'s pillar, as the _Franks_ erroneously call it, is of the -_Corinthian_ order, curiously wrought, about eighteen foot in height -and three in Diameter. - -_Beshiktash_, a Village within three or four miles of _Constantinople_ -towards the _Bosphorus_, where lies buried the famous Pirate _Ariadin_, -whom the _Christian_ Writers call _Barbarossa_, who built here a -handsome Mosch, having two rows of Pillars at the entrance. The Captain -_Bassa_ usually, before he puts to Sea with his Armata of Gallies, -visits the Tomb of this fortunate Robber, who had made several thousand -_Christians_ Slaves, and makes his Prayers at the neighbouring Church -for the good Success of his expedition. - -They reckon in the City above a hundred publick Baths, every street -almost affording one. They are esteemed works of great Piety and -Charity; there being a continual use of them, not only upon the accompt -of Religion, but of Health and Cleanliness. For their Diet being for -the most part hot spiced meats in the Winter, and crude fruits in -the Summer, their Liquor Fountain Water, or Coffee, to which we may -add their lazy kind of Life (for walking is never used by them for -digestion, or otherwise in the way of diversion) frequent bathing -becomes necessary. - -There are several receptacles of Water under Ground, and one -particularly under the Church of _Sancta Sophia_, as I was informed; -but I did not think it worth my curiosity to descend into it. These -were of great use to the poor _Greeks_ in the last fatal Siege; but the -_Turks_ are so secure, that they do not think, that they deserve either -cost or pains to keep the Waters sweet, or the cisterns in repair. - -The _Aqueducts_, which answer to those glorious _Aqueducts_, near -_Pyrgos_, and convey the water to the great cistern near Sultan -_Selim_'s Mosch, are in that part of _Constantinople_, which lies -between the Mosch of _Mahomet_ the Great and _Shaxade_. - -The _Turks_ began to besiege _Constantinople_ on the fifth of _April_, -and took it the twenty ninth of _May_ on _Whitsun Tuesday_ morning -1453. or as the _Turks_ reckon in the year 857. of the _Hegira_, or -flight of _Mahomet_, the 22 day of the first _Jomad_. - -The Chappel, where _Ejub Sultan_ is interred, at whose Head and Feet I -observed great wax Candles, is enclosed with latten wire Grates, for -the better accommodation of such religious _Turks_ as come to pay their -respect to the memory of this great _Musulman_ Saint. In the middle -of the Area there is raised a building sustained by excellent marble -Pillars, ascended by two several pair of stairs, where the new Emperor -is inaugurated, and where he usually goes in _Biram_-time. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν. _So the Emperor_ Constantine _in a -Letter to_ Eusebius. de vita Constantini. _lib._ 4. _cap._ 36. & apud -Theodoritum Histor. Eccles. _lib._ 1. _cap._ 16. _v._ etiam Socrat. -Scholast. Hist. Eccles. _lib._ 1. _cap._ 16. - -[2] V. Socratem ibidem. Et Theophanem in Chronographia XXV. anno -Constantini. - -[3] _The _Italian_ Word _Rione_ is a manifest corruption of the _Latin_ -Word._ - -[4] In Panegyrico, quem Romæ dixit Anthemio Augusto, bis Consuli. - -[5] __Hæresi LXIX. quæ est Arianorum. Sect. 2._ where he says a sad -dismal Fire was kindled by _Arius_; πῦρ ὀυ τὸ τυχὸν ὃ κατείληφε πᾶσαν -τὴν Ρωμανίαν σχεδὸν, μάλιστα τῆς ἀνατολῖς τὰ μέρη, which seized almost -upon all _Romania_, or _Universum Romanorum imperium_, as _Petavius_ -renders it, but especially the Eastern parts of it._ - -[6] Pag. 144, 152, 153. - -[7] Pag. 139. - -[8] v. Gillium de Bosp. Thracio lib. III. cap. 12. &c. - -[9] Pag. 169. Num. 3. - -[10] Pag. 121. - -[11] Vid. Historiam Politicam Constantinopoleos apud Crusium in -Turco-Græcia, pag. 9. - -[12] This was an old error; for thus writes Dionysius Byzantinus in his -little Book of the Bosphorus. Τοῦ ῥεύματος τὸ μὲν πλεῖον κατιόντος ἐστὶ -δὲ ὅτε κατ' ἐπικράτειαν ἀναστρέφοντος. - -[13] Pag. 119. - - - - - _An account of the City of _Prusa_ in _Bythynia_, and a - continuation of the Historical Observations relating to - _Constantinople_, by the Reverend and learned _Thomas Smith_ D. - D. fellow of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._ and of the _Royal Society_._ - - -_Montanea_ formerly called _Nicopolis_ according to _Bellonius_, or -rather _Cios_, the bay hence called _Sinus Cianus_, lies in the bottom -of a Bay about Fourscore miles from _Constantinople_, and is the Scale -or Landing-place for _Prusa_, from which it may be about twelve miles; -in the middle way to which is the Village _Moussanpoula_. - -_Prusa_, now called by the _Turks_ _Bursia_, the chief City of -_Bythynia_, is seated at the foot partly, and partly upon the rising -of the mount _Olympus_, which is one of the highest Hills of the -lesser _Asia_. Its top is covered with Snow for nine or ten Months of -the Year, several streams of Water flowing down the Hill continually, -accounted very unwholesom from the Snow mixed with it. In the upper -part of the City to the North-west lies the Seraglio, which is walled -round; but the Emperors not residing here since their acquests in -_Thrace_, or scarce making visits to this Imperial City, and none of -their Sons living here of late, according to the former Policy of the -_Turkish_ Emperors, who did not permit their Sons, when grown up, to -be near them, but sent them to some Honourable Employment, accompanied -with a Bassa and Cadi to instruct them in the Arts of War and -Government, it lies now neglected and despoiled of all its ornaments. - -In this part also are the Sepulchers of _Osman_, the founder of the -Family, which now Reigns, and his Son _Urchan_, who took the City, -near a Mosch, formerly a _Christian_ Church dedicated to St. _John_, -and where was formerly a Convent of Religious, built by _Constantinus -Iconomachus_, where I saw the figure of a Cross still remaining upon -the Wall. Here hangs up a Drum of a vast bigness, such as they carry -upon the backs of Cammels, and I suppose is one of those which they -used in the taking the Place. - -In the lower part, near the bottom of the Hill, _Morad_ the second, the -Father of _Mahomet_ the Great, lies buried: near whereunto was formerly -the Metropolitical Church of the _Holy Apostles_. The _Bezesten_, or -Exchange, seems to be much better and larger than the great one at -_Constantinople_, as are the several Caravanserais built for the use -and accommodation of Merchants, and Travellers; in one of which, the -Rice Chane, I took up my quarters. - -Without the City toward the East is the Mosch and Sepulcher of the -Emperor _Bajazid_ the first, whom the _Turks_ call _Jilderim_ or -lightning, and the Greek Writers λαίλαψ. Not far from hence is the -Mosch of _Mahomet_ the first, and his Sepulcher. Toward the West upon -the side of the Hill is the Mosch of _Morad_ the First, whom they call -_Gazi_ or the Conqueror, near which he lies buried. There are in the -whole about 124 Moschs, several of which were formerly _Christian_ -Churches, and between fifty and sixty Chanes. The Castles built by -_Osman_, when he besieged the City, are slighted and altogether -unfortified, the one to the North, the other to the South-West. - -At _Checkerghe_, about a mile and a half out of Town, are the hot -Baths, much frequented both by _Christians_ and _Turks_. They are made -very Convenient to Bath in, and are covered over, that they may be used -in all Weathers. Among others, there is a large round _Basin_, where -they usually divert themselves by Swimming. - -What opinions the _Turks_ have of our Blessed _Saviour_ and the -_Christian_ Religion, I shall briefly shew, as they lie dispersed -in several Chapters of the _Alcoran_, according to which they frame -their Discourse, whensoever either Zeal or Curiosity puts them upon -this Topick. For _Mahomet_ upon his setting up to be the Author -of a new Religion, finding such a considerable part of the World -professing the doctrine of _Christ_, with all the Mysteries of Faith -therein contained, was cast upon a necessity of saying something both -concerning Him and It. By which it will appear, how great the Power of -Truth is above Imposture and Subtility, and that as the Devils in the -Possessed confess'd, though against their Wills, _Christ_ to be the -Son of _God_, so this _Dæmoniack_ in the midst of all his Forgeries -and Lies, and Ridiculous and Childish Narratives, not being able to -contradict the universal Belief of the _Christians_ of that, and the -preceding Ages, founded on the History of the Gospel, hath been forced -to give Testimony to several particulars of it. - -They confess then that _Christ_ was Born of a Pure Spotless Virgin, the -Virgin _Mary_, chosen by _God_ and sanctified above all the Women in -the World; and that the Angel _Gabriel_ was dispatched out of Heaven to -acquaint her with the News of it. That such a kind of Miraculous and -Supernatural Birth never hapned to any besides, and that _Christ_ was -conceived by the _Holy Ghost_, and that he wrought mighty Miracles, for -Instance, that he cleansed Lepers, gave Sight to the Blind, restored -Sick Persons to their Health, and raised the Dead. - -That he is a great Prophet, sent by _God_ to convert Men from the -Vanity and Error of their false Worship to the Knowledge of the -true _God_, to Preach Righteousness, and to correct and restore the -Imperfection and Miscarriages of Humane Nature; that he was of a most -Holy and Exemplary Life, that he was the true Word of _God_, the -_Apostle_ or _Ambassador_ of _God_; That his Gospel was revealed to -him from Heaven, and that he is in Heaven standing nigh to the Throne -of _God_. They Blaspheme indeed with a Brutishness and Stupidity only -befitting _Turks_, the Mysteries of the _Holy Trinity_, and of the -Divinity of our _Blessed Saviour_, and deny that he was put to Death, -and say that another in his Shape was Crucified by the _Jews_, and that -he himself was assumed into Heaven in his Body without dying at all, -and consequently they will not own, that he satisfied Divine Justice -for the Sins of the World; so great an affinity is there between the -Heresie of _Socinus_ and profess'd _Mahometanism_. - -I could never yet see any _Turkish_ Translation of the _Alcoran_; -they cry up the Elegance of the Style, which being Enthusiastick and -High-flown, by reason also of the tinkling of the Periods, is very -delightful to their Ears, who seem to be affected with Rhime mightily. -Though I suppose it is upon a more Politick Account, that they are -so averse, as to the translating it into their vulgar Language, not -out of respect to the Sacredness of the Original only, whose full -commanding Expressions they think cannot be translated without a great -diminution to the Sense; but to keep it in greater Veneration among -the People, who might be apt to Slight and Dis-esteem it, should it -become thus common among them. It is enough, that the Priests and -Learned Men explain the difficult Passages of it to the People, and -write Commentaries for the use of the more Curious and Inquisitive. The -_Persians_ on the contrary think it no disparagement to the _Arabick_, -or Profanation of the Sense, to Translate this cursed Book into their -own Language, and Copies are frequent among them. - -The _Grand Signior_'s Women are usually the choicest Beauties of the -Christian Spoils, presented by the _Bassa's_ or _Tartars_. The present -_Sultana_, the Mother of the young Prince _Mustapha_, is a Candiot; -the _Valide_ or Emperor's Mother, a _Russian_, the Daughter of a poor -Priest, who with her Relations were seized upon by the _Tartars_ in an -Incursion, which they made into the _Muscovites_ Country. She being -receiv'd into the _Seraglio_, by her beautiful Complexion and cunning -Behaviour, gain'd the Heart and Affection of _Sultan Ibrahim_ (a Man -wholly addicted to soft Pleasures, and who seldom cared to be long -absent from the Women's Apartment, but chose to spend his time among -them) having the good fortune to be the Mother of the Prince _Mahomet_, -the eldest Son of his Father, who now Reigns, she had all the Honours -that could possibly be done her, and was the beloved _Hazaki_ or chief -Concubine. During this height of Splendor and Glory, the Court removing -from _Constantinople_ to _Adrianople_, distant about an Hundred and -Twenty Miles, as she was passing in great State attended with her -Guards, through the Streets of the City, in a Coach, much like our -Carriage-Wagons, but that they are latticed to let in the Air (for no -one must presume to stare or scarce look upon the Women, much less must -they themselves suffer their Faces to be seen in this jealous Country) -she out of Curiosity looking through the holes, saw a poor _Christian_ -Slave in a Shop, where Sugar and such like Wares were Sold. Upon her -return she sent one of her Eunuchs to enquire for the Person, and to -ask him several Questions about his Country, Relations, Friends, and -the time when and how long he had been a Slave: His answers were so -particular and satisfactory, that she was soon convinc'd of the Truth -and Certainty of her apprehensions, when she first cast her Eyes upon -him, that he was her Brother, and accordingly it proved so. Whereupon -acquainting the Emperor with it, she immediately redeemed him from -his Patron, and having made the poor Wretch turn _Turk_, got him -considerably preferred. - -The Bassa's for the most part are the Sons of _Christians_, taken -into the _Seraglio_, near the Emperor's Person, and so are prefer'd -to considerable Governments, or else they raise themselves by their -Conduct and Valour. _Mahomet_ Bassa in the time of _Achmet_, whose -eldest Daughter he Married, was the first natural _Turk_, that was made -chief Vizir, having before been Captain Bassa. The chief Vizir _Mahomet -Kupriuli_, (who settled the Empire in the Minority of this Emperor, -when it was ready to be shaken into Pieces, and dissolved by several -powerful Factions in the State, and by the Mutinies and Discontents -of the _Janizaries_ and _Saphi's_, who drove different ways) was an -_Albaneze_ by Birth, the Son of a _Greek_ Priest, whom out of the -height of Zeal for _Mahomet_, he made turn _Turk_ in his Old Age, and -converted the _Christian_ Church in the Village where he was Born into -a Mosch. This Man also forbad the _Dervises_ to Dance in a Ring and -turn round, which before was their solemn Practice at set times before -the People, which they would do so long, till they were giddy by this -swift circular Motion, and fell down in a Swound, and then oftentimes -upon their recovery from such Trances, they pretended to Revelation. -The Church-Men are not very kind to his Memory, looking upon him as a -Man of little or no Religion; and they give out, that if he had lived, -he would have forbid their calling to Prayers from the Spires of their -Moschs, and hanging out Lamps; both which they look upon as Solemn and -Essential to the exercise of Religion; but he as the effect of Bigotry -and Superstition. - -They have a mighty Honour and Esteem for Physicians, for though they -are of Opinion, that they cannot with all their Art prolong Life, the -Period and Term of it being Fatal, and absolutely determin'd by God, -yet they often consult them upon any violent Sickness or Pain, in order -to make the time allotted them in this World more pleasant and easie. -It is extraordinary rare, that a natural _Turk_ makes Physick his -Profession and Study. They who practice it among them, when I was in -_Turky_, were for the most part _Greeks_ and _Jews_, who know nothing -of Chymical Medicines, but follow the usual Methods, which they learnt -in _Italy_ and _Spain_, the former having studied in _Padua_, and the -latter in _Salamanca_, where they pass for good _Catholicks_. And I -remember I met with a certain _Jew_ Physician, who had been a Capuchine -in _Portugal_. During the tedious Siege of _Candia_, the _Vizir_, what -with the melancholy, and what with the ill Air of the Camp, finding -himself much indispos'd, sent for a _Christian_ Physician _Signior -Massalins_, a subject of the Republick of _Venice_, but Married to a -_Greek_ Woman, by whom he had several Children, who was our Neighbour -at _Pera_, an experienc'd able Man, to come speedily to him, and made -him a Present of about a thousand Dollars, in order to fit himself for -the Voyage and bear the expence of it. By this worthy Gentleman's Care, -he recovered his Health, and would not permit him to depart, till after -the surrendry of that City, which might be about seven Months after -his Arrival there, treating him in the mean while with all imaginable -Respect. During our short stay at _Bursia_, one of our _Janizaries_ -accidentally discoursing with a _Turk_ about us, whom they knew to -be _Franks_, told him that there was a Physician in the Company, who -had been lately at the Grand _Signior_'s Court at _Saloniki_ with the -_English_ Ambassador, and was now upon his return from _Constantinople_ -to _Smyrna_, where he lived. This presently took vent, and the -_Turks_ thought that they had got a Man among them, that could Cure -all Diseases Infallibly; for several immediately came to find us out -in behalf of themselves or their Sick Friends, and one of the most -considerable Men upon the Place, desir'd the Doctor to go to his House -to visit one of his Women Sick in Bed, who being permitted to feel her -naked Pulse (for usually they throw a piece of fine Silk or Curl over -their Womens Wrists at such times) soon discovered by that and other -Symptoms and Indications of her Distemper, that opening a Vein would -presently give her Ease and recover her: which he did accordingly; for -which he received an embroidered Handkerchief instead of a Fee, and -gained the Reputation of having done a mighty Cure. - -They have little of Ingenious or Solid Learning among them; their -chief Study, next to the _Alcoran_, being metaphysical Niceties -about the Attributes of _God_, or else the Maintenance of other odd -speculative Notions and Tenets, derived down to them from some of -their famed Masters and Holy Men, whom they pretend to follow. Their -Knowledge of the motion of the Heavens, for which the _Arabians_ and -the other Eastern Nations have been so deservedly famous, as their -Astronomical Tables of the Longitude and Latitude of the fixed Stars, -and of the appulse of the Moon to them, fully evince, is now very -mean, and is chiefly studied for the use of Judiciary Astrology. The -great Instrument they make use of is an Astrolabe, with which they -make very imperfect Observations, having no such thing as a Quadrant -or Sextant, much less a Telescope, or any mechanical Engine, to direct -and assist them in their Calculation. Their Skill in _Geography_ is -as inconsiderable; I remember I heard the Captain Bassa, whom they -stile Admiral of the Black and White Seas, meaning the _Euxine_ and -the _Mediterranean_, ask this silly Question; whether _England_ were -out of the Streights? and at another time the _Caymican_ or Governour -of _Constantinople_, hearing that _England_ was an Island, desired to -know, how many Miles it was about, in order, we supposed, to make an -estimate of our King's Greatness and Strength by the extent and compass -of it. - -One of the great Astrologers of _Constantinople_, having heard that I -had a pair of Globes in my Chamber, made me a Visit on purpose to see -their contrivance, being introduced by a worthy Gentleman of our own -Nation. After the first Ceremonies were over, I took my Terrestrial -Globe, and rectified it to the position of the Place, and pointed to -the several Circles both without and upon it, and told him in short the -several uses of them: Then shewed him how _Constantinople_ bared from -_Candia_ at that time Besieged, _Cair_, _Aleppo_, _Mecca_, and other -chief Places of the Empire, with the other Parts of the World: At which -he was mightily surprized to see the whole Earth and Sea represented -in that Figure and in so narrow a compass, and pleased himself with -turning the Globe round several times together. Afterwards I set before -him the Celestial Globe, and rectified that, and shewed him how all -the noted Constellations were exactly described, and how they moved -regularly upon their Poles, as in the Heavens; some rising, and others -setting, some always above the Horison, and others always under, in an -oblique Sphere, and particularly what Stars would rise that Night with -us at such an Hour; the Man seemed to be ravished with the Curiosity -of it, turning this Globe also several times together with his Finger, -and taking a mighty Pleasure in viewing the motion of it: and yet this -silly Animal past for a Conjurer among the _Turks_, and was look'd -upon as one that could foretel the events of Battels, the fates of -Empires, and the end of the World. - -They have no Genius for Sea-Voyages, and consequently are very Raw -and Unexperienc'd in the Art of Navigation, scarce venturing to Sail -out of Sight of Land. I speak of the natural _Turks_, who Trade -either into the _Black Sea_, or some part of the _Morea_, or between -_Constantinople_ and _Alexandria_; and not of the Pyrats of _Barbary_, -who are for the most part Renegado's, and learn'd their Skill in -Christendom, which they exercise so much to the Terror and Damage of -it. A _Turkish_ Compass consists but of eight Points, the four Cardinal -and four Collateral; they being at a mighty Loss how to Sail by a side -Wind, when by hauling their Sails sharp, they might lie their Course, -and much more, when they are in the Winds Eye, not knowing how to make -Tacks and Bords, but choose rather to make hast into some Neighbouring -Port, 'till the Wind blows fair. An _English_ and _Turkish_ Vessel both -bound for the Bay of _Saloniki_, at the time of the Grand Signior's -being there, past together out of the _Hellespont_; but foul Weather -happening, the _Turks_ got into _Lemnos_; while our Men kept at Sea and -pursued their Voyage, and after three Weeks stay, returned back to us, -observing in their way, that the _Turks_ remained in the same place -where they left them, for want of a Fore-Wind to put to Sea in. - -They trouble not themselves with reading the Histories of other Nations -or of antient times, much less with the Study of _Chronology_, without -which, History is very lame and imperfect; which is the cause of those -ridiculous and childish Mistakes, which pass current and uncontradicted -among them. For instance, they make _Job_ one of _Solomon_'s Judges -and (_Iscander_) _Alexander_ the great Captain General of his Army. -They number _Philip_ of _Macedon_ among the Ancestors of our _Blessed -Saviour_, and believe that _Sampson_, _Jonas_, and St. _George_ -were his Contemporaries. In this they are more excusable then their -false Prophet _Mahomet_, who in his _Alcoran_ has perverted several -Historical Notices in the Writings of the Old Testament, and is -guilty of vile and absurd Pseudo-chronismes. To remedy this defect, -of which he was very conscious, and the better to understand the -States of _Christendom_, and the particular Kingdoms and Republicks of -it, the late Great and Wise _Vizir_, _Achmet_, made his Interpreter -_Panagiotti_, a Learned _Greek_, at leisure Hours, even at the Siege -of _Candia_, as well as at other times, read several ancient Histories -to him, and render them _Ex-tempore_ into the _Turkish_ Language, -and particularly _Blaeus Atlas_, with which he was mightily pleased, -and made great use of, and truly gained the Reputation of a solid -and judicious States-man, as well as Souldier among the _Christian_ -Ministers, who in the ordinary course of their Negotiations apply'd -themselves to him. - -Tho' their Year be according to the course of the Moon, and so the -_Turkish_ Months run round the civil Year in a Circle of thirty three -Years and a few odd Days, yet they celebrate the _Neuruz_, which -signifies in the _Persian_ Tongue the New Year, the twenty first Day of -_March_ (on which Day the vernal Equinox was fixed by the _Greeks_ and -other Oriental _Christians_, in the time of the Emperor _Constantine_, -who made no Provision for the προήγεσις ἰσημερινὴ, or Precession, which -in process of Time the inequality between the Civil and Astronomical -Year must necessarily produce) at which time the _Cadyes_ and other -annual Magistrates, and Farmers of the Customs take Place, and reckon -to that Day twelve Month again. - -In their civil Deportment and Behaviour one towards another, the left -Hand is the more Worthy and Honourable Place, except among their -Ecclesiasticks; and the Reason they alledge is, because they Write from -the right Hand, and the Sword is worn on the left Side, and so is more -at his disposal, who walks on that Hand. The chief _Vizir_ accordingly -in the _Divan_ sits at the left Hand of the _Mufty_, each maintaining -their Right of Precedence according to this way of decision. - -In their Moschs they sit without any distinction of degrees. - -Some of the more zealous _Turks_ cause to be engraven on their -Scymitars and Bucklers a Sentence out of the sixty first _Surat_, which -is concerning Fighting or Battle-array, and contains Incouragements to -Fight in the _Way and Paths of God_, as the Impostor Words it; for -which he assures them, besides assistance from Heaven to help them to -get the Victory over their Enemies, and that _God will Pardon their -Sins and bring them to Paradice_. Thus spirited with Zeal, a _Turk_ -lays about him with Fury, when he is a fighting, and seems ambitious of -dying to gain the delights of Paradice, at least indifferent whether he -dies or lives. - -The _Turks_ are as to their Temper serious, or rather inclining to -morosity, seldom Laughing, which is accounted an argument of great -Vanity and Lightness. They perform the Exercises, which they use in -the way of Diversion, as Shooting and Hunting, with a great deal of -gravity, as if they designed them more for Health than for Pleasure; -and this too but seldom. The better and richer sort, who have nothing -to do, sitting all Day at Home, lolling upon a Sofa or rais'd Place -in their Rooms, and taking Tobacco, which their Slaves fill and -light for them: And if they retire in the Summer or Autumn, for a -Week or Fort-night to some convenient Fountain in a Wood with their -Women, it is chiefly to enjoy the Refreshments of the cool Air. In -the times of Triumph indeed for some great Success obtained against -the _Christians_, when the Shops are open for three Nights together, -and hung with Lights, as well as the Spires of the Moschs in curious -Figures, they are guilty of extravagant Mirth, running up and down the -Streets in Companies, and sometimes Singing and Dancing after their -rude way; but this fit being over, they soon return to their former -Melancholy. In the Coffee-Houses where they use to resort to Tipple, -there is usually one hired by the Owners to read either an idle Book of -Tales, which they admire as Wit, or filthy obscene Stories, with which -they seem wonderfully affected and pleased, few of them being able to -Read. These are the Schools, which they frequent for their Information, -tho' in times of War, when things went ill with them, their Discourses -would be of the ill Government; and the Grand Signior himself and his -chief Ministers could not escape their Censures, which manifestly -tending to Sedition, and to the heightning of their Discontents by -their mutual Complaints, and by this free venting of their Grievances -during the War at _Candia_, the Wise Vizir seeing the evil Consequences -that would follow, if such Meetings and Discourses were any longer -tolerated, Commanded, that all the publick Coffee-houses should be shut -up in _Constantinople_ and several other great Cities of the Empire, -where the Malcontents used to rendezvouz themselves, and find fault -upon every ill Success and Miscarriage with the administration of -Affairs. - -The custom of the _Turks_ to salute the Emperor or the _Vizir Bassa_'s -with loud Acclamations and Wishes of Health and long Life, when they -appear first in their Houses or any publick Place, is derived from the -_Greeks_, who took it from the _Romans_. This was done by them in a -kind of Singing Tone; whence _Luitprandus_ Bishop of _Cremona_ tells -us, that in a certain Procession (προέλυσις) at which he was present, -they Sang to the Emperor _Nicephorus_ πολλὰ ἔτη that is, many Years, -(which _Codinus_, who lived just about the taking of _Constantinople_, -by the _Turks_, expresses τὸ ψάλλειν τὸ πολυχρόνιον or by τὸ -πολυχρονίζειν and the wish or salute by πολυχρόνισμα) and at Dinner -the _Greeks_ then present wish'd with a loud Voice to the Emperor and -_Bardas_, _Ut Deus annos multiplicet_, as he Translates the _Greek_. - -The _Turkish_ Coin in it self is pitiful and inconsiderable, which I -ascribe not only to their want of Bullion, but to their little Skill in -matters relating to the Mint. Hence it comes to pass that Zecchines and -Hungars for Gold, and _Spanish_ Dollars and Zalotts for Silver stampt -in _Christendom_ pass current among them, most of the great Payments -being made in them, they not caring either through Ignorance or Sloth -to follow the Example of the _Indian_ or _Persian_ Emperors, who -usually melt down the _Christian_ Mony imported by the Merchants into -their several Countries, and give it a new Stamp. The most usual pieces -are the Sheriphi of Gold, somewhat less in value than a _Venetian_ -Zecchine, and Aspers; ten of which are equal to six Pence _English_, -and some few three Asper Pieces. A Mangur is an ugly old Copper Piece, -eight of which make but one Asper, and is not I think a _Turkish_ Coin, -but rather _Greek_. They have no Arms upon their Coin, only Letters -embossed on both sides, containing the Emperor's Name, or some short -Sentence out of the _Alcoran_. - -The _Turks_ look upon Earthquakes as Ominous, as the vulgar do upon -Eclipses, not understanding the Philosophy of them. During my stay -in _Constantinople_, which was above 2 Years, there hapned but one, -which was _October 26. 1669._ about six a Clock in the Morning a stark -Calm preceeding. It lasted very near a Minute, and we at _Pera_ and -_Galata_ were as sensible of it, as those who were on the other side -of the Water; but praised be God nothing fell, and we were soon rid of -the Fears in which this frightful Accident had cast us, being in our -Beds, and not able by reason of the Surprize in so little a space to -have past through a Gallery down a pair of Stairs into the Court, if -we had attempted it. The _Turks_ made direful Reflexions on it, as if -some Calamity would inevitably fall upon the Empire, quickly forgetting -the great Triumphings and Rejoycings which they exprest but a few Days -before for the Surrendry of _Candia_. In the Year 1668. in _August_, -the Earth shook more or less for forty-seven Days together in the -lesser _Asia_ at _Anguri_ (_Ancyra_), and for fifteen at _Bacbasar_, as -we heard from a _Scotch_ Merchant, who liv'd there: And particularly, -that at this latter Place on the second of _August_, between three and -four of the Clock in the Afternoon it lasted for a quarter of an Hour; -several Houses were overthrown, and some hundreds of Chimneys fell (it -being a very populous Town) and yet there were but seven kill'd. The -trembling being so violent, both _Turks_ and _Christians_ forsook their -Houses, and betook themselves to the Fields, Vineyards, and Gardens, -where they made their Abode for several Days. - -Their Punishments are very severe, this being judg'd the most effectual -way to prevent all publick Disorders and Mischiefs. They use no great -Formality in their Processes: If the Criminal be taken in the Fact, -and the Witnesses ready and present to attest it, and sometimes if -there be but probable circumstances, without full Conviction, condemn -him; and soon after Sentence, sometimes an Hour, or less, hurry him -away to Execution. For an ordinary Crime, hanging is the usual Death: -But for Robbery and Murder, committed upon the High Way by such as Rob -in Parties and alarm whole Provinces, or for Sacriledge, or for any -hainous Crime against the Government, either Gaunching or Excoriation, -or cutting off the Legs and Arms, and leaving the Trunk of the Body in -the High Way, or Empaling, that is, thrusting an Iron Stake through the -Body out under the Neck or at the Mouth; in which extreme Torment the -miserable Wretch may live two or three Days, if the Guts or the Heart -happen not to be wounded by the pointed Spike in its Passage. This -Punishment seems to have been in use among the _Romans_, _Seneca_'s -Epist. 14. _Cogita hoc loco carcerem, & cruces, & eculeos, & uncum, & -adactum per medium hominem, qui per os emergat, stipitem_: and so in -his Book _De Consolatione ad Marciam cap._ 20. _Ali capite conversos -in terram suspendere: Alii per obscena stipitem egerunt: Alii brachia -patibulo explicuerunt._ Murder is seldom Pardon'd, and especially if -the Relations of the Murder'd Person demand Justice. - -The Circumcision, tho' it be a Sacred Right, is perform'd in their -private Houses, and never in the Moschs. - -The Women colour their Eye-Brows and Lids with an ugly black Powder, -I suppose, to set off their Beauty by such a Shadow; and their Nails -with the Powder of _Kanna_, which gives them a Tincture of faint Red, -like Brick (as they do the Tails and Hoofs of Horses) which they look -upon as a great Ornament. Their great diversion is Bathing; sometimes -thrice, if not four times a Week. They do not permit them to go to -Church in time of Prayer, for fear they should spoil their Devotion: -The _Turks_ being of so brutish a Temper, that their Lust is rais'd -upon the sight of a fair Object. They are call'd oftentimes by the -Names of Flowers and Fruits, and sometimes Phantastick Names are -given them, such as _Sucar Birpara_, or bit of Sugar, _Dil Ferib_, or -Ravisher of Hearts, and the like. - -Their Skill in Agriculture is very mean. In their Gardens they have -several little Trenches to convey Water, where it may be most necessary -for their Plants and Flowers. They know little or nothing of manuring -their Grounds: Sometimes they burn their Fields and Vineyards after -Harvest and Vintage, partly to destroy the Vermin, and partly to enrich -the Soil. They tread out their Corn with Oxen, drawing a square Plank -Board, about a Foot and a half or two Foot over, studded with Flints, -and winnow it upon their threshing Floors in the open Air, the Wind -blowing away the Chaff. They feed their Horses with Barly and chopt -Straw; for I do not remember ever to have seen any Oats among them; and -they make but little Hay. - -For Draught of great Weight in their Carts they make use of Buffalo's. - -Camels will endure Travel four Days together without Water, and -will eat tops of Thistles, Shrubs, or any kind of Boughs: They are -very sure-footed, and kneel when they are a loading, and live to a -considerable number of Years, some even to sixty. - -The chief Furniture of their Houses are Carpets or Mats of _Grand -Cairo_, neatly wrought with Straw, spread upon the Ground; they having -no occasion of Chairs, Couches, Stools, or Tables; their postures -within Doors, being different from ours. They have no Hangings, but -their Walls are whited and set off with Painting, only adorn'd with a -kind of Porcelane; no Beds clos'd with Curtains. - -They seal not with Wax, but Ink, at the bottom of the Paper the -Emperor's Name being usually written with Flourishes and in perplext -Characters: Nor have they any Coats of Arms upon their Seals, there -being no such thing as Gentility among them. - -Some of them, notwithstanding their Zeal for _Mahomet_ and the Religion -by him establish'd, retain not only a favourable and honourable Opinion -of our Blessed _Saviour_, but even place some kind of Confidence in -the usage of his Name, or of the Words of the Gospel, tho' it may seem -to be wholly in the way of Superstition. Thus in their Amulets, which -they call _Chaimaili_, being little bits of Paper of two or three -Fingers breadth, roul'd up in pieces of Silk, containing several short -Prayers or Sentences out of the _Alcoran_, with several Circles with -other Figures, they usually inscribe the Holy and Venerable Name of -_JESUS_, or the Figure of the Cross, or the first Words of St. _John_'s -Gospel, and the like; they hang them about their Necks, or place them -under their Arm-pits, or in their Bosom near their Hearts (being the -same with what the _Greeks_ call ἐγκόλπια) and especially when they go -to War, as a preservative against the Dangers of it; and indeed against -any misfortune whatsoever. Some have them sow'd within their Caps: And -I heard of a _Turk_, who was so superstitious herein, that he always -pluck'd it off, and was uncover'd when he had occasion to make Water. -Some are such Bigots in their Religion, and so furious against the -Christians, that not only do they treat them with all imaginable Scorn -and Contempt, but take it ill to be salam'd or saluted by them, as if -it were the effect of Sawciness or unbecoming Familiarity. Their Malice -against the Christians makes them envy the rich Furs they line their -Vests with, and it is a trouble to these hypocritical Zealots to see -the _Franks_ ride upon their fine _Arabian_ Horses. - -The respect which they shew the _Alcoran_ is wonderful: They dare not -open the Leaves of it with unwashen Hands, according to the Advice or -Command written in _Arabick_ upon the Cover, _Let no one touch this -Book, but he that is clean_. They kiss it, and bend their Heads and -touch their Eyes with it, both when they open it and shut it. - -The _Janizaries_, when they attend upon _Christian Ambassadors_ to -their Audience, seem to appear in their Bravery, and in a Habit far -from that of a Soldier, being without either Fire-Arms or Swords, -(which latter are not worn but in time of Service), or when they are -upon a March, or embodied, wearing a Cap made of Camel's Hair, with a -broad Flap dangling behind, a gilt embroider'd Wreath running round -it, and an oblong piece of Brass rising up from the middle of their -Forehead near a Foot, with a great Club in their Hand, like inferior -Officers of the Civil Government. But when they are in the Camp, they -throw off their upper Vest, and Turbants, which they wear at all other -usual times, as troublesome, and put on a _Fess_, or red Cap, which -sits close to their Head, and tuck up their _Duliman_ or long Coat, to -their Girdle, that they may be the more quick and expedite in their -Charge. - -They affect finery and neatness in their Cloths and Shashes; not -so much as a spot to be seen upon them, and in rainy or suspicious -Weather, are very careful how they go abroad without their -_Yamurlicks_, which is a kind of Coat they throw over their Heads at -such times. - -Their Pans and Dishes are for the most part of Copper, but so handsomly -Tinn'd over, that they look like Silver. - -There are thousands of Gypsies or _Zinganies_ in _Turky_, who live -the same idle nasty kind of Life, as they do in _Christendom_, and -pretend to the same Art of telling Fortunes; and are look'd upon as the -Off-scouring of Mankind. It is accounted the extremest point of human -Misery to be a Slave to any of this sort of Cattel. - -The _Haggi_, or Pilgrims, that have been at _Mecca_ and _Medina_, -forbear to drink Wine most Religiously, out of a perswasion, that one -drop would efface all the Merits of that troublesome and expensive -Journey; and some have been possess'd with such a mad Zeal, that they -have blinded themselves after their having been bless'd with the sight -of _Mahomet_'s Sepulcher. - -After _Jatzih_, that is, an Hour and a half in the Night, throughout -the whole Year, there is as great a silence in the Streets as at -Midnight: The Emperor _Achmet_ in the Year 1611. having made an Order, -that no one should presume to be out of his House after that time; -which is to this Day most punctually observed. The _Bostangi bashi_, -who has the Command of all the _Agiamoglans_ in the _Seraglio_, the -_Topgibashi_ or such great Officers attended with a great Train of -armed Men, walking the Rounds, and drubbing such as they find abroad at -unseasonable Hours of what Nation or Quality soever, except Physicians, -Chyrurgeons, and Apothecaries, whom they allow at all times to visit -the Sick. - -The _Turkmans_, (for so they are peculiarly called, as if they were the -true Descendents of the _Old Turks_ or _Scythians_, whose wandering -kind of Life is described by the Poet; - - Ἁμαξόβιοι { _Nulla domus, plaustris habitant, migrare per arva - { Mos, atq; errantes circumvectare penates._) - -have no fixt Residence any where, but Travel with their Families and -Cattle from Place to Place, carrying their Wives and Children upon -Camels; they pitch their Tents usually near Rivers and Fountains, for -the convenience of Water, and according as their necessities require, -make a longer or a shorter stay. Their whole Estate consists in their -numerous Flocks and Herds, which they sell upon occasion to supply -themselves with what they want, at the Towns they pass by. Their only -concern is how to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of Nature, without -the troubles and turmoils and disquiets of Life; being contented -and happy in one another's Company, void of all Ambition and Envy, -Courteous and Humane to Strangers, that may want their Help and -Assistance, kindly entertaining them with such Provision as their Folds -afford. I have met with some Companies of these harmless Wanderers -in my Travels. The Country lies open without any Inclosures, and the -Propriety not being vested in any one, they Travel thro' the Plains -unmolested, and find excellent Pasturage every where. The _Turks_ -Till no more Ground than will serve their necessities: Being supplied -with Corn from _Ægypt_, and from _Moldavia_ and _Walachia_, by the -way of the _Black Sea_, letting vast Tracts of Ground lie wast and -uncultivated; so that their Sloth herein sometimes is justly punished -with Dearths. - -They have nothing to shew for their Houses and Possession, but an -_Hogiet_ or piece of Paper subscribed by the _Cadi_, if they have -acquired them by their Mony, or that they were their Fathers before -them. - -The _Dervises_ generally are Melancholy, and place the greatest part -of their Religion in Abstinence and other Severities. Some cut their -Flesh, others vow not to speak for six or seven Years, or all their -Lives long, tho' never so much provoked or distressed. Their Garments -are made of a course sort of Wool or Goat's Hair: They are tied up by -the Vow of their Order ever from Marrying. Several of this Sect in the -heighth of their Religious Phrenzy have attempted upon the Lives of the -Emperors themselves, (at whose Government they have taken disgust) as -_Mahomet_ the second, and _Achmet_, as if such desperate Attempts were -fatal to Bigots in all Religions. - -They pay a mighty Veneration to any Relique of _Mahomet_, his Banner -is still preserved in the Treasury of the _Seraglio_, and is look'd -upon as the great Security of the Empire. They believe that it was -sent from Heaven, and conveyed into the Hands of _Mahomet_, by the -Angel _Gabriel_, as a Pledge and Sign of Success and Victory in -his Battels against the _Christians_, and all other Enemies of the -_Musulman_-Faith. It was sent to _Candia_ to encourage the Soldiers -to endure the fatigue of that long and tedious Siege; and when it was -brought thence after the Surrendry of that City, to be deposited -in its usual Place, the _Vizir_ gave several _Christian_ Slaves, -that row'd in the Galley that was fraught with this Holy Ware, their -Liberty. They pretend to have some Rags of _Mahomet_'s Vest, to -which they ascribe great Virtue. In confidence of which, the Emperor -_Achmet_, in the time of a great Fire which raged at _Constantinople_, -when all other means fail'd, dipt part of them in Water to be sprinkled -upon the Fire to rebate the Fury of it. - -Next to the _Mufti_ or _Cadaleskires_ are the _Mollas_, of which these -four are the chiefest in Dignity. The Molla of _Galata_, _Adrianople_, -_Aleppo_, _Prusa_; and after them are reckoned these eight, _Stambol -Ephendi_, _Larissa_, _Misir_ or _Cairo_, _Sham_ or _Damascus_, -_Diarbekir_ or _Mesopotamia_, _Cutaia_, _Sophia_, _Philippi_. - -The Priests have no Habit peculiar to their Profession, whereby they -are distinguish'd from others. If they are put from their Moschs for -miscarriage or neglect of doing their Duty, or if they think fit to -resign and be Priests no longer, they may betake themselves without -any Scandal to secular Employments, their former Character and Quality -wholly ceasing. While they remain Priests, they counterfeit a more than -ordinary Gravity in their Discourse and Walking: and affect to wear -Turbants swelling out, and made up with more cross folds: which was all -the difference which I could observe by their Head Attire, which is -various, tho' I could not find that this was constantly and strictly -observed. - -In _Byram_ time, which is the great Festival of the Year, at which time -every one looks cheerfully and merrily, among other signs of mutual -Respect, they besprinkle one another with sweet Water. They indulge to -several Sports: and some are mightily pleased with swinging in the open -Air, the ordinary sort of People especially, paying only a few Aspers -for the diversion. - -The Government is perfectly Arbitrary and Despotical; the Will and -Pleasure of the Emperor having the force and power of a Law, and -oftentimes is above it. His bare Command without any process is -enough to take off the Head of any Person, (tho' never so Eminent in -Dignity, tho' usually for formality and to silence the Murmurings of -the Soldiery and People, the Sentence is confirm'd by the _Mufti_) -sometimes _Bassa_'s who have amassed great Treasures in their -Governments, are cut off in their own Houses in the midst of their -Retinue, the Messengers of Death producing the Imperial Command, -usually sent in a black Purse, and not a Sword drawn in their Defence. -Others, if they are obnoxious to the least Umbrage or Jealousie, -tho' dismist the _Seraglio_ with all possible demonstrations of the -Grand _Signior_'s Favour, and with Rich Presents in order to take -possession of Places of great Command in the Empire, before they -have got two or three Days Journey from _Constantinople_, have been -overtaken and strangled. In the Army Commands are given according to -Merit, Courage and Conduct are sure to be rewarded, the way lying -open to the meanest Soldier to raise himself to be the chief of his -Order. But other Preferments depend upon meer Chance, and upon the -fansie of the Emperor, whether the Person be fit or no, and they are -as soon lost. The least ill Success or Miscarriage proves oftentimes -fatal, and a more lucky Man is put in his Place, and he succeeded by -a third, if unfortunate in a Design, tho' managed with never so much -Prudence and Valour. They admit of no hereditary Honours, and have -no respect to Descent or Blood, except the _Ottoman_ Family: He only -is Great and Noble, whom the Emperor favours, and while his Command -lasts. According to a tradition, that passes current among them, a -Bassa's Son by a _Sultana_ or a Daughter or Sister of the Emperor can -rise no higher than to be a _Sangiac-bei_ or Governor of some little -Province, much inferior to a Bassa and under his Jurisdiction. Being -born of Slaves for the most part, they do not pride themselves in their -Birth, very few among them being scarce able to give any account of -their Grandfathers. They have no Sirnames, but are distinguish'd by -their Possessions and places of Abode, and enjoying by Law a Liberty -of having what Women they please, they have little or no regard to -Alliance or Kindred. - -Their Empire owes the continuance of its being to the severity of -the Government, which oftentimes takes place without regard either -to Justice or Equity, and to their frequent Wars, which prevent all -occasions of Mutiny and Faction among the Soldiers, which happen -frequently when unimploy'd. So that tho' Ambition may put a warlike -Sultan upon enlarging his Territories by new Conquests, yet reason -of State forces a weak and effeminate Prince, such as was _Ibrahim_, -to make War for his own Security. Their Politicks are not owing to -Books and Study and the Examples of past times, but to Experience and -the plain Suggestions of Nature and common Sense: They have Rules of -Government, which they firmly adhere to, holding the Reins strait, -especially being cruel and inexorable to Criminals of State, who never -are to expect any Mercy or Pity. Their Councils formerly were open, and -their Designs known, and proclaimed before Hand, as if this had been -a Bravery becoming their Greatness, and that they scorned to steal a -Conquest. But they have learned since the Art of dissimulation, and can -Lie and Swear for their Interest, and seem excessive in their Caresses -to the Ministers of those Countries, which they intend to Invade. But -their preparations for Arming are made with so much Noise, that an -ordinary Jealousie is soon awakened by it to oppose them, in case of -an Attack. They seldom or never care to have War at both Extremes of -the Empire at the same time, and therefore they are mighty sollicitous -to secure a Peace with _Christendom_, when they intend a War upon the -_Persians_: And as much as is possible, they avoid quarrelling with two -Christian Princes at once, being usually at League either with _Poland_ -and _Muscovy_, when they War upon _Hungary_, and so on the contrary; -dreading nothing more than an Union of the _Christian_ Princes, -bordering upon them, which would prove so fatal to their Empire, and -quickly put a Period to their Greatness. For hereby they would be -put upon a necessity of making a defensive War to their great Loss -and Disadvantage, and at last either be forced to beg a Peace of the -_Christians_, or run the hazard of losing all, by a further Prosecution -of War. - -This they are very sensible of, and therefore as they take all occasion -to promote Quarrels and Dissentions in _Hungary_ and _Transylvania_, -so they greatly rejoyce, when the Princes of _Christendom_ are at War -one with another. This is their great time of Advantage, and they know -that it is their true Interest to pursue it, tho' they do not always, -by reason of the ill condition of their own Affairs, make use of it. -During the Civil Wars of _Germany_, the Bassa's and other Commanders -of the Army were very importunate with the grand Signior, to make a -War on that side, and to enlarge his Conquests as far as _Vienna_, no -conjuncture having been ever so favourable to consummate such a Design, -in which _Solyman_ so unhappily miscarried. They promised him an easie -Victory, assuring him that the Animosities of the Princes of the Empire -were so heightned, that there was no room left for a Reconciliation, -that he was but to go in the Head of an Army to take Possession, and -that _Austria_ would Surrender at the first News of his March towards -it. The Emperor was not to be moved at that time by these Insinuations -and plausible Discourses; being continually urged, He as often denied. -One day when they came to Renew their advice about the _German_ War, He -having given order before, that several Dogs should be kept for some -Days without Meat, commanded that they should be brought out, being -almost Starved, and Meat thrown among them, whereupon they snarled and -bit one another: In the midst of their Noise and Fighting, he caused a -Bear to be let loose in the same Area; the Dogs forgetting their Meat, -and leaving off their fighting, ran all upon the Bear, ready to Prey -upon them singly, and at last killed him. This Diversion the Emperor -gave his Bassa's, and left them to make the application. - -A certain Prophecy of no small Authority runs in the Minds of all -the People, and has gain'd great Credit and Belief among them, that -their Empire shall be ruined by a Northern Nation, which has white and -yellowish Hair. The Interpretation is as various as their Fansie. Some -fix this Character on the _Muscovites_: And the poor _Greeks_ flatter -themselves with foolish Hopes, that they are to be their Deliverers, -and to rescue them from their Slavery, chiefly because they are of -their Communion, and owe their Conversion to the _Christian_ Faith to -the Piety and Zeal of the _Grecian_ Bishops formerly. Others look upon -the _Swedes_, as the Persons describ'd in the Prophecy, whom they are -most to fear. The Ground and Original of this fancy I suppose is owing -to the great Opinion, which they have of the Valour and Courage of -that Warlike Nation. The great Victories of the _Swedes_ in _Germany_ -under _Gustavus Adolphus_ were loudly proclaimed at _Constantinople_, -as if there were no withstanding the shock and fury of their Arms: And -their continued Successes confirmed the _Turks_ in their first belief, -and their Fears and their Jealousies were augmented afterwards, when -_Charles Gustave_, a Prince of as heroick a Courage, and as great -Abilities in the Art and Management of War as the justly admired -_Gustavus_, entred _Poland_ with his Army, and carried all before him, -seized upon _Warsaw_ and drove _Casimire_ out of his Kingdom, and had -almost made an entire and absolute Conquest, only a few Places holding -out. This alarmed the Grand Signior and the Bassa's of the _Port_, -as if the Prophecy were then about to be fulfilled, who did not care -for the Company of such troublesome Neighbours, who might push on -their Victories, and joyning with the _Cossacks_, advance their Arms -further, and make their Country the seat of a War, which might draw -after it fatal Consequences. To prevent which, Couriers are dispatch'd -from _Constantinople_ to _Ragotski_, Prince of _Transylvania_, then in -concert with the _Sweeds_, to Command him to retire with his Army out -of _Poland_, as he valued the Peace and Safety of his own Country, and -the Friendship of the Grand Signior, whose Tributary he was, and by -whose Favour he had gain'd that Principality: And the _Crim-Tartars_, -the Sworn Enemies of the _Poles_, who at that time lay heavy upon them, -were wrought upon by the same Motives and Reasons of State, to clap -up a Peace with them, that being freed from these Distractions, they -might unite their Forces the better together, and make Head against -the _Sweeds_. - -The Ambassadors of _Christian_ Princes, when they are admitted by the -Grand Signior to an Audience, (their Presents being then of course -made, which are look'd upon as due, not to say, as an Homage) are -dismiss'd in few Words, and referred by him to his _Wakil_ or Deputy, -as he usually stiles the chief _Vizir_: And a small number of their -Retinue only permitted the Honour of kissing his Vest, and then rudely -enough sent away. - -The Grand Signiors keep up the State of the old _Asiatick_ Princes: -They do not expose themselves often to the View of the People, unless -when they ride in Triumph, or upon some such solemn Occasion; when they -go to the Moschs, or divert themselves in the Fields, either in Riding -or Hunting, they do not love to be stared upon, or approached. It is -highly Criminal to pry into their Sports, such an Insolent Curiosity -being often punished with Death. The Story is Famous of _Morad_ the -Third, who baiting a Bear in the old Palace with a Mastiff, and espying -three Fellows upon the Tower of _Bajazid's_ Mosch, who had planted -themselves to see the Sport, commanded their Heads to be struck off -immediately, and be brought before him, which was done accordingly. -Instances of such Capricio's are frequent in the _Turkish_ History; -this following happened during my stay at _Constantinople_. - -Upon the return of Vizir _Achmet_ from _Candia_, after the Surrendry -of that City, and a happy end put by him to that tedious and bloody -War, he acquainting the present Emperor, then at _Adrianople_, -with the History of that famous Siege at large, made such terrible -Representations of their and the _Venetians_ Mining and Countermining -one another, that the Emperor was resolved out of Curiosity to see -the Experiment made of a thing, that seemed to him almost Incredible. -A Work was soon raised and undermined, and above 30 Murderers and -Robbers upon the High-Way and such like Villains were put into it, as -it were to defend it. The Grand Signior stood upon an Eminence at some -considerable distance, expecting the issue of it; upon a Signal given, -the Mine was sprung, and the Fort demolished, and the poor Wretches -torn piece-meal to his great Satisfaction and Amazement. - -The Moon is the auspicious Planet of the _Turks_: According to the -course of which they celebrate their Festivals. They begin their Months -from the first appearance of it, at which time they choose, except a -delay brings a great Prejudice and Inconvenience with it, to begin -their great Actions. The Crescent is the Ensign of the Empire, which -they Paint in Banners, and place upon the Spires of their Moschs. -Next to the Day of the appearing Moon, they pitch upon _Friday_, to -fight upon, to begin a journey, and especially their Pilgrimage toward -_Mecca_, or do any thing of great Consequence, as very lucky and -fortunate. - - - - - A Relation of a Voyage from _Aleppo_ to _Palmyra_ in _Syria_; sent - by the Reverend Mr. _William Hallifax_ to Dr. _Edward Bernard_ - (late) _Savilian_ Professor of Astronomy in _Oxford_, and by him - communicated to Dr. _Thomas Smith. Reg. Soc. S._ - - - _D. Thomæ Smitho Edoardus Bernardus, S._ - -_Quanquam Epistolas tuas, O cor & medulla amicitiæ nostræ, & alia -munera grato animo in finum hunc recipere soleo; eas tamen _Notitias_, -quas tuo dono hodie accepi, tanquam germana & famæ nunquam marcescentis -pignora, multo chariores habeo, &, dum vivam, reverenter adservabo. -Sic enim Asianarum Ecclesiarum Pleiada e tenebris denuo excitas: sic -antiquissimorum Episcoporum sedes instauras, ut candelabrum ἑπτάλοφον -cum magno Theologo & Apocalypta iterum ardens ac fulgens videre mihi -videor. Præterea, in descriptione urbis Constantini Silentiarios, -Codinos, Gyllios, cæteros exsuperas. Fruere diu superstes hac laude, -quam suam esse maluit Sponius, & præter morem ingenuum aut fas sibi -abripere._ - -_Gaudeo tamen mihi jam novum adesse munus, quod tecum queam impertire -volente spero, & læto. Id est Epigrapharum Sylloge, quas a columnis -_Palmyrenis_ Charissimus amicus, _Gulielmus Hallifaxius_ pulchro -studio descripsit. Utinam _Syriaca_ plura ipse addisset sub Græcis, -& Epocham _Palmyrenam_ a _Seleuco_ victore, non ab _Alexandri_ -magni obitu incepisset. Historiæ vero _Augustæ_ scriptores qui -teruntur, & _Herodianus_ Grammaticus plerasque Inscriptionum istarum -multum illustrant. Verum isthæc vix sunt nostri otii. Attamen si -hæc commiseris _Philosophicarum Transactionum_, ut nunc loquuntur, -conditoribus haud injucundum πρόπομα fuerit, donec vir illustris & -adprime doctus _D. Cuperus_ uberiora forte ediderit de urbe _Solomonis_ -ejusque reliquiis. Vale vir venerabilis._ - - Oxoniæ _Nonis_ Octobribus - _A. D._ CIↃIↃCXCV. - - * * * * * - - _Reverend Sir_, - -[Sidenote: _Tadmor_ Castle.] - -[Sidenote: The Valley of Salt.] - -Having promised you an Account of my Voyage to _Tadmor_, I cannot -now Excuse my self from being as good as my Word, whatever Censure -I may incur of having misspent my Mony and Time in search of such -unprofitable Curiosities; or what I more fear, of having made such -poor Improvements, of which a Man of larger Reading and Understanding, -might have afforded much greater Information. We departed _Aleppo_ on -_Michaelmas-day_, 1691. and in six easie Days Travel over a Desart -Country, came to _Tadmor_; Journying almost continually to the South, -with very little variation to the Eastward. As we rode into the Town, -we took notice of a Castle about half an Hours distance from it, and -so situated as to Command both the Pass into the Hills, by which we -entred, and the City too. But we could easily perceive it was no Old -Building, retaining no Footsteps of the exquisite Workmanship and -Ingenuity of the Ancients. Upon Enquiry we were informed, that it -was built by _Man-Ogle_, a Prince of the _Druces_, in the Reign of -_Amurath_ the Third, _Anno D. N._ 1585. But I know not how to give much -Credit to this Story, because I find not that either _Man-Ogle_, or -any _Drucian_ Prince, was ever Powerful in these Parts, their strength -lying on Mount _Libanus_, and along the Coast of _Sydon_, _Berytus_, -_&c._ 'Tis a Work of more Labour than Art, and the very Situation -alone is enough to render it almost Impregnable; standing on the top -of a very high Hill, enclosed with a deep Ditch, cut out of the very -Rock, over which there was only one sole Passage by a Draw-Bridge: This -Bridge too is now broken down; so that there is no Entrance remaining, -unless you will be at the Pains to clamber up the Rock, which is in -one place feasible, but withal so difficult hazardous, that a small -slip may endanger ones Life. Nor is there any thing within to be seen -sufficient to recompence your Trouble of getting up to it, the Building -being confused, and the Rooms very ill contrived. Upon the top of the -Hill there is a Well of a prodigious depth, as certainly it must be -a great way to come at Water from the top of such a Rock, the Ditch -that surrounds it, not having the least appearance of moisture therein; -which made it therefore seem more strange that a Wild Boar should rush -out thence among our Horses, when we rode up to take a more particular -View of the Place. This Castle stands on the North side of the Town, -and from hence you have the best Prospect of the Country all about. -You see _Tadmor_ under you inclosed on three sides with long Ridges -of Mountains, which open towards the East gradually to the distance -of about an Hours Riding; but to the South stretches a vast Plain -beyond the reach of the Eye. In this Plain you see a large Valley of -Salt affording great quantities thereof, and lying near about an Hours -distance from the City. And this more probably is the Valley of Salt, -mentioned 2 _Sam._ 8. 13. where _David_ smote the _Syrians_, and slew -18000 Men, than another which lies but four Hours from _Aleppo_, and -has sometimes past for it. The Air is good, but the Soil exceeding -barren, nothing green to be seen therein, save some few Palm-Trees in -the Gardens, and here and there about the Town. And from these Trees -I conceive is obtained its Name, both in Hebrew (_Tadmor_) which -signifies a Palm-Tree, and in Latin (_Palmira_;) and the whole Country -is thence denominated _Syria Palmirena_; and sometimes _Solitudines -Palmirenæ_: So that the Latins did not change but only Translate the -old Name, which therefore still obtains in these Eastern Parts, and -the more Modern is wholly unknown. - -[Sidenote: _Tadmor._] - -The City it self appears to have been of a large Extent, by the space -now taken up by the Ruins; but there are no Footsteps of any Walls -remaining, nor is it possible to judge of the ancient Figure of the -Place. The present Inhabitants, as they are a Poor, Miserable, dirty -People, so they have shut themselves up, to the Number of about Thirty -or Forty Families, in little Huts made of Dirt, within the Walls of -a spacious Court, which enclosed a most Magnificent Heathen Temple. -Hereinto also we entred, the whole Power of the Village, if I may so -call it, being gathered together at the Door, whether to stand upon -their Defence, in case we proved Enemies, (for some of them had their -Guns in their Hands) or out of meer Curiosity to gaze upon us, I know -not. However our Guide, who was an _Arab_, whom _Assyne_[14] their -present King had sent to Conduct us through the whole Voyage, being -a Man known among them, we had an easie Admittance, and with a great -many Welcomes in their Language were led to the _Sheck_'s House, with -whom we were to make our Abode. And to mention here what the Place -at first View represents. Certainly the World it self cannot afford -the like mixture of Remains of the greatest State and Magnificence, -together with the Extremity of Filth and Poverty. The nearest Parallel -I can think of, is that of the Temple of _Baal_, destroyed by _Jehu_, -and converted into a Draught-House, 2 _Kings_ 10. 27. And if, what is -not improbable, this very Place was a Temple of _Jupiter Belus_, the -Similitude will run upon all Four. - -[Sidenote: The Temple.] - -Being thus lodged within the Place, I shall begin with a Description -thereof, and proceed to what I observed remarkable without. The whole -inclosed Space is a Square of 200 Yard each side, encompass'd with a -high and stately Wall, built of large square Stone, and adorned with -Pilasters within and without, to the number, (as near as we could -compute by what is standing of the Wall, which is much the greater -part) of 62 on a side. And had not the Barbarity of the _Turks_, -Enemies to every thing that is splendid and noble, out of a vain -Superstition, purposely beat down those beautiful Cornishes both -here and in other Places, we had seen the most curious and exquisite -Carvings in Stone which perhaps the World could ever boast of; as -here and there a small Remainder, which has escap'd their Fury, does -abundantly evidence. The West side, wherein is the Entrance, is most of -it broken down, and near the middle of the Square, another higher Wall -erected out of the Ruins; which shews to have been a Castle, strong but -rude; the old Stones and many Pillars broken or sawn asunder, being -rolled into the Fabrick, and ill cemented. Within were to be seen the -Foundations of another Wall, which probably might answer this Front, -and that the _Mamalukes_, whose Workmanship it seems most likely to -have been, built the Castle here for the Security of the Place. Before -the whole length of this new Front, except a narrow Passage which is -left for an Entrance, is cut a deep Ditch, the ascent whereof on the -inner side is fac'd with Stone to the very Foot of the Wall, which -must have render'd it very difficult to have assaulted it. The Passage -to, and the Door it self is very narrow, not wider than to receive a -loaded Camel, or that two Foot-men may well walk abreast. And as soon -as you are within the first Door, you make a short turn to the Right, -and pass on to another of the like bigness, which leads into the Court. -But all this is but a new Building upon an old, and by this outward -Wall is quite shrouded that Magnificent Entrance, which belonged to -the first Fabrick; of the stateliness whereof we were enabled to judge -by the two Stones which supported the sides of the great Gate, each -of which is 35 Foot in length, and artificially carved with Vines and -clusters of Grapes, exceeding bold and to the Life. They are both -standing, and in their Places, and the distance between them, which -gives us the wideness of the Gate 15 Foot. But all this is now walled -up to the narrow Door before mentioned. Over the little Door there is -an Inscription in _Greek_, and also another in another Language and -Character, which I never saw till in _Tadmor_, nor understand what to -make of it. From that in _Greek_ we hoped for some Information; but it -will be evident to any one that reads it, that the Stone was brought -from another Place and casually put in there. 'Tis thus: - -ΤΟ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΤΑΦΕΩΝΟΣ ΕΚΤΙΣΕΝ ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΣ ΟΔΑΙΝΑΘΟΣ Ο -ΛΑΜΠΡΟΤΑΤΟΣ ΣΥΝΚΛΗΤ[ΙΚΟΣ] ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΝΑΣΩΡΟΥΑΥ ΤΩΤΕ ΚΑΙ -ΥΙΟΙΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΥΙΩΝΟΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΣ ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΝ. - -Under this was the unknown Characters, which I shall here give you -a Specimen of, it being as well as it could be taken, thus. _Vide -Figuram._ - -The Letters between these [] Marks were not Legible, but I have -ventured to supply the defect, as also you will see in some others -following. Neither was the Ε in ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ upon the Stone, but was -doubtless omitted by mistake; and the Inscription is nothing else but -the Inscription of a Sepulchre, the like to which we saw several, as I -shall have occasion to mention some of them hereafter. And as for the -other Character, it being added almost under every _Greek_ Inscription -we saw, and rarely found alone, I am apt to believe it the Native -Language and Character of the Place, and the Matter it contains nothing -else but what we have in the _Greek_. - -As soon as you are entred within the Court, you see the Remainders -of two Rows of very Noble Marble Pillars 37 Foot high, with their -Capitals of most exquisite Carved Work; as also must have been the -Cornishes between them, before by Rude and Superstitious Hands they -were broken down. Of these there are now no more than 58 remaining -entire; but there must have been a great many more, for they appear to -have gone quite round the whole Court, and to have supported a most -spacious double Piazza or Cloyster. Of this Piazza the Walks on the -West side, which is opposed to the Front of the Temple, seem to have -exceeded the other in Beauty and Spaciousness; and at each end thereof -are two Niches for Statues at their full length, with their Pedestals, -Borders, Supporters, and Canopies, carved with the greatest Artifice -and Curiosity. The Space within this once Beautiful Enclosure, which -is now filled with nothing but the dirty Huts of the Inhabitants, I -conceive to have been an open Court, in the midst whereof stands the -Temple, encompass'd with another row of Pillars of a different Order, -and much higher than the former, being above 50 Foot high. Of these -remain now but 16, but there must have been about double that Number, -which whether they enclosed an inner Court, or supported the Roof of a -Cloyster, there being nothing now of a Roof remaining, is uncertain. -Only one great Stone lies down, which seems to have reach'd from these -Pillars to the Walls of the Temple. The whole Space contained within -these Pillars we found to be 59 Yards in Length, and in Breadth near -28. In the midst of which Space is the Temple, extending in Length -more than 33 Yards, and in Breadth 13 or 14. It points North and South, -having a most Magnificent Entrance on the West, exactly in the middle -of the Building, which by the small Remains yet to be seen, seems to -have been one of the most glorious Structures in the World. I never -saw Vines and clusters of Grapes cut in Stone, so Bold, so Lively, and -so Natural, in any Place: And we had doubtless seen things abundantly -more curious, if they had not been maliciously broken to pieces. Just -over the Door we could make a shift to discern part of the Wings of a -large Spread-Eagle, extending the whole wideness thereof. The largeness -whereof led me at first to imagine it might have been rather a Cherub -over-shadowing the Entrance, there being nothing of the Body remaining -to guide ones Judgment, and some little Angels or _Cupids_ appear still -in the corners of the same Stone. But afterwards seeing other Eagles -upon Stones that were fallen down, I conclude this must have been one -likewise, only of a much larger size. Of this Temple there is nothing -at present but the outward Walls standing, in which it is observable, -that as the Windows were not large, so they were made narrower towards -the top, than they were below; but all adorned with excellent Carvings. -Within the Walls, the _Turks_, or more probably the _Mamalukes_, have -built a Roof, which is supported by small Pillars and Arches; but a -great deal lower, as well as in all other respects disproportionate -and inferior to what the Ancient Covering must have been. And they -have converted the place into a Mosque, having added to the South End -thereof new Ornaments after their manner, with _Arabick_ Inscriptions -and Sentences out of the _Alcoran_, wrote in Flourishes and Wreaths, -not without Art. But at the North End of the Building, which is shut -out of the Mosque, are Relicks of much greater Artifice and Beauty. -Whether they were in the Nature of Canopies over some Altars placed -there, or to what other use they served, I am not able to conjecture. -They are beautified with the most curious Fretwork and Carvings; in the -midst of which is a Dome or Cupola, above six Foot Diameter, which we -found above to be of one piece; whether hewn out of a Rock entire, or -made of some Artificial Cement or Composition, by Time hardened into -a Lapideous Substance, seems doubtful; though I am rather inclined -to believe the latter. It is in fine, a most exquisite Piece of -Workmanship, and on which I could have bestowed more time to view it, -than what was allowed us, hastening to other Sights. - -[Sidenote: _A Mosch._] - -Having taken this Survey of the Temple, we went Abroad, where our Eyes -were presently accosted with an amazing sight of a multitude of Marble -Pillars, standing scattered up and down, for the space of near a Mile -of Ground, this way and that, but so disposed as to afford no solid -Foundation to judge, what sort of Structures they formerly framed. I -pass by the Ruins of a Mosch, which directing our Course Northward, was -the first thing occurr'd to our View, after we came out of the Court -of the Temple, which though of a more Artificial Frame and Composure -than many I have seen, yet is not worthy to stop us in the way to -things both of greater Antiquity, and every way more noble and worthy -our Consideration. Having therefore past this, you have the Prospect -of such Magnificent Ruins, that if it be lawful to frame a Conjecture -of the Original Beauty of the Place, by what is still remaining, I -question somewhat whether any City in the World could have challenged -Precedence of this in its Glory. But it being impossible as they now -stand to reduce them to any regular Method, I must be forced to give -you a rude Account of them as they came in sight; and which will fall -much short of the Greatness and Stateliness which they shew to the Eye. - -[Sidenote: An Obelisk.] - -Advancing then towards the North, you have before you a very tall and -stately Obelisk or Pillar, consisting of seven large Stones, besides -its Capital and a wreath'd Work above it; the Carvings here, as in -all other Places, being extraordinary fine. The height of it is above -50 Foot, and upon it I conceive may have stood a Statue, which the -_Turks_, zealous Enemies of all Imagery, have thrown down, and broken -in pieces. 'Tis in compass, just above the Pedestal, 12 Foot and a -half. On each Hand of this, towards the East and West, you see two -other large Pillars, each a quarter of a Mile distant from you, which -seem to have some Correspondence one to the other. And there is a -piece of another standing near that of the East, which would incline -one to think there was once a continued row of them. The height of this -to the East I took with my Quadrant, and conclude to be more than 42 -Foot high, and the Circumference proportionable. Upon the Body thereof -is the following Inscription. - -Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΛΛΙΛΑΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΟΥ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΘΘΑ ΚΑΙ -ΑΙΡΑΝΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΑΣ Κ(ΑΙ) ΠΑΝΤΙ ΤΡΟΠΩ -(ΕΥ)ΣΕΙΜΩΣ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑΣ ΤΗ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΙ ΚΑΙ ΠΑΤΡΙΟΙΣ ΘΕΟΙΣ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Ν -Υ Λ ΜΗΝΟΣ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΟΥ. - -I perswade my self it would be but lost Labour to spend time in making -Reflections upon this or the following Inscriptions; as for the -Knowledge they may exhibit to the World, your own Conjectures will more -happily lead you unto it, than any thing I am like to suggest. It seems -however pretty evident they were a Free State, governed by a Senate -and People, though perhaps under the Protection of great Empires, the -_Parthians_, it is probable, first, and afterward the _Romans_, who -for a long time contended for the Mastery here in the East. And this -Government might continue among them till about the time of _Aurelian_, -who demolished the Place, and led _Zenobia_, Wife of _Odenatus_, -Captive to _Rome_: Who, though she be called Queen, yet I find not -that ever her Husband had the Title of King; but was only one of the -Chief Inhabitants, a Leading Man in the Senate (as 'tis probable this -_Alilamanes_ and _Airanes_ were before him) who while the _Romans_ -were busied in _Europe_, made himself great here, and by his own Force -repelled the _Parthians_; who having Master'd whatever was held by -the _Romans_ on the other side of _Euphrates_, made an Incursion into -_Syria_, but were by _Odenatus_ driven back beyond the River. In the -course of these Wars _Odenatus_ was slain, but his Wife _Zenobia_, -being a Woman of a Masculine Spirit, not only kept her Ground against -her Enemies Abroad, but maintained her Authority at Home, keeping the -Government in her Hands. Afterwards out of a desire to cast off the -_Roman_ Yoke, she caused the whole Garrison, which was left there by -_Aurelian_, to be barbarously cut off: Which bringing _Aurelian_ back -with his Army, he quickly took the City, and destroyed it, putting the -Inhabitants to the Sword, and carrying _Zenobia_ Captive to _Rome_; -which was the Fatal Period of the Glory of the Place. This Custom of -theirs of running up their Genealogies or Pedigrees to the fourth or -fifth Generation, shews them to have borrowed some of their Fashions -from their Neighbours the _Jews_, with whom it is not unlikely they had -of old great Commerce; and perhaps many of them were descended from -that People, _Zenobia_ her self being said to have been a _Jewess_; Or -else this must have been the manner of all the Eastern Nations. Their -_Æra_ or Account of Time they begin from the Death of _Alexander_ the -Great, as the _Syrians_ generally do; the very Christians at this Day -following the same usage. Yet though they mark the Date of the Year by -_Greek_ Letters, you may observe they place them a different way from -the _Greeks_, setting the lesser Number first, as if they were to be -read backward, from the right Hand to the left; as Ν Υ here, denoting -450. The third Letter Λ, I take to stand for the Day of the Month, -_viz._ the last of _Xandicus_, which is with us _April_; this and other -names of Months, which are found in other Inscriptions, being borrowed -from the _Macedonians_ with very little variation. That they were -Idolaters, is plain by the mention of their Country Gods, both here -and in other Places: So that their Commerce with the _Jews_, did not, -it seems, bring them to the Knowledge of the true God, or else they -must have degenerated therefrom, and relapsed into Idolatry. The other -Pillar towards the West in Height and Circumference answers this, and -has upon the side the following Inscription engraved. - -Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΒΑΡΕΙΧΕΙΝ ΑΜΡΙΣΑΜΣΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΕΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΝ -ΥΙΟΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΑΣ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ. - -The Date of this is not legible, neither does one know what Judgment to -make of the thing it self. That such a Pillar should be erected only to -support the Inscription, and convey these Mens Names to After-Ages, -without particularizing what they did to deserve that Honour, is -something strange: unless we may suppose it was a prevailing Vanity in -these Eastern Countries thus to endeavour to Eternize their Fame. An -Instance whereof we have in Scripture, in _Absalom_'s setting him up a -Pillar, 2 _Kings_ 18. 18. and perhaps before him, in _Saul_, 1 _Sam._ -15. 12. Otherwise it may appear no improbable Conjecture, that the -Pillar was erected long before upon some other Occasion, and afterwards -made use of to this end: And I look upon it as past all doubt that -several other Inscriptions which we saw, were much more Modern than the -Pillars, on which they were engraved. - -[Sidenote: The Piazza.] - -Proceeding forward, directly from the Obelisk, about 100 Paces, you -come to a Magnificent Entrance, vastly large and lofty, and for the -exquisiteness of the Workmanship not inferior to any thing before -described. I wish I could add, that it had not suffered the same Fate -as the rest, and then we might have seen a rare Piece of the Ancient -Beauty of the Place. This Entrance leads you into a Noble Piazza of -more than half a Mile long, 938 Yards according to our Measuring, and -40 Foot in breadth, enclosed with two rows of stately Marble Pillars, -26 Foot high, and 8 or 9 about. Of these remain standing and entire -129, but by a moderate Calculate there could not have been less at -first than 560. Covering there is none remaining, nor any Pavement at -the bottom, unless it be buried under the Rubbish. But upon almost all -the Pillars we found Inscriptions, both in _Greek_ and the Language -unknown, of which we had time to take but very few, and those not very -Instructive. But such as they are I'll present you them here, without -observing any other Order, but as they happened to be transcribed. - -ΙΟΥΛΙΟΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΝ ΖΕΒΕΙΔΑΝ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΖΕΒΕΙΔΟΥ .......: ΑΣΘΩΡΟΒΑΙΔΑΟΙ -ΣΥΝ Α(Υ)ΤΩ ΚΑΤΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ ΕΙΣ ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ ΕΝΠΟΡΟΙΑΝ ΕΣΤΗΣΑΝ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑ ΑΥΤΟΙΣ -ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ ΤΟΥ ΗΝΦ ΕΤΟΥΣ.... - -I give you, Sir, these Inscriptions, as those before, just as I found -them, without any Amendments, so much as of litteral Faults, only -where a Letter, or piece of a Word was not legible, if I could make a -probable Conjecture what it should be, I have ventured to add it. The -last seems to have been put up in Memory of an Embassy, performed by -those Men that are named therein, for settling a Commerce and Traffick, -which was to their Satisfaction accomplish'd: But with whom, till I can -find out what Place is meant by[15]ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ, I must remain Ignorant. -I am unwilling to entertain any Thoughts of _Getia_ in _Macedonia_, -or of _Olgassus_, a Place mentioned by _Strabo_ in _Bythinia_, which -comes a little nearer the Name, being both so remote, and the City of -_Tadmor_ ill contrived for a Place of Trade, being far from the Sea, -and without the Advantage of any River. Yet the Magnificence of the -Place shews they have not wanted Riches among them: And their Salt is -a Commodity which still brings them in a considerable Advantage. The -Order of the Numeral Letters you may take notice is again inverted; but -taking them the right way, the Year 558 falls in with the last Year of -the Reign of _Alexander Severus_, which is of our Lord 234. - -About the middle of the Piazza, upon another Pillar, was this following -Inscription. - -Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΝ ΖΗΝΟΒΙΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΖΑΒΔΙΛΑΝ -ΔΙΣΜΑΛΧΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΝΑΣΣΟΥΜΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΕΝ ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙΑ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ -ΥΠΗΡΕΤΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑ ΔΙΗΝΕΚΕΙ ΡΟΥΤΙΛΛΙΟΥ ΚΡΙΣΠΕΙΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΗΓΗΣΑΜΕΝΟΥ ΚΑΙ -ΕΠΙΔΗΜΗΣΑΣΑΙΣ ΟΥΗΞΙΛΛΑΤΙΟΣΙΝ ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΗΣΑΝΤΑΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΟΥΚΟΝΙΣΩΝΑ ΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ -ΧΡΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΩΣ ΠΟΛΕΙΤΕΥΣΑΜΕΝΟΝ ΩΣ ΔΙΑ ΤΑΥΤΑ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΗΘΕΝΤΑ ΥΠΟ ΘΕΟΥ -ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΥΠΟ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ ....... ΤΟΥ ΕΞΟΧΩΤΑΤΟΥ ΕΠΑΡΧΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΥ -ΠΡΑΙΤΩΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΝΦ. - -This is as perfect an Inscription as any I met with, by the help of -which we may make a Judgment of all the rest; at least thus far, that -they were put up in Memory of some, who had behaved themselves, in -those publick Offices they bore, either in their own Republick, or -under the _Romans_, with Commendation; this being a Publick Place, -where their Names and worthy Actions were Recorded and Transmitted to -Posterity. What I further observed particularly in this, was the want -of the Name after ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ, and took notice of the like space vacant in -the other Language under it; and in both places it seemed to be not -worn out with Time, but voluntarily scratch'd out. Which confirms me -in the Opinion that they are both one, and that the unknown was the -Vulgar, as the _Greek_ was the learned Language of the Place. Upon -another Pillar in the same Walk was this. - -ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ -ΑΡΟΑΠΕΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΣ ΕΑΛΜΗΣ ΚΑΣΣΙΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ Μ(Ε)ΛΕΝΑΙΟΥ ΙΠΠΕΥΣ -ΡΩΜΑΙΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Η Ο Φ ... ΜΗΝΕΙ (Ξ)ΑΝΔΙΚΩ. - -From another Pillar in the same Piazza was Transcribed this broken -Inscription which follows, which I have endeavoured to make up from the -former, believing them in substance the very same, with some little -Alteration of Names. - -ΣΕΠΤΙΜ(ΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ) ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑ(ΤΙΣΤΟΝ ΕΠΙΤΡΟ)ΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣ(ΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚ)ΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ -ΚΑ[Ι ΑΡΟΑΠΕ]ΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥ[ΡΗΛΙ]ΟΣ Ε[ΑΛΜΗΣ] ΠΥΙΛΣΟΣ Μ[ΕΛΕΝΑΙ]ΟΣ ΜΑΛΩΧΑ -ΝΑΣΣΟΥΜΟ[Υ] Ο ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΣ ΤΟΝ [ΦΙΛΟΝ] ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ -ΕΤΟΥΣ ... [ΜΗΝΕΙ Ξ]ΑΝΔΙΚΩ. - -This is so like the preceeding, that I thought I might fairly take the -Liberty to make these Additions to it. And what we may Collect from -both, and divers others of a like Import, is, That as the State, the -Senate, and People, did sometimes Honour those that had been in Publick -Trust, with Inscriptions upon these Pillars: So when this was not done -by them, private Persons had the Liberty to do the same for their -Friends. And I shall give you an Instance by and by of one Engraven -by a Husband in Memory of his Wife. Upon several of these Pillars are -little Pedestals jetting out about the middle of them, sometimes one -way only, and sometimes more, which seem to have been the Bases or -standing Places of Statues. But none of these are remaining; neither -is it to be expected they should, in a place which has been so long in -the Hands of the _Turks_. On these Pedestals we saw many Inscriptions, -sometimes when there were none upon the Body of the Pillar, and -sometimes when there were. As for Instance this that follows upon the -Pedestal, thus. - -ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΑΙΡΑΝΗΝ ΟΔΑΙΝΟΘΟΥ ΤΟΝ ΛΑΜΠΡΟΤΑΤΟΝ ΣΥΝΚΛΗΤΙΚΟΝ. And upon the -Body of the Pillar this Imperfect one; which I dare not venture to fill -up, but shall give it you as we found it. - -ΕΞΑ......ΝΤΩΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙ.....Ρ ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡ..... ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΗΣ ΛΕ.......ΚΗΣ ΤΩΝ -ΠΑΤΡΩΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΙΑΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΓΞΦ. - -We see they esteemed it very Honourable to have their Memories -preserved after this manner; but it is but little Knowledge of them -we can get from hence, save now and then the Time when they lived. As -here, 563 Years after the Death of _Alexander_ reach to the Year of our -Lord 239. Another Inscription in the same Piazza was thus. - -Η ΒΟΥΛ[Η ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗ]ΜΟΣ ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ Ε[ΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ Σ]ΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ -ΔΟΥΚΗΝ[ΑΡΙΟΝ] ....ΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤ[ΡΟΚΟΛΩ]ΝΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΚΟΜΙΣΑ(ΝΤΑ Τ)ΑΣ -ΣΥΝΟΔΙΑΣ ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΡΤΥΡΗΘΕΝΤΑ ΥΠΟ ΤΩΝ ΑΡΧΕΜΠΟΡΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΛΑΜΠΡΩΣ -ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΛΕΙΣΤΑ -ΟΙΚΟΘΕΝ ΑΝΑΛΩΣΑΝΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗ ΤΕ ΑΥΤΗ ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΩ ΔΗΜΩ ΚΑΙ ΝΥΝΕΙ -ΛΑΜΠΡΩΣ ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΑΡΧΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΟΣ ΒΗΛΟΥ ΙΕ[Ρ]ΩΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ ΕΤ..... -ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ. - -This affords a sufficient confirmation of what I before observed, that -these were Honorary Inscriptions in Memory of those that had behaved -themselves well in Publick Offices; of which we have several mentioned -here, whereof some are very well known, but the others not easie to -be met with in Books. By the Word ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ, we may be assured -that though the City was reduced by the _Romans_ into the form of a -Colony, yet it had a peculiar mark of Honour set upon it, to signifie -that it was the chief of their Colonies in these Oriental Parts. That -the Authority also of their Senate and People was continued to them. -And besides that there was a Society of Men, either Curators of the -Temple of _Jupiter Belus_ (to whom the Temple before described perhaps -was dedicated,) or Overseers of the Sports and Festivals that were -celebrated in Honour of him; of which Sodality this _Septimius_ was, -when this Inscription was made, a _Symposiarch_, perhaps their Chief -and Governour. By this too we find they did not wait for the Deaths of -those they thus honoured, before they provided for the Preservation of -their Memories; but Famous Men were thus Registered for After-Ages even -while they were alive. Upon one of these Pedestals before described, -not far from the former, was the following Inscription; which I valued -the more for the little remainder it has preserved of the Name of -_Palmyra_, by which the Place was known to the _Romans_. - -...ΥΠΙΛΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ [ΣΥΝΚΛ]ΗΤΙΚΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΗΝ ΠΑΛΜΥΡΗΝΟΝ ΒΗΛΑ -ΚΑΒΟΣΑΡΣΑ ΤΟΝ ΦΙ[ΛΟΝ] ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Ο Φ. - -[Sidenote: The Banquetting-House.] - -The upper end of this spacious Piazza was shut in by a row of Pillars, -standing somewhat closer than those on each side; and perhaps there -might have been a kind of Banquetting-House above, but now no certain -Footsteps thereof remain. But a little farther to the left Hand, and, -it may be, continued with the former Walk, lie the Ruins of a very -stately Building, which I am apt to believe might have been for such -an use. 'Tis built of better Marble, and has an Air of Delicacy and -Exquisiteness in the Work, beyond what is discernable in the Piazza. -The Pillars which supported it are of one entire Stone; and on one of -them that is fallen down, but so firm and strong that it has received -no Injury thereby, we measured, and found 22 Foot in length, and in -compass 8 Foot and 9 Inches. Among these Ruins we found the only -_Latin_ Inscription we saw in the Place, and that so imperfect, there -is but little of it Intelligible. - -_......es Orbis & Propagatores Generis Humani D. D. N. N. -_Diocletianus_ ............ssimi Impp. Et _Constantius_ & _Maximianus_ -Nobb. Cæs. Castra feliciter condiderunt._ - -And upon the same Stone a little lower, - -_........ntes _Ossiano Hieroclete_, V. P. Præs. Provinciæ D. N. M. O. -Eorum._ The Name of _Maximianus Hercules_, who was Partner in the -Empire with _Dioclesian_ which should have followed in the Inscription, -seems to have been on purpose scratch'd out, and defaced, for what -reason I cannot guess. The rest is lost by the breaking of the Stone. - -[Sidenote: The Palace.] - -In the West side of the great Piazza are several openings for Gates -leading into the Court of the Palace: Two whereof, one would easily -believe when they were in their Perfection, were the most Magnificent -and Glorious in the World, both for the Elegancy of the Work in -general, and particularly for those stately Porphyry Pillars with which -they were adorned. Each Gate had four, not standing in a Line with the -others of the Wall, but placed by couples in the Front of the Gate, -facing the Palace, two on one Hand, and two on the other. Of these -remain two entire, and but one standing in its place. They are about -30 Foot in length, and 9 in circumference; of a Substance so exceeding -hard, that it was with great difficulty we broke off a few shivers to -bring home with us for a pattern of the Stone, the Art of making which, -I think is quite lost. We saw several other broken pieces of Porphyry, -but neither of so accurate a Mixture and Composition, nor so large as -the former. The hard Fate of one I could not but lament, when I saw it -debased to support the corner of a little Hut, scarce good enough for a -Dog-Kennel, or a Hogsty. The Palace it self is so entirely ruined, that -no Judgment can be made what it was in its Ancient Splendor, either -for the Figure or Workmanship thereof. There is only here and there -a broken piece of a Wall remaining, beat into pieces by Violence, and -consumed by Time to that degree, that without the help of Tradition we -could hardly be well assured, that a Royal Palace did once fill that -Space. We may guess however that it fronted the Famous Piazza before -mentioned, and was surrounded with rows of Pillars of different Orders, -many of which are still standing, some plain, and some wrought and -channell'd, as those immediately encompassing the Temple. And upon -those little Pedestals which stood out of the middle of some of them, -I observed several Inscriptions, but could not conveniently take more -than one, which together with the Pillar that supported it was fallen -to the Ground. 'Twas this. - -ΜΑΡΘΕΙΝ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΠΑΔΗΤΟΥ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΣΥΜΩΝΟΥ ΣΟΡΑΙΧΟΣ -ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ ΑΝΗΡ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ ΜΗΝΕΙ ΔΥΣΤΡΩ ΤΟΥ Ϟ Υ ΕΤΟΥΣ. - -If the rest were of a like Nature with this, we have lost no great -matter by not taking them, this being only a Memorial, which a kind -Husband caused to be set up in Honour of his Wife. The Month _Dystrus_, -answers our _March_, and the Year 490 from the Death of _Alexander_ the -Great, the Year of our Lord 166. - -I omitted to mention before, that under the long Walk runs a Current -of hot Sulphureous Waters; and there is a Well and other Passages -down to them. But whatever they may have been of old, they are not -now so convenient as another about half a Mile Westward from hence; -where there is a very good Descent into the Water, and it is still -used by the People to Bath in. Near to which, upon the Pedestal of a -broken Pillar, (or perhaps it might be an Altar) remains this following -Inscription. - -ΔΙΙ ΥΨΙΣΤΩ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗΚΟΩ ΒΩΛΑΝΟΣ ΖΗΝΟΒΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ -ΤΟΥ ΜΑΘΘΑ ΕΠΙ ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΣΟΗ ΑΙΡΕΘΕΙΣ _ΕΦΚΑΣ_ ΠΗΓΗΣ ΥΠΟ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΤΟΝ -ΒΩ [forsan ΒΩΜΟΝ] ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Δ Ο Υ ΜΗΝΟΣ YΠΕΡΒΕΡΕΤΑΙΟΥ Κ. - -I am pretty confident that the Word I have mark'd with a Line under -it, is rightly taken, and therefore know not what to guess it to be, -unless the proper Name of the Fountain. And upon that Supposition the -Inscription is easily Intelligible, shewing that _Bolanus_, Son of -_Zenobius_, &c. being elected Overseer or Curator of this Fountain, -under _Jaribolus_, built this Altar to _Jupiter_, in the Year of -_Alexander_ 474. _i. e._ of our Lord 150. and on the 20_th_ of -_October_, if the last _Kappa_ be a Numeral, as I suppose it must. But -who this _Jaribolus_ was, on whom they bestow, as generally upon the -_Roman_ Emperors, whose Names occur in the Inscriptions, the Title of -ΘΕΟΣ, is not so facile a Conjecture. They were under the _Parthians_, -before the _Romans_ fell in amongst them; but the Date shews this to -be after the time of _Hadrian_, and so after their coming. Nay, and in -an Inscription before mentioned, which is of a later Date than this by -88 Years, we have the Name of the same Person. Hot Sulphureous Baths -are things very frequent in this Country; and thence it was that it -obtained the Name of _Syria Salutifera_. The scent of the Waters here -is much like those of _Bath_ in _England_, but not so strong, neither -is the Taste so offensive. On the contrary, when they have run so far -from the Fountain, as to become cold, they are very potable, and are -the only Waters the Inhabitants use. But we, during our stay there, -sent to a Fountain of very excellent Water, about an hour distant from -the City. - -[Sidenote: The little Temple.] - -On the East side likewise of the long Piazza stands, if I may use such -an Expression, a Wood of Marble Pillars, some perfect, and others -deprived of their beautiful Capitals; but so scattered and confused, -that it is not possible to reduce them into any Order, so as to -conjecture to what they anciently served. In one place are Eleven -together in Square after this manner - - . . . . - . . - . . - . . . - -paved at the bottom with broad flat Stone, but without any Roof or -Covering. And at a little distance from that stands the Ruins of -a small Temple, which by the remains seems to have been for the -Workmanship very curious: But the Roof is wholly gone, and the Walls -very much defaced and consumed with Time. Before the Entrance which -looks to the South, is a Piazza supported by six Pillars, two on one -Hand of the Door, and two on the other, and at each end one. And the -Pedestals of those in the Front have been filled with Inscriptions, -both in _Greek_ and the other Language; but they are now so obliterated -and worn out, as not to be Intelligible. The most perfect was this that -follows. - -ΜΑΛΕΝΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ ΙΑΡΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΡΑΑΙΟΥ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΑ ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΟΝ ΤΟ -ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝ ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙ[Α] ΘΕΟΥ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΑΛΙΜΜΑ ΠΑΡΑΣΧΟΤΑ ΞΕΝΟΙΣ ΤΕ, ΚΑΙ -ΠΟΛΕΙΤΑ[ΙΣ]...... And a little below were these straggling Letters -visible. - -ΕΝΗ....Ν ΥΠΗΡΕΤΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗΤ.... ΣΤΡΑΤΕΥΜΑ ΤΟΥ ... ΥΠΟ....ΗΚΑΙ.....ΤΟΝ -ΝΑΟΝ ΤΟΝ....ΔΙΟΣ....ΝΤΩΤ...... - -I should have imagined the ΚΑΙ to have been a Copulative, and -the second Name _Agrippa_ distinct from the former, but that the -Words following in the Singular Number, will not admit of such a -Construction. The Person then in Memory of whom this Inscription was -made, must have been named _Malentus Cæagrippa_, who bearing such -an Office as Scribe, or the like, in the Expedition of _Adrian_ the -Emperor, performed an Act of Publick Benificence and Generosity, both -to Strangers and Citizens, denoted by the Word[16] ΑΛΙΜΜΑ, or ἄλειμμα, -which signifies Unction. Perhaps he distributed amongst them Sweet -Oyls, to be used in or after their Bathings. 'Tis pity what follows is -so imperfect; and especially that we cannot find out the Date: For that -might have directed us to the precise time of _Hadrian_'s Expedition -into these Oriental Parts, where he made great Conquests, and enlarged -the Bounds of the _Roman_ Empire. - -[Sidenote: The Sepulchers.] - -But as great a Curiosity as any were their Sepulchers, being Square -Towers, four or five Stories high, and standing on both sides of a -hollow way, towards the North part of the City. They stretch out in -length the space of a Mile, and perhaps formerly might extend a great -way further. At our first view of them, as we entred the place, we -could not conjecture what they were; some thought them the Steeples -of ruined Churches, and were in hopes we should have found some -footsteps of Christianity here. Others took them to have been Bastions, -and part of the Old Fortifications, tho' there is not so much as any -Foundation of a Wall to be seen. But when we came a Day or two after, -more curiously to enquire into them, we quickly found their use. They -were all of the same Form, but of different Splendor and Greatness, -according to the Circumstances of their Founders. The first we viewed -was entirely Marble; but is now wholly in Ruins, and nothing but a heap -of broken Stones, among which we found the pieces of two Statues, one -of a Man, and another of a Woman, cut in a sitting, or rather leaning -posture; and the Heads and part of the Arms of both being broken off, -but their Bodies remaining pretty entire; so that we had the Advantage -of seeing their Habits, which appeared very Noble, but more approaching -the _European_ Fashion, than what is now in use in the East; which -inclined me to believe they might be _Romans_. Upon broken pieces of -Stone tumbled here and there, we found some as broken Inscriptions, but -not affording any perfect Sense, they are not worth the Transcribing. - -Many other Sepulchers there were, as much gone to decay as this, which -therefore we past by, to go to two, which stood almost opposite to -one another, and seemed most perfect of any, though not without marks -of the _Turkish_ Malice. They are two square Towers, rather larger -than ordinary Steeples, and five Stories high, the outside being of -common Stone, but the Partitions and Floors within of good Marble; -and beautified too with very lively Carvings and Paintings, and -Figures both of Men and Women, as far as the Breast and Shoulders; but -miserably defac'd and broken. Under these Statues, or by their sides, -are in the unknown Character, the Names probably of the Persons there -buried, or by them represented; or else some other Memorials of them. -We entred one of these by a Door on the South side, from which was a -Walk cross the whole Building just in the middle. But the Floor was -broke up, and so gave us a sight of a Vault below, divided after the -same manner. The Spaces on each Hand were again sub-divided into six -Partitions by thick Walls, each Partition being capable of receiving -the largest Corps: And piling them one above another, as their way -appears to have been, each of those Spaces might contain at least -six or seven Bodies. For the lowest, second and third Stories, those -Partitions were uniform, and altogether the same; save from the second -Floor, which answered the main Entrance, one Partition was reserved -for a Stair-Case. Higher than this, the Building, being something -contracted towards the top, would not afford space for the continuation -of the same Method: Therefore the two uppermost Rooms were not so -parted, nor perhaps ever had any Bodies lain in them. Unless it was -that of the Founder alone, whose Statue wrapt up in Funeral Apparel, -and in a lying Posture, is placed in a Nich, or rather Window in the -Front of the Monument, so as to be visible both within and without. -Near to this Statue was the following Inscription. - -ΤΟ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΕΚΤΙΣΑΝ ΕΛΑΒΗΛΕΣ ΜΑΝΝΑΙΟΣ ΣΟΧΑΕΙΣ ΜΑΛΧΟΣ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΜΑΝΝΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΑΒΗΛΟΥ ΑΥΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΥΙΟΙΣ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΥ ΜΗΝΟΣ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΟΥ. - -'Tis a little doubtful whether ΑΥΤΩ should not rather be made ΑΥΤΟΙΣ; -or else there must be a Fault in the Verb, and all those but the Names -of one Person. The other Monument on the other side of the way is very -much like this; only the Front and Entrance are towards the North, and -'tis not altogether so Polite, nor so well Painted. But the Carvings -are as good, and it shews altogether as Stately and Magnificent as -the former. Besides, it has the Advantage in Age of a whole Century -of Years: As appears from the Date of the following Inscription. 'Tis -placed above a Nich in the Front, adorned with handsom Borders and -Cornishes; the place, doubtless, of some Statue, and probably that of -the Founder. - -ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΓΕΡΑΣ ΩΚΟΔΟΜΗΣΕΝ ΓΙΧΟΣ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΚΑΙΛΚΙΑΛΣΙΣΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΜΑ......ΟΥ ΕΙΣΤΕ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΥΙΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ ΕΓΓΟΝΟΥΣ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΤ ΜΗΝΕΙ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ. - -This is the most Ancient Inscription I met with in _Tadmor_, the 314th. -Year from the Death of _Alexander_ the Great, preceding the Birth of -our Saviour about Ten Years. The other also is between Twenty and -Thirty Years before the Reign of _Hadrian_, and consequently before the -_Romans_ got footing here. And from these sumptuous Structures, and -these costly _Mausolæa_, we may reasonably conclude, they were a Potent -and Opulent People, before they became subject to the _Romans_, and -were not obliged to them for their Greatness. - -And now I believe I have wearied you sufficiently by leading you up -and down the Ancient and Famous City of _Tadmor_, and giving you so -dry an Account of our Employment there. After 4 Days stay we returned, -not the way that we came, but proceeding Eastward towards the River -_Euphrates_. In our way to which, the third Day, passing though a -Village called _Tieve_, upon a Stone set wrong End upwards, in the -midst of the Wall of the Mosch, we met with the following Inscription. - -ΔΙΙ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΩ ΚΕΡΑΥΝΙΩ ΥΠΕΡ ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣ ΤΡΑ: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΣΕΒ... ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ -ΑΓΑΘΑΝΓΕΛΟΣ ΑΒΙΛΗΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΚΑΠΟΛΕΟΣ ΤΗΝ ΚΑΜΑΡΑΝ ΩΚΟΔΟΜΗΣΕΝ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ -ΚΛΙΝΗ.... ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΕΜΥ ΜΗΝΟΣ ΛΩΟΥ. - -And under this was another in the same Language and Character we had -seen at _Tadmor_; I was surprized to find such an Inscription in this -Place, nor can any way guess how they should come by it: And the -mention of _Decapolis_ makes me still more in the Dark. If one might -extend the Bounds of _Decapolis_, as some are said to have done, as -far as _Cælosyria_, and comprize under this Name again all _Syria_, -_Phænicia_ only excepted, then need it not be brought from elsewhere, -but first set up in this Village. But this will not be allowed by those -who make _Decapolis_ only a part of _Palestine_. The Matter of Fact it -contains is only an Account of the Magnificence of this _Agathangelus -Abilenus_, whoever he was; who for the safety of the Emperor _Hadrian_, -erected at his own Charges, and Dedicated to _Jupiter_ the Thunderer, a -Royal Banquetting-House, (for so I take [17]ΚΑΜΑΡΑ to signifie) and a -Bed of State; for after ΚΛΙΝΗ there is doubtless a Letter omitted, and -it ought to be ΚΛΙΝΗΝ. The Date 445 agrees to the Year of our Lord 123. -which was the seventh of the Reign of _Hadrian_. And the Month ΛΩΟΣ is -our _August_. - -[Sidenote: _Arsoffa._] - -The next Day we past by the Ruins of a large Monastery of the -_Maronites_, as I guess it to have been by an Inscription we met with -upon the Capitals of several Marble Pillars, which supported the middle -Isle of a handsome Church, which was to this effect. - -† ΕΠΙ ΣΕΡΓΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΚΟ. ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝΓΕΝ~ ΜΑΡΩΝΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΡΕΠΙΣΚΟ. - -From thence we past on, and came the same Night to _Euphrates_, and -having travelled two Days on the Banks of that Famous River, we came to -the Tents of the King of the _Arabs_, who had furnish'd us with a Guide -for our Voyage. With him we remained two Nights, and in two Days Travel -more came back safe to _Aleppo_, having been out in the whole just 18 -Days. - -_The Reverend and Learned Author of this Account, cannot with Justice -be censured, if some Minute Particulars of the History of this Place, -have escaped his Memory, being obliged to write without recourse to the -Books proper for his purpose, which were not to be had in that Country. -We have since procured a Curious Prospect of these Noble Ruins, taken -on the Place; which, with some further Remarks thereon, are here -Published._ - -FOOTNOTES: - -[14] This _Assyne_ was in the Year of our Lord 1693. Deposed by the -_Turks_, and one _Dor_ advanced to fill his place; so that now he is -constrained to live upon Rapine, being followed by a considerable -Number of Men, who delight not to Labour, nor to live under any settled -Government. - -[15] 'Tis not improbable that ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΣ might have been the Name of a -Person. _Vologeses_ is a known Name in History among the _Parthian_ -Kings; to which the other seems to bear a great Affinity. - -[16] _Plin. Secun. Ep. l._ 2. Tells us of one, who was accused of an -Illegal Exaction of Money from a Province, _Titulo Unguentarii_; now -what was in that case unjustly exacted, might be in this a Voluntary -Donation, not of the Province to the Governour, but of a great Man to -the People. Or else _Unguentarium_ may be supposed to be a Donative, -like _Clavarium_ or _Culinarium_, used sometimes by the _Romans_. - -[17] This Word I find both in _Tacitus_ and _Strabo_, used for a kind -of Ships or Boats, long, narrow, light, and capable of receiving 20, or -at most 30 Men; but what they should do with Boats in an Inland Town, -without either River or Lake near it, I cannot imagine. I rather adhere -to the other signification. - - - - - _An Extract of the Journals of two several Voyages of the _English - Merchants_ of the Factory of _Aleppo_, to _Tadmor_, anciently - call'd _Palmyra_._ - - -Our Merchants of this worthy Factory, being generally Men of more than -ordinary Birth and Education, have not been wanting (as the intervals -of leisure from their gainful Traffick would permit) to make Voyages of -Curiosity, to visit the celebrated Remains of Antiquity in those Parts, -whereby the once flourishing State of the World, under the _Roman -Empire_, is abundantly evinced. And being inform'd by the Natives, -that the Ruins of the City of _Tadmor_ were more considerable than any -they had yet seen, they were tempted to enterprize this hazardous and -painful Voyage over the _Desart_; but having been, by the perfidy of -the _Arabs_, disappointed of their Desires in their first Attempt, they -were obliged to defer their Curiosity, till they could better provide -for their Security: whereof being assured, from the Confidence some of -them had in the Friendship of _Assyne_ then King of the _Arabs_, they -adventured again, in the Year 1691, and had full liberty to visit, -observe and transcribe what they pleased. - -[Illustration: _A View of the Ruines of =Palmyra= alias =Tadmor=, taken -on the Southern Side._] - -What Account they there took, the Publick has already seen in our -Last, since which, by the Favour of Mr. _Timothy Lanoy_ and Mr. _Aaron -Goodyear_, two very Eminent Merchants, who were both in the first -Voyage, we have received not only the Draught of the Prospect of those -noble Ruins, taken upon the Place, (of which we here give a Copy,) but -also the Journals of both the Voyages; which, for the Satisfaction of -the Curious, we have thought fit to Publish. - - -_The first Voyage_, Anno 1678. - -_July 18._ at Five in the Morning, we set out from _Aleppo_, being -sixteen _English_; but with Servants and Mulettiers in all forty; and -in four Hours and an half, travelling South by East, we arrived at a -Village call'd _Cafferabite_, being at the edge of the Desart, here we -reposed the rest of that Day. - -_July 19._ we rose at one in the Morning, and directed our Course S. S. -E. over the Desart, for a Fountain call'd _Churraick_; but our Guide -losing his Way, there being no Path, 'twas near Noon before we found -it: which made us doubt of our Safety. This Well has no Signs near it -to discover it by. Here we pitch'd our Tents, and refresh'd our Selves -and Horses; and the Water being of a Purgative Quality, made us some -Diversion. In our way, we found two _Arabs_ with two Asses, one whereof -carried Water and a little Bread, the other they rod on by turns; they -had one Gun, with which they they shot Antelopes, the Bullet being a -hard Stone broken round, and cased with Lead; they had on the Palms -of their Hands, Elbows, Knees and Feet, some Antelope-Skin tied, that -they may be able to creep the better on the Ground, to Shoot; one of -the Asses walking by as a Stalking-horse, and the _Arab_ imitating the -Cry of the Gazel till he get within Shot: These _Arabs_ are called -_Selebee_. At the Well came to us some _Arabs_ that were making Ashes -of the ordinary sort of Weeds call'd _Chuddraife_, _Ruggot_ and -_Cuttaff_; these they cut and dry, and putting them into a Pit, set -Fire to them, and the Ashes cake at the bottom. The Ashes they carry to -_Eglib_ and _Tripoli_, to make Soap of: But the best sort of Ashes are -made of the Weed _Shinon_, which grows about _Tadmor_, _Soukny_, _Tibe_ -and _Yarecca_; it grows like Broom in _England_, and in Shape resembles -Coral. - -_July 20._ we rose at four in the Morning, and Travelling two Hours E. -S. E. we arrived at _Andrene_, where we found the Ruins of two or three -Churches, and of a great Town lying in a large Plain; where having -tarried about an Hour and an half, and taken some fragments of Greek -Inscriptions, which afforded no certain Sense, but yet were evidently -Christian, we march'd again S. by E. and in about four Hours time -came to a pleasant Aqueduct call'd _Sheck-alal_; this Aqueduct is cut -through the main Rock, for a great way from the Mountains; and where -it ends, the _Arabs_ have made a Garden, which afforded us Melons, -Cucumbers, Purslain, _&c._ In a Grotto hard by, there dwelt an _Arab_ -with his Family; he had a dozen _Buffalo's_, which they used both for -their Milk, and to Plow the Ground, Sowing both Wheat, and Barly: -Hither the _Arabs_ resort, when they have committed any Robbery about -_Aleppo_, or _Hama_, and here they repose, and divide the Spoil. - -_July 21._ we rose at four in the Morning, and riding two Hours South, -we came to a Ruin call'd _Briadeen_; here we found the following -Inscription on a Stone, good part in the Ground: - - ΑΦΙΕΡΩΘΗ ΑΑΙΛΥΝΔΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΜΦ ΕΤΟΥΣ - ΔΙΑ ΜΑΤΕΡΝΟΥ ΚΑ(Ι Π)ΑΠΠΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΙΚΟΥ ΚΝΕΤΜΝ - -------- Υ -------- Ν - -From hence going South-East, in four Hours more we came to a Well -called _Costal_ (which signifies a _Spring in Arab_.) Most part of -our way through the Desart we were troubled with _Rat-holes_ in great -numbers, like Coneyboroughs, which by the sinking in of the Earth, very -much incommoded our Horses and Mules. These _Rats_ have at the ends of -their Tails a bush of Hair, and the _Arabs_ eat them all, excepting one -part. From this Well we arose about four in the Afternoon, and began to -ascend small Hills, covered with Trees, which, for the most part, were -the small _Pistacho_'s which the _Arabs_ pickle with Salt; but eaten -green, are good to quench Thirst. We travelled on three Hours up the -Hills, where we pitch'd that Night, having no other Water but what we -carry'd with us; and at Night we had a small Shower of Rain, a thing -unusual in that Country at that time of the Year. - -_July 22._ we rose by Two in the Morning, and Travelling E. S. E. -we came by Eleven to a Well call'd _G'hor_, where we found it very -Hot, and saw several prints of Horses Feet, so that we suspected some -_Arabs_ had newly past that way. - -_July 23._ we rose by One in the Morning, and Travelling most East, -we came to a large Plain, where we saw before us, on a high Mountain, -a great Castle, call'd by the _Arabs_ _Anture_. When we had travelled -two or three Hours in this Plain, we espied an _Arab_ driving towards -us a Camel, with his Launce, so fast, that he came on a round Gallop, -and we supposed him sent as a Spy: being come up to us, he told us he -was of _Tadmor_, and that his Prince, the _Emir Melkam_, had that Day -made Friendship with _Hamet Shideed_ another Prince, and that together -they had four hundred Men; so he kept us Company an Hour or two, and -enquired of our _Mulettiers_ if we were not _Turks_ disguised, with -intent to seize on _Melkam_; for we travelled with a _Bandiero_, the -Impress being a _Hanjarr_ or _Turkish_ Dagger, and a Half-Moon. We told -him we were _Franks_, which he could hardly believe, wondering that we -travelled thus in the Desart, only out of Curiosity. Being come near to -_Tadmor_, he went a little before us, and on a sudden run full speed -towards the Ruins, we not endeavouring to hinder him. Our Guide told -us he was gone to acquaint the _Arabs_ who we were, and that we ought -to suspect and prepare for the worst; so we dismounted twenty of our -Servants, each having a long Gun, and Pistols at his Girdle, and placed -them abreast before us: we following at a little distance behind, on -Horse-back, with Carbines and Pistols. In this order we proceeded, and -came to a most stately _Aqueduct_, which runs under Ground in a direct -passage five Miles, and is covered with an Arch of Bastard Marble -all the Way, and a Path on both sides the Channel for two Persons to -walk abreast; the Channel it self being about an _English_ Yard in -breadth, and ¾ of a Yard in depth. At 20 Yards distance all the way -are Ventiducts for the Air to pass, and the holes are surrounded with -small Mounts of Earth to keep the Sand and Dust from falling down. -We marched close by these Mounts, which might serve us for Defence, -expecting every moment that the _Arabs_ would come to Assail us, having -the disadvantage of Sun and Wind in our Faces: wherefore we Travelled -hard to gain an Eminence where we might Post our selves advantageously, -and stop and repose a little, to consider what we had to do. The -_Arabs_ finding us to come on with this Order and Resolution, thought -not fit to adventure on us, so we gained the Hill, from whence we might -discern these vast and noble Ruins, having a Plain like a Sea for -greatness to the Southwards of it. Here having refresh'd our Men, we -fetch'd a little Compass and descended by the foot of a Mountain, on -which stands a great Castle, but uninhabited. Here two _Arabs_ came to -us with Lances, one being Chiah to _Melkam_, and we sent two to meet -them; they gave the _Salam alika_, and ours returned the _Alica salam_, -and advancing to our Company, told us the _Emir_ had understood of our -coming, and had sent them to acquaint us that he was our Friend, and -that all the Country was ours. We sent back with them our _Janizary_ -and a Servant to visit the Prince in his Tents, which were in a Garden. -In the mean time we dismounted at a watering Place amidst the Ruins, -but did not unload till our _Janizary_ and Servant returned with the -_Emir's Tescarr_, assuring us of Friendship and Protection, a Writing -which the _Arabs_ were never known to violate before. With them came -also one that belonged to the _Sheck_ of the Town, for whom we had -Letters from _Useffe Aga_ the _Emeer_ of _Aleppo_. He desired us for -greater Security to pitch our Tents under the Town Walls, which is -in the Ruins of a great Palace, the Wall yet standing very high, the -Town within but small, and the Houses excepting two or three no better -than Hog-sties. So we pitched in a deep Sandy Ground where we found it -exceeding hot. Here we waited till three of the Clock without eating -any thing, expecting the _Sheck_ should have presented us according to -the usual Custom of the _Turks_ to their Friends, and have given some -answer to the Letters we brought him; but on the contrary we found -by the gesture of the People, that we had Reason to suspect them. -Hereupon two of our Company believing that the want of a present to -the _Emir_ was the cause thereof resolved to adventure to give him a -Visit, and taking the _Janizary_ and one Servant, they carried him a -Present of two pieces of Red Cloath, and four of Green, and several -other things: Being come he welcomed them into his Tent, and placed the -one on his right Hand and the other on his left. _Melkam_ was a young -Man, not above Five and Twenty, and well Featur'd, and a most Excellent -Horse-man; _Hamet Shideed_, the other Prince, was more elderly, as -about forty Years of Age, and was not in the Tent, but sat under a -_Palm-Tree_ near it. He treated them with _Coffee_, _Camel's-flesh_ -and _Dates_, and enquired of their Journey, and the Cause of their -coming: They told him 'twas only Curiosity to see those Ruins; he said -that formerly _Solomon Ibnel Doud_ Built a City in that Place, which -being destroyed, was Built again by a strange People, and he believed, -that we understanding the Writing on the Pillars, came to seek after -Treasure, he having but six Moons before found a Pot of _Corra -Crusses_. After this he went out of the Tent, leaving them smoaking -Tobacco, to the _Janizary_ and Servant, and told them, that never till -that Day any _Franks_ had been at that Place, and that now we knew the -way through the Desert, we might inform the _Turks_ to their Ruin and -Destruction, so that 'twould be convenient for them to destroy us all: -But that we coming as Friends, he would only have 4000 Dollars as a -Present, else he would hang them and the two _Franks_ up, and go fight -the rest. This Message being brought them, they wish'd they had excus'd -themselves from this Embassy, and answered, they could say nothing to -that Demand, not knowing our Minds, but if he would permit them to go -and speak with the rest, they would return an Answer. Hearing this, he -threatened present Death, but at length gave leave to our _Janizary_ -to carry us a Letter from them, wherein they shewed the danger they -were in, and earnestly entreated us to redeem them, the Price set on -them being 2000 Dollars, one half in Mony, the other half in Goods, as -Swords, Cloaths, Tents, _&c._ which the _Emir_ promised to estimate at -their Worth. - -This Letter amazed us mightily, and a little before it arrived, -we understanding a little, and fearing more ill Treatment to our -Friends, were getting ready to free them or die with them. The Garden -where _Melkam_ lay, was about half a Mile from the Tents, full of -_Palm-Trees_, and had no Walls, but loose Stones piled up Breast high -about them, so we designed to have gone suddenly and given two or three -Volleys on them, e'er they could get to Horse; and the _Arab_ know not -how to Fight on Foot. And though they bragg'd they had 400 Men, we -supposed 200 might be the most, and they not all Lances. But on receipt -of this Letter, and the Servants telling us that they would certainly -be cut off, if we endeavoured their Rescue, we began to examin what -Moneys we had, Cloaths and other Trade, and found we could not near -make up that Sum. In this Confusion came two _Arabs_ to receive the -things, and immediately Word was brought that the _Emir_ would come -and Visit us; we sent him Word, that if he came with more than two -followers, we would not admit him: so he came with 2 Servants only; and -in conclusion, we made him up in Money and Goods to the Value of 1500 -Dollars. He valuing our Things as we pleased; his Design being not so -much to compleat the Sum, as to take from us all we had. After this, -about Sun Set, he returned us our two Friends, when the _Sheck_ of the -Town invited us to Lodge within the Town; which we found afterwards -was with a design to have forced something from us: But we giving him -to understand that the Emir had taken all already, and had left us -only our Arms and the Cloaths on our Backs; which if they would have, -they must Fight for: That Resolution daunted them, and away they went, -promising us Barley for our Horses in the Morning. We kept good watch -in the Night, and when Day broke, we began to consider how to clear our -selves; we expected the Barly till Nine in the Morning, when it came, -and the Emir himself came and gave us the good Morrow: We feared least -they should pretend to stop some of us in the Gate-way, so we placed -six of our Company to secure the Passage, 'till all the rest were got -out, under pretence of taking an Inscription that was over the Gate. -Being all got clear, we returned by the same way we came and arrived at -_Aleppo_ _July 29._ in the Morning. This _Melkam_ told us, That if we -had not submitted our selves to his Demands, he was resolved to Fight -us after this Method: Loading 50 Camels with Baggs of Sand, and making -small holes in the Baggs for the Sand to drop out, he would drive -these Camels abreast upon us before the Wind, that the Sand might blow -in our Eyes, and we spending our Bullets on the Camels, might so be -easily overthrown; we answered, that we believed he would not venture -his Camels and Horses to such a Combat. He wondered extreamly when we -talk'd of Shooting Birds flying, and Hares running. - -This and other the like Violences used by this _Arab_ Prince, made -the _Bassa_ of _Aleppo_ resolve to destroy him; and not long after he -cajoled him with the Hopes of being made King of the _Arabs_, and to -draw him near the City, he vested and caressed some of his Followers: -Which having its effect, the _Bassa_ surprized him in his Tents by -Night, and soon after he was put to Death: This those People were -willing to believe the effect of their so abusing the _English_, and -might much contribute to the Security and good Usage they found, that -went the second time on this Expedition. - -We had not time to view these Ruins by reason of this usage, though -perhaps we might with safety. We only took one of the Inscriptions as -we past by, which was thus. - -ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΟΔΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ -ΑΡ..ΑΠΗΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΣ ΣΑΝΜΗΣ ΜΑΣΣΙΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ Μ..ΛΕΝΑΙΟΥ ΙΠΠΕΥΣ -ΡΟΥΜΑΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Η Ο Φ ΜΗΝΕΙ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ. - -Wherein the principal difference is in the Word ἀραπήτην, which -in the Account already Published is read ἀράπετην, which seems to -signifie some peculiar Officer of the _Syrians_, as _Ducenarius_ of -the _Latins_, which perhaps those skill'd in the Oriental Customs and -Languages may be able to expound. - -As far as we could conclude from our Journeys, and the Position of -the Ways taken by two good Compasses, the Distance of _Tadmor_ from -_Aleppo_ is about a 150 English Miles, and the Course S. S. E. or -rather somewhat more Southerly, considering the Variation of the -Compass, which is above a half a Point Westward in these Parts. - - -_The second Voyage_, Anno 1691. - -We set out from _Aleppo_ for _Tadmor_ on _Michaelmas-day_, being in -all, Masters and Servants, thirty Men, well armed, having obtained -a Promise of Security from _Assyne_, then King of the _Arabs_, and -one of his own People for a Guide. This Day our Road pointed S. b. -E. and in four Hours we came to a Fountain call'd _Caphir-Abiad_, -leaving Old _Aleppo_ about an Hour distant on the right Hand: Here we -made but a very short stay, but proceeded to a better Fountain at the -foot of a very high Hill, cover'd with loose Stones, the Ruins of a -Village called _Broeder_, of which there was not one House remaining; -and dining here, we advanced in an Hour and a quarter more, in the -Afternoon, through a fertile open Place, to a Place called _Emghir_, -famous for the best Wheat that is brought to _Aleppo_. This we made -our first Stage; and mounting again in the Morning about five a Clock, -in less than an Hour, past by an uninhabited Village, call'd _Urghee_, -our Road pointing as before, through the fruitful Plain, even and -pleasant; but when we came to ascend the Hills, where I reckon'd we -entred the Desart, and were to take our leave of Mankind, at least of -an inhabited Country for some Days, we had a troublesome Passage, over -loose great Stones, without any appearance of a Road. - -Our Guide had promised to conduct us through pleasant Groves and -Forests; but no such thing appeared, unless we would bestow that Name -upon low withered Shrubs that grew in the Way, only one Tree we saw, -which was of good use to us, serving as a Land-mark; and when we were -come up with it, being left at a little distance on the right Hand, -we gain'd the Prospect of a remote ridge of Hills before us, and on -the top of one of them an old Castle; this Castle, we were told, was -known by the Name of _Gazar Ibn Wordan_; but what it anciently was, or -in what Condition it is at present, I could not learn; therefore, not -unwillingly, I turned my Eyes from it, to a little round Hill more on -the left, by which we were to direct our Course, and about a quarter of -an Hour from which stood a Sheck's House, call'd _Sheck Ailha_, where -we were to bait, with a Well of Water by it, but such that we had but -little _gusto_ to taste, though it served our Horses: All the Country -hereabouts is stor'd with _Antelopes_, and there is a barbarous sort -of People there, that have hardly any thing else to live upon, but what -of these they can kill; and Necessity has taught them to be no mean -Artists in their way, for they lie down behind the Stones, and as the -poor harmless Creature passes, shoot them; and though their Guns be -very ordinary, exceeding heavy and thick, with Match-Locks, yet are -they such excellent Marks-men, that they kill many. That Morning we -had Travelled about five Hours to reach _Sheck Ailha_'s; yet finding -nothing to invite our stay there, (though there were four or five Tombs -there not ill made, according to the _Turkish_ mode) about one a Clock -we mounted again, bending to the S. E. or something more Easterly. In -our way we had two remarkable Prospects, one on the right Hand, of the -Ruins of an ancient City call'd _Andreen_, and sometimes _Londrine_, -which we were told had been formerly inhabited by _Franks_, and that -there were many Inscriptions there; but it was too far out of our way, -and withal something too dangerous too, for us to take a view of them: -The other, on the left Hand, was another Tree, not far from which -our Guide assured us of good Water, where we designed to take up our -Lodging; the hopes of the Water made us slight a Well we past by on -the Road, at which afterwards we repented we had not stay'd; for when -we came up with the Tree, from which we had declined a great way to -the right, we found our Water still at a very great distance, and were -constrained to take new Directions by a white chalky Hill, almost as -far as we could see, and yet not much beyond the Place which was to -be our Stage; on therefore we proceeded till Sun-set, very weary, and -almost without hope of our coming to Water that Night, though at the -same time near dead with Thirst; and which the more supriz'd us, our -Guide was advanced a great way before, out of our sight, upon what -design we knew not, but at his return, we found it was only to assure -himself better of the way, and in an Hours time more he brought us to -the side of a Bog, call'd by the Name of _Zerga_, where, such as it -was, we found Water enough, but it was neither palatable nor wholsome, -neither did the Ground seem proper to Sleep upon; yet we were forced to -be content, there being no removing thence that Night. - -_October 1._ We departed from _Zerga_, about two Hours before Sun-rise, -and as soon as it was light, had the Prospect of a very high Hill, -which was to be the bounds of our Travel that Day. To this we made as -directly as we could look, finding nothing in our way observable either -to arrest our curiosity, or to slacken our Pace, except a multitude of -Holes made in the sandy Earth, by Rats, Serpents, and other Animals, -which render'd our Riding a little troublesome; as we had found it -upon the same Account the Afternoon before. About two Hours short of -our Stage, we were shewn three little round Hills lying to the right -in a direct line, known by the Name of _Tenage_; where we were told -there was good Water, and it's for that reason only they deserve the -notice of those that Travel through such a thirsty Desart. The Place to -which we directed our Course was called _Esree_, where we arrived about -eleven a Clock, and found to our great Satisfaction, that our Guide -had not deceived us in his Promise of excellent Water: Here we could -discern the Foundations of a spacious City, and a piece of a thick -Wall, built of a chalky Stone, was standing: This we judged to be the -remainder of a Castle situated on the side of the Hill, so as both to -defend and command the City. On the top of the Hill, above the Castle, -stands the Ruins of a Fabrick, in appearance very Ancient, built of -very hard Stone, yet exceedingly worn by the Weather; 'tis of an -oblong Figure, pointing near to the N. E. and S. W. with only one Door -on the Easterly end, which was once adorned with extraordinary good -Carvings, of which there are still some remains, but the greatest part -is either worn away, or purposely defaced; and those marks of ancient -Beauty that remain are very obscure, and difficultly discernable; the -outside of the Walls is beautified with Pilasters quite round, with -their Pedestals and Capitals regular and handsom; but the Roof is -all fallen down, and within appears nothing which looks either great -or beautiful. The Situation, and placing the Door, hinders one from -conjecturing it to have been a Christian Oratory, or Chappel, and -therefore in probability it must have been a Heathen Temple; and if so, -then the piece of the Castle Wall being of a softer Stone, must be much -more modern; the goodness of the Water brings the _Arabs_ (who rove -up and down the Desart) and the _Turk-men_ frequently hither, which -has occasion'd a great many Graves about the Temple; and some have had -leisure, and, (which is more difficult to be imagin'd) skill enough to -scratch in the Walls the first Letters of their Names, and many more in -Arabick Characters, which we could make nothing of, no more than of an -Arabick Inscription which lay hard by, but appeared not ancient. - -_October_ the 2d. We departed from _Esree_, about an Hour, or an Hour -and an half after Midnight, and in six Hours and an half arrived at -two Wells, the Water 18 Fathom and 2 Foot deep, known by the Name of -_Imp malcha Giub_: Through the greatest part of this Stage we had a -broad beaten Road, and where that was not discernible, we guided our -selves by a ridge of chalky Hills, under which the Wells lay; the -Water we found exceeding bad, and of so noisome a Scent, that we could -not endure it so much as at our Noses; which made our Guide laugh at -us, who told us, the _Arabs_, and even the King himself used to drink -freely of it; which, I am sure, our Horses would not do, though they -were under a necessity of drinking that or none: For our selves we had -brought from _Esree_ Water, sufficient for one Day at least. In our way -hither we were shewn the true Plant which they burn for Soap-Ashes, -which has no Leaves, but a soft juicy Stalk shooting into several -Branches, and something resembling our Camphire, only it's more round -than that; the Ashes likewise we saw, which were made not far from the -Wells, which in burning run into Cakes, not much unlike the Cinders of -a Forge, only they are heavier, and not so full of Pores, nor so hard -as they are. In the Afternoon, we proceeded on our Voyage two Hours -and an half, to a place called _Almyrrha_, passing rather between than -over the Hills, though we had something of an ascent too; this we did -to shorten our Stage the next Morning, for we were told before-hand we -should find no Water upon those Mountains; so, for our Selves, we liv'd -upon our old Stock, and our Horses were constrain'd to pass that Night -without Water. Our Journy hitherto had been altogether Southerly, and -but little varying to the Eastward of due South. - -_October_ the 3d. We mounted from _Almyrrha_ between five and six -in the Morning, making to the point of a high ridge of Mountains, -through an uneven Desart Way, frequently interrupted with Gutts and -Channels, probably made by the descent of the Waters from the Hills, -upon sudden Rains: We came to the ascent after about four Hours -Travel, which we found not difficult; and when we were on the top, -we had a pleasant Prospect of the Country, and what we rejoyced at -most, we were shewn a little Hill, just behind which, we were told lay -_Tadmor_. This Mountain was cover'd on both sides with great plenty -of Turpentine-Trees, which was an Object very pleasing, having seen -very few greens in our whole Journey: This Tree grows very thick and -shady, and several of them we saw loaded with a vast abundance of -small round Nut, the chief use whereof is to make Oil, though some eat -them, and account them as great a Regalio as Pistaches; their outward -Husk is green, and more Oily than that of Pistaches, and within a -very thin Shell is contained a Kernel both in colour and relish very -much resembling them; but those that eat them, seldom take the Pains -to search for the Kernels, but eat Husk and Shell all together, which -have no ungrateful Taste: From this Hill we had a tedious descent, -and coming at the foot into a narrow Gut, winding this way and that -between the Mountains, our Passage seemed very long, hot and tiresome; -our want of Water however obliged us to proceed, whereof we now began -to be in great necessity, especially for our Horses and Mules, who had -none the Night before, nor none all that Day; with this we had hopes -of being supplied two different ways; having had a shower of Rain the -Night before, we hoped to have found Water standing in the hollows of -the Rocks; but either the Rain had not reach'd so far, or not in such -plenty as to fill those naturally hewed Cisterns: Our other expectation -was from the Wells that were in the Road; but these our Guide advancing -before and examining, met us with the unwelcome News, that they were -all dried up, and the best Advice he could give us, was to pitch where -we were, and content our selves with the remains of what we had brought -two Days in our Vessels, till our Horses and Mules might be sent to a -Fountain two Hours out of our way, and being watered there themselves, -bring a fresh supply for us: This way, with some difficulty, we -assented to, as more eligible, than weary as we were, to wander so far -out of the Road, to have the same Ground to stage over again the next -Morning: We resolved therefore to send our Guide, with one or two of -our Servants, in search of the Water, and afterwards others with our -Horses, while in the mean time we pitch'd our Tents, it being then -about two a Clock in the Afternoon: As soon as they were gone, a small -drizzling Rain, which we had about half an Hour, encreased to a very -plentiful Shower, which put us upon producing all the Vessels we had -to catch it as it fell from the Heavens, or ran down the Skirts of -our Tents, our Horses at the same time greedily drinking it from the -Ground; but we might have spared our Pains, for in less than half an -Hours time, our Camp was in a manner a-float, and we were surrounded -with Water not only sufficient for us, but for an Army of 20000 Men; -those hollow Gutts which we passed over without the least appearance of -moisture, were, by the Cataracts which descended from the Mountains, -become Rivers; and our Guide with those Servants we had sent out, that -before rode over it dry, it being swoln to such a Torrent, were put to -some difficulty to repass it; so plentifully was God pleased to provide -for us in our greatest streight; and which encreases both the Wonder -and Mercy, the next Morning, all this great quantity of Water was past -away, so that in about two Hour's Riding we could hardly perceive that -there had been any Rain at all. This memorable Place is known by the -Name of _Al-Wishal_. - -_October_ the 4th. From _Al-Wishal_ we proceeded for _Tadmor_, some -of the Ruins of which we perswaded our selves we could see the Day -before; perhaps it might be the Castle, which is more than half an -Hour's distance from the City; our way lay Southward, but the Gut -in which we travelled would not permit us to keep a direct course: -However, in about an Hour's Walk, we past by _Antor_ Mountains (our -Guide call'd them _Toul Antor_) through a Gut or Rent, both sides of -which so directly answered one to the other, they would tempt a Man to -believe they were separated by Art, for an entrance into the Country; -but it must have been a work of prodigious Labour and Charges to have -cut through such vast Mountains: And if any one was so hardy as to -attempt it, he certainly grew weary of his Undertaking; for the Ground -is levelled but a very little way, and almost as soon as we were well -got within the open space, we were obliged to ascend another Hill, and -so our Road continued over Hills and Valleys interchangeably all the -way. On the left Hand, some distance from the Road, we saw a _Sheck_'s -House on the top of a high Hill, which made a better show than usually -those Buildings do, but being assured by our Guide it was a modern -Structure, and eager too to come to the principal Place we aimed at, -we would not prolong our Stage so much as to turn out of the Road, to -see more of it: So pressing still forwards, we had hardly proceeded -four Hours, when we came to the brow of a Rocky Mountain, separated -from that whereon stands the Castle of _Tadmor_, but by a narrow -Valley: In which Hill, by the Way, appeared some Quarries of fine -Stone, which probably might afford Materials to the curious Buildings -in the City. Our Guide here (according to his accustomed Diligence) -advanced some few Paces before us, and having espied three or four -Country-Fellows driving Asses towards us, he caused us to make halt, to -give them an opportunity to come nearer to us, resolving to speak with -them, to know whether the Coast was clear, or if any of the Mountain -_Arabs_ were then at _Tadmor_, or not. After a little space, with our -Arms in our Hands, we marched in as good order as the Way would permit, -down a rocky and steep Precipice, into the Valley; and our Guide making -greater speed than we could, gallop'd after the poor affrighted Country -Fellows; who seeing such a Company unexpectedly descend the Hill, left -their Asses, and fled towards the City with all possible speed: But -they were soon overtaken, and brought back again to us; to whom they -related the good News, that there was no Force at all in _Tadmor_, and -that we might proceed with Courage, and see what we would there with -all safety: Which News obtained them their Liberty to go again to their -Asses, and we continued in our Way. - -Having tired our selves with roving from Ruin to Ruin, and rummaging -among old Stones, from which little Knowledge could be obtained; and -more especially not thinking it safe to linger too long in a Place, -where should the Mountain _Arabs_ (who were Enemies to _Assyne Abasse_, -our Friend) have Intelligence of us, they might either fall upon or -endeavour to intercept us in our return; (for which reason also we had -all along concealed our intended Course, under a pretence of proceeding -forward to _Damascus_.) On _Thursday_, _October 8._ about half an Hour -after four in the Morning, we departed from _Tadmor_, being very well -satisfied with what we had seen, and glad to have escaped so dreaded -a Place, without any Trouble or Pretences upon us; but else with some -Regret, for having left a great many things behind, which deserved a -more particular and curious Inspection. Our Road lay almost due East, -or a little inclining to the North; and on the left Hand, a ridge of -Hills stretched along for a great space, sometimes about half an Hour -distant from the Road, and sometimes opening wider: These Hills, we -were told, were stored with rich Veins of divers Minerals, and afforded -all that vast quantity of Marble, the Remains whereof we had seen -at _Tadmor_; and it was from a Fountain call'd _Abulfarras_, at the -foot of one of them, they fetch out Water, which we drank there; the -Inhabitants contenting themselves with that which runs from the Hot -Springs. To the right Hand lay a vast barren Plain, perfectly bare, -and hardly any thing green to be seen therein, except it were a few -Gourds which our Servants found on the side of a little rising-Ground, -where there was no shew of any thing moist to feed them. Our Way being -plain, we had the sight of _Tadmor_, especially the Castle, for above -half our Stage, till we came to an old _Caphar_ House. We made indeed a -very short Days Journey, in the whole, finding a Fountain of excellent -Water in about five Hours and a half's Riding; which, as it was a most -welcome Refreshment to us in such a thirsty Desart, so it was the only -good Water we met with till we came to _Euphrates_, which was not -till the third Day from this Place. At this Fountain we pitch'd, near -to which is a Village, but almost wholly ruined and deserted. 'Twas -some time before any Body would be seen, for they were afraid of us; -at length, three Men came out to our Tents, Spectacles of a miserable -Poverty, occasion'd by their being frequently pillaged by the Mountain -_Arabs_, and a great Duty they pay to _Assyne Abasse_ their King, for -his Protection: Three hundred Dollars they pay him Annually, when one -would think the whole Village was not able to make up the Sum of one -Hundred; yet being the remotest Place that was under his Jurisdiction, -they often suffer by the Inroads of the other. The Name of the Place -is _Yarecca_, a Name it received (as we were inform'd) from a Victory -obtained there by the _Turks_ over the _Mamalukes_. - -_October_ the 9th. From _Yarecca_ we mounted early, and Travelling -N. E. or near that Point, in seven Hours time arrived at _Soukney_. -The Road we found much like what we had the Day before, lying over a -barren Plain; only we had Hills on both sides, and sometimes closing -within half an Hours riding one of the other. The Village has its Name -from the Hot Waters, (for so the Word imports,) which are of the same -Nature with those of _Tadmor_; herein they Bath frequently, the same -little dirty Hole serving both for Men and Women; only they have so -much Modesty remaining, that they have different Hours for one and the -other. To say the Truth, 'twas the only mark of Modesty I could observe -among them; in other respects they seemed a Confident, or rather -Impudent Generation of People. Before we could pitch our Tents, they -flock'd about us in multitudes, Men, Women, and Children; and of the -last, many of them as naked as ever they came into the World, not so -much as a Rag about them to cover them; and so numerous they appeared, -that if we had reason to think _Yarecca_ wanted Inhabitants, we had no -less, to conclude _Soukney_ over-stock'd. At this Place usually resides -an Officer of _Assyne_'s, who is their Sub-Basha, or Governor: He whom -we found there, was call'd _Dor_, of a good Family among the _Arabs_, -to whom we made a Present; and he civilly return'd it in Barley for -our Horses. Afterwards he came under our Tents, and invited us to an -Entertainment; which, considering the Circumstances of the Place, was -very Splendid, though it was nothing but _Pilaw_ at last, a little -diversify'd by the dressing; and, to speak truly, I judge we could not -have less than a Bushel of Rice set before us. His Palace, indeed was -not very stately, there being few Cottages in _England_ but might vie -with it. To the Room wherein we were entertain'd, which, doubtless, was -the best, if not the only one he had, we were forced to clamber, rather -than ascend, by broken Steps made of Stone and Dirt. When we were got -in, and commodiously seated after the _Turkish_ Mode, it seemed large -enough for about a dozen or fourteen People: At the upper end was a -little space separated from the rest by a ridge made up of Earth, -within which, I suppose, he slept. The Walls were mean; but the Roof -much worse, having no other Covering but Faggots; so that certainly it -could not be Proof against a Shower of Rain which fell that Night, and -forced us out of our Tents, into in old ruinous _Cane_, for shelter: -However, it served well enough for our Afternoons Collation; and we had -come away with a good Opinion of the Gentleman's Civility, had he not -afterwards endeavoured to make a Pretence upon us, and so would have -forced us to pay dear for our Rice: He pretended to a Customary Duty of -a Chequeen a Head of all _Franks_ that past that Road; though probably -neither he, nor his Grand-father before him, had ever seen a _Frank_ -there before. But when he understood by our Guide, that we were not so -easily to be imposed upon; and withal, that we were _Assyne_'s Friends, -and in our Way to his Tents; and especially our Treasurer a Person he -very much esteemed, who therefore would be sure to acquaint him with -any Exaction or Injury offer'd us, his Mouth was quickly stop'd, and he -grew so sensible of his Error, that he sent to excuse it, and presented -our Treasurer with a Fan of Black Ostrich Feathers; and not only so, -but in the Morning came himself, and begging Pardon, desired nothing -might be said of what had past, and so conducted us about an Hour on -our way. This Village pays to _Assyne_ fifteen hundred Dollars _per -Annum_. - -_October_ the 10th. Continuing our Voyage still to the N. E. or -something more Easterly, we found it another pleasant and easie Stage -to another Village call'd _Tiebe_, so called (as they say) from the -goodness of the Water, the Word signifying _good_: But we found them -not so over excellent; they had the Tast, and were doubtless tinctured -with the same Mineral, with those of _Soukney_ and _Tadmor_, though not -so strong. But the Village it self made a better Shew than usual; and -the People appear'd of something better Fashion, and more civiliz'd, -than those we had left. It's pleasantly situated, and makes a good -appearance as one comes up to it; the Prospect being helped by a well -built Steeple, to which is now adjoyned their Mosch: But I am apt to -believe it the remains of a Christian Church, being built with more -Art and Beauty than you shall easily find in Turkish Fabricks: And -there are also several Ruins about it, which speak it to have been a -more famous Place than now it is. Into the Mosch we were permitted to -enter, without any Disturbance. This Village lies in one of the Roads -from _Aleppo_ to _Bagdatt_, and pays to _Assyne_ an Annual Tribute of -one thousand Dollars. From hence we mounted again in the Afternoon, -and proceeded about two Hours and a half farther, to shorten our next -Days Stage. Having travelled this Day, in all, about seven or eight -Hours, the Place we pitch'd at was a Fountain, and known by the Name -of _Alcome_; but neither Town nor House by it: neither was the Water -fit to be Drank, being of the same nature with that of _Soukney_, and -almost as warm. - -_October_ the 11th. From _Alcome_ we rose about an Hour and an half -after Midnight, our Guide groping out the way, by the help of the -Stars, which now bended more to the North than formerly. As soon as it -was light enough to look about us, we found our selves in a wild open -Desart, the Ground, in some Places covered with a sort of Heath, and -in others quite bare. Nor had we travelled long after the Sun was up, -before, by the help of a rising Ground, we discovered _Arsoffa_, the -Place whither we were tending, which gave us hopes we should quickly -be there: But having a dry tiresome Plain to traverse, and the hot Sun -causing our Mules a little to slacken their Pace, 'twas after ten a -Clock before we reach'd it: And which was more vexatious still, finding -no Water any where near, we were necessitated to proceed forward for -the River _Euphrates_, which we found four Hours distant from hence. -_Arsoffa_, or (as the _Arabs_ call it) _Arsoffa Emir_, seems to be -the remains of a Monastery, having no Town nor Village near it, and -being one continued Pile of Building of an oblong Figure, stretching -long ways East and West, and enclosing a very capacious Area: At a -distance it makes a glittering shew, being built of _Gypsine Stone_, -or Rock-Ising-glass, resembling Alabaster, but not so hard; several -Quarries of which we past by in our way to it. When the Sun shines upon -it, it reflects the Beams so strong, that they dazzle the Eyes of the -Spectators. Art or Accuracy in the Workmanship we found none; and but -very little Carved Work, and that mean enough; nay, the very Cement -they made use of, is but little better than Dirt; so that it's no great -Wonder to see it in Ruins, though it has not the appearance of any -great Antiquity. Round about were the little Apartments or Chambers for -the Monks, built Arch-wise, only one Story above Ground; but underneath -are several Cells or Vaults, larger than the Chambers, which perhaps -might serve for their Schools, or Working-houses. In the midst of the -Area stand the Ruins of several Buildings, some of which seem to have -been Cisterns for Water, and it may be the Bathing-Places: But the most -remarkable was one, which probably was the Abbot's or Bishop's House, -there having been something more Pains bestow'd upon it, than the rest: -And another, which was the Relicks of their Church. This was formerly -no unhandsom Structure, being built in the form of our Churches, and -distinguish'd into three Isles, of which the middle one is supported -by eighteen turned Marble Pillars, with Capitals upon them, not of -Marble, but of a sort of Clay, and Cast into the shape they are in, but -of a Colour exactly resembling the Pillar it self. That which perswades -to believe them Cast, is a Greek Inscription to be seen on all of them; -the Letters whereof are not made by Incision in the Stone, but seem to -be stamped, standing out higher than the distance between them; and on -one of them, by mistake, they are so placed, as to be read after the -Oriental manner, from the right Hand to the left. The Words are these, -with the Crucifix before, as follows: - -✠ ΕΠΙ ΣΕΡΓΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΚΟ. ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝΓΕΝ ΜΑΡΩΝΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΡΕΠΙΣΚΟ. - -From hence our Guide led us to the River, by the assistance of two -little Hills, which are known by the Name of _Aff Dieu_, our way lying -North, and a little bending to the East. The sight of the River was a -very pleasing Prospect; and to our great comfort, we found the Water -very clear, happening to be there before the Rains, and after the -Snow-Waters (which swell and disturb it in the Summer-time) were all -past: And our Happiness seemed the greater, having had so tedious and -thirsty a Journey of at least fourteen Hours, and neither our Selves -nor our Horses touch'd a drop of Water all Day. We pitch'd upon a Reach -of the River, where it was not very broad, not being above half a -Musket-shot over. - -_October_ the 12th. This Morning, about Sun-rise, we proceeded on -our Voyage, keeping along the Banks of the River, which, for the -most part, led us West and North-West: And here we had pleasant -Travelling, having the River on the right Hand, and Hills of Marble -or other fine Stone, on the left; and delightful Groves of Tamarisk, -Mulberry, and other Trees to pass through. Here every thing about us -lookt fresh and verdant, and we met frequently Men and Women passing -on their Occasions, a thing to which (in our former Stages) we had -not been accustomed. We had also a pleasing Prospect of the opposite -Shore, and could see a great way into _Mesopotamia_, but could meet -with no Convenience to cross the River, which we were very desirous -to have done. There are no Places of Note remaining upon the River -either on one side or the other, only on the farther side we saw an -old Castle call'd _Giabar_, which made a good Shew, being situated on -the top of a Hill, and both for that and the way of Building, very -much resembling that of _Aleppo_, only that is the larger, and in the -midst of a City; this less, and has neither Town nor Houses about it. -On our side we past by a _Sheck_'s House call'd _Abul-Rarra_, and the -Ruins of a Town a little farther, where there was a square Tower built -of a very ordinary Brick, but pretty entire. After we had left these -Ruins, we rested to bait, under the Shadow of a Rock, wherein were many -Apartments and Conveniences cut to lodge in, which I suppose are made -use of in the Winter by the People, who, during the Summer, pitch -among the Trees by the River-side. In the Afternoon we continued our -Journey as before, keeping always at a little distance from the River, -till a little before Sun-set; when we came to a very convenient Place -upon the Banks, where we took up our lodging for that Night, having -travell'd between seven or eight Hours the whole Day. - -_October_ the 13th. This Day we had the same Satisfaction as the Day -before, proceeding as near the River as the Road would permit; and -having made a Stage of about six Hours, we rested under the shade of -the Tamarisk Trees by the River side, hoping to have found conveniency -to have crossed it, but we could not. In our Way we saw nothing -observable but the Ruins of a City call'd _Baulas_, where the _Turks_ -had formerly a _Sangiack_; but now there is never an Inhabitant in the -Place, nor House standing, but the Ruins of Houses, and an Octagonal -Tower of a considerable height, _viz._ One hundred and seven Steps, and -beautified on the outside with Flourishes and an Arabick Inscription -round about: It's a handsome Structure, and probably the Work of the -_Mamalukes_, since whose time little has been done to adorn, but -abundance to destroy and wast this Country. After Dinner, we mounted -sooner than ordinary; because hoping to reach the Tents of _Assyne_, -we were unwilling it should be late when we arrived: yet we made it -near Sun-set before we got to _Fay_, a Fountain by which he lay. We -had travell'd still on the same Point N. W. with the Prospect of -the River the greater part of the Way; the nearest Reach thereof not -being above an Hours Riding from the Fountain. On the Road we met with -several _Bandera_'s of the _Emir_'s Soldiers, who knowing our Guide, -and understanding we were going to him, gave us a very courteous -_Salam_, who else, perhaps, might have treated us with another sort -of Civility. The King's Tents spread over a large Plain, and took up -so vast a Space, that though we had the advantage of a rising Ground, -we could not see the uttermost extent of them. His own particular -Tent was pretty near the middle of the rest, which were pitch'd about -it, not in a circular manner, but stretching out in length as the -Plain open'd, or for the better conveniency of a Current of Water, -which from the Fountain ran through the midst of them. 'Twas not at -all distinguishable from the rest, but by its bigness, and a little -more Company about it, being all made of a sort of Hair-Cloth, which -seemed hardly a defence against Rain or Sun: But certainly they must -find otherwise, else their Necessity (they spending their Lives in -such moveable Habitations) would have taught them to have contrived -something better. It cannot well be doubted but they are descended from -the old _Arabs Scenitæ_, they living just after the same manner, having -no settled Abode, but remove from Fountain to Fountain, as they find -Grass for their Sheep and Camels, and Water for them and themselves. -They love to derive themselves from _Ismael_ the Son of _Abraham_; and -it may be they are descended from him, but I believe they would be -hard put to't to prove their Pedigree. - -As soon as we alighted, we were attended by the Officers of the _Emir_, -and conducted to a very noble Tent built after the _Turkish_ Mode, -and pitch'd next to his own. Hither he sent to bid us welcome, and to -enquire how we had past in our Voyage; and presently after we had a -Repast of several Dishes of Meat set before us, to stay our Appetites -till a more plentiful Supper could be got ready. But before Supper the -King himself made us a Visit in Person, bidding us Welcome to _Fay_, -and asking what we had seen in our Travels that pleas'd us? how we -liked _Tadmor_? and whether we had found a Treasure there? For this -Notion sticks in the Heads of these People, That the _Franks_ go to see -old Ruins, only because they there meet with Inscriptions which direct -them to some hid Treasures. And therefore it's no unusual thing with -them, when they find a Stone with an Inscription on one side, to turn -that down to the Ground, that it might not be seen or read of any. But -we assur'd him we went with no such Expectations, but only out of a -desire to see the Place: Neither had we brought any thing away with us; -but a piece of Porphyry Stone, which, upon his Request, we shew'd him. -We let him see too, a kind of rude Draught which we had taken of the -Place; which he seemed to like. He made his Visit the shorter, that he -might not incommode us after our Journey; but desir'd us we would live -after our own Pleasure and to our Satisfaction, and command freely -whatever the Camp would afford; ordering some of his People constantly -to attend upon us. When there was mention made of our Design to be gone -the next Morning, he answer'd, It must not be; himself was invited the -next Day, to a great Entertainment, by one of his _Grandees_, and we -should accompany him: But the Day following, he would go out with us, -and Hunt part of our Way towards _Aleppo_. When Supper was brought in, -there was Victuals enough for three times our Number: A large Dish of -_Pilaw_ in the middle, and twelve or fifteen Dishes of several sorts -of Meat about it, all dress'd after their manner, but exceeding good, -and such as one might have fed heartily upon, had he not spoil'd his -Appetite before. After we had Eat and Drank what we pleas'd, we rose -up, and our Servants sat down in our Places; it being the Custom of the -_Arabs_, and _Turks_ too, from the Highest to the Meanest, all to eat -at the same Table: The best sort sit down first, and so in order till -all are satisfy'd, and then what remains is carry'd away. We might, -if we had pleas'd, have lodg'd under the same Tent where we eat; but -having Tents of our own pitch'd, some of our Company chose rather to -retire thither, to avoid being disturbed by too many Visitants. - -_October_ the 14th. The next Morning, about ten a Clock, we were told -that the King was gone to the Entertainment, and expected we should -follow him; and that two young Camels were kill'd, to furnish this -sumptuous Feast; which is the highest piece of Magnificence and -Greatness to which these People, whose greatest Riches consist in -Camels, can arrive. The Tent was about a Furlong from ours; so mounting -our Horses, we rode to it, and found it surrounded with a numerous -train of Guests, three hundred at least, of different Sort and Quality: -It was very large of it self, and to be still more capacious, 'twas -left open toward the West. The King was seated at the North-end, about -the midst of the Tent, upon a Place raised with Cushions and Quilts, -and Carpets before him: Neither did he sit cross-Legg'd, as all the -rest of the Company were obliged to do, but in a leaning Posture. -They seemed to observe an exact Order in their Places; and when any -Person of Note enter'd, those that were near his Place, rose up and -stood till he had seated himself. But the far greatest part could not -come within the compass of the Ring, but stood behind the Backs of the -rest, leaving a spacious _Area_ vacant in the middle. When we entred, -they made room for us on the King's left Hand, which here is esteem'd -the more Honourable; where we sat down in the same Posture with those -about us, cross-Legg'd upon a thin Carpet. Before mid-day, a Carpet -being spread in the middle of the Tent, our Dinner was brought in, -being served up in large Wooden Bowls between two Men; and truly to my -apprehension, Load enough for them. Of these great Platters there were -about fifty or sixty in number, perhaps more, with a great many little -ones, I mean, such as one Man was able to bring in, strewed here and -there among them, and placed for a Border or Garnish round about the -Table. In the middle of all was one of a larger size than all the -rest, in which was the Camel's Bones, and a thin Broth in which they -were boiled: The other greater ones seemed all filled with one and the -same sort of Provision, a kind of Plumb-Broth, made of Rice, and the -fleshy part of the Camel, with Currants and Spices, being of something -a darker Colour than what is made in our Country. The lesser were, for -the the most part, charged with Rice dress'd after several Modes, some -of them having _Leben_, (a thick sour Milk) poured upon them. _Leben_ -is a thing in mighty Esteem in these Hot Countries, being very useful -to quench Thirst: And truly we had need of it here; for I did not see a -drop of any sort of Liquor, excepting a Dish of Coffee before Dinner, -drank at this splendid Feast. Knives, Forks, Spoons, Trenchers, _&c._ -are silly Impertinent Things in the Esteem of the _Arabs_: However, we -being known to make use of such things, had large Wooden Spoons laid -before us. When the Table was thus plentifully furnish'd, the King -arising from his Seat, went and sat down to that Dish that was directly -before him; and so did the rest, as many as it would contain, which -could not be much short of a hundred; and so without further Ceremony, -they fell to thrusting their Hands into the Dishes, and Eating by -Handfuls: Neither was there any occasion of Carving; only because -those Dishes in the middle were too remote to be reach'd, there was -an Officer on purpose, who stepping in among them, and standing in the -Spaces designedly left for that end, with a long Ladle in both his -Hands, helpt any one according to their Desire. When the King had eaten -what he thought fit, he rose up and wash'd, and retir'd back to his -former Seat; and we also did the like; others being ready to fill our -Places. Nor did we continue much longer under the Tent in that numerous -Crowd; for _Assyne_ perceiving us a little uneasie, and supposing -we had now sufficiently satisfy'd our Curiosity, though perhaps not -our Appetites, told us we might take our Liberty, and if we thought -fit retire to our Tents. This Favour we gladly accepted, and without -Ceremony returned, several of his Attendants waiting upon us back. -Here we had another Dinner set before us; and having some of our own -Wine and Water to Drink with it, it went down better with us than the -famous Camel-Feast. In the Evening, the King mounted to see the flight -of a new Hawk, and stay'd Abroad very late, his Hawk flying away: But -she was afterwards taken up by his Falconer; otherwise he had not been -in a good Humour all that Night, being a Man that delights very much -in Sport. After his return from Hawking, we went to Wait upon him at -his own Tent, to return him Thanks for his most courteous and royal -Reception of us, and to desire leave to depart the next Morning. Here -we found him surrounded with the chiefest of his People; and being -placed again on his left Hand, he entertain'd us with a great deal of -pleasant Discourse; and ask'd such Questions, as shew'd him to be a -Man of extraordinary Capacity and Judgment. As for Learning, they have -no such thing among them, and therefore it's not to be expected that -he should be a Scholar: But were he not a Person of more than common -Prudence and Understanding, he could never have managed that Wild and -Unruly People as he has done, ever since his Advancement to the Throne; -which must therefore have been the more difficult, because as he came -to it by the Deposition of his Father (though not immediately) who now -lives with him as a private Man, so has he never wanted Competitors. To -his Father he pays a great deal of outward Respect, but is forced to -keep a very watchful Eye over him. After about an Hours Discourse, we -were dismiss'd. - -_October_ the 15th. In the Morning, _Assyne_ not being at leisure to -go a Hunting, we proceeded on our Voyage Homewards, with a great deal -of Alacrity; and finding nothing remarkable in our Road, in about 3 -Hours and an half arrived at _Seray_. And hence, after a short Repast, -we continued our Journey to _Sherby_ Fountain, which took us up about -the like space of Time. Here we accounted our selves as good as at -Home, being at a Place with which we were well acquainted, and to which -several times in the Year some or other of our Nation usually resort, -either for Antelope or Hog-hunting, according to their Season; nor had -we hence above seven or eight Hours to _Aleppo_. - -_October_ the 16th. Getting up pretty early in the Morning, we resolved -to Hunt the greatest part of our Way Home, as we did; and Dining at the -famous _Round-Hill_, whereon has been spent by the _English_ more Money -than would purchase a noble Estate round about it, in the Afternoon we -arrived safe at _Aleppo_. - - - - - _Some Account of the Ancient State of the City of _Palmyra_, with - short Remarks upon the Inscriptions found there. By _E. Halley_._ - - -The City of _Tadmor_, whose Remains in Ruins do with so much evidence -demonstrate the once happy Condition thereof, seems very well to -be proved to be the same City which _Solomon_ the great King of -_Israel_ is said to have founded under that Name in the _Desart_, -both in 1 _Kings_ 9. 18. and 2 _Chron._ 8. 16. in the Translation of -which, the _Vulgar Latin Version_, said to be that of St. _Jerom_, -has it, _Condidit Palmyram in Deserto_. And _Josephus_ (in _lib._ -8. _Antiq. Jud._ wherein he treats of _Solomon_ and his Acts) tell -us, that he Built a City in the Desart, and called it _Thadamora_; -and the _Syrians_ at this Day (says he) call it by the same Name; -but the _Greeks_ name it _Palmyra_. The Name is therefore Greek, and -consequently has no relation to the Latin _Palma_, and seems rather -derived from Παλμυός or Πάλμυς, which _Hesychius_ Interprets βασιλεὺς -πατὴρ: or perhaps from Παλμύτης, which (according to the same Author) -was an _Egyptian_ God. Neither is the Word תרמר but תמר that in Hebrew -signifies a _Palm-Tree_. - -History is silent as to the Fate and Circumstances of this City, -during the great Revolutions in the several Empires of the East; but -it may well be supposed, that so advanced a Garrison as this was, -being above three hundred Miles from _Jerusalem_, continued not long -in the Possession of the _Jews_, who immediately after _Solomon_, fell -into Civil Dissention, and divided their Force: so that it is not to -be doubted, but that it submitted to the _Babylonian_ and _Persian_ -Monarchies, and afterwards to the _Macedonians_ under _Alexander_ and -the _Seleucidæ_. But when the _Romans_ got footing into these Parts, -and the _Parthians_ seemed to put a stop to their farther Conquests -in the _East_, then was this City of _Palmyra_, by reason of its -Situation, being a Frontier, and in the midst of a vast Sandy _Desart_, -where Armies could not well subsist to reduce it by Force, courted and -caressed by the contending Princes, and permitted to continue a Free -State, a Mart or Staple for Trade, for the Convenience of both Empires, -as is abundantly made out from the Words of _Appian_ and _Pliny_. - -_Appian_ (_lib._ 5. _de Bellis Civil._) tells us, that _M. Antonius_, -after his Victory at _Philippi_, about forty Years before _Christ_, -sent his Horse to Plunder the City of _Palmyra_, pretending only that -they were not sufficiently in the _Roman_ Interest. ὅτι Ρωμαίων καὶ -Παρθυαίων ὄντες ἔφοροι ἐς ἑκατέρας ἐπιδεξίως εἶχον, and that being -Merchants, they conveyed the _Indian_ and _Arabian_ Commodities by -the way of _Persia_ into the _Roman_ Territories; though the true -reason were their Riches: But the _Palmyrenes_ being informed of the -Design, took care to prevent them, and so escaped Plunder: And this -Attempt of _Antony_'s occasioned a Rupture between the two Empires. -The Words of _Pliny_ (_lib._ 5. _Nat. Hist._) above an hundred Years -after, do likewise testifie that this City then continued in the same -Enjoyment of their Liberties. They being very much to the purpose, I -thought fit to Copy them: _Palmyra Urbs nobilis situ, divitiis soli -atque aquis amœnis, vasto undique ambitu arinis includit agros, ac -velut terris exempta à rerum Natura; privata sorte inter duo imperia -summa Romanorum Parthorumque, & prima in discordia semper utrinque -cura_. Whereby it appears not only that it was a Common-wealth in the -time of _Vespasian_; but the situation thereof is truly described, as -it were an Island of fertile Land, surrounded with a Sea of barren -Sands. Such Spots _Strabo_ tells us were frequent in _Lybia_, and by -the _Egyptians_ were called _Abases_; whence possibly the Name of the -_Abassyne_ Nation is derived. - -With these Advantages of Freedom, Neutrality and Trade, for near two -Centuries, 'tis not strange that it acquired the State and Wealth -answerable to the Magnificence of these noble Structures. But when -the _Romans_ under _Trajan_ had made it appear, that there was -no comparison between the Puissance of the _Parthians_ and them, -(_Trajan_ having taken _Babylon_ and _Ctesiphon_ the then Seat of -the _Parthian_ Empire,) the _Palmyreni_ were at length determined to -Declare for the _Romans_; which they did, by submitting themselves to -the Emperor _Adrian_, about the Year of Christ 130, when _Adrian_ -made his Progress through _Syria_ into _Egypt_. And that Magnificent -Emperor being highly delighted with the native Strength and Situation -of the Place, was pleased to adorn and rebuild it: When, as 'tis -likely, he bestowed on it the Privileges of a Colony _Juris Italici_, -which it enjoyed (as _Ulpian_ assures us.) And the Inhabitants of the -City, in Gratitude, were willing to call themselves _Hadrianopolitæ_, -ἐπικτισθείσης τῆς πόλεως ὑπὸ τοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος (says _Stephanus_.) Nor -is it unlikely that many of those Marble Pillars were the Gift of that -Emperor, and particularly those of the Long _Porticus_; for that none -of the Inscriptions are before that Date. And it was usual for the -_Cæsars_ to present Cities that had obliged them, with Marble Pillars -to adorn their Publick Buildings. These here were not far to fetch, the -Neighbouring Mountains affording _Marble-Quarries_: But the Magnitude -of the _Porphyry_ Columns is indeed very remarkable, considering -how far those vast Stones must have been brought by Land-carriage -to this Place; it being not known that any other Quarries yield it, -except those of _Egypt_, which lie about mid-way between _Cairo_ and -_Siena_, between the _Nile_ and the _Red-Sea_: The Stone being very -valuable for its Colour and Hardness, and so that it rises in Blocks -of any magnitude required; _Quantislibet molibus cædendis sufficiunt -Lapidicinæ_, (_Plin._ _lib._ 36.) And it is a great mistake of those -who suppose it fictitious. - -From the time of _Adrian_ to that of _Aurelian_, for about an hundred -and forty Years, this City continued to flourish and encrease in -Wealth and Power, to that degree, that when the Emperor _Valerian_ was -taken Prisoner by _Sapores_ King of _Persia_, _Odænathus_ one of the -Lords of this Town (which Name occurs in several of these Inscriptions) -was able (whilst _Gallienus_ neglected his Duty both to his Father -and Country) to bring a powerful Army into the Field, and to recover -_Mesopotamia_ from the _Persians_, and to penetrate as far as their -Capital City _Ctesiphon_. Thereby rendring so considerable Service to -the _Roman_ State, that _Gallienus_ thought himself obliged to give -him a share in the Empire: Of which Action, _Trebellius Pollio_ (in -the Life of _Gallienus_) has these Words, _Laudatur ejus (Gallieni) -optimum factum, qui, Odenatum participato Imperio Augustum vocavit, -ejusque monetam, qua Persas captos traheret, cudi jussit: quod & -Senatus & Urbs & omnis ætas gratanter accepit_. The same in many -Places speaks of this _Odænathus_ with great Respect; and mentioning -his Death, he says, _Iratum fuisse Deum Reip. credo, qui interfecto -Valeriano noluit Odenatum reservare_. But by a strange reverse of -Fortune, this Honour and Respect to _Odænathus_ occasioned the sudden -Ruin and Subversion of the City. For he and his Son _Herodes_ being -murder'd by _Mæonius_ their Kinsman, and dying with the Title of -_Augustus_, his Wife _Zenobia_, in Right of her Son _Waballathus_ then -a Minor, pretended to take upon her the Government of the East, and -did administer it to admiration: And when soon after _Gallienus_ was -murder'd by his Soldiers, she grasped the Government of _Egypt_, and -held it during the short Reign of the Emperor _Claudius Gothicus_. But -_Aurelian_ coming to the Imperial Dignity, would not suffer the Title -of _Augustus_ in this Family, tho' he was contented that they should -hold under him as _Vice Cæsaris_; as plainly appears by the Latin -Coins of _Aurelian_ on the one side, and _Waballathus_ (which Name is -often found in these Inscriptions) on the other, with these Letters -V. C. R. IM. OR., which _P. Harduin_ has most judiciously interpreted -_Vice Cæsaris Rector Imperii Orientis_, but without the Title of -_Cæsar_ or _Augustus_, and with a Laurel instead of a Diadem. But both -_Waballathus_ and _Zenobia_ are stiled ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΙ in the _Greek_ Coins, -made, 'tis probable, within their own Jurisdiction. Two of the _Latin_ -I have seen, and they are as described, excepting the Points. - -But nothing less than a Participation of the Empire contenting -_Zenobia_, and _Aurelian_ persisting not to have it dismembered: He -marched against her, and having in two Battles routed her Forces, he -shut her up and Besieged her in _Palmyra_: And the Besieged finding -that the great resistance they made, availed not against that resolute -Emperor, they yielded the Town; and _Zenobia_ flying with her Son, -was pursued and taken: With which _Aurelian_ being contented, spared -the City, and leaving a small Garrison, march'd for _Rome_ with this -Captive Lady: But the Inhabitants believing he would not return, set up -again for themselves, and (as _Vopiscus_ has it) slew the Garrison he -had left in the Place. Which _Aurelian_ understanding, tho' by this -time he was gotten into _Europe_, with his usual fierceness, speedily -returned; and collecting a sufficient Army by the way, he again took -the City without any great Opposition, and put it to the Sword, with -an uncommon Cruelty, as he himself confesses in a Letter (extant in -_Vopiscus_), and delivered them to the Pillage of his Soldiers. And -it is observable, that none of the Greek Inscriptions are after the -date of this Calamity, which befell the City in or about the Year of -_Christ_ 272, as far as may be collected, after it had been nine or ten -Years the Seat of the Empire of the East, not without Glory. - -In this appears also the great utility of Coins to illustrate Matters -of History; for by them alone 'tis made out, that there was such a -Prince as _Waballathus_, _Vopiscus_ singly mentioning him by the Name -of _Balbatus_. And from the same Coins it appears, that _Odænathus_ had -the Title of _Augustus_ four Years, and _Waballathus_ six at least; -and that the first Year of _Aurelian_ was the fourth of _Waballathus_. -And by the Testimony of _Pollio_, _Odænathus_ was declared Emperor -of the East, _Gallieno_ & _Saturnino Coss._ which was _Anno Christi_ -263, and died before _Gallienus_, but in the same Year, _viz._ _Anno_ -267, which, by the Coins, was the first of _Waballathus_. He therefore -immediately succeeded _Odænathus_, and was without doubt his Eldest -Son by _Zenobia_, and not his Grandson the Son of _Herodes_, as some -learned Men have supposed: For if _Zenobia_ could not endure that -_Herodes_ Son of _Odænathus_ by a former Wife, should succeed his -Father in prejudice to her Children, and for that reason was consenting -to his Murther (as _Pollio_ intimates in _Herodes_ and _Mæonius_,) much -less would she endure the Title of _Augustus_ in the Son of _Herodes_, -especially when her own Sons were, as 'tis probable, elder than such -Grandson. So that 'tis most likely that _Herennianus_ and _Timolaus_, -whom _Pollio_ reckons among his XXX Tyrants, might be the Younger Sons -of _Zenobia_, on whom also, out of Motherly Affection, she might bestow -the same Titles of Honour. - -But it must be observed, that in the Greek Coins, this Prince's Name -is usually written ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑΣ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΣ ΑΘΗΝΟΥ (as _Tristan_ says -he found it upon several Medals,) but _Patin_ has the last Word only -ΑΘΗ. I should be glad to peruse some of these curious Coins, especially -if found in or near _Palmyra_: but I am inclinable to believe that his -true Name was _Æranes Waballathus_ (as was one of his Progenitors, in -Inscription _Pag._ 91.) though perhaps the remoter Cities of _Asia_ and -_Ionia_ might by mistake write it _Hermias_. And 'tis probable that -ΑΘΗΝ might be for the first Letters of the Name of ΟΔΗΝΑΘΟΣ, which in -Syriack begun with an _Aleph_; and the Δ was with those People used -instead of Θ, as we see the Month _Xanthicus_, written Ξανδικὸς in many -of these Inscriptions, which doubtless was pronounced like D _blæsum_ -or the Saxon D. - -Though this City were at that time so roughly treated by _Aurelian_, -yet it is certain that he did not burn it, or destroy the Buildings -thereof: And though _Zosimus_, on this occasion, uses the Words τὴν -πόλιν κατασκάψας, yet that seems only to relate to his demolishing the -Walls and Defences of the Place; and that Emperors own Letter extant -in _Vopiscus_, doth sufficiently shew that he spared the City it self, -and that he took care to re-instate the beautiful Temple of the _Sun_ -that was there, which had been Plundered by his Soldiers. However, -the Damage then sustained was never retrieved by the Inhabitants, and -I do not find that ever this City made any figure in History after -it: Yet the _Latin Inscription_, (Pag. 106.) seems to intimate, as -if _Dioclesian_ had restored their Walls within thirty Years after. -About the Year of Christ 400, it was the Head Quarters of the _Legio -Prima Illyricorum_; and though _Stephanus_ gives it no better Title -than φρούριον, yet it appears to have been an Archbishop's See, -under the Metropolitan of _Damascus_. To say in what Age, or from -what Hand it received its final Overthrow, which reduced it to the -miserable Condition it now appears in, there is no light in any of our -Historians; but it is probable it perish'd long since, in the obscure -Ages of the World, during the Wars of the _Saracen_ Empire; and being -burnt and desolated, it was never rebuilt; which occasions the Ruins -to lie so entire, in a manner as they were left, neither being used to -other Structures on the Place, nor worth carrying away, because of the -great distance thereof from any other City. - -As to the Geographical Site of _Palmyra_, _Ptolemy_ places it in the -Latitude of _Tripoly_ on the Coast of _Syria_, and four Degrees more -Easterly, _viz._ - - Παλμύρα. οα, ϛ′. λδ. - -and he makes it the Capital of sixteen Cities in _Syria Palmyrena_, -whereof _Alalis_, _Danaba_ and _Evaria_ were afterwards _Bishops Sees_. -_Pliny_ places it CCIII Miles from the nearest Coast of _Syria_, and -CCCXXXVII from _Seleucia ad Tygrim_ near _Bagdat_, (which Numbers are -erroneously Printed 252 and 537 in most Editions, contrary to the -Authority of the MSS.) _Josephus_ places it one Days Journey from -_Euphrates_, and six from _Babylon_; which must be understood of -Horse-man's Journeys of about sixty Miles _per diem_, it being more -than so much from this City to _Euphrates_. _Ptolemy_ also mentions a -River running by _Palmyra_, which did not appear to our Travellers, -unless that Gut or Channel wherein they were overflowed by the -Rain-Waters, were the Bed thereof; which may, possibly, run with a -constant Stream in the Winter or times of much Rain: But this (as the -Rivers of _Aleppo_ and _Damascus_ at this Day) is made by _Ptolomy_ to -have no _exit_; but to go off in _Vapour_, and to be imbibed by the -thirsty Earth of these Desarts. - -The _Æra_ or Accompt of Years observed by the _Palmyreni_ in these -Inscriptions, is evidently that of _Seleucus_, call'd afterwards -_Dhilcarnian_ or _Bicornis_ by the _Arabians_, and by them kept in use -till above 900 Years of Christ (as appears by the Observations of -_Albatani_, published in _Numb._ 204 of the _Philosoph. Transact._) and -not that of the Death of _Alexander_. This may be demonstrated from -the Inscription (_Pag. 101._) wherein _Alexander Severus_ is stiled -ΘΕΟΣ; that is, after the Death and Consecration of that Emperor, or -after the Year of our Lord 234; and from the Name of _Julius_, who, -when this Inscription was put up, was _Præfectus Prætorio_, (and could -be no other than _Julius Philippus Arabs_ who might be esteemed by the -_Palmyreni_ as their Country-man,) it follows, that it was in the last -Year of _Gordian_ _Anno Christi_ 242 or 243: And that Emperor being -soon after Murder'd by the Treachery of this _Philip_, who succeeded -him: And his Treason coming afterwards to light, 'tis not strange that -his Name was purposely effaced in this Inscription. The Date thereof, -_Anno_ 554, shews the beginning of this Accompt 311 or 312 Years before -Christ, co-incident with the _Æra_ of _Seleucus_, which was likewise -observed by several other Cities in the East. - -I shall not undertake the part of a Critick on these Inscriptions, but -chuse rather to leave them to the more professedly skilful in that part -of Learning, and shall only make some few Remarks on them, such as -occurred whilst they pass'd through my Hands. - -1. That the more ancient of these Inscriptions dated before the Year -500, do no where make use of _Roman Prænomina_, which yet are very -frequent in them that follow; particularly _Julius_, _Aurelius_ and -_Septimius_, taken up by these People out of Respect to the Emperors -that bore those Names; and consequently that _Septimius Odænathus_ (the -Inscription of whose Tomb we have, _pag. 91._) was most probably the -same who was afterwards _Augustus_. That Name growing in use in the -Reign of _Septimius Severus_, under whom or his Son _Caracalla_ this -_Odænathus_ was certainly Born. And this Monument being erected by -him whilst he was yet a private Man; and he afterwards attaining the -Imperial Dignity, it was necessary the Inscription of his Tomb (which -perhaps was that single one that was all of Marble) should be changed: -Upon which occasion this Stone might be brought back into the Town, and -after its Destruction, be clapt up casually over the little Gate-way -where now it stands. - -2. _Pag. 100._ ΚΑΤΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ ΕΙΣ ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ ΕΝΠΟΡΟΙΑΝ ΕΣΤΗΣΑΝ: -_Descendentes Vologesiada Commercium stabiliverunt, Anno_ 558, _sive -Anno Christi_ 247. Whereby it appears, that this People having had -their Trade interrupted by the Wars between the _Romans_ and the -_Persians_, under _Gordian_; did now send an Embassy to the Court of -_Sapores_ King of the _Persians_, to get it re-established; which -succeeded according to their Desires. _Vologesias_ was a City built -by _Vologeses_ King of the _Parthians_ in the time of _Nero_, on -the _Euphrates_ below _Babylon_. _Ptolemy_ calls it Οὐολογεσιάς; -_Stephanus_, Βολογεσιὰς; _Ammianus_ _Vologessia_; and _Pliny_ lib. 6. -_Vologesocirta_. - -3. _Pag. 101._ ΚΑΙ ΟΥΚΟΝΙΣΩΝΑ ΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΧΡΗΜΑΤΩΝ. I submit it to the -Judgment of the Criticks, whether this faulty Place may not be amended -by reading it ΟΥΚ ΟΙΚΕΙΩΝ ΑΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ, _&c._ as likewise whether -ΔΙΣΜΑΛΚΟΥ in the same Inscription may not be instead of ΜΑΛΛΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΜΑΛΚΟΥ, which is the Ingenious Conjecture of that excellent Grammarian -Mr. _William Baxter_. - -4. _Pag. 102._ _Septimium Vorodem Procuratorem Ducenarium Augusti &_ -ΑΡΟΑΠΕΤΗΝ. This Word, if _Greek_, is faultily transcribed; and in -one Copy I have seen, the Ο is very small, as I suppose it on the -Stone, which might occasion the transcribing thereof without it in -the former Voyage (_Pag. 130._) So that 'tis most probable that 'tis -the remains of some other Letter almost worn out. I conjecture it to -have been ΑΡΤΑΓΕΤΗΝ, Π being taken for Γ, and that this _Septimius_ -was _Præfectus Annonæ_, having the Care to see that the City were -sufficiently provided with Bread; which was a most necessary Officer -in a Place that must needs be furnish'd with Corn from Abroad. And -this same _Septimius_, (in the Inscription, _Pag. 105._) is -stiled .... ΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ. _lege_ ΚΡΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ, which should -signifie that he was the Distributor of the Emperor's Munificence in -Flesh to the People. These Inscriptions bear Date in _April_, _Anno -Dom._ 267. not long before the Death of _Odænathus_, who is herein -stiled ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ: and 'tis not improbable but he might institute such -a Custom, as at the Publick Charge, to give the People a Largess in -Flesh on particular Days, to reconcile them to the Dominion of their -Fellow-Citizen. This is certain, that _Aurelian_ first instituted such -a Custom of giving Flesh at _Rome_: The Words of _Vopiscus_ are, _Idem -Aurelianus & porcinam carnem populo Romano distribuit, quæ hodieque -dividitur_; which Custom continued till the time of _Constantine_, -when (according to _Zosimus_) one _Lucian_, who had this Office of -distributing Swines Flesh at _Rome_, had Interest enough among the -People to set up _Maxentius_ for Emperor; and _Salmasius_ assures us, -that it was not discontinued till the time of _Heraclius_. It will not -therefore seem strange, if I suppose _Aurelian_ might find that Custom -at _Palmyra_, and at his return from thence institute the like at -_Rome_. - -I am inclined to believe, that not only those two Inscriptions, _Pag. -102_, and the last of _Pag. 103_, but also that of _Pag. 106_, were -in Honour of the same _Septimius Vorodes_ who seems to have been a -great Favourite of _Odænathus_, and was without doubt respected by -the _Romans_ on that account, whom I conclude to have effaced all the -Memorials of _Zenobia_ and _Waballathus_, insomuch that no one appears, -among those many taken, that was set up during the six Years they -reigned. The Name _Vorodes_ seems the same with _Orodes_, which was -the Name of the King of the _Parthians_ that slew _Crassus_: and the -_Persians_ having, about forty Years before, expelled the Race of the -_Arsacidæ_, 'tis not improbable but the Remains of that Royal Family -might fly for Succour to _Palmyra_, and this _Vorodes_ might be one of -them. - -5. In two other Copies of these Inscriptions; the first of _pag. 104._ -is read, Σεπτίμιον Αἰράνην Ὀδαινάθου, and not Ὀδαινόθου as in the -first Copy, and perhaps ought rather to be Ὀδαίναθον, as being the -Inscription under a Statue of the same _Odænathus_, who is here, as -well as on his Tomb, stiled _Illustrissimus Patricius_, but without a -Date. - -6. ΥΠΟ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ (_pag. 101._ & 109.) It cannot well be doubted -but that this _Deus Jaribolus_ is the same with what _Gruter_ (_pag._ -86.) and _Spon_ (in the first of his Inscriptions) reads ΑΓΛΙΒΩΛΩ. -By the Figure of the Idol extant in _Spon_, it appears that this God -was made with the Moon upon his Shoulders, and consequently was the -_Deus Lunus_ worshipped by the _Syrians_, whose Name, in the Language -of that Country, could not be better expressed than by _Jarehbol_ ירה -ביעל _Dominus Lunus_. Whence I am induced to believe, that _Gruter_ -mistook it ΑΓΛΙΒΩΛΩ for ΑΓΑΙΒΩΛΩ, the Ι in the beginning, and the lower -part of the round stroke of the Ρ, being effaced, so as to pass for Γ. -I have taken care to have the Stone purposely viewed, as also to get -from thence the exact Figure of the _Syrian_ or _Palmyrene_ Characters -thereon, wherein there is an irreconcilable difference between _Spon_ -and _Gruter_. By the help of these, compared with two others taken -at _Palmyra_, which I have by me, (they being all very near the same -Date,) I hope we may be able, one Day, to make out the _Palmyrene_ -Alphabet: But it were to be wish'd our Travellers had transcribed them -with more Curiosity, and taken more of them. - -By the way, it is remarkable, that the Person who dedicated this -Monument, in _Gruter_ and _Spon_, is stiled Λ. ΑΥΡ. ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΣ: and the -same Name occurs in a broken Inscription which Mr. _Hallifax_ omitted -in his Letter to Dr. _Bernard_, as being too imperfect. It stood on the -right Hand of the entrance to the little Temple described _pag. 110._ -and was thus, - -ΛΟΥΚΙΟΥ ΑΥΡΗ[ΛΙ]ΟΥ ..... ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ. - -And after a Blank of three lines all worn out except one single Ο, -there followed, - -[ΤΕΙ]ΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ....... ΜΗΝΟΣ [ΑΠ]ΕΛΛΑΙ[ΟΥ]. And that imperfect one -in _pag. 104._ seems to have relation to the same Name. - -7. _Pag. 111._ ΜΑΛΕΝΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ _lege_ ΜΑΛΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ, it -being written ΜΑΛΗΝΤΟΝ, with Η in the two other Copies I have seen, -whereby the Sence is cleared. - -8. _Pag. 117._ ΑΓΑΘΑΝΓΕΛΟΣ ΑΒΙΛΗΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΚΑΠΟΛΕΟΣ, _Agathangelus -Abilenus, Decapolitanus, Patronymice_. There were in these Parts two -Cities known by the Name of _Abila_; to distinguish which, the one was -called _Abila Lysaniæ_, from the Name of the Tetrarch: St. _Luke_, ch. -3. 1. and is placed by _Ptolemy_ (in his _Cælosyria_) about mid-way -between _Damascus_ and _Heliopolis_: The other in _Judæa_, called -_Abila ad Jordanem_, described by _Josephus_ in many Places, to lie -over-against _Jericho_, near the _Dead-Sea_. _Decapolis_ was so called -from its Ten Cities, enumerated by _Pliny_ (_lib._ 5. 18.) And with -them he reckons up, among others, the _Tetrarchy_ of _Abila_, in the -same _Decapolis_: Which demonstrates the _Abila Decapolis_ and _Abila -Lysaniæ_ to be the same Place. And tho' it cannot be denied, but -that some of _Pliny_'s Ten Cities are not far distant from that near -_Jordan_; yet it doth not appear that ever this other had the Title -of a _Tetrarchy_. Here it is to be observed, that what _Pliny_ calls -_Decapolis_, _Ptolemy_ makes his _Cæle Syria_; and the _Cæle Syria_ -of _Pliny_, is that part of _Syria_ about _Aleppo_, formerly call'd -_Chalcidene_, _Cyrrhistice_, &c. - -What this Town of _Teibe_ was anciently call'd, is not so easily -conjectured: But if the Numbers of _Ptolemy_ may be confided in, it is -very near the Situation of a City he calls _Oriza_; and perhaps his -_Adada_ may be our _Soukney_, and his _Rhæsapha_ what is now called -_Arsoffa_. - -It is taken for granted, that Old _Aleppo_ was anciently the City of -_Berrhæa_, and there wants not ancient Testimony to prove it; which -being granted, I think I may without scruple conclude, that _Andrene_ -(_pag. 122._ and 133.) is the Ruins of the City of _Androna_; and -_Esree_ (_pag. 135._) that of _Seriane_, both mentioned in the -Itinerary of _Antoninus_, in the Journey _à Dolicâ Seriane_. But this -whole Country is laid about half a Degree more Southerly than it -ought, by _Ptolemy_, who places _Berrhæa_ in Lat. 36 _deg._ For the -Meridian Altitude of the Tropical Sun at _Aleppo_ is found there but -77 _deg._ whence the Latitude 36 _deg._ 30 _min._ as it was observed, -_Anno_ 1680. by three several Quadrants, in the presence of a curious -Gentleman, to whom I am obliged for this Communication. - -By the same Observation a much greater Error is amended in the -Latitude of _Aleppo_, in the _Rudolfine_ Tables of _Kepler_, who -supposes _Aleppo_ to have been the ancient _Antiochia ad Taurum_, and -accordingly places it Lat. 37. _deg._ 20 _min._ wherein he is followed -by _Bullialdus_ and others; and several Maps have copied the Mistake. -But a much greater use of it is, that thereby we are assured, that the -City of _Aracta_, wherein _Albatani_ made the Observations we have -Publish'd in the _Philosoph. Transact. Numb._ 204. was, without doubt, -the same which is now called _Racca_ on the _Euphrates_; of which Town -an Account may be seen in _Rauwolf_'s Voyages, and which was not many -Miles below the Place where our Travellers first came on the River: -And if _Arecca_, in the Language of this Country, relates to Victory -(as is said in _pag. 143._) it was, doubtless, anciently the City -_Nicephorion_, built by _Alexander_ the Great; with which the Situation -exactly agrees. The Latitude thereof was observed by that _Albatani_ -with great accurateness, about eight hundred Years since; and therefore -I recommended it to all that are curious of such Matters, to endeavour -to get some good Observation made at this Place, to determine the -Height of the Pole there, thereby to decide the Controversie, whether -there hath really been any Change in the Axis of the Earth, in so long -an Interval; which some great Authors of late, have been willing to -suppose. And if any curious Traveller, or Merchant residing there, -would please to observe, with due care, the Phases of the Moons -Eclipses at _Bagdat_, _Aleppo_ and _Alexandria_, thereby to determin -their Longitudes, they could not do the Science of Astronomy a greater -Service: For in and near these Places were made all the Observations -whereby the middle Motions of the Sun and Moon are limited: And I could -then pronounce in what Proportion the Moon's Motion does Accelerate; -which that it does, I think I can demonstrate, and shall (God willing) -one Day, make it appear to the Publick. - - * * * * * - -The _Philosophical Reader_ is desired to excuse our breaking in upon -the Subject of these Tracts, by intermixing Historical and Philological -Matters, as also our exceeding the Bounds of an Extract: But we hope -the Curiosity of the Subject, joyned to the Desires of the _Royal -Society_, may make an easie Apology suffice. There may be many other -Instructive Remarks made thereon, which still deserve the Consideration -of the Learned, and from such the Publick may yet expect a further -Account. - - - - - _A Voyage of the Emperour of _China_ into the Eastern _Tartary_, - Anno. 1682._ - - -The Emperour of _China_ made a Voyage into Eastern _Tartary_, in the -beginning of this Year 1682, after having appeased (by the Death of -three Rebellious Kings) a Revolt, formed in some Provinces of the -Empire: One of those revolted Princes, was Strangled in the Province, -of which he had made himself Master: The second being brought to -_Pekin_ with the Principal Heads of his Faction, was cut in Pieces -in the sight of the whole Court: The most Considerable among the -_Mandarines_, acting with their own hands in this sad Execution, to -Revenge upon this Rebel the Death of their Parents, which he had caused -to be Cruelly Murdered. - -The third which was the most Considerable, (and indeed the Chief of all -the Revolt) had by a voluntary Death prevented his deserved Punishment, -and so put an end to a War, which had lasted for Seven Years. - -The Peace having been settled, by the Re-establishing in the Empire and -all the Provinces, the Peaceable Enjoyment of their Ancient Liberties: -The Emperour departed the 23_d._ of _March_ to go into the Province of -_Leao-tum_, the Country of his Ancestors, with a Design of visiting -their Sepulchers, and (after having honoured them with the usual -Ceremonies) of prosecuting his Journey into the Eastern _Tartary_: This -Journey was was about 1100 _miles_, from _Pekin_ to the end of it. - -The Emperour took with him his eldest Son, a young Prince of ten -years old, which had already been declared Heir of the Empire: The -three principal Queens went also in this Journy, each in their -gilded Chariot; the principal Kings also which compose this Empire, -were accompanying with all the Grandees of the Court: And the most -considerable _Mandarines_ of all the Orders, who having all a very -great Train of Attendants, and very numerous Equipage, made a Court -about the Emperour of more then 70000 Persons. - -It was his Will that I should accompany him in this Journey, and that -I should be always near him, to the end I might make in his Presence, -the Observations, necessary for knowing the disposition of the Heavens, -the elevation of the Pole, the Magnetical Declinations of every Place, -and for Measuring with Mathematical Instruments the height of the -Mountains, and the distances of Places: He was well pleased also to -be informed of what concerned Meteors, and many other Physical and -Mathematical Matters. - -In so much, that he gave Order to an Officer to carry upon Horses such -Instruments as I should have occasion to make use of, and recommended -me to the Prince his Unkle, who is also his Father in Law, and the -second Person of the State, he is called by a _Chinese_ Name, which -signifies an Associate of the Empire: He gave charge to him to cause -all things to be provided for me which were necessary for this Journey, -which this Prince performed with a very particular goodness, causing me -to Lodge always in his own Tent, and to eat at his Table. - -The Emperour ordered that they should give me Horses of his own -Stables, to the End I might the more easily Change in Riding, and -some of those were of them He Himself had Rid, which is a Mark of -very extraordinary distinction. In this Journey we always went toward -the North-east: From _Pekin_ to the Province of _Leao-tum_, the Way -being about 300 Miles is pretty equal: In the Province it self of -_Leao-tum_, it is about 400 Miles, but much more unequal by Reason of -the Mountains; from the Frontier of this Province to the City of _La_, -or the River which the _Tartars_ call _Songoro_, and the _Chinoise_ -_Sumhoa_, the way (which is about 400 Miles) is very difficult, being -crossed sometimes by Mountains extreamly Steep, sometimes by Valleys -of extraordinary Depth, and through Desert Plains, wherein for two or -three Days March we met with nothing. The Mountains of this Country are -Covered on the East side with great Oaks and old Forrests, which have -not been cut for some Ages. - -All the Country which is beyond the Province of _Leao-tum_ is exceeding -Desert where nothing is to be seen on all sides but Mountains and -Valleys, and Dens of _Bears_, _Tigers_ and other _Devouring_ Beasts, -you can scarce find a House, but only some _poor Reed Huts_, upon the -sides of some Brooks and Streams. All the Cities and _Burrow-towns_ -which I have seen in the Province of _Leao-tum_, and which are in very -great Numbers are intirely ruined: One can see nothing thro' the whole -Country, but old ruined Walls with Rubble, Bricks and Stones. In the -out-skirts of these Cities there have been of late some few Houses -built, but without any order. Some of them made of Earth, others of the -Rubbish of the old Buildings, the most part of them covered with Straw -or Thatch, and but few with Tiles. There is now not the least Footsteps -remaining of a great number of Towns and Villages which were here -before the War. Because the petty King of the _Tartars_, who began to -kindle this War having but a very small Army, caused the Inhabitants of -those Places to take Arms, which Places he forthwith destroyed, that he -might take from his Soldiers the hopes of ever returning again to their -own _Homes_. - -The Capital City of _Leao-tum_, which is called _Xyn-Yam_, is a City -very fair and pretty intire, it has as yet the Remains of an Antient -_Palace_. It is (for as much as I was able to remark by divers -Observations) of the Latitude of 41 _degrees_ 56 _minutes_; that is to -say, two _degrees_ above _Pekin_, tho' hitherto both the _Europeans_ -and the _Chinese_ have given that City the Latitude of 41 _degrees_. -There is in that City no declination of the Magnetick Needle, as I have -found by many reiterated Observations. The City of _Ula_ which was -almost the very Extream of our Journey, lies in 44 _degrees_ and 20 -_minutes_. The compass there declines from the South to the West one -_degree_ 40 _minutes_. - -But to resume the Prosecution of our Journey, from _Pekin_ to this -Extream towards the East there is made a new Way, by which the Emperour -can commodiously March with his Horse, and the Queens in their -Chariots. This Way is about 10 _foot_ broad, and as even and streight -as could possibly be made; it is extended above 1000 _Miles_, it has a -little Raising on each side of about a Foot high every where equal and -perfectly Parallel to one another; and this Way was as neat, especially -when the Weather was fair, as a Floor where the Husbandmen beat out -their Corn in the Field; there were also certain Persons along this -way, who only took care to Smooth and Cleanse it. The Christians have -no where so great care of Sweeping their Streets and publick Places -where the Holy Sacrament is to pass in the Processions, as these -Infidels have of cleansing the Ways, where their Kings and their Queens -are to pass, every time they go out of their Palaces. - -There was made for their Return a way like the former, they plained or -levelled the Mountains as far as they were able, they raised Bridges -over the Rivers, and for ornamenting them, they had extended on each -side of them a sort of Mats upon which they had Painted divers Figures -of Animals, which had the same effect with Tapestry Hangings, with -which the Streets are usually hung in Procession. - -The Emperor did very seldom make use of this Way, being almost always -in Hunting: And when he accompanied the Queens he only Rode by the -side of it, to the End that the great number of Horse which were in the -Train that followed should not spoil it: He ordinarily Marched at the -Head of this kind of Army. The Queens followed immediately in their -Chariots, with their Train and their Equipage; they notwithstanding -left some space between the King and themselves: After these Marched -the Kings, the Grandees of the Court and the _Mandarines_, every one -according to his Rank, behind these an infinity of Attendants, and -other People on Horse-back brought up the Rear-guard. - -As there was not one City upon all this Way, that could either Lodge -so great a Multitude, or Furnish them with Provisions, and that the -greatest Part of their Journey was through a Country very little -Inhabited, so they were Necessitated to carry along with them all -things that were Necessary for the journey, and even Provisions of -Victuals for three Months. - -Upon this Account there were sent before by the Ways which were made -on each side of the Emperors Way, an Infinity of Waggons, Cammels, -Horses, and Mules for to carry the Baggage: Besides these the Emperor, -the Kings and almost all the Grandees of the Court, had great numbers -of Horses led, for the use of changing from time to time. I do not here -reckon the Droves of Beefs, Sheep, and other Cattel, which they were -obliged to have with them. And though this great Multitude of Men, -Horses, and Droves, passed by a way at a good distance from that of -the Emperor, yet it raised so horrible a Dust, that we always seemed to -March in a cloud, and thence found it Difficult to distinguish those -that Marched 15 or 20 Paces from us. - -The March was so well regulated, that this Army Incamped every Night -upon the sides of some River or Brook. 'Twas for this Reason that they -caused the Tents and the Baggage necessary for this Incamping to set -out very early in the Morning; and the Quarter-masters upon their first -arrival, Marked the Ground most proper for the placing of the Emperors -Tent, of the Queens, of the Kings, of the Grandees, of the Court, of -the _Mandarines_, each according to his Dignity, and according to the -Dignity he had in the _Chinese_ Militia, which is divided into eight -Orders or into eight Standards. - -In the space of three Months we passed about 1000 _Miles_, advancing -towards the North-east, and about as many in our return: In fine, we -arrived at _Kam-Hay_, which is a Fort situated between the South Sea -and the Mountains of the North: It is there where is the beginning -of that so much Celebrated Wall, and which separates the Province of -_Leao-tum_ from that of _Pekely_; from whence it is extended very far -on the side of the North over the tops of the highest Mountains. When -we entred this Province, the Emperor, the Kings, and the Grandees of -the Court, quitted the great Way of which we have hitherto spoken, to -take that of the Mountains of the North, which are extended without -Interruption towards the North-East: There some Days were passed in -Hunting, which was performed in this manner. - -The Emperor chose 3000 Men of his Life-guard, Armed with Arrows and -Javelins, and dispersed them some on this side some on that; so that -they possest themselves of a great Circuit about the Mountains, which -they Environed on all Parts, which made a kind of Circle whose Diameter -was at least 3000 _Paces_; then Marching to draw nearer together with -equal Progress and without quitting their Range, what ever Obstacles -they found in the way (the Emperor having joyned with them several of -the Captains, and of the Grandees of the Court, for the better keeping -of their Order) they Reduced this great Circle to another much less, -which had about 300 _Paces_ in the Diameter: So that all the Beasts -which had been stayed within the first, found themselves taken in -this last as in a Net: for that every one setting his Feet upon the -Ground, they Locked themselves together so closely, that they left -no meshing Place for them to make their Escape by. Then they Pursued -them so Vigorously in this little Space, that the poor Creatures tired -with the violence of their Coursing, came and fell down at the Feet of -their Chasers, and suffered themselves to be taken without trouble. I -saw taken in this Manner two or three Hundred Hares in less then one -day, without counting an Infinite of Wolves and Foxes. I have seen -the same thing divers times done in that part of _Tartary_, which is -on the other side of the Province of _Leao-tum_, where I remember to -have seen, among others, more than 1000 Deer so pent up by these sort -of Nets, which came to cast themselves into the Hands of the Hunters, -having found no passage to save themselves by: they kill'd also Bears, -Boars, and more than 60 Tigers, but these are taken by other means, and -with other Weapons. - -The Emperor will'd that I should be present at all these different -Huntings, and he recommended to his Father in Law, in a most obliging -Manner the having a particular care of me, and of giving charge that I -should not be exposed to any danger in the Hunting of the Tigers, and -the other fierce Beasts; I was the only Person of all the _Mandarines_ -who was without Arms, and so near to the Emperor; though I made Light -of the Fatigue during the time we were in our Journey, I found my self -so wearied every Evening when I got to my Tent, that I was not able to -support my Self; and I should have dispensed with my self divers times -from following the Emperor, if my Friends had not counsel'd me to the -contrary, and if I had not fear'd that he would have taken it ill if he -should have perceived it. - -After having passed about 400 Miles in Hunting daily after this manner, -we arrived at last at _Xyn-Yam_, the Capital City of the Province, -where we stayed four Days. - -The Inhabitants of _Coree_ came to present to the Emperor a _Sea-Calf_ -which they had taken, the Emperor caused me to see it, and asked -whither our _European_ Books had spoken any thing of this Fish? I told -him we had a Book in our Library at _Pekin_ which had explain'd the -Nature of it, and dispatched presently a Courrier to our Fathers at -_Pekin_, who brought it me in a few Days: The Emperor was pleased to -see that what was said of this Fish in this Book, was agreeable to this -which he had seen, and caused it to be carried back again to _Pekin_ to -be carefully preserved. - -During the stay which we made in this City, the Emperor with the Queens -went to visit the Sepulchers of his Ancestors, which are not very far -distant, from whence he sent them back to _Xyn-Yam_, to continue his -own Journey into the Eastern _Tartary_. - -After several Days of Marching and Hunting, he arrived at _Kirin_, -which is distant from _Xyn-Yam_ 400 Miles: This City is built along -the great River _Songoro_ which takes its source from the Mountain -_Cham-pe_, distant 400 Miles towards the South: This Mountain so -Famous in the East for having been the Antient Seat of our _Tartars_, -is always covered with Snow, from whence it had its Name, because -_Cham-pe_ signifies the white Mountain. - -So soon as the Emperor saw it, he alighted from his Horse and fell -on his Knees on the Bank of the River, and bowed Himself three times -to the Ground to Salute it: After which, he caused himself to be -carried upon a glorious Throne of Gold, and so made his Entry into -the City: All the People ran in a throng before him, testifying by -their Acclamations the Joy they had to see him. This Prince took great -Pleasure in those Testimonies of their Affection; and that he might -give them some Marks of his being very sensible of it, he was pleased -to suffer himself to be seen by all, and forbid his Guards to hinder -the People from approaching him, as they used to do at _Pekin_. - -They make in this City Barks of a very particular manner: The -Inhabitants keep always a great number of them ready fitted to Repulse -the _Muscovites_, who come often into this River, to dispute the -Fishing of Pearls. The Emperor reposed himself two Days, after which he -Descended upon the River with some Lords, accompanied with more than -100 Boats, till he arrived at the City of _Ula_, which is the fairest -of all this Country, and which at other times hath been the Seat of the -Empire of the _Tartars_. - -A little below this City, which is at most about 32 _Miles_ from -_Kirin_, the River is very full of a certain Fish which resemble near -enough the Plaice of _Europe_: and 'twas principally for the taking the -Divertisement of Fishing, that the Emperor went to _Ula_; but the Rains -coming on so suddainly, swelled the River so much, that all their Nets -were broken and carried away, by the great Flood of those Land Waters: -The Emperor notwithstanding stayed 5 or 6 Days at _Ula_; but seeing -the Rains were not at all discontinued, he was obliged to come back to -_Kirin_, without having enjoyed the Pleasure of Fishing: as we ascended -the River, the Bark wherein I was with the Emperors Father in Law, was -so indamaged by the agitation of the Waves, that we were constrained to -go a Shore, and mount a Chariot drawn by one Ox, which carried us very -slowly to _Kirin_, the Rains not at all ceasing during our Journy. - -In the Evening when the Emperor was entertained upon all these -Adventures, he said Laughing, _the Fish have cheated us_; at length, -after we had stayed two Days at _Kirin_, the Rains began to diminish, -and we retook our Way towards _Leao-tum_. I cannot here express the -Pains and Fatigues these had caused us to undergo, during the whole -Course of this Journy, by Reason of the Ways which the Rains had -Spoiled, and rendred almost impassable: we went without staying over -the Mountains and over the Vallies, and we could not pass but with -extream Danger, the Brooks and Rivers which were swelled by the Floods -and Inundations which ran from all Parts: the Bridges were either -overturned by the Violence of the Currents, or all covered by the great -overflowing of the Waters. There were made in divers Places great -Collections of Water, and of Mud, that it was almost impossible to be -drawn out of it. The Horses, Cammels, and other Beasts of Burthen, -which carried the Baggage could not advance, but remained sticking -in the Mud of the Marshes, or died of tiring upon the Ways. The Men -were not at all less incommoded, and all were enfeebled for want of -Victuals, and of Refreshments necessary for so great a Journy: Many of -the Horsemen were obliged, either to lead their Horses on Foot, who -were no longer able to carry them, or to rest in the middle of the -Fields to suffer them to take Breath: And though the Quarter-masters -and the Harbingers, spared not their Pains, nor for Wood (which they -cut on all sides) to fill with Faggots all the bad Passages: Yet -notwithstanding after the Horses and Chariots, which took the Van early -in the Morning had quite passed, it was impossible to pass after them: -The Emperor himself, with his Son, and all the great Lords of the -Court, were obliged more than once, to Foot it over the Mud and the -Marshes, fearing to expose themselves to greater danger, if they should -have passed them on Horse-back. - -When they came to Bridges, or those other obstructions all the Army -stayed: And as soon as the Emperor was passed, with some of the most -considerable Persons, all the rest came together in a Throng, and every -one striving to pass first, many were tumbled over into the Water: -Others taking Ways more about, found them more dangerous, falling into -Sloughs and Bogs, out of which they could not Recover themselves. In -fine, there were so many Inconveniencies to be met with, in all the -Ways of Eastern _Tartary_, that the old Officers who had followed the -Court above 30 _Years_, said they had never suffered so much in any -Journy. - -It was on those Occasions, that the Emperor more than once, gave me the -Marks of a Respect altogether particular: the first Day that we put -our Selves in the way for returning, we were stay'd in the Evening, -by a Torrent so great and rapid, that 'twas impossible to Ford it: -The Emperor having by chance found a little Boat, which could not -hold above 4 Persons at most, passed first with his Sons, and some -of the Principal Kings followed: All the other Princes, Lords, and -_Mandarines_, which the rest of the Army attended, (in the mean while) -with Impatience the return of the Boat, to carry them to the other side -of the Torrent, because the Night approached, and the Tents had long -before passed: But the Emperor being come back to us in such another -Boat as the former, demanded aloud where I was? and his Father in Law -having presented me to him, he added, let him come in and Cross over -with us: So we were the only Persons that passed with the Emperor; -and all the rest stayed on the Bank, where they must pass the Night -_under the open Heaven_: The same thing happened the next Day almost -in the same manner. The Emperor at Noon meeting with a like rapid and -swelled Torrent, gave order that the Boats should be made use of for -Transporting the Tents, Packs, and other Baggage till the Evening; -then willed that I should pass alone with him and some few of his -Attendants, having left on the other side all the great Lords, who -were necessitated to pass the Night there. The Emperor's Father in Law -himself, having asked if he should not pass with me, since I Lodged in -his Tent and eat at his Table? this Prince answered him, that he should -stay, and he himself would take Order to give me what was necessary. - -After we had past, the Emperor sitting on the Bank-side, made me sit by -him, with the two Sons of the two petty Western Kings, and the first -_Colao_ of _Tartary_, whom he distinguished on all Occasions. - -As the Night was Fair, and the Heavens very Clear; he willed me to Name -in the _Chinese_ and _European_ Languages, all the Constellations that -then appeared above the Horizon, and he himself first named all those -he already knew; then unfolding a small Map of the Heavens, which I -had some Years since presented him, he put himself upon inquiring the -Hour of the Night, by the Stars in the Meridian: Pleasing himself to -shew to all the Knowledge he had acquired in these Sciences. All the -Marks of his Favours which he so often gave me, even to the sending me -to Eat from his own Table, these Marks I say were so Publick, and so -Extraordinary; that the two Unkles of the Emperor, who bore the Titles -of Associates of the Empire, being on their Return to _Pekin_, said -that when the Emperor had some Regret or appeared somewhat Sad, he -would Resume his ordinary Gaiety upon the sight of me. - -I arrived at _Pekin_ in perfect Health the 9_th_ day of _June_ very -late, though divers were detained in the Way by Distempers, or were -returned from their Journy, Hurt and Lamed. - -I say nothing of what we did for Religion in this Journy, having -reserved that for a particular Relation, by which it will appear, that -by the Grace of our Lord, the Favours we received at the Court of -_China_, produced considerable Fruits for the Church, and did not take -away the Cross from the Missionaries. - -I shall here add the _Tartarean_ Names, and the distance of every Place -through which we passed in the Eastern _Tartary_, from the Capital of -the Province of _Leao-tum_ even to _Kirin_, according to the order -of Days which we Spent in this Progress. A _Topographic Chart_ may -be made and inserted into the Map of the Province of _Leao-tum_, to -be found in the Atlas of Father _Martin Martinius_, by changing only -the _Latitudes_ according to the Heights of the _Pole_, which we have -before Specified. - -I shall add one thing more which I Understood from the Inhabitants of -_Ula_, to wit that _Nincrita_ (which is a Place much Renowned in those -Parts) is distant from _Ula_ 700 _Chinese Stadia_ (each of which is -360 _Geometrical Paces_) and that Embarking at _Nincrita_ upon the -great River _Heleum_, into which the _Songoro_, and some other more -considerable Rivers are discharged, and following the course of the -River, which runs towards the North-East, or somewhat more to the -North, they arrive in 40 Days Journy at the Eastern Sea, which is (as I -believe) the Streight of _Anien_: I was told this by the General of the -Militia which is at _Kirin_; and who had performed this Voyage himself. - - - - - _The Distances of the Places, thro' which we passed in the Eastern - _Tartary_._ - - - The first Day we passed from _Xyn-Yam_, - the Capital of the Province of _Leao-tum_, - and we arrived at _Seao-Lysto_, so the Place is - called in the _Chinese_ Language. 95. _stadia_. - - The 2_d._ day we arrived at _Cha-cay Angha_. 85. _stadia_. - - The 3_d._ day at another Torrent of the same Name. 70. _stadia_. - - The 4_th._ at _Kiaghuchen_. 50. _stadia_. - - The 5_th._ at _Feyteri_. 80. _stadia_. - - The 6_th._ at the Torrent of _Seipery_. 60. _stadia_. - - The 7_th._ at the Torrent of _Ciam_. 60. _stadia_. - - The 8_th._ at _Courou_. 50. _stadia_. - - The 9_th._ at the Burrow of _Sape_. 40. _stadia_. - - The 10_th._ at _Quaranny Pira_. 40. _stadia_. - - The 11_th._ at _Elten eme Ambayaga_. 70. _stadia_. - - The 12_th._ at _Ypatan_. 58. _stadia_. - - The 13_th._ at _Suayen ny Pyra_. 60. _stadia_. - - The 14_th._ at _Ylmen_. 70. _stadia_. - - The 15_th._ at _Seuten_. 70. _stadia_. - - The 16_th._ the City of _Kirin_. 70. _stadia_. - ------ - 1028. - -All this Course being 1028 _Chinese_ Stadia, contains 369 Miles (each) -of 1000 Geometrical Paces; the _Chinese_ Stadium containing as I -mentioned before 360 Geometrical Paces. - - - - - _A Voyage of the Emperor of _China_, into the Western _Tartary_, in - the Year, 1683._ - - -The Emperor this Year, which is the 30_th._ of his Age, made a Voyage -into the Western _Tartary_, together with the Queen his Grand-mother, -which they call the Queen _Mother_; he departed the 16_th._ of _July_, -in the Company of more than 60000 Men, and 100000 Horse. He positively -resolved, that I, with one of the two Fathers that were at the Court of -_Pekin_, the Choice of which he left to me, should follow him, I chose -Father _Philip Grimaldi_; because he is the most known, and because he -perfectly understood the _Mathematicks_. - -Several Reasons prevailed with the Emperor to Enterprize this Journy. -The first was, that he might keep his Militia during the Peace as well -as in the Wars, in continual Exercise; and for this Reason it was, -that after he had Establish'd a firm Peace in all the Quarters of this -so vast an Empire; he recalled his best Troops hither out of every -Province, and resolved in his Council to make every Year Expeditions of -this kind, in several Seasons, that by hunting of Deer, Boars, Bears, -and Tigers, they might learn to overcome the Enemies of the Empire, or -at least to prevent the cooling of their Courage, or the degenerating -from their Pristine Valour, by the Luxury of _China_, in a too long -Repose. - -In effect these kinds of Hunting had more of the shew of a Military -Expedition, than of one for Divertisement, as I have already noted: -The Emperor took in his Train, 100000 Horse, and above 60000 Men, all -armed with Arrows and Cimiters, divided into Companies and Marching in -Battle-Array after their Colours, with the sound of Drums and Trumpets: -During their Hunting, they intirely invested the Mountains and -Forrests, as if they had been Cities which they design'd to Beleaguer; -following in this the manner of Hunting used by the Eastern _Tartars_, -of which I have spoken in my last Letter. This Army had its Van-guard -and Rear-guard, and its Main Body, its Right Wing and Left Wing, was -commanded by so many Generals and petty Kings. There were spent more -then Seventy Days before they were on their March, in bringing together -all the Ammunitions of the Army upon the Waggons, upon the Camels, -upon the Horses, and upon the Mules, by reason of the Incommodious -Ways. For in all the Western _Tartary_ (I call it Western) not with -Relation to _China_, which lieth in Respect of it Westward it self, -but with respect of the Eastern _Tartary_ there is nothing to be found -but Mountains, Rocks, and Vallies; there are neither Cities, Towns -nor Villages, nor so much as any Houses. The Inhabitants Lodge under -Tents, pitched on all sides in the open Fields. They are for the most -part Graziers, and transport their Tents from one Vally to another, -according as the Pastures are better. There they Pasture their Beefs, -their Horses, and their Camels, they breed no Hogs, nor any of those -other Animals, which elsewhere are fed in the Villages, as Poultry and -Geese. But only of such as the Herbs, which an uncultivated Land doth -Naturally produce, will serve to sustain. They pass their Life either -in Hunting, or doing nothing. And as they neither sow nor cultivate the -Earth, so they make no Harvest. They Live upon Milk, Cheese, and Flesh, -and have a sort of Wine, not much unlike our Aqua-vitæ; with which they -make their Feasts, and are often Drunk. In short they care for nought -from Morning to Night, but to Drink and Eat; like the Beasts, and -Droves which they Feed. - -They are not without their Priests, which they call _Lamas_, for whom -they have a singular Veneration, in which they differ from the Oriental -_Tartars_; the most part of whom have no Religion, nor do they believe -any God. For the rest both of the one and the other are Slaves, and -wholly depend upon the will of their Masters, whose Religion and -Manners they blindly follow: Like in this to their Droves, who go where -they are lead, and not where they ought to go. - -This part of _Tartary_, lies without the prodigious Wall of _China_ -about 1000 _Chinese Stadia_, that is to say more than 300 _European_ -Miles, and extends from the North-east towards the North. - -The Emperor Rides on Horse-back, in the Head of his Army through these -Desert Places, and these Steep Mountains, and far from great Roads, -exposed all the Day to the Scorchings of the Sun, to the Rains, and to -all the Injuries of the Air. Many of those which had been in the last -War, assured me, that they had not suffered so much during all that as -during this Hunting. In so much that the Emperor, whose principal Aim -it was to give his Forces a Breathing, performed effectually what he -pretended. - -The second Reason he had of undertaking this Journy, was that he might -keep the Western _Tartars_ in their Duty, and to prevent any pernitious -Designs that might be formed against the States. - -It was for this that he entred their Country with so great an Army, and -with so great Preparations for War. Having carried along several great -Guns, that he might cause them to be Discharged from time to time into -the Vallies, and by the Noise and Fire which issued out of the Mouths -of those Dragons, which served to Ornament them, he might cast a Dread -upon the Rout. - -Besides this great Retinue, he would yet be accompanied with all the -Marks of Grander, with which he was environed at the Court at _Pekin_. -To wit, with a Multitude of Drums, Trumpets, Timbals, and other Musical -Instruments, which formed Consorts During his sitting at Table, when -he entred the Palace, or when he went out. He caused all these to -March with him, that he might by this outward Pomp Astonish these -_Barbarous_ People, to strike them with a Fear and Respect of his -Imperial Majesty. - -For the Empire of _China_ never had any Enemies more to be feared -than these Western _Tartars_; which beginning on the East of _China_ -encompass it with an almost infinite of People, and keep it as it were -continually beleaguered on the North and West sides thereof; and 'twas -to make a Bulwork against their Incursions, that a _Chinese_ Emperor -in antient Times caused this great Wall to be Built, which separates -_China_ from their Country. I have passed it four times, and have -considered it very attentively. And I can say without Hyperbolizing, -that all the seven Wonders of the World put together, are not -comparable to this Work. And all that Fame has spread concerning it -among the _Europeans_, is far short of what I my self have seen. - -Two things have more especially caused my Admiration. The first is, -that in this long extent from the East to the West, it passes in -several places not only through vast Champains, but also above the -tops of exceeding high Mountains, upon which it is raised by little -and little, and fortify'd at certain Intervals with great Towers; -not distant the one from the other more than two flight Shot. At our -return I had the Curiosity to measure the height of it in one place -by means of an Instrument, and I found that it was in that Place 1037 -Geometrical Feet above the Horison; in such sort that 'tis hard to -comprehend how 'twas possible to elevate this enormous Bulwork to the -height we saw it, in places dry and full of Mountains, whence they -must be obliged to bring from a great distance with incredible Labour, -the Water, Brick, Mortar, and all the Materials necessary for so great -a Work. - -The second thing that surprized me was, that this Wall is not continued -upon the same Line, but bent in divers places following the situation -of the Mountains, in such manner, that instead of one Wall, one may say -that there are three, which Environ all this great part of _China_. - -After all, The Monarch which in our Days hath re-united the _Chinese_ -and the _Tartars_, under one and the same Government, has done some -things more for the advantage of the security of _China_, than the -_Chinese_ Emperor that built the long Wall. For after having reduced -the Western _Tartars_, partly by Artifice, partly by force of Arms: He -has obliged to go and remain at 300 Miles distance from the Wall of -_China_; and in this Place he distributes to them Land and Pastures, -whilst he has given their Country to other _Tartars_, his Subjects -which have their Habitation there at present: Notwithstanding which, -these Western _Tartars_ are so powerful, that if they should agree -together, they might make themselves Masters of all _China_, and of the -Eastern _Tartary_, even in the Face of the Oriental _Tartars_. - -I have said, that the _Tartarian_ Monarch that conquered _China_, -used an expedient for subduing the Western _Tartars_. For one of his -first Cares was to engage to his Interest by his Royal Bounties, and -by demonstration of a Singular Affection, the _Lamas_ (or _Priests_) -these Men having a great Repute about all those of their Nation, easily -perswaded them to submit to the Government of so great a Prince; and -'tis in consideration of this Service done to the Estate, that the -present Emperor looks upon these _Lamas_ with a favourable Eye, that -he bestows Presents on them; and that he makes use of them to keep the -_Tartars_ in the Obedience which they owe him: Tho' at the bottom he -hath nothing but Dis-esteem for their Persons, and looks upon them as -a sort of Ignorant Fellows, which have not the least Tincture of the -Sciences or commendable Arts, in which without doubt this Prince shews -a Wise Policy, in so disguising his true Sentiments, by these exterior -Marks of Esteem and Good-will. - -He has divided this vastly extended Country into 48 Provinces, who have -submitted and are Tributary to him. From whence it comes to pass, that -the Emperor that Reigns at present in _China_, and in the one and the -other _Tartary_, may justly be called the greatest and most powerful -Monarch of _Asia_, having so many vast Estates under him, without being -any where interrupted by the Territory of any Foreign Prince, and he -alone being as the Soul which gives motion to all the Members of so -vast a Body. - -For after he had charged himself with the Government, he did not at all -intrust the Care to any of the _Colaos_, nor to any of the great Men of -his Court. He has not at all suffered, that the Eunuchs of the Palace, -or any of his Pages, or any of the young Lords that have been raised by -him, should dispose of the least thing in his House, or should regulate -any thing of themselves: Which appears very extraordinary; especially -if we examin what Customs his Predecessors were wont to use. - -He chastises with wonderful Equity the great Ones as well as the -Inferiors; he deprives them of their Charges, and makes them descend -from the Rank they held, proportioning always the Penalty to the -heinousness of their Fault. He takes Cognisance of the Affairs which -are transacted in the Royal Counsel, and in the other Tribunals, -even to the causing them to render to him an exact account of the -Judgments there given. In one Word, he of himself Disposes and Orders -all things; and 'tis by reason of the absolute Authority which he hath -thus acquired, that the greatest Lords of the Court, and Persons of the -highest Quality in the Empire; even the Princes of the Blood, never -appear in his Presence, but with a profound Respect. - -But to what remains, the _Lamas_ or _Tartarian_ Priests, of whom we -have spoken, are not only respected by the People, but also by the -Lords and Princes of their Nation, who for Politick Ends testifie -to them a great deal of Friendship: This makes us fear that the -Christian Religion, will not find so easie an entrance into the Western -_Tartary_. They are also very powerful upon the Mind of the Queen -Mother, who is of their Country, and who is at present Threescore and -Ten Years Old; they are wont to tell her, that the Sect (of which she -makes Profession) has no more declared Enemies than us. And 'tis a -kind of Miracle, or at least an extraordinary Protection of God, that -notwithstanding this, the Emperor, who has very much regard and respect -for her, has not hitherto ceased to heap on us Graces and Honours, -considering us after another manner than the _Lamas_. - -During the Journey, as the Princes and the chief Officers of the Army -went oftentimes to the Queen to attend at her Court; and that we also -were advertised to do so likewise: We were willing first to consult a -Person of the Court, who loved us very much, and who spake for us to -the Emperor in our Affairs. This Lord having enter'd the Princes Tent, -told him what had passed, and presently coming out again: _The Emperor_ -(said he to us) _has given me to understand, that 'tis not at all -necessary for you to attend the Queen as others do_; which made us to -apprehend enough, that this Princess did not favour us. - -The 3d Reason which the Emperor had for making this Journey, was for -his Health: because he knew by his Experience long enough, that when he -is too long at _Pekin_ without going Abroad, he cannot avoid his being -attacked by several Distempers, which he prevents by means of these -long Progresses. For during the whole time he never sees any Woman; and -that which is more surprizing, there appears not any one in all this -great Army, except those which are of the Retinue of the Queen Mother: -'Tis yet also a Novelty that she has accompanyed the King this Year, it -having not been practiced above once, when he took with him the three -Queens as far as the Capital City of the Province of _Leao-tum_, to -visit the Sepulchers of their Ancestors. - -The Emperor and the Queen Mother pretend moreover by this Journey, to -avoid the excessive Heats which are in _Pekin_, in the Summer during -the Dog-days. For in this part of _Tartary_, there reigns during the -Months of _July_ and _August_ so cold a Wind, especially in the Night, -that 'tis necessary to put on thick Cloths and Furs. The Reason that -may be assigned for this so extraordinary Cold, is that this Region is -very much elevated and full of Mountains: There is one among the rest, -upon which we continually ascended, for the space of 5 or 6 Days March. -The Emperor being desirous to know how much it surmounted the Plains of -_Pekin_, distant about 300 Miles; at our return (after having measured -the height of above a hundred Mountains that lay in our Road) we found -that it had 3000 Geometrical Pace of Elevation, above the Sea that -nearest approached _Pekin_. - -The Salt Peter also with which these Countries abound, may contribute -to this great Cold, which is so violent, that in digging the Earth to -three or four Foot deep, there are fetched out Clods all frozen, and -pieces of Ice. - -Divers of the Petty Kings of the Western _Tartary_, came from all sides -for 300 Miles, and some for 500 Miles, together with their Children, -to salute the Emperor. These Princes, who for the most part know none -but by their own natural Language, which is very different from that of -the Eastern _Tartary_: Took regard of us, with Aspects and Gestures of -a goodness very particular. There were some among them, who had made a -Journey to _Pekin_ to see the Court, and who had seen our Church. - -One or two Days before we arrived at the Mountain which was the -boundary of our Journey, we met a Petty King very aged, who returned -from accompanying the Emperor, he seeing us stayed with all his -Retinue, and enquired by his Interpreter, which of us was called -_Nauboaij_; one of our Servants having made a sign that it was I, this -Prince accosted me with a great deal of Civility, and told me that for -a long time he had known my Name, and that he had desired to know me. -He spoke also to Father _Grimaldi_, with the same marks of Affection. -The favourable Entertainment he gave us in this Re-encounter, gave some -Reason to hope that our Religion might find an easie Entrance to those -Princes, particularly if care be taken to insinuate into the Minds of -those Princes, by the means of the Mathematicks: Which if there should -at any time be a design to penetrate into their Country, the most sure -way for divers Reasons, (which I have not the leisure to explain here) -will be to begin the entrance with the other _Tartars_ more remote, -which are not all Subjects of this Empire, from whom we may pass on to -these, advancing by little and little towards _China_. - -During the whole Journey, the Emperor has continued to give us singular -Tokens of his good Will, shewing us Favours in the sight of his Army, -which he shewed to none besides. - -One time meeting us in a great Valley, where we were measuring the -height and the distance of some Mountains, he made a stay with the -whole Court; and calling to us from a great distance, he demanded of -us in the _Chinese_ Language, _Hao-mo?_ that is to say, are you well -in Health? And then asked us several Questions in the _Tartarian_ -Language, concerning the heighth of these Mountains, to which I -answered also in the same Language; after which, turning to the Lords -that were about him, he discoursed with them concerning us in very -obliging Expressions, as I learned the same Night from the Prince his -Unkle, who was then by his side. - -He testifyed also his Affection to us, by causing often Meat to be -carry'd to our Tents from his own Table, willing also that on some -Occasions we should eat in his; and every time he did us this Honour, -he had a regard to our Days of Abstinence, and of Fasting, sending us -only such Meats as we could use. - -The eldest Son of the Emperor, after the Example of his Father, gave us -marks also of his Bounty, for having been constrained to stay more than -10 Days, by reason of a fall from his Horse, by which he was hurt in -his right Shoulder; and one part of the Army in which we were, having -attended, whilst the Emperor with the other, continued his Hunting, -he was not wanting in sending to us daily, and sometimes twice a Day, -during this space, Food from his own Table. In fine, we look'd on all -these Favours of the Royal Family, as the effects of a particular -Providence which watched over us, and over Christianity, for which we -had so much the more occasion to thank God, for that the affection -of the Emperor, was never so constantly shewn to the Grandees of the -Empire, nor to the Princes of the Blood. - -As to what relates to the other particularities of our Journey, they -are like to those which happened to us the last Year, in the Journey to -the Eastern _Tartary_, which I have fully described in my last Letter; -that is to say, that we made use of the Emperor's Horses, and of his -Litters, that we lodged in the Tents, and eat at the Table of the -Prince his Unkle, to whom he had particularly recommended us. - -During more than 600 Miles, which we had passed in going and returning -(for we did not return by the same Road) he caused to be made a great -High-way cross the Mountains and the Vallies, for the Queen Mother, who -went in a Chariot; he caused also an infinite number of Bridges to be -made over the Torrents, as also the Rocks to be cut, and the Points of -the Mountains, with incredible Pains and Expences: Father _Grimaldi_ -shall describe the other particulars in his Letters. - -As to the benefit which the Religion may draw from our Journey, I have -spoken elsewhere; it sufficeth to say that the Emperor, to whose Will -we cannot make the least resistance, without exposing all this Mission -to a manifest Danger, has order'd us to follow him. I ceased not -however to speak twice to that Lord of the Court, who is our particular -Friend, to excuse us for the time to come from these long Journeys, and -especially me, _who am not of an Age fit for it_: I tried to obtain at -least that they would be contented to take only one of us; the Letters -of our Fathers were daily brought us during the Journey, and I had -the convenience of writing to them, by means of the Couriers which -continually went to and came from the Royal City: I write all this in -haste, that I may continue to give you an account of our Affairs. - - - - - _An Explanation, necessary to justify the _Geography_ supposed in - these Letters._ - - -It may seem wonderful, that the Author of these Letters makes mention -in his former, of a kind of War between the _Oriental Tartars_ and the -_Muscovites_, notwithstanding the extream distance these People appear -to be from one another in our Geographical Charts; but those who know -how much the _Muscovites_ have extended the Bounds of the Empire along -the _Tartarian_ Sea, will judge the thing less difficult, besides those -who have seen these Countries, have made Discoveries much differing -from those which our Geographers have informed us of hitherto. Very -lately _Monsieur D'Arcy_, who commands one of the King's Ships, in the -Fleet of _Monsieur Le Marescal d'Estrees_, informed us, that having -served in _Poland_, and having been made Governor of a Place towards -_Moscovy_, the _Moscovite_ Ambassadors in their return having pass'd by -him, and being by him treated in such a manner as put them into a very -good Humour; one of them shewed him a Chart of the Countries between -_Moscovy_ and _China_: and told him, that from three Cities which he -shewed him, whose Names were _Lopsla_, _Abasinko_, _Nerginsko_, all -three under the Government of the great Dukes, tho' situated in the -great _Tartary_, there was a way to _Pekin_, which was not more than -25 or 30 Days Journey. This Map it seems must be kept very secret in -_Moscovy_: For the next Day the _Moscovite_ was in despair, for having -given it, saying that if it should be known, he should come to great -Damage. The Officer being come back since into _France_, has given a -Copy to the King, and another to _Monsieur Le Marquis de Signelay_. -To confirm this, it may be added, what a _French_ Man has writ from -_Moscovy_ within this two Months, that they are actually raising Troops -to go to War with the _Chinese_. - - - - - _Some Observations and Conjectures concerning the _Chinese_ - Characters. Made by _R. H._ R. S. S._ - - -Whether there ever were any Language natural, I dispute not: But -that there have been, are, and may be, artificial Languages 'tis not -difficult to prove. The _Chinese_ Court Language is said to be of -this kind, invented and spoken by the _Literati_ and _Mandarines_ -throughout the whole Empire of _China_, differing from all the other -Languages spoken in it, and I conjecture it to be nothing else but -the Names of the Character by which they write and express their -meaning, arbitrarily imposed by them, as we in _Europe_ set names to -Arithmetical Figures, not as we pronounce Words written with a litteral -Character. This I Judge by comparing the Characters with the Names, -Monosyllables or Words they pronounce and read them with. Nor do they -ascend above a Monosyllabical Name, tho' the Character be composed -of many single Characters, each of which hath its proper Sense, and -Monosyllabical Name, and though the meaning of each Character, be an -ingredient in the Notion of that compounded Character. - -I might give an Instance also in the Artificial Language Invented by -the Late Reverend Bishop of _Chester_ Dr. _Wilkins_, which in all the -accomplishments of Language doth excel any one yet extant; to which is -also annexed a real Character, Legible into that or any other Language -Spoken. By which Language the Character and every additional Mark -is effable, and yet the Character is not Literal but Real, which is -more curious and useful than the _Chinese_ way. Great pity it is that -Discourse is not published in Latin, that the Learned of _Europe_, may -think of further Improving it, and bringing it to Use. - -But whatever we may judge of Language, 'tis past dispute that -Writing was ever Artificial, how Antiently so ever it were in Use, -and was the Invention of some thinking and Studious Men. 'Tis also -evident that there have been various ways thought of for Expressing -Significancy, according to the several _Genii_ of the Persons that were -the Inventors. As may be guessed by the _Ægyptian_ Hieroglyphicks, -the _Chinese_ Characters, the _Mexican_ Chronology, and the Literal -Characters of several Nations, each of which seem to proceed upon -differing methods, and from differing thoughts of Invention. - -Which of these ways is the most Antient, is hard to prove. The -_Ægyptian Mummies_ and _Obelesks_ prove a great Antiquity of the -Hieroglyphicks, but yet the _Chinese_ Chronology (if to be credited) -outstrips the _Ægyptian_ in pretence to Antiquity. For the _Chinese_ -make _Fohi_, the first King of _China_, to be the inventer of their -Character: And account him to have lived 2950 Years before the time -of Christ, during all which time they pretend to have a certain -and written Account in their Books: But their Account of the times -preceding, they esteem more Hypothetical and Fabulous; depending -chiefly upon Fiction and Oral Tradition: As you will easily believe, -when you understand how many Years they make it since the Creation of -the World to the present Year 1686. which by the Account thereof in Mr. -_Graves_'s Translation of _Vulg. Beig._ will be found to be no less -than eighty eight millions six hundred and forty thousand one hundred -and two Solar Years, there having been run out since the Creation 8864 -_Ven._ of Years (every _Ven._ containing ten thousand such Years) and -of the present _Ven._ this Year 1686. is the 102d. Which Account is -abundantly more extravagant than the _Ægyptian_: But this need not -invalidate their History since _Fohi_; by which it appears that their -Character was invented before the time of _Moses_ about 1400 Years, -and even before _Menes_ the first King of _Ægypt_ about 500 Years. So -that the _Chinese_ Invention of Writing or Characters, seems to be the -most ancient of that kind. And the Book _Yekim_ said to be written by -_Fohi_, the most antient Book. - -These Accounts made me the more desirous to understand somewhat of -the Reality and Truth, of what is related concerning the Knowledge of -Literature and manual Arts, which these People of _China_ are said to -have possessed so long a time in so great Perfection, and without -Alteration from the primitive Institution, especially upon the Account -of their Art of Printing, which gave a hint to the Inventors of that -admirable and most useful of all Inventions (for the Common Wealth of -Learning) the way of Printing here in _Europe_. For _Paulus Jovius_ -affirms that the first occasion of that Invention in _Germany_, was a -_German_ Merchant, who returning out of _China_ into his own Country, -related what he had observed concerning the Practice of it as used in -that Country. And tho' the _Chinese_ way be wholly differing as to -the method of composing, from what was invented and perfected here: -Yet such an intimation was enough to an ingenious Artist to improve -the first Contrivance, and make it more accomodate to the literal way -of Writing with us: And as our way may possibly be now brought to the -greatest Perfection for exactness and expedition, so without doubt -must be their way of Printing any thing just as it is written, since I -find, that they can engrave their Stamps for a Sheet, as soon as one of -our Compositers can set and correct a Sheet of our literal Character, -and when so done, one Man alone will print off 1500 Sheets in one Day. -And though 'tis generally believed to be much the same with our Wooden -Cuts for Printing, yet from some Observations I have made, I believe -it to be much another way; of which I shall hereafter say more when I -describe their other Arts of Pottery, Staining, Varnishing, _&c._ - -By a _Chinese_ Manuscript, out of which I transcribed the Lord's Prayer -in the Year 1666 (when it was lost) I found that the Pronunciations -had no affinity with the stroaks of the Character. Whence I conceived -it was either a numeral Character consisting of Numbers, or else a -real Character, but not a literal, unless it were a literal Character -of some other Language than that by which it was pronounced, whose -pronunciation is lost though the significancy be retained, as if one -should read what is written in _Hebrew_ בראשיהברא into the _Latin_ or -_Roman_ Language, _In Principio Cræavit_ instead of _Brasit bra_, or -_Beresith Bara_ according to the _Masorethæ_. - -Since that time I procured from _China_, a Dictionary of the Court -Language, (as I found it written upon by the Person that sent it me -from thence) but this whole Book (which I found was Printed) consisted -only of the _Chinese_ Characters without any Interpretation, or -Pronunciation; however by the help of the Pictures of that, and a -_Chinese_ Almanack, I quickly found out their Characters for Numbers, -and their way of Numeration, together with the Figure and Use of -their _Abacus_ or counting Board, for performing the Operations of -_Arithmetick_, which I find pretty near to agree with that of the -antient _Romans_ (a Description and Picture of which is given by -_Ursinus_, _Pignorius_ and _Velserus_) save only, that, instead of -Pins and sliding Groves of the _Roman_, the _Chinese Abacus_ hath -Strings or Wires and Beads, to slide upon them; and that, instead of -four Pins for Digits or Units, the _Chinese_ hath five Beads: So that -it may seem to argue that the _Chinese Abacus_ was designed for a -_Duodecimal_ Progression: Whereas that of the _Romans_ was design'd for -the _Decimal_. - -One thing is remarkable in the _Chinese_, that I find the _Abacus_ to -lie Horizontal, and their first place to be that next the left Hand, -which I judge was also the first in their old way of reading, much -the same with ours, though their other Characters are erected (as I -shall by and by shew) from the posture of Writing and Reading, which -I conjecture they did at first make use of; and what does yet further -agree with this conjecture, is remarkable in the newly mentioned -Treatise of _Vulg. Beig._ That whereas the way of Writing and Reading -used by the _Arabs_, was from the right to the left, the first place or -the place of Units in their Numeration, was that next the right Hand; -and so came first to be read: As did that of _China_, who as I conceive -read the contrary way, from the left to the right. - -It appears therefore by this Remark that we received this way of -expressing Numbers from the _Arabians_, for that we keep the same -posture or position of places with them, tho' our progression in -Writing and Reading be the contrary way. And though we now read them -also in the order they are set, twenty one, twenty two, thirty six, -forty eight, _&c._ yet we retain also the other way of Pronouncing, -_viz._ one and twenty, two and twenty, six and thirty, eight and forty, -_&c._ - -Now as the _Chinese_ and _Roman Abacus_ do much agree save only that -they proceed contrary ways, so doth their way of expressing Numbers by -Letters or Marks, one stroke or line signifying one; two lines two; -three lines three; a cross ten; two crosses twenty; three crosses -thirty; and so onwards to a hundred, which they expressed by a square -Mark, and a cross with a stroak added for a thousand, as will appear by -the Table annexed. And though the Characters are not all the same; yet -the order and method of one agrees very near with that of the other, -especially if I may be allowed my supposition, that the primitive way -of Writing and Reading with the _Chinese_ was Horizontal, and like the -_Greek_ and _Latin_ or _European_ way. Now that these are properly -numeral Figures, or Characters, is manifest from this, that they have -also word Characters for every Number, and they can (in the same manner -as the _Romans_ could) express a Number by their numeral characters -or Marks, and by their literal or word Characters; for as one single -stroak signifies one or the first, so does the Character (_in the Plate -marked with E_) signify the same thing, that is one or the first. - -Having thus discovered their Characters for Numbers, and their way of -Numeration, I was next desirous to understand something concerning -their Language and Character. - -Upon perusing all the Accounts I could meet with in Books, I found very -little satisfaction as to what I principally inquired after, which -was first concerning the method of the Character, whether it consisted -of a certain number of Marks methodically disposed like Letters in a -literal, or like Numbers in a Numeral, or like Radicals in composite -and decomposite Derivations? 'Tis said to be legible into a great -many Languages considerably different one from another, but how this -is effected is not related, only 'tis said that the Marks are of the -nature of our Arithmetical Figures, (which are become almost Universal -at least to us here in _Europe_,) and 2dly, concerning the number of -these Characters? to which I found as little satisfaction; for, by -some Relations I found that there were 120000, by others 80000, and -by others 60000. And that a Man must be able to remember to Write and -Read at least 8000, or 10000, before he will be able to express his -meaning thereby, and that it is the business of a Man's whole Life to -be throughly understanding in the whole Character; seeming to intimate -that the Characters are immethodical, and there are as many primitive -Characters as Words. Others tell us of various kinds of Characters -which have been in use in several Ages. The first they say were -_Hieroglyphical_ like the _Ægyptian_ or _Mexican_, consisting of the -Pictures of Animals and Vegetables. But that the last are made up of -Lines and Points, that they have no such thing as Letters or Syllables, -but every distinct Word and Notion has a distinct Character, and that -all are primitive or in composite, so that if _Calepines_ Dictionary -were to be translated into the _Chinese_, 'twere necessary to have -as many distinct radical Characters as there are Words therein to be -found, which accounts do seem to insinuate that this Character is the -most difficult, and the most perplexed piece of Learning in the World, -and depends wholly upon the strength of the Memory, in retaining the -form and signification of a perplexed scrawl. But whether they who gave -us these Accounts did do it knowingly, is much to be doubted, my own -Observations, at least, make me think otherwise. - -I have not yet been able to procure sufficient helps to inform my self -of the whole Art of Writing and Reading the _Chinese_ Character, and I -fear the Relations I have hitherto met with concerning it, were written -by such as did not well understand it, however from such helps as I -had, what I collected or do conjecture, I shall here relate. The best -help I had, was the perusal of some Books Printed in _China_, with the -pronunciation and signification of the Character in Latin Letters. By -these Books then I observed, first, that every one of their Characters, -whether consisting of more or fewer strokes or marks, were comprised -within a certain square space, which is proportion'd according to the -bigness of the size or manner of Writing, they design there to make -use of, not that the whole Square is filled with every Character, but -that no part of that Character does exceed the limits of that Square, -so that tho' the Character have but one stroak, it takes as much room -in the line as another that hath 20 or 30 several Marks, so that their -Characters are most exactly ranged in Rank and File, not unlike our -Numbers in Arithmetick. - -Notwithstanding which I find they do vary the bigness of the Character -upon several Occasions, as in the Titles of Books, in the Titles of -the Chapters or Sections, in the Comments, Explications or Notes, and -upon several other occasions of variety, which they do at Pleasure -with their Pencil, as we use variety of Letters in the Printing of a -Book. The Titles of Books are generally in very large Characters, 6 or -8 times as big as those of the Book, the explication Notes ½ of the -bigness, the Contents usually twice as big, and the like variety on -several other occasions. I have met with also three several kinds of -Characters, the most usual is the fixed or set square form. The second -sort is the running Hand, in which the orders of the Courts are written -by their Secretaries, of which I have seen 3 or 4 kinds, in which the -Pencil is never taken off, till the whole Character be finished, and -sometimes two or three are all written without break. The third seems -to be somewhat like the flourishing great Letters, used by Scriveners -at the beginning of Deeds, and by the _Germans_ in the beginning of -Chapters and Sections. They are compounded of the same strokes as the -set Character, but modulated and shaped a little otherwise to make them -appear the more beautiful and regular. A Specimen of each of these -three are in the Plate. This third is made use of for Epitaphs, and -other Inscriptions on Buildings or Monuments. These three sorts I may -call the three general kinds of Writing, but there is to be found an -almost infinite variety of forms which Men use. This will be the more -easie to be believed, when we consider that the Printed Characters -are exactly the same with the Written, insomuch that every variety in -each stroke, line or point, that is or can be made with the Pencil, -is perfectly expressed in the Impression, and the Form, Mode, or -Hand, as we call it, of every Writer is exhibited so curiously, that -I think it hardly possible to be performed after the way of wooden -Cuts, as Authors affirm it is, but must be done after the method of our -Copper Cuts, Printed by a Roll-press, which the way of expressing the -Running or Court-Hand, does, I conceive, most evidently demonstrate, -and from divers circumstances, I could evidently make appear from the -Book it self, which I cannot so well express in Writing. Their Paper -is generally very thin and fine, and very transparent, but brown, so -that whatever is Written or Printed on it, is almost as legible on -the back, as on the foreside, which is of great use in the cutting of -their Stamps. And thence they never Write or Print on both sides of -the same Leaf, but only on one, and to make the Leaf appear Printed on -both sides, they double the Sheet with the Printed sides outwards, and -putting the folded part forward, they Sew, Bind, or Stitch together, -all these Sheets with the cut Edges, and upon whole Sheets instead of -single Leaves; just in the same manner as the Plate annexed to this -Discourse is Printed. They begin the Book on the top of the right Hand -side of the Page that is next the right Hand, and they read downwards -to the bottom, then begin the next Line towards the left Hand at the -top, and so read to the bottom, and so proceed to the end of the Book. -But this I suppose not to be the primitive or first way of Writing or -Reading. The Title of the Book is set first upon a whole Leaf, usually -of a thicker Paper, and some Title is likewise Written upon the folding -or edge of every Sheet, where is set also the Number of the Book, and -the Number of the Sheet, half of which appears on one side, and half on -the other side of the fold. - -As to the Character it self, (I find by all the Books and Writings -I have yet met with of that kind) that each of them is made up of a -certain number of Strokes, Lines or Marks, which are very distinct -from each other in their shape and position, and by reason that these -are single Strokes, and as I conceive uncompounded, I think they may -be called the Letters, Elements or Particles, out of which the more -compounded Characters are constructed or contexed. These are the first -kind of which there are but a very few, and I think those I have -described in the thirteenth Line of the Plate are all. - -Two, three, four, or more of these joined together in a certain order -and contexture (in the doing of which there is a great Regularity and -Order observed, which is not varied from, and all within the regular -square Space) I conceive do make Syllables or primitive radical -Characters, each of which have a primitive, single or distinct Notion -or Signification as well as Sound, which is made much use of in the -more compounded Characters or Words. Of this kind I take the Figures -of the Numbers to be: If at least they are not single Letters like the -way of expressing Numbers in the _Hebrew_, _Greek_, _Arabick_, &c. -Languages, for though there may be two or three of the single strokes -joyned together into a compound Character, it hinders not, but that -it may still signify a Letter, as in the _Greek_ ΛΑ.Δ.Ι.Γ.Π.Γ. In -the Runick; where every Letter hath one upright Line and some other -additional Marks: In the _Roman_ I.L.F.E.O.Q.V.Y: Or it may signify a -Syllable as in the _Æthiopick_, and in the _Hanscret_, and _Sunscrit_ -Languages and Characters: The first of which being the _Brackmans_ -Character we find in _P. Kircher_'s _China Illustrata_, described by -_P. Roth_ who studied it seven Years; and the second (being a literal -Character used over all _India_ by the Merchants) I have seen in a -Transcript, brought lately out of _India_ by a very Worthy Gentleman -who lived there many Years, and had the Curiosity to cause to be -Transcribed and Translated also into English, a Dictionary of their -Language in their own Character: who did me the favour to let me peruse -it. - -In which Characters or ways of Writing a Vowel is always join'd with a -Consonant into one compound Character to make it effable. And then the -single Strokes may be taken for single ineffable Letters as are the -Consonants, and the composition of two or three (of which one at least -may be a Vowel) will make Syllables. - -Of this kind, there are not so many in the whole _Chinese_ Character, -but that it will be easie enough to assign each a proper Monosyllable -which shall only have 1 or 2 Consonants, and one or two Vowels; that -is, the Consonants together, and not separate, either both behind the -Vowel or Vowels, if it be a Diphthong or both after it or them. - -Of this kind, I understand there are about 500, probably 8×8×8, or 512. -I could enumerate a great many, and give you also the Name or Words -by which they are pronounced as also their signification, but (as I -said before) first, I conceive the present _Chinese_ Language to have -no affinity at all with the Character, the true primitive, or first -Language, or Pronunciation of it, having been lost. And secondly, I -want some further help to make a full and compleat Discovery: What I -have learn'd from the Book of _Fohi_ I shall give the next opportunity; -which will explain the reason of the multiplication of 8. and the order -and method of places in the Letter or Word square. - -The third sort of Characters, is a decompounded sort being made -up of two, three or more of those of the second kind, diminish'd -proportionably in their size, either as to their length, or breadth, -or both, from what they have in the same Writing when they are single -and fill up the whole Letter square or Words square. For there being -several of them to be crouded together within the same square, -according as there are more in number, so they are always more squeezed -together. In this decompound sort, there is a regular Order observed in -the placing of the several Characters of the 2d sort; there being some -that are always on the left side, some always on the right, some at -the top, some at the bottom. Of which I doubt not but that they have a -certain regular Method, which had we Dictionaries explained, would be -easie enough to be discovered. - -This method alone of crouding together all the Characters (how many -soever go to make up the decompounded Character) into one square (which -is of the same size for the most Simple and for the most Compound) -seems to be the great singularity, by which the _Chinese_ Characters -differ from those of all the rest of the World. And this I conceive has -been the reason why all People, and possibly even the very _Chinese_ -themselves have, and do believe it to be a real and not a literal -Character: For if the primitive Language, or pronunciation of the -Characters be lost (as I conceive it is) and that the disposition, -order, method, texture, or manner of placing the more simple in the -more compound Characters be also lost, forgotten, or not understood; -then the whole Characters becomes a real and not a literal Character: -And an immethodical one to such as want a method, that must be learned -by rote, and depend wholly upon the strength of the Memory to retain -it. But I conceive it might be at first either a literal Character, and -so the whole square Character was composed of so many distinct Letters -or Syllables, which composed the Word signified thereby; and so there -might be a regular Order of placing these Letters in the Character, -that is, that the whole square being divided into so many parts, there -was a Rule which was the first, second, third and fourth place: so -that there being placed in those the several Letters that made up the -Word, according to the order they had in the Word, it was easie by that -Rule to Decipher the said Character, and thence to find the Word and -the Signification, as regularly as if the Letters had been written one -after another, as most other literal Characters we know are at this Day -written. - -Or Secondly, it might be a real Character consisting of divers Marks -or Letters, that expressed so many simple Notions, several of which -joined together might make up the more compounded Characters, of -which I have added some Examples in the Plate, which may be also made -literal and pronounceable, tho' that consideration were not made use -of, when they were first invented. What things I have observed in my -_Chinese_ Books that seem to respect this Method, I will give more -particulars of by the next opportunity, by Printing a Specimen of -the Book _Ye-kim_ which explicated by these Notions will I conceive -appear more intelligible, than by the Accounts we find given of it -by the _Chinese_ Commentators, and those that have Translated them -into _Latin_, who seem not to have understood the true design thereof: -For both the _Chinese_ and _European_ Commentators assert it to be a -Conjuring Book, or a Book to tell Fortunes by, and to be made use of -by the _Chinese_ for that purpose; whereas by the small Specimen I -have seen of it, I conceive it to contain the whole Ground, Rule or -Grammar, of their Character, Language and Philosophy, and that by the -understanding of it, the Foundation and Rule of their Language and -Character may be without much difficulty Deciphered and Understood. - -The present use of this Character, I conceive to be differing from what -it was at first, both as to the position of Writing and Reading it, and -as to the Expression and Pronunciation thereof. - -For the way of Writing and Reading it, I conceive might at first be -exactly the same with that of the _Greeks_, _Romans_, _English_, and -all other _European_ Nations, and also the _Æthiopick_ and _Coptick_. -That is, they began at the top of the Page towards the left Hand, and -so proceeded towards the right in the _Horizontal_ Line to the end of -it, and then began at the left end of the next Line under the first -and proceeded with that in the same manner, and so with the next under -that and all the remaining. Continuing to Write the Words of the Line -towards the right Hand, and the Lines of the Page one under another -till the whole Discourse were compleated, joyning Leaf to Leaf one -under another, after the same manner as the Rouls are at present Writ, -and as the _Volumina_ were of the Ancients. And to make the parts of -the Volume to be the more easily to be come at, without the trouble of -rolling and unrolling as the Ancient _Romans_ did, and we do with our -Rouls, they contrived to fold them, like the folds of a Fan, forwards -and backward: And so stitching them together, that the Written sides -might lie outwards, and open freely one from another, and the fair -sides might meet together, it came to make the present form of their -Book, which being laid as we generally place our Books before us, they -seem to begin at the top of the Page on the right Hand, and to proceed -to the bottom, and then at the top of the next Line towards the left -Hand, and descend as in the former; proceeding in this order with -all the rest, which way must needs be very inconvenient for Writing, -however they may use their Pencil differing from our Pen. Though there -be a way of Writing from the top to the bottom of the Page, which is -very convenient for Writing the _Syriack_, as also for Writing _Latin_, -_English_, or _Greek_, where the Writing is to be used for cutting the -Stamps of Wood, or graving of Copper Plates with the same Character for -Printing, in which Cases the Letters must be written backwards. - -Secondly, as to the Pronunciation of this Character, by the Court -Language, or by any other now used, I conceive it to be wholly -differing from that of a literal Character, that is from being -pronounced or spoken according to the Marks or Figures thereof, -whether they be simple or compounded, and made up of simple Characters -(though there are some Instances of affinity in Characters and Words.) -The reason of which differing pronunciation I conceive may have -proceeded, partly from the loss of the primitive Language, for which it -was made, partly from a most inconvenient affection of Monosyllabical -Words in this Court Language, to help the Poverty of which, they are -fain to make one Syllable to signifie many differing Notions, to do -which they have introduced a kind of Musical toning or accenting of -each of them, and not single but compound of two or three Tones to each -signification of every one of these Monosyllables: Partly from the -using of this way of Writing, by divers Nations of differing Languages, -who minding only the Figure and Signification, read it into their own -Mother Tongues, as we in _Europe_ do Arithmetical Figures: And partly, -also from the omission of most Grammatical Distinctions, the same -Character serving for Substantive and Adjective, Singular and Plural, -in all Cases, (save only they have some Characters for Particles, as -_of_ and _to_ in English) for the Verb in all Tenses, and Numbers, -_&c._ for the abstract and the concrete Signification, and for divers -Metaphorical; if at least the Interpretation I have met with in the -Books I have perused be exact: Partly, also from the _Syntaxis_ of -them, it being necessary to consider the whole Sentence, to discover -which part of Speech each Character is of, in that Sentence, wherein -the Order and Positions of the Characters to one another, for which -they have Rules, hath its signification: And lastly, from the loss of -the very Notion of a literal Character, whence for the expressing of -proper Names, they are fain to make use of several Characters, whose -Sounds or Words come nearest to the Sounds of the Syllables of that -Name, as in the Plate _tam. jo, van_, for _Adam. Jovan_. - -Now, though I conceive this Character is not effable properly as -a literal Character by any of their present Languages: And though -possibly it might be at first a real Character, that is each of them -compounded of such Strokes or Marks as by their Figures, Positions -and Numbers in the square, denoted the several Philosophical -Ingredients, that made up the Notion of the whole Character, as the -Book _Ye-Kim_ seems to shew by giving Rules as I conceive for the -Order and Significancy of places in the Square, _&c._ Yet I think -it not difficult to make it a Literal, or at least a Syllabical -Character, and legible into a Language somewhat after the manner of -the Universal Character I mentioned before. And tho' this would not -be the primitive Language for which it was made, yet for the present -uses of it (the chiefest of which is the assisting and refreshing the -Memory, and helping the Imagination by proper Sounds) it might be as -good: Wherein the single Characters might be Monosyllables and the -compounded Dissyllables, Trissyllables, _&c._ According to the Numbers -and Order of simple Characters in the square of the Compounded. And -I am apt to think that the present pronunciation of Languages, as of -_Hebrew_, _Syriack_, _Arabick_, _Greek_ and _Latin_, or any other -Language that has been so long Written, may be as much differing from -what it was 2000 Years since, as an Arbitrary one now invented, and -grounded on the Letters, might possibly be. And such an arbitrary -Pronunciation if generally agreed upon might serve _as well_ for a -help to learn the signification of Words, or _Word Combinations_ of -Characters, as if we now knew the exact primitive Pronunciations, -as critically as the _Masorethæ_ are said to have done that of the -_Hebrew_; and possibly also a _much better_, for that by such a one -a great many irregularities and difficulties of Pronunciation (which -are to be found in all Languages now spoken) might be omitted, and the -whole made exactly regular and easie, as might be shewn in the _Hebrew_ -and _Greek_, and especially in the _Arabick_, whose difficulties are -sufficiently manifested by _Alphabetum Arabicum_, Printed at _Rome_ -1592. Now as by such a Language the Character might be made effable -without Musical Tones or difficult Aspirations, so had we Dictionaries -of the signification of the Characters, we might as soon learn the -_Chinese_ Characters, as we can _Latin_, or any other Language to be -learn'd by Book, and not by speaking. - - IMPRIMATUR, - - _John Hoskyns_ Vice P. R. S. - _July_ 17_th._, 1686. - -[Illustration: _The Roman Abacus out of Marcus Velserus_ - -_The Chinese Abacus from the Chinese Dictionary containing nine places -or degrees_ - -一二三四五六七八九 - - I 一 yĕ̇ - II 二 th́ - III 三 san̄ - IV 四 sú - V 五 v̀ - VI 六 lŏ̇ - VII 七 ziĕ̇ - VIII 八 pă̇ - IX 九 kièn - X 十 xĕ̇ - XI 十 xĕ̇ - 一 yĕ̇ - X 十 xĕ̇ - II 二 lh́ - X 十 xĕ̇ - III 三 san̄ - X 十 xĕ̇ - V 五 v̀ - - XX 廾 lh́xĕ̇ - XX 二 lh́ - 十 xĕ̇ - XXX 卅 san̄xĕ̇ - XXX 三 san̄ - 十 xĕ̇ - XXXX 四 sú - 十 xĕ̇ - L 五 v̀ - 十 xĕ̇ - LX 六 lŏ̇ - 十 xĕ̇ - LXX 七 ziĕ̇ - 十 xĕ̇ - LXXX 八 pac - 十 xĕ̇ - - 100 白 pĕ̇ - 100 百 pĕ̇ - 200 二 lh́ - 白 pĕ̇ - 300 三 san̄ - 百 pĕ̇ - 400 四 sú - 百 pĕ̇ - 1000 千 zien̄ - 2000 二 lh́ - 千 zien̄ - 3000 三 san̄ - 千 zien̄ - 10000 萬 ván - 30000 三 san̄ - 萬 ván - - CIↃ 千 zien̄ - DC 六 lŏ̇ - 百 pĕ̇ - LXXX 八 pă̇ - 十 xĕ̇ - VI 六 lŏ̇ - añus 年 nien̂ - V 五 v̀ - mensis 月 yuĕ - XIII 十 xĕ̇ - die 三 san̄ - 日 gĕ̇ - - 正 - E - - 年 nien̂ - 五 v̀ - 人 gin̂ - 大 ta - 先 sien̄ - 仁 gin̂ - 八 pă̇ - 之 chī̇ - - 湯 tàm̄ - 若 jo - 望 vàm - 天 tìen̄ - 原 yuên - 又 yéu - - _I Senex Sculpsit_] - - - - - _A Letter from _F. A._ Esq; R. S. S. to the Publisher, with a Paper - of Mr. _S. Flowers_, containing the Exact Draughts of several - unknown Characters, taken from the Ruins at _Persepolis_._ - - - _SIR_, - -I here send you some Fragments of Papers put into my Hands by a very -good Friend, relating to antique and obscure Inscriptions, which were -retrieved after the Death of Mr. _Flower_, Agent in _Persia_ for our -_East-India_ Company, who, while he was a Merchant at _Aleppo_, had -taken up a Resolution to procure some Draught or Representation of -the admired Ruins at _Chilmenar_, pursuant to the third Enquiry for -_Persia_, mention'd in the _Philosophical Transactions_, pag. 420. -_viz._ _Whether there being already good Descriptions in Words of the -Excellent Pictures and _Basse Relieves_ that are about _Persepolis_ -at _Chilmenar_, yet none very particular, some may not be found -sufficiently Skilled in those parts, that might be engaged to make a -Draught of the Place, and the Stories there Pictur'd and Carved_. This -Desire of the Royal Society, as I believe, it hinted at a Summary -Delineation, which might be perform'd by a Man qualifi'd in a few Days, -taking his own opportunity for the avoiding much Expence, (which you -know they are never able to bear:) So I cannot but think Mr. _Flower_ -conceived it to be a Business much easier to perform than he found -it upon the Place, where he Spent a great deal of Time and Mony, and -dying Suddainly after, left his Draughts and Papers dispersed in -several Hands, one part whereof you have here, the rest its hoped may -in some Time be recovered, if Sir _John Chardin_'s exact and accurate -Publication of the entire Work do not put a period to all further -Curiosity, which I heartily wish. - - - _An Exact Draught or Copy of the several Characters engraven in - Marble at the Mountains of _Nocturestand_ and _Chahelminar_ in - _Persia_, as they were taken in _November 1667._ By Mr. _S. - Flower_._ - -_N_ 1. _N_ 2. These two Characters are engraven on the Breast of two -Horses cut out of the Mountain of Black Marble at _Nocturestand_, -distant a League from _Chahelmanare_, or the Ancient _Persepolis_, one -whereof is said to be _Alexander_'s, the other _Rustram_'s, (a Famous -Hero supposed to have lived about the time of _Cambises_.) Mr. _Fl._ - -_N_ 1. This Character hath some Similitude with the Ancient Hebrew, -but the _Persians_ would have it their own, tho' they understand not a -Letter. Mr. _F._ - -[Illustration: - - ΤΟΥΤΟΤΟ ΡΟΣUΥΟΝ ΜΑΣΛΑΣΝΟΥ - ΘΕΟΥΑΡΖΑ......ΣΙΑΩΣΒΑΣΙΑΕΩΝ - ΑΡΙΑΝΩΝ....ΣΘΣΩΝΥΙΟΥ - ΘΕΟΥΠΑΠΑ..ΥΒΑ..ΕΩΣ - - ΤΟΥΤΟΤΟ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΟΝ ΔΙΟΣΘΕΟΥ - - _I Senex Sculpsit_] - -_N_ 2. In these Lines the places are prickt where the Letters were -defaced and not Perceptible. Mr. _F._ - -_N_ 3. This is the (_Arabick_) _Persian_ Character engraven at -_Persepolis_ not above 500. years since, and is little different from -the Writing us'd at this day. Mr. _F._ - -_N_ 4. These two Lines were writ entire on _Rustram_'s Horse. Mr. _F._ - -_N_ 5. This Character, whether it be the Ancient Writing of the -_Gaures_ or _Gabrees_, or a kind of _Telesmes_, is found only at -_Persepolis_, being a part of what is there engraven in white Marble, -and is by no Man in _Persia_ legible or understood at this Day. - -A Learned Jesuit Father, who deceased Three Years since, affirmed this -Character to be known and used in _Ægypt_. Mr. _F._ - -It seems written from the Left Hand to the Right, and to consist of -Pyramids, diversly posited, but not joined together. As to the Quantity -of the Inscriptions, _Herbert_ reckon'd in one large Table Twenty Lines -of a Prodigious Breadth. Of this sort here are distinct Papers each of -several Lines. - -_N_ 6. This Character is likewise Engraved at _Persepolis_, of the like -Antiquity with the former. It has some Affinity with the _Syriack_ -and _Arabick_, and has been pretended to be understood by some of the -_Padrees_. Mr. _F._ - - - - - _A Letter from Monsieur _N. Witsen_ to Dr. _Martin Lister_, with - two Draughts of the Famous _Persepolis_._ - - -This Ingenious and Inquisitive Gentleman having already often obliged -the World with Communications of his Discoveries, lately sent the -following Letter with the Draughts to Dr. _Lister_, who was pleased -to permit their Publication in these Tracts: The greatness of the -Curiosity we hope will recommend them to the Lovers of Antiquity, -little of those famous Remains having been yet publish'd, and those -that have been, but ill designed or graved. Monsieur _Witsen_'s Letter, -translated from the _French_, is as follows. - -[Illustration] - -[Illustration: Tsjihil mmar] - - * * * * * - - _SIR_, - -Since I had the Honour of receiving your last, there came to my Hands -several curious _Shells_ from you, with a piece of _English Agate_, -and the Transactions of the Royal Society for the Month of _June_ -last, for which Favours I return my humble Thanks. As to the Cockles -of the _Caspian_ Sea, and from the Mouth of _Wolga_, I have advice -from _Moscou_, that they are expected there this Winter: Mean while I -herewith send you some _Snail-Shells_, taken out of the River _Jaute_, -not far from the City of _Moscou_. Our Apothecaries make use of them -powdered, and probably for the same purpose as _Crabs-Eyes_. There -are some others likewise which are found in the Rivers of _Moscou_ -and _Neglina_, and in the _Wolga_. Since you have been pleased to -communicate to me an Inscription found at _Persepolis_, I thought it -would be acceptable to send you the Draughts of part of the Ruins of -the Stone-work of that proud Palace, given me by the Person himself -that drew them upon the place. I should be much satisfied had I any -thing worthy of your Curiosity and the Publick, which you so often -oblige with your Discoveries, which justly merit mine and the Thanks of -all that esteem them as much as my self, who am the Cherisher of your -Friendship, and desirous to shew that I am, - - _SIR_, - - _Your most Humble and Obedient Servant_, - - N. Witsen. - - _Amsterdam_, - _Jan. 1. 1694._ - - - - - _A Description of the Diamond-mines, as it was presented by the - Right Honourable the Earl Marshal of _England_, to the _R. - Society_._ - - -The parts of the World known to contain _Diamonds_, are the Island -_Borneo_, and the Continent of _India extra & intra Gangem_: _Pegu_ -is likewise reported to have several; but the King not potent, his -Country being but thinly inhabited, contents himself with his Mines -of _Rubies_, _Saphires_, _Topasses_, _Emeralds_, _Gold_, _Silver_, -_Brass_, _Tinn_ and _Lead_, and several other Commodities his Country -affords, in great plenty, rather than to suffer new enquiries to be -made, lest the Discovery of such an additional Treasure should invite -some of his Neighbours, more potent to invade him. But leaving the -description of other Places to those that know them better, I shall -only keep my self to the Coast of _Coromandel_, with which I am -acquainted, and having visited several of its Mines, am able to say -something thereof Experimentally. - -The Diamond-Mines in these parts are generally adjacent to Rocky-hills, -or Mountains, whereof begins a great Ledge or Range near _Cape -Comorin_, extending in Breadth about 50 _English_ Miles, some -conjoyning, others scatter'd: and running thence in length quite -through _Bengula_. In, among, and near these Hills, in several places, -are known to be (as its believed most of them have) Mines; many of -them are possessed by petty Princes, or _Rajaes_, of the _Hundues_; -some driven thither for shelter by the _Mores_, who have taken the -greatest part of their Country from them; others never overcome, as the -_Rajaes_, on the Hills in and near _Bengala_, who admit of little or no -Commerce with their Neighbours, or passage through their Country, which -(being Barren, in few Places affording good Water, the ways craggy and -very toilsome, especially to an Army) the _Moors_ covet not, but let -them enjoy it peaceably; yet to prevent danger, they forbid digging (as -the King of _Pegu_ does) or dig some few Mines only very privately, so -that a great part of the Mines are unsearcht and concealed. But the -Kingdoms of _Golconda_ and _Visiapore_ contain in them scope enough -of ground, known to have Mines sufficient to furnish all the World -plentifully with Diamonds; but their Kings permit digging only in some -Places appointed, lest, as it is imagined, they should become too -common; and withal for fear of tempting the threatening greatness of -_Aurenge Zebe_; forbidding also those Places that afford the largest -Stones, or else keeping workmen in them for their own private uses: So -that but a very small quantity (in Comparison of what might be) and -those only of ordinary Size, are found. - -In the Kingdom of _Golconda_ (as near as I can gather from the best -acquainted) are 23 Mines now employed, or that have been so lately, -viz. _Quolure_, _Codawillicul_, _Malabar_, _Buttephalem_, _Ramiah_, -_Gurem_, _Muttampellee_, _Currure_, _Ganjeeconeta_, _Luttawaar_, -_Jonagerree_, _Pirai_, _Dugulle_, _Purwillee_, _Anuntapelle_, -_Girrogeta_, _Maarmood_, _Wazzergerre_, _Munnemurg_, _Langumboot_, -_Whootoor_, _Muddemurg_, and _Melwillee_ or the New Mine. - -_Quoloure_ was the first Mine made use of in this Kingdom. The Earth -is something Yellowish, not unlike the Colour of our Gravel dried; but -whiter in some Places where it abounds with smooth Pebbles, much like -some of those that come out of our Gravel-pits in _England_. They use -to find great quantities in the Vein, if it may properly be so called, -the Diamonds not lying in continued Clusters as some imagine, but -frequently so very scattering that sometimes in the space of ¼ of an -Acre of Ground, digged between two or three fathoms Deep, there hath -been nothing found; especially in the Mines that afford great Stones, -lying near the superficies of the Earth, and about three Fathoms deep; -deeper they could not dig for Water; it being in a Vale near a River. -In other places the Earth is mixt with rugged Stones, where they seldom -mine deeper, though in higher ground, before the Colour of the Earth -alters, and the Vein ceases; which they give a guess at by the small -Stones they find in the Earth, the principal Guide they have in the -discovery of the Mines. - -The Diamonds found in these Mines are generally well-shaped, many of -them pointed, and of a good lively white Water; but it also produces -some _Yellow_ ones, some _Brown_, and of other colours. They are of -ordinary sizes, from about six in a _Mangelin_[18] (of which they find -but few) to five or six _Mangelins_, each; some of 10, 15, 20. they -find but rarely. They have frequently a bright and transparent skin, -inclining to a greenish Colour, though the heart of the Stone be purely -white; but the Veins of these Mines are almost worn out. - -The Mines of _Codawillicul_, _Malabar_, and _Buttepallam_ consist of a -reddish Earth, inclining to an Orange-colour (with which it stains the -Cloaths of the Labourers that work in it) they dig about four Fathom -deep. They afford Stones generally of an excellent Water and crystaline -Skin; smaller sizes than those of _Quoloure_, _Ramiah_, _Gurem_, and -_Muttampelleo_; have a Yellowish Earth, like _Quolure_; their Stones -like those of the two former Mines, but mixt with many of a blue Water. -These five Mines being under the same Government with _Melwillee_, -where the Governour resides; He to draw the Adventurers and Merchants -near him, that he may be better informed of the Actions and Advantages, -and know the better how to Fleece them, the general practice of -Governours in these parts, has very lately forbid their use; and -commanded all to repair to his Residence, which they must obey, or fly -into another Government. - -The next Mine in our way is _Currure_, the most famous of them all and -most Ancient. - -It has been under Subjection of the King of _Golconda_; but about -25 Years, taken, with the Country of _Rarnaticum_, from the -_Hendue-Rajaes_, about that time, by the _Nabob_, _Meer Jumla_. In it -have been found Diamonds of a _size_ weight, which is about 9 Ounces -_Troy_ or 81½ _Pago's_ weight. It is only employed by the King for -his own private use: The Diamonds that are found in it, are very well -spread, large Stones (it yields few or none small,) they have generally -a bright Skin, which inclines to a pale Greenish colour, but within are -purely white. The Soil is Reddish as many of the others. - -About sixty or seventy years ago, when it was under the Government of -the _Hundues_, and several Persons permitted to adventure in digging, -a _Portugeez_ Gentleman went thither from _Goa_, and having spent in -Mining a great sum of Mony to the amounts of 100000 _Pago's_, as 'tis -reported, and converted every thing he brought with him, that would -fetch any mony, even to what wearing Cloaths he could spare, while the -Miners were at Work for the last Days expence, he had prepared a cup of -Poison, resolving, if that Night he found nothing, to drink his last -with the conclusion of his Mony; but in the Evening the Workmen brought -him a very fair spread Stone of 20 _Pago's_ weight, in commemoration -whereof he caused a great Stone to be erected in the place, with an -Inscription ingraven on it, in the _Hundues_ or _Tellinga_ Tongue, to -the following effect, which remains to be seen to this day; - - _Your Wife and Children sell, sell what you have, - Spare not your Cloaths, nay, make your self a Slave; - But money get, then to _CURRURE_ make hast; - There search the Mines, a Prize you'll find at last._ - -After which he immediately returned with his Stone to _Goa_. - - * * * * * - -Not far from _Currure_ are the Mines of _Lattawaar_ and _Ganjeconta_, -which are in the same Soil as _Currure_, and afford Stones not unlike: -But _Lattawaar_ hath many representing the great end of a Razor-blade, -thin on one side and thick on the other, very white and of an excellent -Water; but the best of the Mine is worn out, and _Ganjeconta_ employed -only to the Kings private use. - -_Jonagerre_, _Pirai Dugulle_, _Purwillee_ and _Anuntapellee_, consist -also of Red earth, are now employed, and afford many large Stones; -part of them of a greenish Water, but the most absolute Mines are of -_Wazzergerre_ and _Munnemurg_, (the other rather representing Pits -than Mines;) for there they sink through high Rocks till they go so -far below their basis, that they can go no further for Water, in some -places 40 or 50 Fathom deep. The superficies of the Rocks consist of -hard, firm, white Stone, into which they cut a Pit like a Well, of -about 4 or 5, in some places 6 Foot deep, before they come to a crust -of a Mineral Stone, like the Mineral of Iron; when they fill the Hole -with Wood and keep as hot a Fire as they can there for two or three -Days, till they think it sufficiently heated; then they pour-in Water -till they have quencht it, which also slacks and mollifies both Stone -and Mineral; both being cold, they dig again, take out all the crumbled -stuff and dig up what they can besides, before they heat it anew; the -Crust seldom is thicker than three or four Foot, which ceasing, they -come to a Vein of Earth, that usually runs under the Rock two or three -Furlongs; sometimes much further: This they dig all out and search, and -if their first attempt prove successful, they go to Work again (digging -after the same manner) as deep as they can, till they come to Water; -for the drawing whereof, wanting the help of Engins, known in _Europe_, -they can go no deeper, although the Vein lie lower; all lumps of the -Mineral they break in pieces, and frequently find Diamonds enclosed -in them. To Work on these Mines is very expensive, but the advantage -is commonly answerable; yet in respect of the certain disburse, that -must be before any thing be found, they are not so much frequented -as others, where they may try their Fortunes with a smaller Stock. -The Earth they dig out is Red: Many large Stones are found here; the -smallest about 6 in a _Mangelleen_. They are mixt Waters, but the -greatest part good, only of ill-favoured shapes, many cragged pieces of -Stones, some as if they had been parts of very great ones, others with -pieces broken off them; yet I never heard of any that ever found two -seeming fellows, although they do those that look as if they had been -newly Broken. - -In _Langumboot_ they dig as they do at _Wazzergerree_ and _Munnemurg_; -the Rock is not altogether so solid, but the Earth and Stones it -produces much alike. - -_Wootoor_ should have been placed next to _Currure_, it lying near -it, and affording Stones of a like magnitude, shapes and waters; 'tis -employed only to the Kings use: And singular, in that its Diamonds are -found in black Earth. - -_Muddemurg_ far exceeds all the rest for Diamonds of a delicate Shape, -Water, and bright transparent Skin, Proud, as it were, in discovering -their inward Beauties, with which no other Mine can compare; yet it has -also store of Veiny ones, but those likewise of so curious Shape and -Water, that its difficult to discover them from the good, especially -the small ones. It produces Stones of divers Magnitudes, from ten -and twelve in a _Mangelleen_, to six or seven _Mangelleens_ each, -and besides, some great ones. The Earth is Red, but its seated in -the Woods, and the Water so bad, that to all (except the People Bred -there) it presently occasions Fevers and destroys abundance, insomuch -that most of the Adventurers have forsaken it; notwithstanding which -it hath been more profitable than any of the rest, the Vein frequently -lying near the superficies of the Earth, seldom running deep, and is -better furnisht than any other yet discover'd. The River _Kishna_, of -excellent waters, is but 9 Miles distant; but the Miners or Merchants -are either poor that they cannot, or else over-awed by the Governour, -pretend to be and dare not be at the charges of fetching their Water -from thence. Divers are of the opinion, that, besides the Water, the -Town lying in a bottom, environ'd with Hills and Morass adjoyning, the -Air may be infected, and contribute to its unhealthfulness. - -_Melwillee_ or the _New Mine_, so called, because it was but lately -found out (or at least permitted to be made use of) in the Year 1670. -it had then a Year employed the Miners, but it was forbidden, and lay -unoccupied till 1673, when complaint being made at _Quoleur_, that -the Vein was worn out, the King again licensed its settlement. The -Earth they Mine in, is very red, and many of the Stones found there, -have of it sticking to them, as if it had clung there while they were -of a soft glutinous Substance, and had not attained their hardness, -maintaining its Colour on its Skin (seeming to be roughened with -it) that it cannot be fetch'd out by grinding on a rough Stone with -Sand, which they make use of to clean them. The Stones are generally -well-shaped, their size from 5 or 6 in a _mangelleen_ to those of 14 or -15 each, and some bigger; but greatest quantities of the middle sorts: -Most of them have a thick dull Skin, incline to a yellowish Water, not -altogether so strong and lively as of the other Mines; very few of them -of a crystaline Water and Skin. They are reported to be apt to flaw in -splitting, which occasions these People to esteem them something softer -than the Product of many of the other Mines: Several that flatter by -their seeming whiteness when rough, discover their deceitfulness -having past the Mill, and too often a yellowish Tincture, to the -disappointment and loss of them that have cut them; but what they -want in goodness, is in part supplied by the plenty they find, which, -together with their properties, make them the cheaper. This being what -I have gathered, both by Experience of several of the places I have -seen, and the best Informations I could meet with, of the Mines in this -Kingdom; I shall now proceed to those in _Visiapore_. - -_Visiapore_ is known to contain Mines enclosing Stones as large and -good as those of _Golconda_; but the King, for Reasons already given, -makes use but of the meanest: Whereby, as _Golconda_ is famous for the -largeness of those it affords, _Visiapore_ is noted for the smallest; -whose Mines, though they seldom or never render an Adventurer a Fortune -or Estate at once, as sometimes those of _Golconda_ do, by a great -Stone or several found together; yet they are more Populous and better -employed, the small Stones lying thicker in the Earth, so that the -generality are gainers, and few but they get their Expence; whereas -those of _Golconda_ dig away a considerable Estate and find nothing, -others not their Charges, and where one is a gainer, divers lose. - -There are 15 Mines employed in the Kingdom of _Visiapore_, viz. -_Ramulconeta_, _Banugunnapellee_, _Pendekull_, _Moodawarum_, -_Cumerwillee_, _Paulkull_, _Workull_, _Lungeepoleur_, _Pootloor_, -_Punchelingull_, _Shingarrampent_, _Tondarpaar_, _Gundepellee_, _Donee_ -and _Gazerpellee_. - -In _Ramulconeta_ Mines in red Earth, about 15 or 16 Foot deep, they -seldom find a Diamond of a _mangelleen_ weight, but small to 20 or -30 in a _mangelleen_. They are generally of an excellent Crystalline -Water, have a bright clear Skin, inclining frequently to a pale -greenish Colour, are well shaped, but few of them, pointed ones. There -are also found among them several broken pieces of Diamonds, by the -Country People called _Shemboes_. - -In _Banugunnapellee_, _Pendekull_, and _Moodawarum_, they dig as at -_Ramulconeta_, and in the same kind of Earth; they also afford Stones -much alike, being neighbouring Places. - -_Cummerwillee_, _Paulkull_, and _Workull_, are not far distant, produce -Stones much alike out of the same coloured Earth, but very small ones -even to a hundred in a _mangelleen_. - -_Lungepoleur_ Mines are of a yellowish Earth (like those of _Quoleur_,) -its Diamonds are generally well shaped, globular, few pointed, of a -very good Crystalline Water and bright Skins; many of them have a thick -dark Grass-green Skin, some spotted also with Black, that they seem all -foul, yet are not so, but within purely white and clean. Their sizes -are from 2 or 3 _mangelleens_ downwards, but few very small. - -_Pootloor_ Mines are of reddish Earth, but afford Stones much like -those of _Lungepoleur_, only smaller, under a _mangelleen_; the general -sizes are of ½, ⅓, ¼, ⅙ of a _mangelleen_. - -_Punchelingull_, _Shingarrampent_, and _Tondarpaar_, are also of red -Earth, their Diamonds not unlike those of _Quoleur_, only rarely or -never any large ones are found there. - -_Gundepellee_ hath the same Earth with the former, and produces Stones -of equal Magnitude; but frequently of a pure Crystalline Water, wherein -they exceed the former. - -_Donee_ and _Gazerpellee_ dig both in red Earth likewise, and afford -Stones alike, the greatest part whereof are of good Shapes and Waters. -They have also many _Shemboes_, and some of bad Waters, some brown, -which these People call soft or weak water'd, being esteemed of a -softer and weaker Body than others, by reason they have not so much -Life, when cut, and are subject to flaw in splitting, and on the Mill; -their general Product is in Stones of middle Sizes: But _Gazerpellee_ -has besides many large ones, and is the only Mine noted for such in the -Kingdom of _Visiapore_. With which concluding the description of the -Mines, I shall give some Account how the Diamonds are found, and how -they handle the Earth to find them; which is as followeth. - -The Diamonds are so scatter'd and dispersed in the Earth, and lie -so thin, that in the most plentiful Mines it's rare to find one in -digging, or till they have prepar'd the Stuff, and do search purposely -for them: They are also frequently enclos'd in Clods; and some of those -of _Melwillee_, the New Mine in the Kingdom of _Golconda_, have the -Earth so fix'd about them, that till they grind them on a rough Stone -with Sand, they cannot move it sufficiently, to discover they are -Transparent; or, were it not for their Shapes, to know them from other -Stones. At the first opening of the Mine, the unskilful Labourers, -sometimes to try what they have found, lay them on a great Stone, and -striking on them with another, to their costly experience discover -they had broken a Diamond. One I knew who had an excellent Stone of 8 -_mangelleens_, served so by ignorant Miners he employed. - -Near the Place where they dig, they raise a Wall with such rugged -Stones as they find at Hand (whereof all the Mines afford Plenty) of -about two Foot high, and six Foot over, flooring it well with the -same; for the laying of which they have no other Mortar than the Earth -tempered with Water. To strengthen and make it tight they throw up a -Bank against the side of it: In one whereof they leave a small vent -about two Inches from the bottom, by which it empties it self into a -little Pit, made in the Earth to receive small Stones, if by chance any -should run through. The vent being stopped, they fill the Cistern they -have made with Water, soaking therein as much as the Earth they dig -out of the Mines, as it can conveniently receive at a time, breaking -the Clods, picking out the great Stones and stirring it with Shovels, -till the Water is all Muddy, the gravelly stuff falling to the bottom; -then they open the vent, letting out the foul Water and supplying -it with clean, till all the Earthly Substance be wasted away, and -none but a gravelly remains at the bottom. Thus they continue Washing -till about Ten of the Clock before Noon, when they take the gravelly -Stuff they have washed, and spread it on a Place made plain and smooth -(like a Bowling-Alley) for the purpose, near the Cistern, which being -soon dried by the heat of the Sun at that time of the Day, they very -curiously look it over, that the smallest bit of a Stone can hardly -escape them. They never examin the Stuff they have wash'd but between -the Hours of Ten and Three, least any Cloud by interposing, intercept -the brisk Beams of the Sun, which they hold very necessary to assist -them in their search; the Diamonds, not forbearing to reflect them when -they touch therein, rendring themselves thereby the more conspicuous. - -Some of the expertest Labourers are employed in searching; he that -sets them at Work usually sitting by, and overlooking; but it's -hardly possible, especially where many are employed, to watch them -so narrowly, but that they may steal part of what they find, as many -times some of them do, and, selling it privately, convert to their own -use. If they find a large Stone, they carry it not presently to their -Employer, but keep on looking, having an Eye on him till they observe -he takes notice of it, when with a turn of their Hand they give him a -glimpse of it, but deliver it not till they have done Work, and then -very privately, it being the general Endeavour to conceal what they -find, least it should come to the Knowledge of the Governour of the -Place, and he require a share, which in the Kingdom of _Golconda_ is -usually practiced, without respect to any agreement made with them. - -The Miners, those that employ them, and the Merchants that buy the -Stones of them, are generally _Ethnicks_; not a _Musselman_, that -ever I heard of, followed the Employment. These Labourers and their -Employers are _Tellinga_'s, commonly Natives of or near the Place. The -Merchants are the _Banians_ of _Guzzarat_, who for some Generations -have forsaken their own Country to take up the Trade, in which they -have had such Success, that 'tis now solely engross'd by them; who -corresponding with their Country-men in _Surrat_, _Goa_, _Golconda_, -_Visiapore_, _Agra_ and _Dillee_, and other Places in _India_, furnish -them all with Diamonds. - -The Governors of the Mines are also Idolaters: In the King of -_Golconda_'s Dominions a _Tellinga Brammee_ Rents most of them, whose -agreement with the Adventurer is, that, all the Stones they find under -a[19]_Pagoda_ Weight, are to be their own; all of that Weight and -above it to be his, for the King's Use: But although this Agreement be -signed and sealed unto, he minds not at all the Performance thereof, -but endeavours to engross all the Profit to himself, by Tyrannical -squeezing both Merchants and Miners, whom he not only Taxes very high, -but maintaining Spies among them of their own People, on the least -Inkling that they have been any ways Fortunate, he immediately makes a -Demand on them, and raises their Tax; else, on a false Pretence they -have found a great Stone, drubs them till they Surrender what they -have, to redeem their Bodies from Torment. Besides, the Excise is so -high on all sorts of Provisions, _Beetle_, and _Tobacco_, which to -them is as absolutely necessary as Meat, or at least in their Esteem, -that it is thereby raised to double that Price they bear without the -Government; and it is furnish'd only by some Licens'd Persons; if any -other should endeavour to bring in the least quantity by stealth, he -is Fin'd (even for one Leaf of _Tobacco_) if it be a Person of any -Repute, or worth any thing, else very severely drubb'd for it; by which -Course there is hardly a Man worth five Hundred Pound to be found among -them, most of them dealing by Monies taken up at Interest of Usurers, -who reside there purposely to furnish them, who, with the Governor eat -up their Gains: So that one would wonder any of them should stay, and -not betake themselves to Places where they might have better Usage; -as there are several in other Governments, and some few that have the -Sense to remove; but many their Debts, others hopes of a great hit, -detains. Both Merchant and Miner go generally naked, only a poor Clout -about their middle, and their Shash on their Heads; they dare not wear -a Coat, lest the Governor should say they have thriven much, are Rich, -and so enlarge his Demands on them. The Wisest, when they find a great -Stone, conceal it till they have an opportunity, and then with Wife -and Children run all away into the _Visiapore_ Country, where they are -secure. - -The Government in the _Visiapore_ Country is better, their Agreement -observ'd, Taxes easier, and no such Impositions on Provisions; the -Merchants go handsomly Clad, among whom are several Persons of -considerable Estates, which they are permitted to enjoy peaceably, by -reason whereof their Mines are much more Populous and better employed -than those of _Golconda_. - -It is observable, that notwithstanding the Agreement with the -Adventurers of the Mines, that all Stones above a certain Weight shall -be for the King's Use; yet in the Metropolis of either Kingdoms, as -the Cities of _Golconda_ and _Visiapore_ are, there is no seizure, all -Stones are free, and the late deceased King, _Abdull Cutopshaw_ of the -former, and _Edelshaw_ of the latter, would not only give very great -Prices for large Stones, but richly Vest, and present the Merchant that -Sold them with Horses or something else of Value, thereby encouraging -others to bring the like. But the present King of _Visiapore_ is a -Child, and the King of _Golconda_'s Delights solely pleased on light -Women-Dancers, and Trick-Showers, that he neither minds _Diamonds_, nor -many things more necessary, committing the Government of his Kingdom to -a _Tellinga Braminee_, which the _Musselmen_ not well resenting, does -in some measure threaten the stability of his State. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[18] _A _Mangelin_ is 4 grains in weight, saith _Linschoten_._ - -[19] _A _Pagoda_ weight is _9 Mangelleens_._ - - - - - _A Letter from the _East Indies_, of Mr. _John Marshal_ to Dr. - _Coga_, giving an Account of the Religion, Rites, Notions, - Customs, Manners of the Heathen Priests commonly called - _Bramines_. Communicated by the Reverend Mr. _Abraham de la - Pryme_._ - - - _Worthy Sir_, - -The last time that I had the happiness to be in your good Company, -and to partake of those Favours and Blessings that your Goodness -was pleased liberally to bestow upon me and our Companions, at our -departure, and as it were Exile from our Native Land, does so loudly -call out for some recompence or other at our Hands, that I cannot -without the greatest Ingratitude imaginable, let slip this (tho' -sudden) opportunity of Writing unto you, and presenting of you at -this time with what I understand you more value than all the Riches -of the East; to wit, a few Specimens of the Knowledge of those People -whom we stile Barbarians, Heathens and Idolaters, which I have read -in their own Books, and gather'd from the mouths of those that have -been the greatest Speakers and Preachers among them. I have always had -a profound Veneration for the Dictates of Nature, and the universal -Traditions of Nations, for hereby are Infinite Things to be learned, -for the establishing of our Glorious Religion against Atheists, and the -more easie propagation of the same among Infidels and Heathens. - -Upon what account or grounds it is that some Travellers have stiled -these People Polytheists, or Atheists, I cannot tell; or whether there -be any such People at all in the World, except some of the base common -sort in all Nations, I much question? It is very observable here, that -their Priests, or _Bramines_, and Holy Men, whom they call _Jagees_, -when they have occasion to Write any thing they always put a figure of -one in the first place, to shew, as they say, that they acknowledge -but one God, whom they say is _Burme_, that is, Immaterial. When they -preach to the People, and Instruct them, which is commonly every -Feast-day, full Moon, or the time of an Eclipse of either Luminary, -they tell the common People much of God, Heaven and Hell, but very -Imperfectly, Obscurely and Mystically. They say that when God thought -of making the World, he made it in a minute. - -They account this World the Body of God, for all that they say he's -Immaterial; and say that the Highest Heavens are his Head, the Fire -his Mouth, the Air his Breath and Breast, the Water his Seed, and the -Earth and the foundations thereof his Legs and Feet. But assert in -general that God is the Life of every thing, yet is the thing neither -greater nor less for him. - -They hold that God dwelt in a Vacuity before that he created the World, -and that as he dwelt in that Vacuity he created several Beings out of -himself, the first were Angels, the second Souls, the third Spirits, -all differing in degrees of Purity, the first being more pure than the -second, and the second than the third. The Angels, they say, neither -act Good nor Evil, the Souls either Good or Evil, but the Spirits, or -_Dewta's_, as they call them, act scarce any thing but Evil. - -They have a good Opinion of the Angels, and think their State mighty -happy, hoping that when they dye they shall be made partakers of the -same Bliss and Pleasure. - -They believe that every thing that hath Life hath a Soul, but -especially Man; and they accordingly affirm, that as these Souls -behaved themselves in their pre-existent State, so are their Actions -in this World either good or bad, by a sort of fatal Necessity, which -is very hard to conquer, or to overcome. Hence it is, say they, that -there are so many different Humours and Dispositions of Men, for their -Souls, before their entrance into their Bodies, being tainted with -different Affections, causes the like differences in the Parties, -whose Bodies are their Vehicles. So that if a Man happen to have a -suddain or unfortunate Death, they immediately ascribe the same to -the Party's own Wickedness, or the bad Life that his Soul led before -that it enter'd into his Body. For, say they, the afore-acted Evil -that his Soul did in its other Life, brought these accidents upon -him, by getting the upper hand of him, and by being too powerful and -strong. And those that dye thus, they believe that their Souls turn -immediately into Devils. They maintain _Pythagoras_'s Transmigration, -or _Metempsycosis_, but in a grosser sense than he did. For they -believe that Mens Souls, that have not lived so well as they ought, go -as soon as the Body dyes not only into Birds and Beasts, but even into -the basest Reptiles, Insects and Plants, where they suffer a strong -sort of purgation, to expiate their former Crimes: But as for the Souls -of the _Jogees_, or _Fuche's_, that is, of Religious Men and Saints, -they fancy that they go and inhabit with the good _Dewta_'s, or Angels, -among the Stars. - -As for the Spirits, or Inferiour Angels, they believe that they are -very evil, and have a hand in all Wickednesses, Murders, Wars, Storms, -and Tempests; so that when they solemnize the Funerals of those that -are dead, they always present Dishes of Meat, as Offerings unto those -Spirits, and sometimes Sacrifice unto them, that they may not hurt the -Souls of the Dead. - -As they acknowledge the being of a mighty God, so they hold that he -created the World, and every thing therein. They believe that there -are almost infinite number of Worlds, and that God has oftentimes -Annihilated and Re-Created the same. But how he came first to Create -the World and Mankind, they relate to have been thus--Once on a time -(say they) as he was set in Eternity, it came into his mind to make -something, and immediately no sooner had he thought the same, but that -the same Minute was a perfect Beautiful Woman present immediately -before him, which he called _Adea Suktee_, that is, the first Woman: -Then this figure put into his mind the figure of a Man; which he had -no sooner conceived in his mind, but that he also started up, and -represented himself before him; this he called _Manapuise_, that is, -the first Man; then upon a reflection of these things, he resolv'd -further to create several places for them to abide in, and accordingly -assuming a subtil body, he Breath'd in a Minute the whole Universe, and -every thing therein, from the least to the greatest. - -They constantly believe that the Universe cannot possibly last longer -than 71 _Joog's_, which is a measure of time with them, and is ... -years. Which when it is come, God does not only annihilate the whole -Universe, but even every thing else, as well Angels, Souls, and -Spirits, as Inferiour Creatures; and then he remains in the same State -that he was in before the Creation; But say, that after he has a while -respired thus he Breaths again, and every thing is Created afresh, as -well Angels and Souls, as all other things; but as for the Spirits, -they are no more thought of. Yet for all this, after 71 _Joogs_ more -all is Annihilated again. How many _Joogs_ are past since the World -was last Created they cannot certainly tell; only 'tis observable that -in an Almanack of theirs, written in the _Sanscript_ Language in 1670, -they make the World then 3892771 years old from its last Creation. - -The _Bramines_ of _Persia_ tell certain long Stories of a great Giant -that was led into a most delicate Garden, which upon certain conditions -should be his own for ever. But one evening in a cool shade, one of the -Wicked _Dewta's_, or Spirits, came to him, and tempted him with vast -sums of Gold, and all the most precious Jewels that can be imagined; -but he courageously withstood that temptation, as not knowing what -value or use they were of: But at length this wicked _Dewta_ brought -to him a fair Woman, who so charm'd him, that for her sake he most -willingly broke all his Conditions, and thereupon was turned out. - -They tell a great many Stories Absurd and Ridiculous enough, of the -first Ages of this present World, which would be too tedious here to -take notice of; only I shall here give you out of one of their own -Books what they tell us of a great Flood that formerly happened. They -say, that about 21000 Years ago the Sea overwhelm'd and drowned the -whole Earth, except one great Hill, far to the Northwards, called -_Bindd_, and that there fled thither only one Woman and seven Men, -the names of whom were _Dehoolah_, _Sunnuk_, _Sunnaud_, _Trilleek_, -_Sannotah_, _Cuppyloshaw_, _Suraschah_ and _Burroopung_; these -understanding out of their Books that such a Flood would come, and was -then actually coming, prepared against the same, and repaired thither; -to which place also went two of all sorts of Creatures, Herbs, Trees, -and Grasses, and of every thing that had Life, to the number in all -of 1800000 living Souls. This Flood (say they) lasted 120 Years, 5 -Months and 5 days: After which time all those Creatures that were thus -preserved, descended down again and replenished the Earth: But as for -the 7 Men and Women, only one of them came down with her, and dwelt at -the Foot of the Mountain, the other six turned _Fuchee's_, or Holy Men, -and spent there the remainder of their days. - -They hold in general the _Ptolomaic_ System of the Universe, and say -that there are 8 or 9 Heavens, counting the Air and Earth, every one -exceeding another in Beauty and Glory. - -Their Religion consists of nothing that I could ever see or learn, but -the leading of a Pure Life, the Washing away of their Sins in the River -_Ganges_, their muttering over of divers Prayers, and their doing of -strange and incredible Penances. - -They say, that God is such a one, that whosoever seeks him, let it be -after what manner he pleases, whether by thinking that the Sun is he, -or the Moon, or the like, if they do it but sincerely and honestly, -with a right affected heart, they shall be received of him. - -They report, that on a time a _Mussulman_ seeing a _Hindoo_, or -Pagan Priest, in Heaven, he ask'd God how that Infidel came to have -admittance thither, whom _Mahomet_ so often calls by the name of Bitter -Roots? To whom God answered, What if a Bitter Root bring forth sweeter -Fruit than any of you, why should I not receive it? Upon which the -_Mussulman_ had no more to say. - -They hold, that such as suffer not their minds to wander after the -lusts of the World are perfect _Jogees_, or Saints, and hold that God -is always present with them in all their actions. - -It is to be found in many of their Books, that there was a time, a good -while ago, in which God took upon him the shape of a Man, and spent -many Years in reforming the world, and giving better rules to walk by -than had been before: but at length having left them, they soon forgot -him and his Rules, and returned to their former courses; upon which he -told them that he would leave them to their ways, and never undertake -any such thing again. - -The Religious at some certain Seasons of the Year come unto the River -_Ganges_ (which they call the Holy River) in vast multitudes, even from -many parts of _Tartary_, to wash away their sins, and make expiation -for their faults. - -This _Ganges_ is a delicate fine River chiefly for the sake of its most -sweet, pure and clear Waters, which have got it the greatest esteem of -any River in the East. I have oftentimes sail'd many Miles up it, and -have found it in some places not to be above a Mile broad, in others -not half so much, and in one or two places not above one eighth of a -Mile. In _April_, when the Water is at the lowest, it is almost dry in -many places; but when it is at the highest, which is commonly about the -middle of _September_, it is very deep, and many Miles broad. - -When the People are here gather'd together, they have a great many -strange Customs and Ceremonies, and pay a kind of Divine Honour and -Worship to the River, too long and tedious here to mention. The -_Hindoos_ and _Bramines_ preach then every day to the people, teaching -them their Duties, and ordering them to say such and such Prayers; but -above all things to be Charitable to the poor and needy. - -It is reported, that upon the Hills by _Casmere_ there are men that -live some hundreds of Years, and can hold their Breaths, and lye in -Trances for several Years together, if they be but kept warm; and that -every year some of them come down unto the People at _Ganges_, and -do many great Cures; for whom they have such a Veneration, that they -frequently drink the Water they wash their Sweaty Feet in. - -The Penances and Austerities that they undergo are almost incredible; -most of them, through their continual Fastings, and lying upon the -parching hot Sand in the Heat of the Sun, are so Lean, Dry'd and -Wither'd, that they look like Skeletons or Shadows, and one can scarce -perceive them to breath, or feel their Pulse beat. - -When any great Man dyes among them, but especially any of their -_Jogees_ or Saints, they make great preparations for their Funeral; -the Corpse is laid on its Belly, and Salt and Rice laid round about it -at every corner of the Ground. Then the nearest Relations to the Party -deceased carry a Pot of Water on their Shoulders several times about -the Funeral Pile, when they burn them, then breaking it in pieces, -spills the Water. Which Ceremony being ended, the Pile is fired, and -then all the Relations begin to howl, and embrace one another, then -washing themselves in some Neighbouring River, they depart every one -to his Home; and as for the remaining Ashes, if he be Rich they gather -them up, and cast them into the _Ganges_ or the Sea. - -Sometimes it happens that the Wife of the deceased Party, if she have -no Children, and be old, or ill to live in the World, will burn her -self with the dead Body; but this happens very seldom. It is said, that -in such cases the _Bramines_ give the Woman a stupefying Liquor, which -by the time that they are in the Fire makes them senseless of any Pain. - -To know into what Body the Soul of the deceased is transmigrated they -do thus; they strew the Ashes of the Dead upon the Place where he -was first laid after his Death, and handfuls of odoriferous Flowers -about the same, and returning again in 44 Hours, they judge by some -pretended Impression or other in the Ashes, into what Body it is gone: -If the Foot of an Horse, or Dog, or Ox, or such like appear, then -they certainly give out that it is gone into such like Creatures; but -if nothing appear, then they think it is certainly gone to the Starry -Regions. - -As for their Learning and Knowledge it is but little; they have indeed -several Books writ in divers Languages, but they contain nothing but a -great deal of Stuff and Cant about their Worship, Rites and Ceremonies. - -They are ignorant of all parts of the World but their own; they wonder -much at us, that will take so much Care and Pains, and run thro' so -many Dangers both by Sea and Land, only, as they say, to uphold and -nourish Pride and Luxury. For, say they, every Country in the whole -World is sufficiently endow'd by Nature with every thing that is -necessary for the Life of Man, and that therefore it is madness to seek -for, or desire, that which is needless and unnecessary. - -The last time that I was at _Modufferpore_ in _Indostan_, I had a -great deal of talk with a _Bramine_ somewhat more Learned than any of -the rest, his Name was _Ramnaunt_; he told me a great many Secrets in -Physick, and told me many Traditions and Stories. He says, that if you -bury a piece of Mony for some considerable time in the Mouth of a live -Frog, and then dig it up again at Midnight, that this piece of Money, -to whomsoever you give or pay it, will always return to you again. - -He says, that if the little Worm in the Wood _Lukerakera_ be cut in -two, and the one part stirs and the other not, if the stirring part be -bruised, and given with half a Beetle to a Man, the other half to a -Woman, this Charm will keep them from ever lying absent one from the -other. - -They have Books full of the like absurdities, and Cabalistick -complication of Figures; as for Example, if you write these following -Numbers, 28, 35, 2, 7. ---- 6, 3, 32, 31--34, 29, 8, 1, --4, 5, 30, 33. -in the squares of a square Figure, and your Enemies Name under it, and -wear it always about you, your Enemy shall never be able to hurt you. - -So if you write the following Figures in the like manner upon the -left Hand, 2, 9, 2, 7, --6, 3, 6, 5, --8, 3, 8, 1--4, 5, 4, 7--with -Turmerick, and wash the same off with fair Water of _Ganges_, and drink -it, it will cure all manner of Venomous Bitings. - -Multitudes of such like ridiculous Fancies they have; all which they -seem to have borrowed from the _Cabala_ of the _Saracens_, which is -full of such like. - -I lately heard a _Bramine_ say, that if some of the pieces or knots -of the Cloath (in which a Woman hath been burned with her Husband) be -saved, and made up in the form of a Wick, and fitted for a Lamp, and -lighted, and set in a dead Womans Skull, that it would make the dead -Party appear. This he said he had done, but I did not believe him. - -When they have any mad Men among them, they take them and put them into -a close Room, just big enough to hold them, and almost Smoke them to -Death with Musk and cold Smells, which soon brings their Brains into -their right temperature, and so recover them, _&c._ - -There happen'd two things in our Voyage hither which I thought very -observable tho' perhaps they may not be unknown to you--The first was, -that all our Tornadoes brought much Rain with a stink; and if the -Seamen did but lay their Cloaths by for 24 Hours, they became all full -of little Maggots. The second is, When we came out of _Europe_ we took -in some Water at St. _Jago_'s, and when we were almost at our Journeys -end, our Cooper going with a Candle to open one of the Casks, he had no -sooner done it, but the Water immediatly took Fire, and burnt his Face, -Hands and Fingers; but he suddenly turning about quench'd the same, by -setting his Britch on it. It stunk pretty much also at the same time, -but afterwards came to its native Sweetness, _&c._ - - _I am yours_, &c. - - Jo. Marshal. - - - - - _Part of two Letters to the Publisher from Mr. _James Cunningham_, - F.R.S. and Physician to the _English_ at _Chusan_ in _China_, - giving an account of his Voyage thither, of the Island of - _Chusan_, of the several sorts of Tea, of the Fishing, - Agriculture of the _Chinese_, _&c._ with several Observations not - hitherto taken notice of._ - - - _SIR_, - -My last to you was from the Island of _Borneo_, in which I gave you an -account of our arrival there the 17th of _July_, where we staid but two -Days, the Season of the Year being so far past, and from thence made -the best of our way through the Streights of _Banca_ with favourable -Winds and Weather, till we came on the Coast of _China_ the 13th of -_August_, then we had variable Winds which carried us abreast of -_Emuy_ the 19th following, at which time the North East Winds setting -in fresh, put us in great fears of losing our passage; whereupon we -were forced to turn it up against Wind and Current all the Way, the -Weather so favouring us, that we were never but by our Top-sails, -else we should have lost more Ground in one Day, than we could have -gain'd in eight. The last of _August_ we came to an Anchor under the -_Crocodile_ Islands, both to shelter us from the bad Weather, (which -is generally expected on this Coast at new and full Moon, and has been -fatal to a great many Ships) and also to look for fresh Water, which -was now grown scarce with us, not having recruited since we came from -the Cape of _Good Hope_: These are three small Islands lying in the -Latitude of 26 Degrees, about six Leagues from the River of _Hocksieu_; -on _two_ whereof we found very good fresh Water, with a convenient -Watering-place on the South West side of the innermost of the _three_; -and by the assistance of a few _Chinese_ Fishermen we procured some -fresh Provisions from the main-land, because we did not reckon it safe -to adventure our selves thither, lest we should have been brought -into Trouble by the Government there. While we lay here, on the fifth -of _September_ we had a suddain short shift of the Moonsoon to S. W. -the fury whereof others felt, in coming upon the Coast of _China_ at -the same time. The 8th of _September_ we put to Sea again, turning to -Windward Night and Day without all the Islands, which are very numerous -along this Coast, to which we were altogether strangers beyond _Emuy_, -and the Hydrography thereof is hitherto so imperfect, that there was -no trusting to our Drafts, which made our Navigation somewhat more -dangerous: However, on the first of _October_ we got into the Latitude -of 30 Degrees, where we came to an Anchor near the Land, until we found -the way by Boat to _Chusan_, about 12 Leagues within the Islands; from -whence we had a Pilot, who carried us safely thither on the 11th of -_October_. Upon this Island the _Chineses_ have granted us a Settlement -and Liberty of Trade, but not to _Ning-po_, which is 6 or 8 hours sail -to the Westward, all the way among Islands; this being the largest, -is 8 or 9 Leagues in length from East to West, and 4 or 5 Leagues -in breadth; about 3 Leagues from that point of the Main-Land called -Cape _Liampo_ by the _Portugueze_, but _Khi-tu_ by the _Chinese_: At -the West End of this Island is the Harbour very safe and convenient, -where the Ships ride within call of the Factory, which is built close -by the shore on a low plain Valley, with near 200 Houses about it for -the Benefit of Trade; inhabited by Men, whose Jealousie has not as yet -permitted them to let their Wives dwell here; for the Town where they -are, is ¾ of a Mile further from the Shore, enviorn'd with a fine Stone -Wall, about 3 Miles in Circumference, mounted with 22 square Bastions -placed at irregular distances, besides 4 great Gates, on which are -planted a few old Iron Guns, seldom or never used: The Houses within -are very meanly built: Here the _Chumpeen_ or Governour of the Island -lives, and betwixt three and four thousand beggarly Inhabitants, most -part Souldiers and Fishermen; for the Trade of this place being newly -granted, has not as yet brought any considerable Merchants hither. The -Island in general abounds with all sorts of Provisions, such as Cows, -Buffalo's, Goats, Deer, Hogs wild and tame, Geese, Ducks and Hens; -Rice, Wheat, Calavances, Cole-worts, Turnips, Potatoes, Carrots, Beetes -and Spinach; But for Merchandize there's none but what comes from -_Ning-po_, _Hang-cheu_, _Nankin_ and the Inland Towns, some of which I -hope to see, when I have acquir'd a little of the _Chinese_ Language. -Here also the Tea grows in great plenty on the tops of the Hills, but -it is not in that esteem with what grows on more Mountainous Islands. -Altho this Island is pretty well stor'd with People, yet its far from -what it was in _F. Martinius_'s time, when he describes _Cheuxan_: -and this puts me in mind, that the Superstitious Pilgrimages thereto, -mention'd by him, must be meant of the Island _Pou-to_, which lies 9 -Leagues from hence, and 3 Miles to the Eastward of this Island, whither -(they say) the Emperour designs in the Month of _May_ next (being -his Birth-day, and the 40th Year of his Age) to come to worship in -an Ancient Pagoda there, famous for Sanctity; having sent one of his -_Bonzes_ already thither to get all things in order. - - - _Chusan_, _Novemb. 22. 1701._ - - _SIR_, - -I formerly told you, that the Emperor design'd to have come to the -Island of _Pou-to_ (a place of great Devotion) to worship in the Month -of _May_ last, being the 40th Year of his Age, I should have said of -his Reign; but all things being prepared there for his Reception, he -was dissuaded from his purpose by some of his _Mandarines_, who made -him believe that the terrible Thunder there was very dangerous. This -_Pou-to_ is a small Island about 5 Leagues round at the East end of -this Island, famous for the Superstitious Pilgrimages made thither for -the space of eleven hundred Years: It's inhabited only by _Bonzes_, -to the number of 3000, all of the Sect call'd _Hoshang_, or unmarried -_Bonzes_, who live a _Pythagorean_ Life; and there they have built 400 -Pagodes, two whereof are considerable for their greatness and finery, -being lately covered with green and yellow Tiles brought from the -Emperor's Palace at _Nankin_, and inwardly adorn'd with stately Idols -finely grav'd and gilded, the chief whereof is the Idol _Quon-em_. To -these two great Pagodes belong two chief Priests, who govern all the -rest. They have several Ways and Avenues cut through the Island, some -whereof are pav'd with Flag-stones, and over-shaded with Trees planted -on each side: Their dwellings are the best I have yet seen in these -Parts. All which are maintain'd by Charitable Devotions; and the -Junks which go from _Ning-po_ and this place to _Japan_, touch there -both going and coming, to make their Offerings for their good Success. -There is another Island call'd _Kim-tong_ 5 Leagues hence in the way -to _Ning-po_, whither, they say, do retire a great many _Mandarins_ -to live a quiet Life after they have given over their Employments; on -that Island also are said to be Silver Mines, but prohibited to be -open'd. The rest of the circumjacent Islands are either desert, or -meanly inhabited by a few fishing People, but all of them stor'd with -abundance of Deer. For it is not long since this Island of _Chusan_ -began to be Peopled; it's true, in _Martini_'s Days, about 50 Years -ago, it was very Populous for the space of three or four Years, at -which time the fury of the _Tartarian_ Conquest was so great, that -they left it desolate, not sparing so much as the Mulberry Trees (for -then they made a great deal of raw Silk here) and in this condition -it continued till about 18 Years ago, that the Walls of the Fort or -Town, which now is, were built by the Governor of _Ting-hai_, for a -Garrison to expel some Pyrats, who had taken shelter here. About 14 -Years ago, the Island beginning to be peopled, there was a _Chumpeen_ -or General sent to govern it for three Years, to whom succeeded the -late _Chumpeen_ (who procur'd the opening of this Port to Strangers) -whose Government continued till _April_ last, being translated to be -_Chumpeen_ of _Tien-cing Wei_ near to _Pekin_, and was succeeded by the -present _Chumpeen_, who is Son to the Old _Chunkoon_ of _Emuy_. - -They have got no Arts or Manufactories here, but making of lacker'd -Ware, a particular Account whereof I cannot as yet send you. They begin -to Plant Mulberry-Trees, to breed up Worms for the Production of raw -Silk; and they make some Tea, but chiefly for their own use. - -Altho' the following Particulars contain nothing of extraordinary -matters in them, yet such as they are, you may take, till I can procure -you better. - -The three sorts of Tea commonly carry'd to _England_ are all from -the same Plant, only the Season of the Year, and the Soil, makes the -difference. The _Bohee_ (or _Voiii_, so call'd of some Mountains in -the Province of _Fo-kien_, where it is chiefly made) is the very first -bud gather'd, in the beginning of _March_, and dry'd in the Shade. The -_Bing_ Tea is the second growth in _April_: and _Singlo_ the last in -_May_ and _June_, both dry'd a little in _Tatches_ or Pans over the -Fire. The Tea Shrub being an ever-green, is in Flower from _October_ to -_January_, and the Seed is ripe in _September_ and _October_ following, -so that one may gather both Flowers and Seed at the same time; but for -one fresh and full Seed, there are a hundred nought; these make up the -two sorts of _Fruit_ in _Le Compte_'s description of Tea: As for his -other sort, which he calls slymic Pease, they were nothing but the -young Buds of the Flowers not yet open. Its Seed-Vessels are really -_Tricapsular_, each _Capsula_ containing one Nut or Seed, and altho' -two or one _Capsula_ only comes to Perfection, yet the Vestiges of the -rest may be discerned. It grows in a dry gravelly Soil, on the sides -of Hills in several places of this Island, without any Cultivation. - -_Le Compte_ is mistaken in saying (_pag. 96._) that the _Chineses_ are -wholly Strangers to the Art of Grafting, for I have seen a great many -of his Paradoxical Tallow-Trees ingrafted here, besides some other -Trees. When they Ingraft, they do not slit the Stock as we do, but cut -a small slice off the outside of the Stock, to which they apply the -Graft (being cut sloping on one side, agreeable to the slice cut from -the Stock) bringing up the Bark of the slice upon the outside of the -Graft, they tie altogether, covering with Straw and Mud as we do. - -The Commentator on _Magalhen_ seems doubtful in the length of the -_Chinese Che_ or Cubit. Here they have two sorts, one of 13⁷⁄₁₀ -_English_ Inches, which the Merchants commonly use: The other is of -eleven Inches, us'd by Carpenters, and also in Geographical Measures. - -Albeit _F. Martini_ is censur'd by _F. Magalhen_ for spelling a great -many _Chinese_ Words with _ng_, which the _Portuguese_ and others -have done with _m_, yet his way is more agreeable to the _English_ -Pronunciation, only in some Words the _g_ may be left out, as in -_Pekin_, _Nankin_, &c. - -Having made enquiry about _Martini_'s Account of Sowing their Fields at -_Ven-cheu_ with Oyster-shells, to make new ones grow; I was told that -after they have taken out the Oysters, they sprinkle the Shells with -Urine, then putting them into the Water again, there grows new Oysters -on the foresaid Shells. - -_Martini_ says he could never find a _Latin_ Name for the _Fula -Mogorin_ of the _Portuguese_, I'm sure it's the same with the _Syringa -Arabica flore pleno albo in Parkinsone_. He says also, that the -_Kieu-yeu_ or Tallow-tree bears a white Flower like a Cherry-tree; but -all that I have seen here bears a spike of small yellow Flowers like -the _julus_ of a _Salix_. - -The Bean, or _Mandarin_ Broth, so frequently mentioned in the _Dutch_ -Embassy and other Authors, is only an Emulsion made of the Seed of -_Sesamum_ and hot Water. - -Their chief Employments here are Fishing and Agriculture. - -In Fishing, they use several sorts of Nets and Lines as we do; but -because they have large Banks of Mud in some Places, the Fisherman, to -go more easily thereon, has contriv'd a small frame about 3 or 4 Foot -long, not much larger than a Hen-trough, elevated a little at each end, -in which he rests upon one Knee, leaning his Arms on a cross Stick, -rais'd so high as his Breast, and putting out the other Foot often upon -the Mud, he pushes forward his Frame thereon, and so carries himself -along in it. - -As to their Agriculture, all their Fields (where any thing is planted) -whether high or low, are made into such Plots as may retain the Water -on them when they please. They Plow up their Ground with one Buffalo -or one Cow. Where they are to Sow Rice, they prepare the Fields very -well, by clearing it of all manner of Weeds, moistening to a Pulp, and -smoothing it with a Frame drawn across; on which they Sow the Rice very -thick and cover it only with Water for two or three Inches high, and -when it has grown 6 or 8 Inches long, they pull it up by the Roots, and -transplant it (by Tufts in a straight line) to Fields overflown with -Water; and where a Field is subject to Weeds, when the Water drys up, -they prevent their growth in over-turning the Mud with their Hands in -the interstices where the Rice is planted. When they Sow Wheat, Barley, -Pulse, and other Grains, they grub up some superficial Earth, Grass and -Roots, and with some Straw they burn all together; this Earth being -sifted fine, they mix with the Seed, which they Sow in holes made in -a strait Line, and so grows up in Tufts as the Rice does; the Field -being divided into Beds and harrowed over, both before and after the -Seed is Sown: This makes them somewhat resemble Gardens. Altho' they -meliorate their Fields, where they Sow Rice, only by letting the Water -on them, yet for other Grains, where Ground requires it, they make use -of Dung, Human Excrements, Ashes, _&c._ In watering their Fields here -they use the same Instrument mention'd by _Martini_ in the Preface to -his Atlas, being all of Wood, and the contrivance the same with that of -a Chain-Pump. - -Their method in making of Salt is this: All the Shores here being Mud, -instead of Sand, in the Summer Season they pare off the superficial -Earth, which has been overflown with the Salt Water, and lay it up in -heaps for use; when they are to use it they dry it in the Sun, rubbing -it small; then digging a Pit, they cover the bottom thereof with Straw, -at which thro' the side of the Pit they pass a hollow Cane, that -leads into a Jar, which stands below the level of the Pits bottom; -they fill the Pit almost full with the foresaid Earth, and pour Salt -Water thereon, till it be covered two or three Inches with Water, which -drains through, into the foresaid Jar, and is afterwards boil'd into -Salt. - -Had I not found the Printed News Papers last Year take notice of a -singular Root brought from _China_ by _F. Fontaney_, I should not have -told you, that I have seen one since I came here call'd _Hu-chu-u_ -(which I take to be the same) whereto they ascribe wonderful Properties -of prolonging Life, and turning grey Hairs into black, by drinking its -Infusion for some time, insomuch that they say it's to be had in value -from 10 _Tael_ to 1000 or 2000 a single Root; for the larger it is, the -more is its value and efficacy: Which is too much Money here to try the -Experiment. You have it mention'd in _Cleyer_'s _Medicina Sinica_ No. -84. under the Name of _Ho-xcu-u_, according to the _Portugal_ Spelling: -It's likewise painted in the 27th Table of those Plants Mr. _Petiver_ -had of me. If you'll have the Story of its Discovery, which I will not -warrant for Gospel, it runs thus. Upon a time a certain Person going -a Simpling among the Mountains, fell by accident into such a steep -Valley that he could by no means get out of it again; whereupon looking -about for something to sustain his Life; in this melancholy condition, -he espy'd this Root, of which he made Tryal; and found that in eating -thereof, it serv'd him both for Provisions and Clothing, by keeping -his Body in such a temperature, that the Injuries of the Weather had -no influence upon him during his stay there, which was some hundreds -of Years; till at last an Earthquake happen'd in that place, whereby -the Mountains were rent, and he found a passage out to his House, from -whence he had been so long absent: But the many alterations that came -to pass there in such a space of time, would not permit them to give -Credit to his Story; till consulting the Annals of their Family, which -gave an Account of one of them lost at that time, they were confirm'd -in the truth of his Relation. And so much for this. - - - - - _A Letter from Mr. _John Clayton_ Rector of _Crofton_ at - _Wakefield_ in _Yorkshire_, to the Royal Society, _May 12. 1688._ - giving an Account of several Observables in _Virginia_, and in - his Voyage thither, more particularly concerning the Air._ - - -Having oftentimes been urged to give an Account of _Virginia_, by -several of the Worthy Members of the Royal Society, I cannot but, as -far forth as I am able, obey Commands whereby I'm so much honour'd, -and show my Respect by my ready Compliance; tho' I am so sensible -of my own Weakness and Incapacity to answer your Expectations, that -before-hand I must Apologize for my self. And indeed by Sea I lost all -my Books, Chymical Instruments, Glasses and Microscopes, which rendred -me uncapable of making those Remarks and Observations I had designed, -they were all cast away in Captain _Win_'s Ship, as they were to follow -me; and _Virginia_ being a Country where one cannot furnish ones self -again with such things, I was discourag'd from making so diligent a -Scrutiny as otherwise I might have done, so that I took very few -Minutes down in Writing; and therefore, since I have only my Memory -to rely on, which too has the Disadvantage of it's own Weakness, and -of the distance of two Years since now I left the Country, if future -Relations shall in some small Points make out my Mistake, I thought -this requisite to justifie my Candor; for I ever judg'd it villanous -to impose in matters of Fact; but Descriptions of things that depend -on Memory may be liable to Mistakes, and yet the sincerity of the -Person that delivers them intire. But hereof I shall be as cautious -as possible, and shall rather wave some things whereof I have some -Doubts, and am uncapable now of satisfying my self, than in any sort -presume too far. The method I design is, First, to give an Account of -the Air, and all such Observations as refer thereto; then of the Water, -the Earth and Soil; the Birds, the Beasts, the Fishes, the Plants, -the Insects; and lastly, the present state of the Inhabitants: But at -present I shall neither trouble you nor my self with any more than an -Account of what refers to the Air alone, being conscious the Honourable -Society may receive such a Glut with the Imperfection of this, as to -excuse me from a farther Relation. - -But before I begin, perhaps it may not be impertinent to acquaint you -with some things that happen'd in our Voyage. We sail'd in the Ship -_Judith_, Captain _Trim_ Commander, 'twas Fly-boat built, about 200 or -250 Tuns; she sprung a considerable Leak. When the Captain had made -long and diligent Search, had tried all methods that Seamen use upon -such occasions, or he could think of, all in vain, and that the Leak -encreased, he came pensively to consult me. Discoursing with him about -it, and understanding that the Ship was Cieled within, so that though -the Leak might possibly be in the fore-part, it would fill the whole -Cavity betwixt the Cieling and the Planks, and so run into the Hold -at all the Crevices of the Cieling up and down: I thereupon conceive, -that where it burst in betwixt the Cieling and the Planks, it must -needs make some Noise. He told me, they had endeavoured to find it out -that way, and according to custom had clapt Cans to their Ears to hear -with; but the working of the Ship, the Tackle and the Sea made such a -Noise, that they could discover nothing thereby. I happily bethought my -self of the Speaking Trumpet; and having one which I had contrived for -some other Conveniences, of a differing shape from the common sorts, I -bid him take it and apply the broad end to the side of the Ship, the -narrow end to his Ear, and it would encrease his Hearing as much as it -augmented the Voice the other way, and would ward the Ear too from the -confusion of foreign Noise. Upon the first application, accordingly -they heard it, tho' it happened to be at a considerable distance; -and when they removed the Trumpet nigher, they heard it as if it had -been the Current of a mighty River, even so distinctly, as to have -Apprehensions of the bigness and figure of the Hole that the Water came -in at; so that cutting there the Sealing of the Ship, they immediately -stopt the Leak. - -In the Sea I saw many little things which the Seamen call Carvels; they -are like a Jelly or Starch that is made with a cast of Blue in it; they -Swim like a small Sheep's Bladder above the Water, downwards there -are long Fibrous Strings, some whereof I have found near half a yard -long. This I take to be a sort of Sea-Plant, and the strings its Roots -growing in the Sea, as Duck-weed does in Ponds. It may be reckon'd -among the Potential Cauteries; for when we were one day becalm'd, -getting some to make Observations thereof, the sportful People rub'd it -on one anothers Hands and Faces, and where it touch'd it would make it -look very Red, and make it smart worse than a Nettle. In my return for -_England_ we struck a Hauksbill Turtle, in whose Guts I found many of -these Carvels; so that it's manifest they feed thereon. 'Tis commonly -asserted by the Seamen, that they can smell the Pines at _Virginia_ -several Leagues at Sea before they see Land, but I could receive no -Satisfaction as to this Point; I could not discern any such thing when -at a moderate distance, I fear much of this may be attributed to Fancy; -for one Day there came three or four full scent to tell me they were -certain they smelt the Pines; but it afterwards prov'd that we were -at that time 200 Leagues from the Shoar, so that I was satisfied that -was therefore meer Fancy. Indeed we thought, by the general Accounts -of the Ship, that we had been just on the Coast, but all were deceived -by a Current we met with, that at that time set about South-East, or -East South-East, which when once becalmed we tried thus: We hoised out -a Boat, and took one of the Scuttles that cover'd one of the Hatches -of the Ship, tying thereto a great Weight, and a strong long Rope, we -let it sink a considerable depth, and then fastening it to the Boat, -it serv'd as an Anchor, that the Boat could not drive; then with the -Glass and log Line we found the Current set, as I say, Eastward, at -the rate of a Mile and a half an Hour. This Current is of mischievous -Consequence, it does not always run one way, but as it sets sometimes -as we proved Easterly, so does it, as they say, set at other times -Westerly, whereby many Ships have been lost; for then the Ships being -before their Accounts, they fall in with the Land before they are -aware. Thus one Year many Ships were lost on Cape _Hattarasse_, and -thereabouts. - - -_Of the AIR._ - -The Cape called _Cape Henry_, lies in 36½ of the Northern Latitude. -The Air and Temperature of the Seasons is much govern'd by Winds in -_Virginia_, both as to Heat and Cold, Dryness and Moisture, whose -Variations being very notable, I the more lamented the loss of my -Barometers and Thermometers, for considerable Observations might be -made thereby, there being often great and suddain Changes. The Nore -and Nore-West are very nitrous and piercing, cold and clear, or else -stormy. The South-East and South hazy and sultry hot: Their Winter -is a fine clear Air, and dry, which renders it very pleasant: Their -Frosts are short, but sometimes very sharp, that it will freeze the -Rivers over three Miles broad; nay, the Secretary of State assured me, -it had frozen clever over _Potomack_ River, over against his House, -where it is near nine Miles over: I have observed it freezes there the -hardest, when from a moist South East, on a sudden the Wind passing -by the Nore, a nitrous sharp Nore-West blows; not with high Gusts, -but with a cutting brisk Air; and those Vails then that seem to be -shelter'd from the Wind, and lie warm, where the Air is most stagnant -and moist, are frozen the hardest, and seized the soonest, and there -the Fruits are more subject to blast than where the Air has a free -Motion. Snow falls sometimes in pretty quantity, but rarely continues -there above a Day or two: Their Spring is about a Month earlier than in -_England_; in _April_ they have frequent Rains, sometimes several short -and suddain Gusts. _May_ and _June_ the Heat encreases, and it is much -like our Summer, being mitigated with gentle Breezes that rise about -9 of the Clock, and decrease and incline as the Sun rises and falls. -_July_ and _August_ those Breezes cease, and the Air becomes stagnant, -that the Heat is violent and troublesome. In _September_ the Weather -usually breaks suddenly, and there falls generally very considerable -Rains. When the Weather breaks many fall Sick, this being the time of -an Endemical Sickness, for Seasonings, Cachexes, Fluxes, Scorbutical -Dropsies, Gripes, or the like, which I have attributed to this Reason. -That by the extraordinary Heat the ferment of the Blood being raised -too high, and the Tone of the Stomach relaxed, when the Weather breaks -the Blood palls, and like over-fermented Liquors is depauperated, or -turns eager and sharp, and there's a crude Digestion, whence the named -Distempers may be supposed to ensue. And for confirmation, I have -observed the Carminative Seeds, such as warm, and whose Oil sheaths -the acid Humors that ever result from crude Digestions. But Decoctions -that retain the Tone of the Stomach, as I suppose, by making the -little Glands in the Tunicles of the Stomach, squeeze out their Juice, -(for what is bitter may be as well offensive to the Stomach, as to -the Palate) and then Chalibiates that raise the decayed Ferment, are -no bad Practice; after which, I conceive, Armoniack Spirits might be -very beneficial. But their Doctors are so Learned, that I never met -with any of them that understood what Armoniack Spirits were: Two or -three of them one time ran me clear down by consent, that they were -Vomitive, and that they never used any thing for that purpose but -Crocus Metallorum, which indeed every House keeps; and if their Finger, -as the Saying is, ake but, they immediatly give three or four Spoonfuls -thereof; if this fail, they give him a second Dose, then perhaps Purge -them with 15 or 20 Grains of the Rosin of Jalap, afterwards Sweat them -with _Venice_ Treacle, Powder of Snake-Root, or _Gascoin_'s Powder; -and when these fail _conclamatum est_. But to return, 'Tis wonderful -what influence the Air has over Mens Bodies, whereof I had my self -sad assurances; for tho' I was in a very close warm Room, where was -a Fire constantly kept, yet there was not the least Alteration or -Change, whereof I was not sensible when I was sick of the Gripes, of -which Distemper I may give a farther account in its proper place. When -a very Ingenious Gentlewoman was visited with the same Distemper, I -had the opportunity of making very considerable Observations. I stood -at the Window, and could view the Clouds arise: For there small black -fleeting Clouds will arise, and be swiftly carry'd cross the whole -Element; and as these Clouds arose, and came nigher, her Torments were -encreased, which were grievous as a labouring Womans; there was not the -least Cloud but lamentably affected her, and that at a considerable -distance; but by her Shrieks it seemed more or less, according to the -bigness and nearness of the Clouds. The Thunder there is attended often -with fatal Circumstances: I was with my Lord _Howard_ of _Effingham_ -the Governour, when they brought Word that one Dr. _A._ was killed -therewith, after this manner: He was Smoaking a Pipe of Tobacco, and -looking out at his Window when he was struck dead, and immediately -became so stiff, that he did not fall, but stood leaning in the Window, -with the Pipe in his Mouth, in the same posture he was in when struck: -But this I only deliver as Report, tho' I heard the same Account from -several, without any contradicting it. These things are remarkable, -that it generally breaks in at the Gable end of the Houses, and often -kills Persons in, or near the Chimneys range, darting most fiercely -down the Funnel of the Chimney, more especially if there be a Fire, (I -speak here confusedly of Thunder and Lightning) for when they do any -Mischief, the Crash and Lightning are at the same Instant, which must -be from the nearness of the Cloud. One time when the Thunder split -the Mast of a Boat at _James_ Town, I saw it break from the Cloud, -which it divided in two, and seem'd as if it had shot them immediatly -a Mile asunder, to the Eye: It is dangerous when it Thunders standing -in a narrow Passage, where there's a thorough Passage, or in a Room -betwixt two Windows; tho' several have been kill'd in the open Fields. -'Tis incredible to tell how it will strike large Oaks, shatter and -shiver them, sometimes twisting round a Tree, sometimes as if it struck -the Tree backwards and forwards. I had noted a fine spreading Oak in -_James Town_ Island, in the Morning I saw it fair and flourishing, in -the Evening I observed all the Bark of the Body of the Tree, as if it -had been artificially peel'd off; was orderly spread round the Tree, -in a Ring, whose Semidiameter was four Yards, the Tree in the Center; -all the Body of the Tree was shaken and split, but its Boughs had all -their Bark on; few Leaves were fallen, and those on the Boughs as -fresh as in the Morning, but gradually afterwards withered, as on a -Tree that is fallen. I have seen several vast Oaks and other Timber -Trees twisted, as if it had been a small Willow that a Man had twisted -with his Hand, which I could suppose had been done by nothing but the -Thunder. I have been told by very serious Planters, that 30 or 40 -Years since, when the Country was not so open, the Thunder was more -fierce, and that sometimes after violent Thunder and Rain, the Roads -would seem to have perfect casts of Brimstone; and 'tis frequent after -much Thunder and Lightning for the Air to have a perfect Sulphurious -Smell. Durst I offer my weak Reasons when I write to so great Masters -thereof, I should here consider the nature of Thunder, and compare -it with some Sulphurious Spirits which I have drawn from Coals, that -I could no way condense, yet were inflamable; nay, would burn after -they pass'd through Water, and that seemingly fiercer, if they were -not over-power'd therewith. I have kept of this Spirit a considerable -time in Bladders; and tho' it appeared as if they were only blown -with Air, yet if I let it forth, and fired it with a Match or Candle, -it would continue burning till all were spent. It might be worthy -Consideration likewise, whether those frequent Thunders proceeded from -the Air's being more stagnant, the motion of the Winds being impeded -by the Trees, or whether the motion of the Winds being obstructed by -them below, the motion might not be more violent aloft; and how far -that may promote inflammability, for Stacks of Hay or Corn that ferment -with moisture, never burn, unless when brisk Winds blow, that agitate -and fan the little fermenting Sparks, and often kindle them into an -actual Fire. And Observance of the Meteors there might perhaps not be -Impertinent, as both what are more rare, and what are more frequent, -as of _Gosimore_ in great abundance, and of those small Cob-webs in a -Morning, which some have supposed to be Meteors. _Ignes fatui_, tho' -there be many boggy Swamps and Marshes, are seldom, if any are seen -there. There be frequent little sorts of Whirl-winds, whose Diameter -may be sometimes not past two or three Yards, sometimes forty, which -whisking round in a Circle, pass along the Earth, according to the -motion of the Cloud, from whence they issue; and as they pass along -with their gyrous or circular motion, they carry aloft the dry Leaves -into the Air, which fall again often in places far remote. I have -seen them descend in a calm Sun-shine Day, as if they had come from -the Heavens in great Showers thereof, so that all the Elements seem'd -filled therewith. And I could perceive them to descend from on high as -far as I could possibly discern a Leaf. I remember a roguish Expression -of a Seaman, otherwise silly enough, who wondering thereat, cry'd out, -_Sure now 'tis manifest there is a World above!_ and now with them 'tis -the Fall of the Leaf. But to proceed, I thought this made it manifest, -whence many preternatural Showers have happen'd. I remember at Sir -_Richard Atherton_'s in _Lancashire_, some few Years ago, there fell -a great number of the Seeds of Ivy-berries; at first we admir'd what -they were, for they were cover'd with a thin Skin that was red, and -resembled the Figure of a small Wheat Corn; but afterwards they fully -manifested what they were; for many sprouted and took Root. I suppose -they were carry'd aloft by some such Whirl-wind, and let fall there. I -have purposely gone into the place where I perceived this Gust, which -is notorious enough by the Noise it makes, with rattling the Leaves as -it carries them aloft, and have found a fine sharp Breeze of Wind. - - _Yours_, &c. - - - - - Mr. _Clayton_'s second Letter, containing his farther Observations - on _Virginia_. - - -Being honour'd with the Thanks of the Society for my last, and -receiving by my worthy Friend Dr. _Moulin_ their Commands to proceed, -I have added here my Observations of the Waters, and part of the Earth -and Soil. I shall wave both Complements and Apologies, since I have -greater Respect and Honour for the Society than I can possibly express, -and have no reason to suspect their Favour, whose Candidness I so -signally proved in my last. - - -_Of the WATER._ - -'Twixt the two Capes, the Southern, call'd the _Cape Henry_, the more -Northerly call'd _Cape Charles_, there runs up a great Bay, call'd the -Bay of _Cheesepeak_; nine Leagues over in some places, in most Seven, -lying much West, Nore and South, dividing _Virginia_ into two unequal -Parts. On the East side of this Bay there lies a narrow neck of Land, -which makes the Counties of _Northampton_ and _Accomack_. On the West -side of the Bay there branches forth four great Rivers, _James River_, -_York River_, _Rapahanack_ and _Potomack_, that rise from a ridge of -Mountains, whereof more in the Sequel. These Rivers plentifully water -all the other parts of _Virginia_, emptying themselves into the great -Bay. The Mouth of _James River_, which is the most Southerly of them, -the Mouth of _Potomack_, which is the most Northerly, may be a hundred -Miles distance: But as I have been credibly inform'd that the Falls -of _James River_ are not past thirty Miles from _Potomack_, which is -a vast large River nine Miles over in many places. I have been told -it was Navigable nigh two hundred Miles, much higher than any of the -other Rivers: Whence I conclude in future times, it will be the most -considerable for Trade when the Country comes to be inhabited further -up into the main Land. The other Rivers are much about three Miles over -a piece. And _James River_ is Navigable at least eighty Miles. Within -four or five Miles of _James Town_, _James River_ and _York River_ -are not past four or five Miles asunder. Yea, Sloops of considerable -Carriage may Sail up the Branches of the two Rivers, till they come -within a Mile the one of the other; for I take it to be no more from -Col. _Bollards_ to Major _Troop_'s Landing, and I believe they may come -much what as near again as Col. _Coles_, and several other places. -_York_ River is distant from _Rapahanack_ in some places not past -ten or twelve Miles, _Rapahanack_ from _Potomack_ not past seven -Miles in one place, tho' it may be sixty in others. The Heads of the -Branches of the Rivers interfere and lock one within another, which I -think is best expressed after the manner that an _Indian_ explained -himself once to me, when I enquired how nigh the Rivers of _Carolina_, -_Virginia_ and _Maryland_ arose out of the Mountains? from those that -ran Westerly on the other side of the Mountains, he clapt the Fingers -of one Hand 'twixt those of the other, crying, they meet thus; the -Branches of different Rivers rising not past a hundred Paces distant -one from another: So that no Country in the World can be more curiously -watered. But this conveniency, that in future times may make her like -the _Netherlands_, the richest place in all _America_, at the present -I look on the greatest Impediment to the advance of the Country, as it -is the greatest Obstacle to Trade and Commerce. For the great number -of Rivers and the thinness of the Inhabitants distract and disperse a -Trade. So that all Ships in general gather each their Loading up and -down an hundred Miles distant; and the best of Trade that can be driven -is only a sort of _Scotch_ Peddling; for they must carry all sort of -Truck that trade thither, having one Commodity to pass off another. -This (_i. e._) the number of Rivers, is one of the chief Reasons why -they have no Towns; for every one being more sollicitous for a private -Interest and Conveniency, than for a publick, they will either be for -making forty Towns at once, that is, two in every Country, or none at -all, which is the Countries Ruin. But to return, The Tides in these -Rivers regularly ebb and flow about two Foot perpendicular at _James -Town_; there is there, as they call it, a Tide and half Tide, that -is, it flows near two hours along by the Shoar, after that it is ebb -in the Channel, and again it ebbs near two Hours by the Shoar, after -that it is Flood in the Channel. This is great advantage to the Boats -passing up and down the River. I suppose this is caused by many Creeks -and Branches of the Rivers, which being considerable many, tho' only -three or four Miles long, yet as broad as the _Thames_ at _London_; -others ten Miles long, some above twenty, that have little fresh Water -which they carry of their own, but their Current primarily depending -upon the Flux and Re-flux of the Sea. So that after the Tide is made -in the Channel, it flows by the Shoar a considerable time afterwards, -being that those Creeks are still to fill, and therefore as it were -draws up a Source upwards by the Shoar; and likewise when the Tide -returns in the Channel, the Creeks that could not so readily disburse -their Water, being still to empty themselves, they make an ebbing by -the Shoar a considerable time after that it is Flood, as I say, in -the Channel. So far as the Salt Waters reach the Country is deemed -less healthy. In the Freshes they more rarely are troubled with the -Seasonings, and those Endemical Distempers about _September_ and -_October_. This being very remarkable, I refer the Reason to the more -piercing Genius of those most judicious Members of the Society: And -it might perhaps be worthy the Disquisition of the most Learned to -give an Account of the various alterations and fatal effects that the -Air has on humane Bodies, especially when impregnated with a Marine -Salt; more peculiarly when such an Air becomes stagnant: This might -perhaps make several beneficial Discoveries, not only in relation to -those Distempers in _America_, but perhaps take in your _Kentish_ -Agues, and many others remarkable enough in our own Nation. I lately -was making some Observations of this nature, on a Lady of a delicate -Constitution, who living in a clear Air, and removing towards the -Sea-Coast, was lamentably afflicted therewith, which both my self and -others attributed to this Cause, she having formerly upon her going -to the same, been seized in the same manner. But to return: There is -one thing more in reference to this very thing very remarkable in -_Virginia_, generally twice in the Year, Spring and Fall, at certain -Spring-Tides, the most of the Cattle will set on gadding, and run, tho' -it be twenty or thirty Miles, to the River to drink the Salt Water, at -which time there's scarce any stopping of them; which the People know -so well, that if about those times their Herds are stray'd from their -Plantations, without more sollicitation they go directly to the Rivers -to fetch them home again. As for the Waters in the Springs in general, -they are, I think, somewhat more eager than those in _England_. In -that I have observed, they require some quantity more of Malt to make -strong Beer than our _English_ Waters, and will not bear Soap. I have -try'd several by infusing of Galls, and found little difference in the -Colours, turning much what the Colour of common Sack in Taverns. I -tried two Wells at Col. _Birds_, by the Falls of _James River_, several -Wells near _James Town_, some Springs in the _Isle of Wight County_: -There's a Spring in the _Isle of Wight_, or _Nanzamond County_, vents -the greatest Source of Water I ever saw, excepting _Holy-well in -Wales_, but I had not opportunity to make Experiments thereof. I tried -likewise some Springs on the Banks of _York River_, in _New Kent_ and -_Gloucester County_, but found them vary very little as to Colour. I -could not try any thing as to their specifick Gravity, having neither -Aquapoise, nor those other Glasses I had contrived peculiarly for -making such Experiments, they being all lost with my other things. -I had Glasses blown would hold about five Ounces, others about ten -Ounces, with Necks so small, that a Drop would make a considerable -Variation; with these I could make much more critical and satisfactory -Observations as to the specifical Gravity of Liquors, having critical -Scales, than by any other way yet by me tried. I used this method to -weigh Urines, which Practice I would recommend to the Inquisitive and -critical Physicians. I had made many Observations hereof, but all Notes -were likewise lost with my other things. Yet I have begun afresh; -for there are more signal Variations in the Weights of Urines than -one would at first imagin; and when the Eye can discover little, but -judge two Urines to be alike, they may be found to differ very much -as to Weight. By Weight I find Observations may be made of Affections -in the Head, which rarely make any visible Alterations in the Urine. -I have found two Urines not much unlike differ two and twenty Grains -in the quantity of about four or five Ounces: But let them that make -these Essays weigh all their Urines when cold, lest they be thereby -deceiv'd. But to return to the Spring Waters in _Virginia_. There's a -Spring at my Lady _Berkley's_, called _Green-Spring_, whereof I have -been often told, so very Cold, that 'tis dangerous drinking thereof in -Summer-time, it having proved of fatal Consequence to several. I never -tried any thing of what Nature it is of. - -There be many petrifying Waters; and indeed I believe few of the Waters -but participate of a petrifying Quality, tho' there be few Pebbles or -paving Stones to be found in all the Country. But I have found many -Sticks with crusty Congelations round them in the Ruins of Springs, -and Stones figured like Honey-Combs, with many little Stars as it were -shot in the Holes. And nothing is more common than petrefy'd Shells, -unless you would determine that they are parts of natural Rock shot -in those Figures, which indeed I rather think; but thereof hereafter. -Mr. Secretary _Spencer_ has told me of some Waters participating much -of _Alome_ or _Vitriol_ towards _Potomack_. Up beyond the Falls of -_Rapahanack_ I have heard of Poisonous Waters. But these I only mention -as a hint to further Enquiry of some others, for I can say nothing of -them my self. - - - - - _A Continuation of Mr. _John Clayton_'s Account of _Virginia_._ - - -_Of the Earth and Soil._ - -When you make the Capes of _Virginia_, you may observe it low Land, so -that at some distance the Trees appear as if they grew in the Water; -and as you approach nigher to emerge thence. For a hundred Miles up -into the Country, there are few Stones to be found, only in some -places, Rocks of Iron Oar appear, which made me expect to have found -many Waters turn Purple with Galls, but never met with any. Providence -has supplied the common use of Stones, by making the Roads very good: -so that they ride their Horses without shooing them; which yet are more -rarely beaten on their Feet, than ours are in _England_, the Country -and Clime being dry, their Hoofs are much harder; For I observed, that -take a Horse out of the wet Marshes, and Swamps, as they there call -them, and ride him immediatly, and he'll quickly be tender-footed. In -some places, for several Miles together, the Earth is so intermix'd -with Oyster-shells, that there may seem as many Shells as Earth; and -how deep they lie thus inter-mingled, I think, is not yet known: for -at broken Banks they discover themselves to be continued many Yards -perpendicular. In several places these Shells are much closer, and -being petrefied, seem to make a Vein of a Rock. I have seen in several -places, Veins of these Rocky Shells, three or four Yards thick, at the -foot of a Hill, whose Precipice might be twenty Yards perpendicular, -whose Delf, I suppose, shot under the Hill, pieces of these Rocks -broken off, lie there, which, I suppose, may weigh twenty or thirty -Tuns a piece, and are as difficult to be broken as our Free-stone. -Of these Rocks of Oyster-shells that are not so much petrified, they -burn and make all their Lime; whereof they have that store, that no -Generation will consume. Whether these were formerly Oysters, which -left by the subsiding Seas, (as some suppose, that all that Tract of -Land, now high Ground, was once overflowed by the Sea) were since -petrefied, or truly Stones, _sui Generis_, I leave to the Honourable -Society to determin. But when I consider the constant and distinct -shooting of several Salts, Nature's Curiosity, in every thing, so -far exceeding that of Art, that the most Ingenious, when referr'd -thereto, seem only endued with an Apish fondness, I cannot think any -thing too difficult or wonderful for Nature; and indeed I do not -apprehend, why it may not be as feasible to suppose them to have been -Rocks, at first shot into those Figures, as to conceive the Sea to -have amass'd such a vast number of Oyster-shells one upon another, and -afterwards subsiding, should leave them cover'd with such Mountains -of Earth, under which they should petrify: But not to launch forth -too far into those Disputes, since I must modestly remember to whom -I write. Often, in the looser Banks of Shells and Earth, are found -perfect Teeth petrefied, some whereof I have seen, could not be less -than two or three Inches long, and above an Inch broad: Tho' they -were not Maxillary Teeth, the part that one might suppose grew out of -the Jaw, was polish'd, and black, almost as Jet; the part which had -been fasten'd in the Jaw and Gums, was brown, and not so shiningly -polish'd, or smooth; if they were, as they seemed to be, really Teeth, -I suppose, they must have been of Fishes. The back-Bone of a Whale, -and as I remember, they told me of some of the Ribs, were digg'd out -of the side of a Hill, several Yards deep in the Ground, about four -Miles distant from _James Town_, and the River. Mr. _Banister_, a -Gentleman pretty curious in those things, shew'd me likewise the Joint -of a Whale's back-Bone, and several Teeth, some whereof, he said, were -found in Hills beyond the Falls of _James_ River, at least, a hundred -and fifty Miles up into the Country. The Soil in general is Sandy: -I had designed, and I think it might be worth a critical Remark, to -observe, the difference of Soils seem appropriated to the several -sorts of Tobacco: For there is not only the two distinct sorts of a -sweet-scented, and Aranoko Tobacco, but of each of these be several -sorts much different, the Seeds whereof are known by distinct Names, -they having given them the Names of those Gentlemen most famed for -such sort of Tobacco, as of _Prior_-seed, _&c._ Nay, the same sort -of Seed in different Earths, will produce Tobacco much different, -as to goodness. The richer the Ground, the better it is for Aranoko -Tobacco, whose Scent is not much minded, their only aim being to have -it specious, large, and to procure it a bright Kite's Foot colour. -Had not my Microscopes, _&c._ Tools to grind Glasses, been cast away, -with my other things, I had made some critical Enquiries into their -several Natures, I would have examin'd what proportions of Salts, all -the sorts of Earths had afforded, and how Water impregnated with their -Salts, would have changed with infusing Galls, how with the Syrup of -Violets, and how they would have precipitated Mercury, or the like, and -so far forth as I had been able, examined them by the several Tryals of -Fire. I conceive Tobacco to be a Plant abounding with Nitro-Sulphurious -Particles; for the Planters try the goodness of their Seed, by casting -a little thereof into the Fire; if it be good, it will sparkle after -the manner of Gun-powder: so will the Stalks of Tobacco-leaves, and -perhaps has something analogous to the Narcotick Sulphur of _Venus_, -which the Chymists so industriously labour after. The World knows -little of the efficacy of its Oyl, which has wonderful Effects in the -curing of old inveterate Sores, and Scrophulous Swellings, and some, -otherwise applied and qualified. The goodness of Tobacco I look on -primarily consists in the volatility of its Nitre: And hence the -sandy Grounds that are most impregnated therewith, and whose Nitrous -Salt is most Volatile, for such Grounds are quickliest spent, yield -Tobacco's that have the richest Scent, and that shortly becomes a -pleasant Smoak; whereas, in Tobacco that grows on stiff Ground, the -Salts seem more fix'd, and lock'd up in the Oyl, so that whilst new, -'tis very heady and strong, and requires some time for its Salts to -free themselves, and become Volatile; which it manifests, by its having -an Urinous Smell. The same Reason satisfies, why Tobacco that grows -on low Lands as far as the Salts, tho' the Plant be never overflowed -with Salt Water, yet the Ground that feeds the Plant being impregnated -with Salt Water, that Tobacco Smoaks not pleasantly, and will scarcely -keep Fire, but do all that a Man can, will oft go out, and gives much -trouble in frequent lighting the Pipe, 'till after it has been kept -some considerable time: Which may be assign'd to the fixeder Saline -Particles of the Marine Salt in these Plants, which require more time -e'er they be render'd Volatile. Here it might be worthy an Enquiry -into the Nature of Filtration of Plants, since we may hence gather, -Particles of the Marine Salt are carried along with the _Succus -Nutritius_ of the Plant; concerning which, if it were not too much to -deviate from the Matter in hand, I should offer some Reflections of -my own, which the Learned Society might perhaps improve: For I think -thence might be made many happy Conjectures as to the Virtues of -Plants. So where we see Plants, or Trees, of an open Pore growing low, -we shall find their Juice has subtile Parts: So have all Vines, whether -the Grape Vine, or Briony, or a Smilax, or the like. If a Gummous Plant -or Tree, that grows low, and close Pored, it abounds with acid Spirits, -as _Lignum Vitæ_, &c. if it grow tall, and be open Pored, it abounds -with a subtile Volatile Spirit, as your Firs, and the Turpentine -Tree. But to insist no further herein, than as this may be applicable -to the present Discourse: For I have observed, that that which is -called Pine-wood Land, tho' it be a sandy Soil, even the Sweet-scented -Tobacco that grows thereon, being large and porous, agreeable to -Aranoko Tobacco; it smoaks as coarsely as Aranoko: Wherefore 'tis, -that I believe the Microscope might make notable Discoveries towards -the knowledge of good Tobacco: For the closer the Composition of the -Leaf, the better the Tobacco; and therefore the Planters and Merchants -brag of the Substance of their Tobacco; which word, did they always -take it in a true Sence, for the Solidness, and not mistake it for the -Thickness, it would be more consonant to a true Observation: for as I -said of the Pine-wood Tobacco, some of it is thick and not Solid, and -differs from the best Tobacco, as Buff does from Tann'd Leather; so -that if the Tobacco be sound and not Rotten, you may give a great guess -at the goodness of Tobacco, when you weigh the Hogsheads, before you -see them: For if an equal care be taken in the packing of them the best -Tobacco will weigh the heaviest, and Pack the closest. Now I said, -that the Sweet-scented Tobacco most in vogue, which was most fam'd for -its Scent, was that that grew on sandy Land; which is true, if you -would Smoak it whilst new, or whilst only two or three Years Old; but -if you keep the stiff Land Tobacco, which is generally a Tobacco of -great Substance five or six Years, it will much excel: For tho' the -sandy Land Tobacco abound with a Volatile Nitre at first, yet the stiff -Land Tobacco abounds with a greater quantity of Nitre, only that it is -lock'd up in its Oyl at first, and requires more time to extricate it -self, and become Volatile; but the Pine-wood Land having little of the -Nitro-Sulphurious Particles, neither is, nor ever will make any thing -of a rich Smoak. Discoursing hereof some days since, to a Gentleman -of good Observation, that has been versed with Malting, he assured -me, to back this my Supposition, or Hypothesis, he had observed, that -Barly that grew on stiff Ground, requir'd more time considerably to -Mellow, and come to perfection, than that that grew on light Land. -Having proceeded thus far to speak of Tobacco, I shall add one or two -things more. The Planters differ in their Judgments about the Time of -Planting, or Pitching their Crops: Some are for Pitching their Crops -very early, others late, without any distinction of the Nature of the -Soils; and 'tis from the different Effects that they find, in that, -sometimes early, sometimes the late Planting succeeds: But they have -not the Reason to judge of the Cause, to consider the Accidents of the -Year, and the Difference of the Soils. In sandy Grounds they need not -strive so much for early Planting, the Looseness of the Earth, and the -kind natur'd Soil, yielding all that it can, easily and speedily, and -Sand retaining the Heat, makes the Plants grow faster. But in stiff -Soils, if the Crops be not early pitch'd, so that during the Season -of Rains it have got considerable Roots, and shot them some depth, -if early Droughts come, it so binds the Land, that the Roots never -spread or shoot deeper, or further than the Hill that they are planted -in: For they plant them as we do Cabbages, raising Hills to set every -Plant in, about the bigness of a common Mole-hill: observing this on -the Plantation where I lived, that it was stiff Ground, I advised them -to Plant their Crops as early as possible; and in order thereunto, I -tried several ways to further the Plants; but not to trouble you with -the several Experiments that I made, in reference thereto: What I found -most advantageous was, by taking an infusion of Horse-dung, and putting -thereon Soot, and then my Seeds; this I kept Forty eight Hours in an -ordinary digestive heat, I had two Beds left me to Sow, in the midst of -those the People sow'd, and the quantity of Seed that they generally -allotted to the same quantity of Ground; when I sow'd, I mix'd Ashes -with the Seed, having decanted the Liquor, that the Seed might sow -the evener: The effect was, that my Plants came up much sooner, grew -swifter, and I had five Plants for one more than any of the other Beds -bore; I left the Country shortly after, and so no certainty of the -final Result. There be had various Accidents and Distempers, whereunto -Tobacco is liable, as the Worm, the Fly, Firing to Turn, as they -call them, French-men, and the like. I propos'd several ways to kill -the Worm and Fly, as by Sulphur and the like; but had no opportunity -to experiment it: I shall set down that I had most hopes of, which -perhaps may give a hint to others to try or improve. Tobacco-seed is -very small, and by consequence so is the young Plant at first, that -if gleamy Weather happen at that time, it breeds a small Fly, which -consumes the Plume of the Plant; now it being early in the Year when -they Sow the Seed, _viz._ about the fourteenth of _January_, they cover -the Ground, to secure, as well as they can, their tender Plants, from -the nipping Frosts, that may happen in the Nights; they cover them only -with a few Oak-leaves, or the like; for Straw they find apt to Harbour -and Breed this Fly: I therefore would advise them to smoak Straw -with Brimstone, once in two or three Nights, and so they might cover -them securely, with that which would preserve them infinitely beyond -the Covering with Oak-boughs; indeed, I would advise them to keep -peculiarly so much of their _Indian_ Corn-blades, which they gather -for their Fodder, for this very purpose, being as I conceive, much the -best, there being no Chaff to foul their Beds, and prejudice them when -they should weed them. What they call Firing is this: When Plants are -of small Substance, as when there has been a very Wet and Cold Season, -and very hot Weather suddainly ensues, the Leaves turn Brown, and dry -to dust: the cause I conceive to be hence: The Plant being feeble, and -having a small quantity of Oyl, which makes the more solid part of the -Plant, the Earth being suddainly heated by the Sun's fiercer Beams, the -Roots are rather scorch'd and dried up in the Earth, than nourish'd; -so that the Plant consisting only of watry parts, is consumed, as it -were, by Fire: sometimes hopeful Plants, when by a sudden Gust some -Master Veins are broken, if suddain heat ensues, they likewise Fire: -For being not come to maturity, and being deprived of the Supports of -Life and Vegetation, they likewise perish, are dried up, and fall to -dust. _French-men_ they call those Plants, whose leaves do not spread -and grow large, but rather spire upwards, and grow tall; these Plants -they do not tend, being not worthy their Labour. Were they so Critical, -I believe, they might have great Guess what Plants were most likely to -turn _French-men_, by observing whether the Roots of the Plants run -downwards, as those whose Branches are aptest to spire upwards: For -tho' I have not made positive proof thereof, I have something more -than bare fancy for my conjecture; I have pull'd up some of these -_French-men_, and compar'd them with the Roots of some other Plants, -and found them much longer than others; and 'tis observable, loose -Soils, and sandy Ground, are more subject thereto than the stiff Land. -The Country of it self is one entire Wood, consisting of large Timber -Trees of several sorts, free from Thickets or under Wood, the small -Shrubs growing only on Lands, that have been clear'd, or in Swamps; and -thus it is for several Hundreds of Miles, even as far as has yet been -discover'd. But that shall be reserv'd 'till another opportunity. - - _I am_, &c. - - - - - _Mr. _John Clayton_, Rector of _Crofton_ at _Wakefield_, his Letter - to the _Royal Society_, giving a farther Account of the Soil, and - other Observables of _Virginia_._ - - -I shall here present you with a continuation of my Remarks on the -River, Soil, and Plants of _Virginia_. And first, as to the River -on the other side the Mountains, said to Ebb and Flow. I have been -assured by Col. _Bird_, who is one of the Intelligentest Gentlemen -in all _Virginia_, and knows more of _Indian_ Affairs than any Man -in the Country, that it was a Mistake; for that it must run into a -Lake, now called _Lake Petite_, which is fresh Water; for since that -time a Colony of the _French_ are come down from _Canada_, and have -seated themselves on the back of _Virginia_, where _Fallam_ and the -rest suppos'd there might be a Bay, but is a Lake, to which they have -given the Name of _Lake Petite_, there being several larger Lakes -'twixt that and _Canada_. The _French_ possessing themselves of these -Lakes, no doubt will in short time be absolute Masters of the Beaver -Trade, the greatest number of Beavers being catch'd there. The Colonel -told me likewise, that the common Notion of the Lake of _Canada_, he -was assured was a Mistake, for the River supposed to come out of it, -had no Communication with any of the Lakes, nor the Lakes one with -another, but were distinct. But not to ramble after hear-say, and -other matters; but to return to the Parts of _Virginia_ inhabited by -the _English_, which in general is a very Fertile Soil, far surpassing -_England_, for there _English_ Wheat (as they call it, to distinguish -it from _Maze_, commonly called _Virginia_ Wheat) yields generally -'twixt Fifteen and Thirty fold, the Ground only once plow'd; whereas -'tis a good Crop in _England_ that yields above Eight fold, after all -their Toil and Labour. And yet in truth 'tis only the barrennest Parts -that they have cultivated, Tilling and Planting only the High-Lands, -leaving the Richer Vales unstirr'd, because they understand not any -thing of Draining. So that the Richest Meadow-Lands, which is one third -of the Country, is Boggy, Marsh, and Swamp, whereof they make little -Advantage, but loose in them abundance of their Cattle, especially at -the first of the Spring, when the Cattle are weak, and venture too far -after young Grass. Whereas vast Improvements might be made thereof; for -the generality of _Virginia_ is a Sandy Land with a shallow Soil. So -that after they have cleared a fresh piece of Ground out of the Woods, -it will not bear Tobacco past two or three Years, unless Cow-pen'd; -for they Manure their Ground by keeping their Cattle, as in the South -you do your Sheep, every Night confining them within Hurdles, which -they remove when they have sufficiently dung'd one spot of Ground; -but alas! they cannot Improve much thus, besides it produces a strong -sort of Tobacco, in which the Smoakers say they can plainly taste the -fulsomeness of the Dung. Therefore every three or four Years they must -be for clearing a new piece of Ground out of Woods, which requires much -Labour and Toil, it being so thick grown all over with Massy Timber. -Thus their Plantations run over vast Tracts of Ground, each ambitioning -to engross as much as they can, that they may be sure to have enough -to Plant, and for their Stocks and Herds of Cattel to Range and Feed -in, that Plantations of 1000, 2000, or 3000 Acres are common, whereby -the Country is thinly inhabited; their Living solitary and unsociable; -Trading confused and dispersed; besides other Inconveniences: Whereas -they might Improve 200 or 300 Acres to more Advantage, and would make -the Country much more Healthy; for those that have 3000 Acres, have -scarce cleared 600 Acres thereof, which is peculiarly term'd the -Plantation, being surrounded with the 2400 Acres of Woods: so that -there can be no free or even motion of the Air, but the Air is kept -either stagnant, or the lofty Sulphurous Particles of the Air, that -are higher than the tops of the Trees, which are above as high again -as the generality of the Woods in _England_, descending when they pass -over the cleared spots of Ground, must needs in the violent heat of -Summer, raise a preternatural Ferment, and produce bad Effects. Nor -is it any advantage to their Stocks, or Crops; for did they but drain -their Swamps, and Low-Lands, they have a very deep Soil, that would -endure Planting twenty or thirty Years, and some would scarce ever -be worn out, but be ever longer better, for they might lay them all -Winter, or when they Pleased in Water, and the product of their Labour -would be double or treble, whether Corn or Tobacco; and that this is no -fond Projection, (though when I have discoursed the same to several, -and in part shewn them how their particular Grounds might be drained -at a very easie rate) they have either been so conceited of their old -way, so sottish as not to apprehend, or so negligent as not to apply -themselves thereto. But on the Plantation where I lived, I drained a -good large Swamp, which fully answered expectation. The Gentlewoman -where I lived, was a very Acute Ingenious Lady; who one day Discoursing -the Overseer of her Servants, about pitching the ensuing Year's Crop. -The Overseer was naming one place where he designed to Plant 30000 -Plants, another place for 15000, another for 10000, and so forth the -whole Crop, designed to be about 100000 Plants: Having observed the -Year before he had done the like, and scattered his Crop up and down -the Plantation, at Places a Mile, or a Mile and a half asunder, which -was very Inconvenient, and whereby they lost much time. I interposed, -and asked, why they did not Plant all their Crop together? The Fellow -smiled as it were at my Ignorance, and said, there was very good -Reason for it. I replied, that was it I enquir'd after. He returned, -the Plantation had been an old planted Plantation, and being but a -small Plot of Ground, was almost worn out, so that they had not Ground -altogether that would bring forth Tobacco. I told him then they had -better Ground than ever yet they had planted, and more than their Hands -could manage. He smil'd again, and asked me, where? I then named such a -Swamp. He then said scornfully, he thought what a Planter I was; that -I understood better how to make a Sermon, then managing Tobacco. I -replied with some warmness, tho' I hoped so, that was Impertinence, and -no Answer. He then said, that the Tobacco there would drown, and the -Roots rot. I replied, that the whole Country would drown if the Rivers -were stopt, but it might be laid as dry as any Land on the Plantation. -In short, we discoursed it very warmly, till he told me, he understood -his own Business well enough, and did not desire to learn of me. But -the Gentlewoman attended somewhat better to my Reasoning, and got me -one day to go and shew her how I projected the draining of the Swamp, -and thought it so feasible, that she was resolved to have it done; and -therefore desir'd me I would again Discourse her Overseer, which I did -several times, but he would by no means hearken thereto, and was so -positive, that she was forc'd to turn him away, to have her Servants -set about the Work; and with three Men in thirteen Days I drained the -whole Swamp, it being Sandy Land, soaks and drains admirably well, and -what I little expected, laid a Well dry at a considerable distance. -The Gentlewoman was in _England_ last Year, and I think Dr. _Moulin_ -was by when she asked me. Now to teach her how she might make her -Tobacco that grew in the Swamp less, for it produced so very large, -that it was suspected to be of the _Aranoko_ kind: I told her, though -the complaint was rare, yet there was an Excellent Remedy for that, in -letting every Plant bear eight or nine Leaves instead of four or five, -and she would have more Tobacco, and less Leaves. Now you must know -they top their Tobacco, that is, take away the little top-bud, when -the Plant has put forth as many Leaves as they think the Richness of -the Ground will bring to a Substance; but generally when it has shot -forth four or six Leaves. And when the top-bud is gone, it puts forth -no more Leaves, but Side-branches, which they call Suckers, which they -are careful ever to take away, that they may not empoverish the Leaves. -I have been more tedious in the Particulars, the fullier to evince how -resolute they are and conceitedly bent to follow their old Practice -and Custom, rather than to receive Directions from others, tho' plain, -easie, and advantageous. There are many other Places as easie to drain -as this, tho' of larger extent, and richer Soil, for some of which I -have given directions, and have only had the return perhaps of a flout -afterwards: Even in _James Town Island_, which is much what of an Oval -Figure, there's a Swamp runs Diagonal-wise over the Island, whereby is -lost at least 150 Acres of Land, which would be Meadow, which would -turn to as good Account as if it were in _England_: Besides it is -the great annoyance of the Town, and no doubt but makes it much more -unhealthy. If therefore they but scour'd the Channel, and made a pretty -ordinary Trench all along the middle of the Swamp, plac'd a Sluice at -the Mouth, where it opens into the back Creek; for the Mouth of the -Channel there is narrow, has a good hard bottom, and is not past two -Yards deep when the Flood is out; as if Nature had designed it before -hand: They might thus drain all the Swamp absolutely dry, or lay it -under Water at their Pleasure. I have talked several times hereof to -Mr. _Sherwood_, the owner of the Swamp, yet nothing is essayed in Order -thereto. And now since we are speaking of _James Town_ give me leave to -adjoin some Reflections as to the Situation and Fortifications of the -Place. The Natural Situation of the place is such, as perhaps the World -has not a more commodious Place for a Town, where all things conspire -for Advantage thereof. - -_James Town Island_ is rather a _Peninsula_, being joined to the -Continent by a small Neck of Land, not past Twenty or Thirty Yards -over, and which at Spring-Tides is overflow'd, and is then an absolute -Island. Now they have built a silly sort of a Fort, that is, a Brick -Wall in the shape of a Half-Moon, at the beginning of the Swamp, -because the Channel of the River lies very nigh the Shoar; but it is -the same as if a Fort were built at _Chelsey_ to secure _London_ from -being taken by Shipping. Besides Ships passing up the River are secured -from the Guns of the Fort, till they come directly over-against the -Fort, by reason the Fort stands in a Vale, and all the Guns directed -down the River, that should play on the Ships, as they are coming up -the River, will lodge their Shot within Ten, Twenty, or Forty Yards in -the rising Bank, which is much above the Level of the Fort; so that if -a Ship gave but a good Broad-side, just when she comes to bear upon -the Fort, she might put the Fort into that confusion, as to have free -Passage enough. There was indeed an old Fort of Earth in the Town, -being a sort of _Tetragone_, with something like Bastions at the four -Corners, as I remember; but the Channel lying further off to the middle -of the River there, they let it be demolished, and built that new one -spoke of, of Brick, which seems little better than a blind Wall, to -shoot Wild Ducks or Geese. - -If they would build a Fort for the Security of the Town and Country, I -conceive it should be on _Archer_'s _Hope Point_, for that would stop -the Ships from passing up the River, before they came to the Town, -and would secure the Town from being block'd up by Sea. The Channel -at _Archer_'s _Hope Point_ lies close by the Shoar, and makes such an -Angle there by reason of _Hog Island_, that going up or down the River, -let the Wind be where it will, they must there bring the contrary Tack -on Board, and generally when they About the Ship as they call it, they -are so near the Shoar, that a Man may almost fling a Finger-stone on -Board. How much this hinders the motion of a Ship, and what Confusion -it must be to them to bring a contrary Tack on Board, whilst they -have all the Guns of a Fort playing so nigh upon them, may readily be -conceived. _Archer_'s _Hope_ is a Neck of Land, that runs down three -Miles long, not much past half a Mile broad betwixt the Main River and -_Archer_'s _Hope Creek_, which has large Marshes and Swamps; so that -a Citadel built upon the Point, would almost be Impregnable, being it -could be attack'd no way but one, which is so narrow a slender Neck -of Land, that it would be difficult to take it that way: And it would -secure _James Town_ from being block'd, being it would not be past a -Mile by Water, to the Point of _James Town Island_. The Island is so -surrounded with Water and Marshy Land, that the Town could never be -Bomb'd by Land. But now to return to the Reflections of Improving, and -Manuring of Land in _Virginia_; hitherto, as I have said, they have -used none but that of Cow-penning; yet I suppose they might find very -good Marle in many places, I have seen both the red and blew Marle at -some breaks of Hills: This would be the properest Manure for their -Sandy Land, if they spread it not too thick, theirs being, as I have -said, a shallow, Sandy Soil, which was the Reason I never advised any -to use Lime, tho' they have very good Lime of Oyster-shells; but -that's the properest Manure for cold Clay Land, and not for a Sandy -Soil. But as most Lands have one Swamp or another bordering on them, -they may certainly get admirable Slitch, wherewith to Manure all their -uplands. But this, say they, will not improve Ground, but clods and -grows hard; 'tis true, it will do so for some time, a Year or two at -the first; but did they cast it in heaps, and let it lie for two or -three Years after a Frost or two had seized it, and it had been well -pierced therewith, I doubt not it would turn to good Account: And for -this too I have something more than bare conjecture; for Discoursing -it once with a good notable Planter, we went to view a heap thereof, -that casually he had cast up 'twixt three and four Years before, and we -found it not very binding, but rather a fine Natural Mold, whereupon -he did confess, he then remembred that out of a ridge of the like Mold -he had very large Plants, which must have been of the like Slime or -Slitch cast up before: But said, that himself and others despaired of -this Manure, because they had taken of this Slitch fresh and moist -out of the Swamp, and fill'd Tobacco Hills with it, and in the midst -of it planted their Plants, which so bound the Roots of their Plants, -that they never came to any thing. But he said, he then saw his Error, -yet I have not heard he has remembred to Correct it. But 'tis strange -in how many things besides they are remiss, which one would think -_English_ Men should not be guilty of. They neither House nor Milk any -of their Cows in Winter, having a Notion that it would kill them; yet -I perswaded the afore-mentioned Lady where I lived, to Milk four Cows -the last Winter that I staid in the Country, whereof she found so good -Effect, that she assured me she would keep to my Advice for the future; -and also as I had further urged, House them too, for which they have -mighty Conveniencies, their Tobacco Houses being empty ever at that -time of the Year, and may easily be fitted in two or three days time -without any Prejudice; whereby their Cattle would be much sheltered -from those Pinching sharp Frosts that some Nights on a sudden become -very severe. I had another Project for the Preservation of their Cattle -proved very successful; I urged the Lady to sow her Wheat as early as -possibly she could, so that before Winter it might be well rooted, -to be early and flourishing at the first of the Spring: So that she -might turn thereon her weak Cattle, and such as should at any time be -swamp'd, whereby they might be recruited and saved, and it would do the -Wheat good also. I advised her likewise to save, and carefully gather -her _Indian_ Corn-tops, and blades, and all her Straw, whatever could -be made Fodder, for her Cattle; for they get no Hay, tho' I was urging -her to that too, and to sow _Saintfoin_; for being a Sandy Soil, I am -confident it would turn to very good Account. They have little or no -Grass in Winter, so that their Cattle are pined and starved, and many -that are brought low and weak, when the Spring begins, venture too far -into the Swamps after the fresh Grass, where they perish; so that -several Persons lose ten, twenty or thirty Head of Cattle in a Year: I -observed this was much owing to their Inadvertency and Error in their -way of Managing and Feeding them; for they get little Fodder, but as -they think Corn being more Nourishing, feed them with their _Indian_ -Corn, which they give them Morning and Evening; they spend thus a -great quantity of Corn, and when all's done, what signifies two or -three Heads of Corn to a Beast in a Morning? It makes them only linger -about the Houses for more? and after that sweet Food they are not so -prompt to browse on the Trees, and the course Grass which the Country -affords. So that thus their Guts shrink up, and they become Belly-shot -as they call it. I advised therefore never to give them any thing in a -Morning, whereby as soon as they were set forth of the Cow-pens, they -would fall a feeding, and tho' they filled their Bellies only with such -course stuff as had little Nourishment in it, yet it would keep out -their Bellies, and they would have a better Digestion; and then when -they were come home at Nights, to Fodder them, beginning with Straw and -their coarsest Fodder, which they would learn to eat by degrees, before -they tasted that that was more delicate, and whilst their digestion was -strong, would yield them Nourishment to keep them still so; afterwards -when the Winter pinched, their fine Fodder then would stand them in -stead; and hereby they might preserve their weakest Cattle. By these -Methods, and the help of the Wheat-patch, she, the Gentlewoman where -I lived, saved all her Cattle, and lost not one in Two Winters after, -that I staid there; besides she saved above Twenty Barrels of Corn, as -I remember that she told me she used to spend upon her Stock; and a -Barrel of Corn is commonly worth Ten Shillings. Nay further, The last -Spring she fed Two Beasts, a Bullock and a Cow, Fat, upon her Wheat, -with the addition only of a little boil'd Corn, and yet the Wheat was -scarce eat down enough. But to return again to the Nature of the Earth, -which may be pretty well gather'd from what I have already said. I -have observed, that at Five or Six yards deep, at the breaks of some -banks, I have found veins of Clay, admirable good to make Pots, Pipes, -or the like of, and whereof I suppose the _Indians_ make their Pipes, -and Pots, to boil their Meat in, which they make very handsomly, and -will endure the Fire better than most Crucibles: I took of this Clay, -dryed, powder'd, and sifted it; powdered and sifted Potsherds, and -Glass; Three parts, Two parts and One part as I remember, and therewith -made a large Crucible, which was the best I yet ever tried in my Life; -I took it once red hot out of the Fire, and clapt it immediately into -Water, and it started not at all. The Country abounds mightily with -Iron Oar, that as I have been assured by some upon tryal, has been -found very good. There are Rocks thereof appear at the precipice of -Hills, at the foot whereof there runs a River fit for a Forge, and -there's Wood enough to supply it with Charcoal; as I have heard there -was formerly some Persons undertook the Work, and when they had made -but a small quantity of Iron, which proved very good, the _Indian_ -Massacre happened, and they being higher seated than the then Inhabited -part of the Country, were all cut off, and the Works demolished; so -that it has frighted others I think from the like attempt; besides, -such a work requires a greater Fund, and Bank of Mony to carry it on, -than any there are able to lay out; and for Persons in _England_ to -meddle therewith, is certainly to be cheated at such a distance; some -_Indians_ brought Col. _Bird_ some Black Lead, whereof he told me -there was great store. There's very curious Chalk towards the falls of -_Rapahanock_ River, which they burn and make a delicate white Wash of -it. The Secretary of State Col. _Spencer_, has assured me, there were -Vitriolick or Alluminous Earth on the Banks of _Potomack_. And thus -far of what my Memory supplies me, referring to the Earth; in the next -place I shall give a short account of the Birds. - - -_Of the BIRDS_ - -I had indeed begun once whilst I was in that Country to have made a -Collection of the Birds, but falling sick of the Griping of the Guts, -some of them for want of care corrupted, which made them fling others -away that I had thoroughly cured; for I was past taking care of them -my self, there remaining but small hopes of my Life. - -There are Three sorts of Eagles, the largest I take to be that they -call the Grey Eagle, being much of the colour of our Kite or Glead. - -The Second is the Bald Eagle, for the Body and part of the Neck being -of a dark brown, the upper part of the Neck and Head is covered with a -white sort of Down, whereby it looks very bald, whence it is so named. - -The Third is the Black Eagle, resembling most the _English_ Eagle; -they build their Nests much after the manner that Dr. _Willoughby_ -describes, and generally at the top of some tall old Tree, naked of -Bows and nigh the River side, and the People fall the Tree generally -when they take the young; they are most frequently sitting on some tall -Tree by the River side, whence they may have a prospect up and down the -River, as I suppose to observe the Fishing Hauks; for when they see the -Fishing Hauk has struck a Fish, immediately they take Wing, and 'tis -sometimes very pleasant to behold the Flight, for when the Fishing Hauk -perceives her self pursued, she will scream and make a terrible noise, -till at length she lets fall the Fish to make her own escape, which -the Eagle frequently catches before it reach the Earth or Water. These -Eagles kill young Lambs, Pigs, _&c._ - -The Fishing Hauk is an absolute Species of a Kings-fisher, but full -as large, or larger than our Jay, much of the Colour and Shape of a -Kings-fisher, tho' not altogether so curiously Feather'd; it has a -large Crop, as I remember, there is a little Kings-fisher much the same -in every respect with ours. - -If I much mistake not, I have seen both Goss Hauk and Falcon; besides -there are several sorts of the lesser Kind of Stannels. - -There is likewise the Kite and the Ringtail. - -I never heard the Cuckow there to my remembrance. - -There's both a brown Owl and white Owl, much what as large as a Goose, -which often kills their Hens and Poultry in the Night; the white Owl is -a very delicate Feather'd Bird, all the Feathers upon her Breast and -Back being Snow-white, and tipp'd with a Punctal of Jet-black: besides -there is a Barn Owl much like ours; and a little sort of Scritch Owl. - -There's both the Raven, and the Carrion-Crow; I do not remember I -ever saw any Rooks there. Dr. _Moulin_ and my self, when we made our -Anatomies together, when I was at _London_, we shew'd to the _Royal -Society_, that all Flat-bill'd Birds that groped for their Meat, had -three Pair of Nerves, that came down into their Bills; whereby as we -conceived they had that accuracy to distinguish what was proper for -Food, and what to be rejected by their Taste when they did not see it; -and as this was most evident in a Duck's Bill and Head, I draw'd a Cut -thereof, and left it in your Custody: A Duck has larger Nerves that -come into their Bills than Geese or any other Bird that I have seen -and therefore quaffer and grope out their Meat the most: But I had then -discover'd none of these Nerves in Round-bill'd Birds: But since in my -Anatomies in the Country, in a Rook I first observed two Nerves came -down betwixt the Eyes into the upper Bill, but considerably smaller -than any or the three Pair of Nerves in the Bills of Ducks, but larger -than the Nerves in any other Round-bill'd Birds; and 'tis remarkable -these Birds more than any other Round-bill'd Birds seem to grope for -their Meat in Cow-dung and the like: Since I have found in several -Round-bill'd Birds the like Nerves coming down betwixt the Eyes, but -so very small that had I not seen them first in a Rook I should scarce -have made the discovery; in the lower Bill there are Nerves have much -the same situation with the Flat-bill'd Birds, but very small, and -scarce discernable, unless to the Cautious and Curious. - -The Night Raven, which some call the _Virginia_ Bat, is about the -bigness of a Cuckow, feather'd like them but very short, and short -Leg'd, not discernable when it flies, which is only in the Evening -scudding like our Night Raven. - -There's a great sort of ravenous Bird that feeds upon Carrion, as big -very nigh as an Eagle, which they call a Turky Bustard, its Feathers -are of a Duskish black, it has red Gills, resembling those of a Turky, -whence it has its Name; it is nothing of the same sort of Bird with our -_English_ Turky Bustard, but is rather a Species of the Kites, for it -will hover on the Wing something like them, and is carnivorous; the -Fat thereof dissolved into an Oil, is recommended mightily against old -Aches and Sciatica Pains. - -I think there are no Jackdaws, nor any Magpys; they there prize a -Magpye as much as we do their Red Bird. - -The _Pica Glandaria_, or Jay, is much less than our _English_ Jay, and -of another colour, for it is all blue where ours is brown, the Wings -marbled as curiously as ours are, it has both the same Cry, and sudden -jetting Motion. - -There are great Variety and Curiosity in the Wood-peckers, there's -one as big as our Magpye, with blackish brown Feathers, and a large -Scarlet Tuft on the top of the Head: There are four or five sorts of -Wood-peckers more, variegated with Green, Yellow and Red Heads, others -spotted black and white, most lovely to behold. There's a Tradition -amongst them, that the Tongue of one of these Wood-peckers dryed will -make the Teeth drop out if pick'd therewith, and cure the Tooth-ach -(tho' I believe little of it, but look on it as ridiculous) yet I -thought fit to hint as much that others may try; for sometimes such old -Stories refer to some peculiar Virtues, tho' not to all that is said of -them. - -There be wild Turkies extream large; they talk of Turkies that have -been kill'd, that have weigh'd betwixt 50 and 60 Pound weight; the -largest that ever I saw, weigh'd something better than 38 Pound; they -have very long Legs, and will run prodigiously fast. I remember not -that ever I saw any of them on the Wing, except it were once: Their -Feathers are of a blackish shining Colour, that in the Sun shine like a -Dove's Neck, very specious. - -Hens and Cocks are for the most part without Tails and Rumps; and as -some have assured me our _English_ Hens after some time being kept -there have their Rumps Rot off; which I'm the apter to believe, being -all their Hens are certainly of _English_ breed. I'm sorry I made no -Anatomical Observations thereof, and Remarks about the Use of the Rumps -in Birds, which at present I take to be a couple of Glands, containing -a sort of Juice for the Varnishing the Feathers; having observed all -Birds have much recourse with their Bills to the Rumps when they dress -their Plumes, whereby they scud thro' the Air more nimbly in their -Flight. - -Partridges there are much smaller than ours, and resort in Covies as -ours do; their Flesh is very white, and much excels ours in my mind, -_Sed de gustibus non est disputandum_. - -Their Turtle-Doves are of a duskish blue colour, much less than our -common Pidgeon, the whole Train is longer much than the Tails of our -Pidgeons, the middle Feather being the longest. There's the strangest -Story of a vast number of these Pidgeons that came in a Flock a few -Years before I came thither; they say they came thro' _New England_, -_New York_ and _Virginia_, and were so prodigious in number as to -darken the Sky for several Hours in the place over which they flew, and -brake massie Bows where they light; and many like things which I have -had asserted to me by many Eye-witnesses of Credit, that to me it was -without doubt, the Relaters being very sober Persons, and all agreeing -in a Story: nothing of the like ever happen'd since, nor did I ever see -past Ten in a Flock together that I remember. I am not fond of such -Stories, and had suppressed the relating of it, but that I have heard -the same from very many. - -The Thrush and Feldefire are much like ours, and are only seen in -Winter there, accordingly as they are here. - -Their Mocking Birds may be compared to our Singing Thrushes, being much -of the same bigness; there are two sorts, the Gray and the Red, the -gray has Feathers much of the colour of our gray Plovers with white -in the Wings like a Magpye; this has the much softer Note, and will -imitate, in its singing, the Notes of all Birds that it hears, and -is accounted much the finest Singing Bird in the World. Dr. _Moulin_ -and I made in our Anatomy many Observations of Singing Birds to this -effect: The Ears of Birds differ much from those of Men or Beasts, -there's almost a direct passage from one Ear to the other of Birds, -so that prick but the small Membrane call'd the Drum on either Ear, -and Water poured in at one Ear will run out at the other: But this -is not all, but what is much more remarkable, they have no Coclea, -but instead thereof there's a small Cocleous or twisting Passage that -opens into a large Cavity, that runs betwixt two Sculls, and passes -all round the Head, the upper Scull is supported by many hundreds of -small Thred-like Pillars or Fibers, which as we supposed had another -use also, to break the Sound from making any confused Echo, and to -make it one and distinct; this passage we observed betwixt the two -Skulls was much larger in Singing Birds than in others that do not -sing, so very remarkable that any Person that has been but show'd -this may easily judge by the Head what Bird is a Singing Bird, or has -aptitude thereto, tho' he never saw the Bird before, nor knew what -Bird it were: This has often made me reflect how much the Modification -of Voices depends upon the accuracy of the Ear, and how deaf Persons -become Dumb: And since I have observed that many Children that have -an acute Wit enough that are slow of Speech, that is long before they -speak are much longer before they can pronounce those Letters that -are sharps, as _g._ _h._ _r._ and never have an aptitude to learn to -sing. Hence I judge that Songs that have many Sharps in them are the -difficultest to sing well, and discover any Persons skill upon the -trial of Musick most. This I suppose only, having no Skill in Musick -my self, nor having ever discoursed any Person about it. As I remember -we show'd some of these things to the _Royal Society_, and I drew some -Cuts thereof, and gave the Doctor upon promise that he would put these -and many other our joint Observations in Print, but I hear he is since -dead. I have Anatomized most sorts of Creatures, and never found any -Four-footed Creature with an Ear like a Bird, unless a Mole; and a Mole -has an Ear much like them, with a very thin double Scull, and great -Cavity like a Bird, and is very acute of hearing, the Scull by reason -of the large Cavity is very slender and easily crush'd, so that a Mole -is quickly kill'd with a bruise on the Scull like a Lark, and upon the -bruise the Membranes of the Scull turn black; whence _Segerus_ mistake -_Membranæ Cerebri in superficie exteriori omnino nigræ visæ_. But when -I have taken care not to bruise the Skull the Membranes were not black -at all, both _Segerus_ and _Severinus_ I think had some perceptions -of the different Structure of a Mole's Ear, but not any thing of its -Analogy to a Bird's Ear; they speak of a Bone _Egregie pumicosum_: -And _Segerus_ says there's a _Ductus ad ossis usque petrosi cavitatem -protensus, plurimis fibrillis Membraneis annectabatur_. But to return, -this Mocking Bird having its Name from _Mimicking_, all other Birds in -singing is a wonderful mettled Bird, bold and brisk, and yet seems to -be of a very tender Constitution, neither singing in Winter, nor in the -midst of Summer, and with much difficulty are any of them brought to -live in _England_. - -The Red Mocking is of a duskish red, or rather brown; it sings very -well, but has not so soft a Note as the gray Mocking Bird. - -Of _Virginia_ Nightingale, or red Bird, there are two sorts, the Cocks -of both sorts are of a pure Scarlet, the Hens of a Duskish red; I -distinguish them into two sorts, for the one has a tufted Cops on the -Head, the other is smooth-feather'd. I never saw a tufted Cock with a -smooth-headed Hen, or on the contrary; they generally resorting a Cock -and Hen together, and play in a Thicket of Thorns or Bryars in the -Winter, nigh to which the Boys set their Traps, and so catch them and -sell them to the Merchants for about Six Pence apiece; by whom they are -brought for _England_; they are something less than a Thrush. - -There's a Bird very injurious to Corn, they call a Blackbird; I look -on it a sort of Starling, for they cry something like them but do not -sing, are much what of the same bigness, have Flesh blackish like -theirs; they resort in great Flocks together, they are as black as -a Crow all over their Bills and all, only some of them have scarlet -Feathers in the Pinions of their Wings. _Quæry_, Whether a distinct -Species? - -They have a Lark nothing differing from our common Lark; they have -another Bird which they call a Lark that is much larger, as big as a -Starling, it has a soft Note, feeds on the Ground; and as I remember -has the Specifical Character of a long Heel, it is more inclined to -yellow, and has a large half Moon on its Breast of yellow; if it have -not a long Heel, _Quære_, Whether a Species of the Yellow-hammer? - -They have a Martin very like, only larger than ours, that builds after -the same manner. The honourable Col. _Bacon_ has remarked for several -Years, that they constantly come thither upon the Tenth of _March_ -one or two of them appearing before, being seen hovering in the Air -for a Day or two then go away, and as he supposed return'd with the -great Flock. The Colonel delighted much in this Bird, and made like -Pidgeon-holes at the end of his House with Boards purposely for them. - -Their Swallow differs but little from ours. - -They have a Bird they call a Blue-bird, of a curious azure colour about -the bigness of a Chaffinch. - -There be other sorts of Goldfinches variegated with Orange and Yellow -Feathers, very specious and beautiful. - -Sparrows not much different from the _English_, but build not in the -Eaves of Houses that ever I saw. - -The Snow-bird which I take to be much the same with our Hedge-Sparrow; -this is so called because it seldom appears about Houses but against -Snow or very cold Weather. - -The Humming Bird that feeds upon the Honey of Flowers: I have been told -by some Persons, that they have kept of these Humming Birds alive, and -fed them with Water and Sugar: they are much the smallest of all Birds, -have long Bills and curious coloured Feathers, but differ much in -colour. - -Herons three or four several sorts, one larger than the _English_, -feather'd much like a _Spanish_ Goose. - -Another sort that only comes in Summer Milk white, with red Legs very -lovely to behold. - -The Bittern is there less than in _England_, and does not make that -sounding Noise that ever I heard. - -Curlews something less than our _English_, tho' bigger than a Wimbrel. - -The Sandpiper much resembling the _English_. - -The Snipe, two sorts, one resembling ours, the other much less. - -The Tewits are smaller than the _English_, and have no long Toppins, -but just like a young one that begins to fly. - -There are a great number of wild Swans. - -Wild-geese and Brent-geese all Winter in mighty Flocks, Wild-ducks -innumerable, Teal, Wigeon, Sheldrakes, Virginia-didapers, the -Black-diver, _&c._ - -In my return home for _England_, _May 1686._, off of the Banks of -_Newfoundland_, when we were, according to account, a hundred Leagues -from the Shoar, we saw several prodigious floating Islands of the Ice, -no less to our Wonder than Terror, for they were very dangerous: I got -the Master to sail one day as nigh one of them as we securely durst, -which we judged to be full a League in length, and was higher above -Water than the top of our Main-mast; the Snow drove to and fro upon it -as upon a large Plane. There was a great Flock of small Black-divers, -that were not much bigger than a Fieldfare, came to us a little before, -but all of them then left and betook themselves to this Island of Ice. -They dived the constantly'st, and the longest at a time of any Bird -that I ever saw. We saw, as I remember, nigh Thirty of these Islands -of Ice. Captain _Rider_ being some fews days later in his Passage, and -bearing more to the _Nore_, told me, he saw many more of these Islands -of Ice, and some much larger. - -There are in _Virginia_ a great many Cormorants; several sorts of -Gulls, and in about the Bay many Bannets. Thus much for the Birds. - - _Yours_, &c. - - - - - _A Continuation of Mr. _Clayton_'s Account of _Virginia_._ - - -_Of the Beasts of _Virginia_._ - -There were neither Horses, Bulls, Cows, Sheep, or Swine, in all the -Country, before the coming of the _English_, as I have heard, and have -much reason to believe. But now among the _English_ Inhabitants there -are good store of Horses, though they are very negligent and careless -about the Breed: It is true, there is a Law, that no Horse shall be -kept stoned under a certain size, but it is not put in execution. -Such as they are, there are good store, and as cheap or cheaper than -in _England_, worth about Five Pounds apiece. They never Shoe them, -nor Stable them in general; some few Gentlemen may be something more -Curious, but it is very rare; yet they Ride pretty sharply, a Planter's -Pace is a Proverb, which is a good sharp Hand-Gallop. The _Indians_ -have not yet learned to Ride, only the King of _Pomonkie_ had got three -or four Horses for his own Saddle, and an Attendant, which I think -should in no wise be indulged, for I look on the allowing them Horses -much more dangerous than even Guns and Powder. - -_Wild Bulls_ and _Cows_ there are now in the uninhabited Parts, but -such only as have been bred from some that have strayed, and become -Wild, and have propagated their kind, and are difficult to be shot, -having a great Acuteness of Smelling. The common rate of a Cow and -Calf is 50_s._ sight unseen, be she big or little, they are never very -curious to examine that Point. - -Their _Sheep_ are of a middling size, pretty fine fleeced in general, -and most Persons of Estate begin to keep Flocks, which hitherto has not -been much regarded, because of the Wolves that destroy them; so that -a piece of Mutton is a finer Treat, than either Venison, Wild-Goose, -Duck, Wigeon, or Teal. - -_Elke_, I have heard of them beyond the Inhabitants, and that there was -one presented to Sir _William Berkley_, which he sometime kept. - -_Deer_, there are abundance of brave Red Deer, so that a good Woodsman, -as they call them, will keep a House with Venison; the _Indians_, they -say, make Artificial sorts of Heads of Boughs of Trees, which they -Consecrate to their Gods, and these they put on to deceive the Deer -when they go a Shooting, or Hunting, as they call it, and by mimicking -the Feeding of the Deer, they by degrees get within Shot. - -_Swine_, they have now in great abundance, Shoats or Porkrels are their -general Food; and I believe as good as any _Westphalia_, certainly far -exceeding our _English_. - -_Rackoone_, I take it to be a Species of a Monkey, something less -than a Fox gray-hair'd, its Feet formed like a Hand, and the Face too -has likewise the resemblance of a Monkeys, besides being kept tame -they are very Apish: They are very prejudicial to their Poultry, as I -remember. - -An _Opossum_, as big, and something shaped like our Badgers, but of a -lighter Dun colour, with a long Tail something like a Rat, but as thick -as a Man's Thumb; the Skin of its Belly is very large, and folded so -as to meet like a Purse, wherein they secure their Young whilst little -and tender, which will as naturally run thither, as Chickens to a Hen; -in these False Bellies they will carry their Young; these also feed on, -and devour Corn. - -_Hares_, many will have them to be a Hedge-Rabbet, but I know not -what they mean thereby. I take them to be a perfect Species of Hares, -because I have seen Leverets there with the white spot in the Head -which the Old ones have not, so it is in _England_; and the Down is -perfectly of the colour of our Hares, they sit as our Hares do, and -make no Holes and Burrows in the Earth; true, they are but about the -bigness of an _English_ Rabbet, and run no faster; they generally take -into some hollow Tree within a little space, which then the People -catch by gathering the withered Leaves, and setting them on fire within -the hollow of the Tree, and smoaking of them so till they fall down. -Sometimes they take long Bryars, and twist them in the Down and Skin, -and so pull them forth. - -_Squirrels_, there are three sorts. The first is the great Fox -Squirrel, much larger than the _English_, and gray, almost as a common -Rabbet. These are very common, I have eaten of them at the best -Gentlemen's Tables, and they are as good as a Rabbet. The Second is -the Flying Squirrel, of a lighter Dun colour, and much less than the -_English_ Squirrel; the Skin on either side the Belly extended is very -large betwixt the fore-leg and hind-leg, which helps them much in their -skipping from one Bough to another, that they will leap farther than -the Fox-Squirrel, though much less, yet this is still rather skipping -than flying, though the distinction be well enough. The Third is the -Ground-Squirrel, I never saw any of this sort, only I have been told -of them, and have had them thus described to me, to be little bigger -than a Mouse, finely spotted like a young Fawn; by what I further -apprehended, they are an absolute sort of Dor-Mouse, only different in -colour. - -_Musk-Rats_, in all things shaped like our Water-Rats, only something -larger, and is an absolute Species of Water-Rats, only having a curious -Musky scent: I kept one for a certain time in a wooden Chest; two -days before it died it was extraordinary Odoriferous, and scented the -Room very much; but the day that it died, and a day after the scent -was very small, yet afterwards the Skin was very fragrant; the Stones -also smelt very well. They build Houses as Beavers do, in the Marshes -and Swamps (as they there call them) by the Water-sides, with two or -three ways into them, and they are finely daubed within. I pulled one -in pieces purposely to see the contrivance: There were three different -Lodging-Rooms, very neat, one higher than another, as I conceive -purposely made for Retirement, when the Water rises higher than -ordinary; they are considerably large, having much Trash and Lumber to -make their Houses withal; I suppose they live mostly on Fish. - -_Batts_, as I remember at least two sorts; one a large sort with long -Ears, and particularly long straggling Hairs. The other much like the -_English_, something larger I think, very common. - -I never heard of any _Lions_; they told me of a Creature killed whilst -I was there, in _Glocester_ County, which I conceived to be a sort of -Pard, or Tyger. - -_Bears_ there are, and yet but few in the Inhabited part of _Virginia_; -towards _Carolina_ there are many more. There was a small Bear killed -within three Miles of _James City_ the Year that I left the Country, -but it was supposed to have strayed, and swam over _James River_. They -are not very fierce, their Flesh is commended for a very rich sort of -Pork; but the lying side of the Bear, as I remember, is but half the -value of the other, weight for weight. - -There are several sorts of _Wild-Cats_ and _Poll-Cats_. - -_Beavers_ build their Houses in like manner as the Musk-Rats do, only -much larger, and with pieces of Timber make Dams over Rivers; as I -suppose either to preserve their Furs dry in their passage over the -Rivers, otherwise to catch Fish by standing to watch them thereon, and -jumping upon them on a sudden; they are very subtil Creatures, and -if half the Stories be true that I have been told, they have a very -orderly Government among them; in their Works each knows his proper -Work and Station, and the Overseers beat those Young Ones that loiter -in their Business, and will make them cry, and work stoutly. - -_Wolves_ there are great store; you may hear a Company Hunting in -an Evening, and yelping like a pack of Beagles; but they are very -cowardly, and dare scarce venture on any thing that faces them; yet if -Hungry, will pull down a good large Sheep that flies from them. I never -heard that any of them adventured to set on Man or Child. - -_Foxes_, they are very much like ours, only their Fur is much more -grisled, or gray; neither do I remember ever to have seen any -Fox-holes, but of this I am not positive. - -Every House keeps three or four Mungrel _Dogs_ to destroy Vermin, such -as _Wolves_, _Foxes_, _Rackoons_, _Opossums_, &c. But they never Hunt -with Hounds, I suppose, because there are so many Branches of Rivers, -that they cannot follow them. Neither do they keep Grey-Hounds, because -they say, that they are subject to break their Necks by running against -Trees, and any Cur will serve to run their Hares into a hollow Tree, -where after the aforesaid manner they catch them. - -They have great store both of Land and Water _Tortoises_, but they are -very small, I think I never saw any in that Country to exceed a Foot in -length; there is also another sort of Land-Tortoise, different from the -common sort, with a higher ridged Back, and speckled with red sort of -Spots. - -_Frogs_ they have of several sorts, one of a prodigious largeness, -eight or ten times as big as any in _England_, and it makes a strange -noise, something like the Bellowing of a Bull, or betwixt that and the -hollow sounding noise that the English Bittern makes. - -Another very common sort, which they call _Toads_, because black, but -I think differs nothing from our black Frog. They have Toads also like -ours in _England_; and another small sort of Frog, which makes a noise -like Pack-horse Bells all the Spring long. Another little green Frog, -that will leap prodigiously, which they therefore call the Flying Frog. -There is frequently heard in the Woods a shrill sort of noise, much -like that which our Shrew-Mouse makes, but much sharper; I could never -learn the certainty what it was that made this noise, it is generally -in a Tree, and some have asserted to me, that it was made by the green -Frog, yet I scarcely believe it. Mr. _Banister_ assured me it was made -by a sort of _Scarabeus_ Beetle, that is I think full as big as the -Humming-Bird; but neither do I believe that, and for this Reason, for I -never saw that Beetle so low as the Salts, but always as high up in the -Country as the Freshes, and that noise is frequent all over the Country. - -_Lizards_, that are gray, and very common, the Snakes feed much on -them, for I have taken several of them out of the Bellies of Snakes. - -_Snakes_, about seven several sorts. The Rattle-Snake, so called from -certain Rattles at the end of the Tail: These Rattles seem like so -many perished Joints, being a dry Husk over certain Joints, and the -common Opinion is, that there are as many Rattles or Joints, as the -Snake is years old. I kill'd four or five, and they had each eleven, -twelve, or thirteen Joints each; but the young Ones have no Rattles -of a year or two, but they may be known notwithstanding, being very -regularly diced or checker'd, black and gray on the backs. The Old -shake and shiver these Rattles with wonderful nimbleness when they -are any ways disturbed; their bite is very deadly, yet not always of -the same force, but more or less Mortal, accordingly as the Snake is -in force or vigour, and therefore in _June_ or _July_ much worse, -and more Mortal, than in _March_ and _April_. This Snake is a very -Majestick sort of Creature, and will scarce meddle with any thing -unless provok'd, but if any thing offend it, it makes directly at -them. I was told a pleasant Story of an Old Gentlemen, Col. _Cleyborn_ -as I remember was his Name, the same that sent the Rattle-Snakes to -the _Royal Society_ some Years since. He had an odd Fancy of keeping -some of these Snakes always in Barrels in the House, and one time an -_Indian_ pretending to Charm them so as to take them by the Neck in his -Hand without biting of him; the Old Gentleman caused a Rattle-Snake -to be brought forth, the _Indian_ began his Charm with a little Wand, -whisking it round and round the Rattle-Snake's Head, bringing it by -degrees nigher and nigher, and at length flung the Switch away, and -whisked his Hand about in like manner, bringing his Hand nigher still -and nigher, by taking less Circles, when the old Gentleman immediately -hit the Snake with his Crutch, and the Snake snap'd the _Indian_ by -the Hand, and bit him very sharply betwixt the Fingers, which put -his Charm to an end, and he roared out; but stretch'd his Arm out as -high as he could, calling for a string, wherewith he bound his Arm as -hard as possibly he could, and clapt a hot burning Coal thereon, and -singed it stoutly, whereby he was cured, but looked pale a long while -after. And I believe this truly one of the best ways in the World of -Curing the Bite either of Viper or Mad Dog. I was with the Honourable -Esquire _Boyle_, when he made certain Experiments of Curing the Bite -of Vipers with certain _East-India_ Snake-stones, that were sent him -by King _James_ the Second, the Queen, and some of the Nobility, -purposely to have him try their Vertue and Efficacy: For that end -he got some brisk Vipers, and made them bite the Thighs of certain -Pullets, and the Breasts of others: He applied nothing to one of the -Pullets, and it died within three Minutes and a half, as I remember; -but I think they all recovered to which he applied the Snake-stones, -tho' they turned wonderful pale, their Combs, _&c._ immediately, and -they became extream sick, and purged within half an hour, and the next -morning all their Flesh was turned green to a wonder, nevertheless -they recovered by degrees. The manner of the Application was only -by laying on the Stone, and by two cross-bits of a very sticking -_Diaculum_ Plaister binding it on, which he let not lie on past an -hour or two, but I think not so long, took the Stone off, and put it -into Milk for some time; some Stones were of much stronger Vertue than -others. I proposed a piece of unquench'd Lime-stone to be apply'd -to see whether it might not prove as powerful, but know not whether -ever it was tried. But here one telling Mr. _Boyle_ the Story of this -_Indian_, he approved the method of Cure, and said, an actual Cautery -was the most certain Cure. The Poison, both of Viper and Mad-Dog (as I -conceive) kill by thickning of the Blood, after the manner that Runnet -congeals Milk when they make Cheese. Vipers, and all the Viperous -Brood, as Rattle-Snakes, _&c._ that are deadly, have I believe their -Poisonous Teeth Fistulous, for so I have observed that Vipers Teeth -are, and the Rattle-Snakes very remarkable, and therefore they kill so -very speedily by injecting the Poison through those Fistulous Teeth -into the very Mass of Blood; but the bite of Mad-Dogs is oft of long -continuance before it get into and corrupt the Mass of Blood, being -it sticks only to the out-sides of the Teeth, and therefore when they -bite thro' any thickness of Cloaths, it rarely proves Mortal, the -Cloaths wiping the Poison off before it come to the Flesh. A Girl that -was bit about _New-Years Day_, continued well till _Whitsontide_, when -coming to see certain Friends in our Parts, she fell very ill, and -being a Poor Girl, they came to me; it pleased God I recovered her. -Sometime after she returned to give me thanks for saving her Life, -being two Persons that were bit with the same Dog, were dead, whilst -she remained under Cure, and therefore she was the fullier convinc'd -she owed her life to me; but of this I shall give a more particular -Instance by and by. But the Poisons of Vipers seems to be like the -injecting of Liquors into the Veins of Creatures; Dr. _Moulin_ and I -made many Experiments of this Nature together, and I have made many -more by my self. We once, I remember, injected half a Dram of Allom -into the Jugalar-Vein of a Dog before the _Royal Society_, (the Allom -being only dissolved in a little Water) which within something less -than one Minutes time was so absolutely dead, as not to have the least -Convulsive Motion; and I have done the like with many other things -besides Allom, but with some things it is more curdled and broken, than -with others; and will differ much both as to colour and consistence. -Salt-Petre kills much as quickly as Allom, but then the Blood in the -Heart looks very florid, smooth, and even. I wish some Person of -Observation and Leisure would prosecute these sort of Experiments, -and make Injections of the several things most used in Physick into -the Veins of Creatures, both in quantities, and into different Veins, -as into the Thigh-veins of some Dogs, and Jugalars of some others, -and in much lesser quantities of such things as kill suddenly; for in -the little time I have spent in these sort of Experiments, I easily -perceive notable discoveries might be made thereby: One Dog that -lived became Lame and Gouty; another with Quick-Silver died in about -Sixteen Weeks time, Consumptive, and I discovered Quick-Silver in the -Impostumated parts of his Lungs. _Query_, Whether some Persons that -have been Flux'd, or used Quick-silver Oyntments, and the like, and -afterwards become consumptive, owe not their Distemper to the abusive -use of a most excellent Remedy? Much after the same manner, the subtile -Quick-Silver getting into the Mass of Blood by degrees, through its -ponderosity settles in the Lobes of the Lungs, and causes Ulcers -there. But to return: The Poison of Vipers and Mad Dogs I suppose kill -by thickning of the Blood, as many Malignant Fevers, also do; in all -which Cases, I look on Volatil Salts to be the properest Physick, as -keeping the Blood from congealing. I had a singular Instance hereof in -a Gentleman of _Yorkshire_, bit with a Grey-Hound on the _Thursday_, -not three Minutes before the Dog died Mad; he bit him in several places -of the Hands, as he was giving him a Remedy: The _Monday_ following -the Gentleman was very ill, and came to our Town to an Apothecary -his Acquaintance, who knowing not what to do, desired my Assistance. -When I came, the Gentleman could talk, but every two or three Minutes -he had violent Fits, and would tell us when they were over, that his -Brains worked like Birm in an Ale-Fat, and seemed to Froth up at every -Fit. The Apothecary had no Volatile Salt of Vipers; so I took the -Volatile Salt of Amber, and ordered him Ten Grains in Treacle-Water -every half hour: He told me every Dose seemed to clear his Brain, and -cool it as perfectly, as if a Bason of Cold Water were poured on his -Head, but it returned by degrees again: Having then a Volatile Salt -by me that Vomits very well, I gave him a Dose thereof, it worked -very well, and he was very much better after it: I then ordered him -to continue the Volatile Salt of Amber once every four hours, and at -each two hours end, that is betwixt, _Spec. Pleres Archonticon and Rue -pouder'd ana gr._ 15. whereby he was so well recovered, that within -two days he would needs go home, to look after some urgent Affairs, -and afterwards found himself so well, that he forgot to return, and -perfect the course; and I heard no more of him for half a Year, when -I was fetch'd one Morning to him in great hast. He had been abroad, -play'd the Good-Fellow, and in his return home, having rode a great -days Journey, being weary, and I suppose finding himself indisposed, -he staid all Night in our Town, it being fortunately in his way. In -the Morning when he should have got up, he could not stand, whereupon -the Apothecary was sent for, and a Surgeon to Blood him, which was -accordingly done, but he grew worse; for in this Case I look upon -Bleeding to be very prejudicial, as well as in most Malignant Fevers, -for thereby the Spirits are diminished, and the Blood congeal'd the -sooner. When they had done all they could, and the Symptoms still -increased, they at length sent for me. I never saw Man or Creature in -that Agony in all my life, that I found him in, Senseless, and Mad, -when at best, but every Minute the fiercest shiverings ran through him, -his Eyes would first roll and then set, as if ready to start out of his -Head, but above all, the Swelling and Luctation at his Breast, was as -if he would burst, which went off with a prodigious sigh: All this I -judge the Effects of the Heart labouring to discharge it self of the -stagnating Blood, and the Nervous Convulsions as consequences thereof. -And I am the more confirm'd in this, from what I saw in a Woman that -was bit also with a Mad-Dog in the Leg, and fell ill the very day that -she had paid the Chirurgeon for her Cure; and notwithstanding all that -could be done, growing worse, they sent for me; I went, and found her -with what is called a _Hydrophobia_: She would look earnestly after -Drink or Water, and seem to desire it, but as soon as she began to -drink, away it went, be it what it would, with the greatest Violence -she could possibly fling it. I gave her the Vomit hereafter and also -before mentioned, but she got but little of it down, and I had no -more with me; nevertheless it so brought her to her self, that she -could answer Questions, and I asked her, whether she was afraid of -the Drink and Water, when she flung the Cups in that violent manner -from her? She said No; but when she offered to drink, her Breast and -Heart would not let her. I asked, whether through any Aversion or -Fear? She said, No, she was very Thirsty; but when she offered to -drink, it struck to her Heart, and stopped her Breath. That is, as I -apprehend, the cold Drink passing down the Throat struck a chillness -in the Blood, and made it readier to stagnate: Besides the very act of -Drinking, hindering the free breathing, conduced also much thereto; -and therefore the Heart was so suddenly oppress'd, that she could not -forbear flinging away whatever she had in her Hand. She complained also -of a great rigour and stiffness or straitness of the Muscles of her -Breast, so that possibly the Spiritous Liquor that flows in the _Genus -Nervosum_ may be congeal'd as well as the Blood; or the same Effects -may be supposed notwithstanding to be the result of the condensed -Blood clogging both the Heart and Lungs, so that the Breast may seem -to be straitened therewith. The same I judge to be the cause of all -the violent Luxations in this Gentleman, whose Fingers I looked on, -and found the places where he had formerly been bit, turned blackish, -and much inflamed about them, which confirmed me in my sentiment, that -it was a relapse of his former Distemper, that is, of the Bite of the -Mad-Dog. I told them, if any thing in the World would save his Life, I -judged it must be the former Vomit of Volatile Salts; they could not -tell what to do, nevertheless such is the Malignancy of the World, -that as soon as it was given, they ran away and left me, saying, he -was now certainly a dead Man, to have a Vomit given in that condition. -Nevertheless it pleased God that he shortly after cried, _This Fellow -in the Black has done me good_, and after the first Vomit, came so to -himself, as to know us all. I vomited him every other day with this -Vomit for three times, and made him in the Interim to take Volatile -Salt of Amber, and the aforesaid Powders, and to wash his Hands, and -Sores in a strong Salt Brine: to drink Posset-drink with Sage and -Rue, and by this course, and the Blessing of God, his Life was saved, -and he perfectly cured, for it is now four Years since, and he had -had no Relapse. I have cured several others by the same Method. Coll. -_Spencer_, the Secretary of State in _Virginia_, a very Serious and -Ingenious Gentleman, told me, that his Servant brought him word once -that a Sow having farrow'd, a Rattle-Snake was got into the Den, and -had kill'd the Piggs. The Colonel went to see the Snake, which they -said was still coyl'd in the Den; there followed them two or three -Mungrel Curs, and they sat one of the Dogs at the Snake, which was -too quick for the Dog, and snapt him by the Nose, whereupon he set a -howling, and run immediately into the adjacent River, and died very -shortly after. Another of the Dogs upon the like attempt was bit by the -Snake also, and fell a howling, and frothing, and tumbling; but being -he died not so soon as the other Dog did, they fetched some of the Herb -which they call Dittany, as having a great Traditionary Vertue for the -Cure of Poisons; they pounded it, and adding a little Water, express'd -the Juice, and gave the Dog frequently thereof, nevertheless he died -within a day or two. The howling of the Dogs he supposed gave notice -to the Sow, and made her come furiously bristling, and run immediately -into her Den; but being likewise bit by the Snake, she set up a -terrible Squeak, and ran also into the River, and there died. - -A Gentlewoman, that was a notable Female Doctress, told me, that a -Neighbour being bit by a Rattle-Snake, swelled excessively; some days -afterwards she was sent for, who found him swell'd beyond what she -thought it had been possible for the Skin to contain, and very Thirsty. -She gave him _Oriental Bezoar_ shaved, with a strong Decoction of the -aforesaid Dittany, whereby she recovered the Person: To the best of my -Remembrance, it was he that told me, asking him afterwards, what he -felt when the Snake first bit him? He said, it seemed as if a flash of -Fire had ran through his Veins. - -Besides the Rattle-Snake, there is the Blowing-Snake, an absolute -Species of a Viper, but larger than any that I have seen in _Europe_; -it is so called, because it seems to blow, and spread its Head, and -swell very much before it bite, which is very deadly. It is Remarkable -there is none of their Snakes there, make any of that hissing noise -that ours in _England_ make, but only shoot out their Tongues, shaking -them as ours do, without any noise at all; this is a short thick -sort of Snake. There is another sort of deadly Snake, called the -_Red-Snake_; I once narrowly escaped treading on the back of one of -them: They are of an ugly dark brown colour, inclining to red; their -Bellies are of a more dusky white, with a large streak of Vermillion -Red on either side; this too is of the Viper kind, but is not so short, -but its Tail is more taper and small. The _Horn-Snake_ is, as they -say, another sort of deadly Snake; I never saw any of them, unless -once, shortly after my Arrival in that Country, which I cannot attest -to be the Horn-Snake, for I could not distinctly view it, being in -a Thicket of _Sumach_, it was perch'd up about two Foot high in a -_Sumach_ Branch, its Tail twisted about the Shrub, and about a quarter -of a Yard stood bolt forward, leaning over the forked branch thereof: I -could not see the Horn, which they say it has in its front, wherewith -it strikes, and if it wounds, is as deadly as the Rattle-Snake's bite. -The Gentleman that was with me, told me it was a Horn-Snake, but being -in hast, and on Horse-back, and the Snake in a Thicket, I could not see -the Horn; but had I thought I should never have seen more of them, I -should have took a little pains to have been better satisfied. This I -think may not improperly be referr'd to the _Dart-Snakes_. - -The _Black-Snake_, is the largest I think of all others, but I am sure -the most common; I have kill'd several of them full six Foot long, -their Bite is not deemed Mortal, but it swells, and turns to a Running -Sore; they feed upon Lizards, Mice, Rats, Frogs, and Toads, which I -have taken out of their Bellies. I was once a Simpling in the woods, -on a fair Sun-shine day, when I saw a Snake crawling on a Tree that -was fallen, and licking with its forked Tongue as it moved; I stood -still to observe it, and saw it lick up small Insects and Flies with -wonderful nimbleness, catching them betwixt the Forks of its Tongue. - -The _Corn-Snake_, most like the Rattle-Snake of all others in colour, -but the Checkers are not so regular, neither has it any Rattles: They -are most frequent in the Corn-Fields, and thence I suppose so called; -the Bite is not so venomous as the Black-Snakes. - -The _Water-Snake_, a small Snake, I never saw any of them above a Yard -long, though I have sometimes seen Forty or Fifty at once; they are of -an ugly dark blackish colour: They say, they are the least Venomous of -any. - - - - - _Part of Two Letters from Mr. _J. Hillier_, dated _Cape Corse_, - _Jan. 3. 1687/8._ and _Apr. 25. 1688._ Wrote to the Reverend Dr. - _Bathurst_, President of _Trinity Colledge, Oxon_; giving an - Account of the Customs of the Inhabitants, the Air, _&c._ of that - Place, together with an Account of the Weather there from _Nov. - 24. 1686._ to the same Day 1687._ - - - _Cape Corse, Jan. 3. 1687/8._ - -I Thought the Custom of destroying Slaves at the Death of great People -had been abolish'd, and I was so inform'd; but we have seen that it -is not; for _Oct. 3._ this Year, died _Ahen Penin Ashrive_, King -of _Feton_, here at _Cape Corse_, where he had been long sick; the -Fetishers had done all they could to save his Life, which was nothing -at all to purpose; their Physick scarce extends to any thing but the -Flux, and what we call the French Disease; his was a Consumption and -an Asthma (if I mistake not the Word) of a great continuance: so they -fled to the Aid of their Religion, and according it seems to the Rules -of that, they made several Pellets of Clay, which they set in his -Room, in Rank and File, all sprinkled with blood; besides the several -Muttons which they eat to his good Health. But that was of too little -Force; so the Man died, having delivered his Sword to the Dy, who in -the _Interregnum_ was to be the principal Man, for the Kingdom is -Elective, contrary to what we wrote before, and commanding him to be -constant to the _English_, of whom himself had been a great Favourer, -with a Threat, if he was not, of haunting him after his Death; he also -appointed one of his Wives, whom he thought worthy of that unlucky -Honour, to accompany him to the other World; the next Day he was -carried to _Feton_, and buried there, _Nov. 2._ with the poor Woman we -spoke of. Presently after, they that were considerable, or had a mind -to seem so, sent in them that they had a mind to Murder in Honour of -the King: how many there were 'tis hard to say, the highest Account -gives 90, the lowest 50, the middle 70; the Blacks do not understand -Arithmetick, so the Numbers they give in all Cases are very uncertain. -I think there were about Eight from this Town, which will not hold -Proportion to the highest rate; but 'tis like near _Feton_ there might -be more. They say also, that many more will follow at half a Years -distance from his Death. The manner of the Execution of these poor -Creatures I have not yet learnt, only that they make them drink and -dance, with a great deal of Bravery all the begining of the Day, and -towards Night cut off their Heads, but whether by that they mean the -common way of their Executions I am yet to seek. - -After the Kings Funeral, the next thing was to chuse a Successor; so -the People was called together at _Feton_, (I suppose by the Authority -of the Dy) without inquiring any thing of their Freehold; they pitched -upon Mr. _Dy_, though he was not of the Blood-Royal; the Reason was, as -they said, because he had Power enough to do what he pleas'd, and they -could do nothing against him; but he refused the Honour because of the -Charge 'twould put him to, and propos'd the Brother of the deceased -King: So the Business stuck some time, but at last 'twas accorded, and -he [King _Ashrive_'s Brother] declared King, _Nov. 18._ his Name is -_Ahenaco_. - -'Tis Wonder how they could dispatch such a Business, with so little -Disturbance; but I suppose there was no considerable Number that -dissented; otherwise it would scarce have been determined without -Blood-shed; for it would scarce have been possible for them to have -taken any Pole. - -I said it was doubt whether these Sacrifices died after the rate of -their ordinary Executions; if you would know that, thus it is, the -Creature that is condemn'd, is made to drink abundance of Palm-Wine, -and to dance, every Body that will, in the mean time striking or -pushing him, when that is over, as is said, he is thrown down, his Face -into the Sand, which whether it stifle him or not, I can't tell, then -his Legs are cut off below the Knees, and his Arms below the Elbow, -afterward his Thigh and his Arms below the Shoulder, lastly his Head. - -A Man would not expect any thing more barbarous than this; yet there -is a Custom which has something worse; when any one has new Drums or -Trumpets, 'tis necessary that they be consecrated with Humane Blood: I -have known but one happen of this Kind, that was _Jan. 7. 1686/7._ when -after the Man had been executed after the former rate, about Eight in -the Morning; at one in the Afternoon, they drank Palm-Wine out of the -upper part of his Skull, and this in the sight of all the Factors at -_Cape Corse_. - -I remember for the Unhealthiness of the Place, you proposed to inquire -if it were Woody, and if any good might be done to it by cutting down -the Woods, as has happen'd in many _American_ Plantations; of that -Matter this is what I can say. - -The Shore lies almost East and West, expos'd to the Sea wholly upon -the South, the Country is Hilly, the Hills not very high, but thick, -clustering together, the Valleys between extream narrow, the whole -in a manner cover'd with certain Shrubs, low, but very thick; what -the People Till, comes not to above a Tenth part of their Ground; and -where they do Till, it hinders not that within half a Year the Ground -is over-grown as before, for they do not root up the Shrubs, but only -cut, or sometimes burn them somewhat close to the Earth, so they spring -again in a very little time; this is sufficient for their planting the -Corn, which they do by making little Holes in the Earth at a competent -Distance, and putting Seeds into them. - -It may be that if those Shrubs were destroyed, the Matter might be -mended, which yet is not to be hop'd for, but by bringing the People to -some kind of Industry, and that will not be easie; they are so wholly -given to Laziness, and so intirely bred up in it, that there must be -the greatest Change imaginable, before they become any whit tolerable; -a Man may see their Temper by this, that though their Tillage be very -easie, and the Earth yields many Hundreds for One, yet so little is -the use they make of it, that One scarce Year brings them to danger of -Starving, and though there be People enough, and every Man has Power of -choosing what he will, that is not already Till'd by some other, yet -not the Tenth Part, as we have said, is employed: So that a Man would -wonder what came in the French Man's Head to fancy them Industrious; -but subtile they are, and diligent to Cheat any Man that is not -cautious enough to avoid it. - -So that the Fault of the Wood is (by the Laziness of the People) -without any Remedy. But there may be something in the Earth it self; -the Water which they have here in Pits (Rain-Water for the most -part, but yet strain'd through the Earth) has a kind of Taste mixt -of Sweet and Subacid, if I understand what I say, I am told 'tis of -Vitriol, whether that be mischievous, you know better than I do. But -I take this for certain, since I have had it from good Hands, that at -_Widdah_, which is one of the most unhealthy Places in _Guiney_, but -'tis not upon the Gold-coast, he that opens the Ground, though it be -but to dig a Grave, runs the Hazard of his Life: So mischievous are the -Steams from thence arising. It's possible there may be some such Steams -here, only not so violent; though in _England_ I think, a Gravel or a -Sand (which here are always uppermost for as much as I have seen) are -esteem'd very wholesom Soils; under them is a kind of whitish Marle -almost like Fullers-Earth. - -For the Air, except what I have said before, I do not know what Fault -it has; 'tis extream hot, 'tis also subtile and piercing, and I believe -enters a Man's Body easier than that in _England_. It has been clearer -than that uses to be one day with another, even this last Year, which -has been the wettest and most cloudy which has happen'd a long time; -I think to give you an Account of the Weather in it as soon as I have -time to transcribe. - -For the Age of the Inhabitants, 'tis very uncertain, because none of -them keep an Account of it; there are some of them very Grey, but if -the Country be to them unhealthy, Grey Hairs may come early: I think -there be many more Funerals here than at _Oxford_, though that be a -much larger Place, especially in the Rain-times, which to us are always -healthful. - -I think that much of the Mortality (not all) that happens among -Strangers, is the Effect of their ill Diet, and ill Government of -themselves; for they eat but little, having neither Stomach nor Mony -to buy what they want; but they drink excessively, being for that more -readily trusted, and of Liquors very hot and Spirituous; and if any -chuse the cold rather, his Stomach is chil'd, and he is in danger of a -Flux or an extream Looseness, and that immediately. - -There is another thing, Men guard themselves less from the Air than -in any other Places trusting to the Heat of the Climate, and receive -the cool of the Evening with only a Shirt. Now I think that the Air, -tho' not so cold, is much more subtle and piercing here, than in our -Country, it corrodes Iron much more, not by the Moisture, for it is not -so moist, and besides it does it in the dry Weather too. Perhaps there -are some other Effects to evidence the same thing; besides that, the -Diet which most Men procure, is not extraordinary, and the passing by -Canoes from one Place to another has a Danger in it beside that of the -Sea. - - * * * * * - - _Cape Corse, Apr. 25. 1688._ - -I Promised in my last to give you an Account of the Weather at _Cape -Corse_ for the last Year, which Account I have inclosed in this; it -is as exact as I could give; 'tis a thing which has been very little -observed, whether it deserves to be more, I do not know. That Year has -had the most Rain of any that can be here remember'd; yet the Mortality -was much less than the Years before; so that perhaps Wet is not that -which makes the Country unhealthy; though we had very many Sick, -especially in _June_ and _July_, whose Diseases were not Mortal. - -If you give your self the Trouble to read the inclosed, you will find -often mention of a Tornada, which is a violent Storm of Wind, followed -commonly by Rain, but not always; the Wind ceases not presently upon -the Rain, but after sometimes it does: In this Place it comes (as -does an Hermitan) most frequently from the North, taking in the next -Points, whether to the East or West, but chiefly the East, though I -have seen both that and an Hermitan from other Points; so the Account -is not without Exception; there are in it short, uncertain Blasts from -all Quarters, which I believe reach not many Yards, but the general -Wind (for ought that I see) is not so unconstant; Vessels that go to -Windward are help'd by them, when they are not over strong, for they -are opposite to the Sea Breze, and they can steer by them a regular -Course; which sure they could not do, if they were very irregular. -They never fail to give warning before hand, though sometimes after -that warning they do not follow; there is a very black Cloud appears -afar, in which if there be a kind of white Spot, the Wind will be -moist, if not the Rain; this the Sailors say. Sometimes there is that -Mark, sometimes not, though I doubt the Prediction from it is not very -certain; as neither are any perhaps of that kind. - - - _An Account of the Weather at _Cape Corse_ in _Guiney_, from Nov. - 24. 1686. to the same Day, 1687._ - - -Lat. N. 4_d._ 49_m._ _Nov. 1686._ - -24. And 25. Clear and Hot. - -26. About 2. _a. m._ a Storm of Rain with Thunder for ½ Hour. - -27. At the same Hour, Rain which lasted somewhat longer. - -28. About 5. _a. m._ Some Rain, afterward Misty, about 10. extream hot. - -29. About 2. _a. m._ a great storm of Rain, slacking often but renewing -again, it lasted about an Hour; the Day after clear. - - -_December, 1686._ - -Thence to _Dec. 7._ clear; then cloudy in the Morning; between 12. and -1. _p. m._ a Shower lasting about ½ Hour. Thence clear and hot. - -10. A little Mist in the Morning, otherwise very clear and hot; so till -15. - -15. And some Days after somewhat thick, especially in the Morning. - -19, And 20. We had a dry North, and North-Easterly Wind, call'd an -Hermitan, and it overcame the Sea-Breeze; found very ill for the Eyes, -and most Men complained of a Feverish Temper; it was parching, but -rather colder than ordinary. - -21. It ceased; a clear Air and very hot. - -23. We had the Hermitan again; but the Morrow it ceased; then and - -25. Some Clouds, but no Rain. - -Thence to 29. clear and hot; 29. the Hermitan returned, but did not -continue. - -Thence Clouds sometimes, but no Rain till _Jan. 2._ - -This Month we had Three Funerals, one being Sick of the Flux laid -violent Hands upon himself, through impatience of the Pain, the 3d Day. - -The Second upon the 25th died convulsively, not having been Sick above -one Day. - -The Third, _Dec. 27._ died of a Dropsy, which had succeeded a tedious -Flux. - - -_January, 1686/7._ - -2. About 5. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour between 7. and 9. an Hour; from ½ -Hour past 9. to 1. _p. m._ the rest cloudy. - -5. At 2. _a. m._ about ½ Hour. - -8. At 1. in the Morning about an Hour, the Days between somewhat -cloudy. Thence to 12. extream hot. - -12, And 14. somewhat cloudy otherwise the Heat continued. - -17. At 7. _p. m._ a Tornada for above ½ Hour, and about 12. at Night -another; but the Heat very little abated. - -22. Between 5. and 6. _p. m._ began a Tornada, which lasted above an -Hour very violent, with great Claps of Thunder and Lightning. Tank -fill'd 1 Foot. - -23. In the Morning a great Mist, after 8. clear and extream hot. - -The latter end of _January_, and the begining of _February_ commonly -Misty in the Morning; after extream hot. - -I find no Funeral this Month. - - -_February, 1686/7._ - -Beginning of _February_, as before. - -10. Somewhat Cloudy and cool, till then we were troubled with Coughs, -for the most part; about this time they ceased. - -So the 11th, toward Night, Thunder afar off, and expectation of a -Tornada: but it fail'd. - -12. Extream hot. - -13. A stronger Wind than ordinary from Seaward. - -14. Something like an Hermitan, but not from its usual Quarter. Clear -and hot till about 2. _p. m._ then cloudy but no Rain. - -Thence to 22. extream hot and clear. - -From 22. to _March 1._ some flying clouds without Rain; sultry hot and -unwholesom. - -24. Some shew of a Tornada, but it past away. - -This Month we had two Funerals, but their Diseases I find not. - - -_March, 1686/7._ - -The beginning of _March_ as the latter end of _February_. - -5. From 6. _a. m._ for an Hour and ½. a violent Tornada; the Day after -cloudy. 6. Clear. - -7. At Night Lightning and Clouds afar off; but nothing followed. - -Thence to 11. clear and hot. - -11. About 5. _a. m._ a violent Rain for almost ½ Hour. - -12, And 13. cloudy. - -14. About 4. _a. m._ a gentle Shower but lasted not long. - -15. Between 6. and 7. _a. m._ a few Drops, and likelyhood of more, but -nothing followed; both Days cloudy. - -16. Extream hot. - -17. Somewhat cloudy. - -Thence to 20. extream hot. - -20. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ some few Drops. - -21. Very hot. - -22. In the Morning hot; about 12. a violent Rain for a Quarter of an -Hour. - -23. Clear. - -24. About 2. _a. m._ Rain for about ½ Hour; the Day after clear. - -Thence to _April 3._ clear and extream hot. - -No Funeral. - - -_April, 1687._ - -3. At 3. _p. m._ a violent Tornada, but only some few Drops of Rain; at -5. _p. m._ a little more Rain. - -4. Cloudy by Fits, otherwise very hot. - -5. Hot and clear. - -6. In the Morning hot, about 2. _p. m._ cloudy; about 3. some Drops of -Rain, in the Evening the Clouds dispersed. - -7. Clear and hot. - -8. Between 12. and 1. in the Morning, a violent Rain for near an Hour; -after 2. one somewhat longer; the Day after there appeared to have been -much Rain; Tank fill'd Two Foot and somewhat more. - -9. About 7. _a. m._ some Drops; cloudy all Day. - -10. Cloudy about 11. _a. m._ a small Mist. - -11. Presently after Midnight it began to Rain and lasted till 6. _a. -m._ a great part of the time very violently, it began with a strong -Tornada; Tank above Three Feet. The Day after some Clouds; otherwise -extream hot. - -So also 12, and 13. - -14. About 5. _a. m._ a Shower for ½ Hour, between 6. and 7. _p. m._ -another of the same continuance, the Day between extream hot. - -So 15. 16. A Shower for ½ Hour, it began with a violent Tornada, the -Rain not much, afterward cloudy. - -17, And 18. Clear. - -19. Clear also, about 7. _p. m._ a considerable Wind and some Drops of -Rain. - -20. Clear but Windy. - -21. Between 12. and 2. moderate Rain for near an Hour. - -22. About 2. _a. m._ moderate Rain almost an Hour; at 11. _p. m._ a -short Shower and gentle; the Day between extream hot. - -23. Cloudy about 10. _a. m._ some Drops. - -24. Extream hot. - -25. About 1. _a. m._ Rain for near an Hour; the Morning after hot; -Afternoon cloudy; most part of the Night, Thunder and Lightning, but no -Rain. - -26. At 7. _a. m._ strong Rain for ½ Hour, after that a little Mist; -Afternoon, from 12. to 15. it rain'd unequally, but the most part -moderate. - -27. Extream hot. - -28. About 12. Somewhat Cloudy, at 3. _p. m._ it began to Rain, and -lasted about an Hour and ½; after cloudy and some Drops; in the Night a -Shower or two. - -29. Cloudy. Thence to _May 6._ sometimes cloudy; but for the most part -violent hot. - -This Month we had Three Funerals; one the 3d of a Fever, another on the -19th of I know not what Pains in the Guts, another 24. of the Flux. - -The 15. and some Days following, there settled upon the Castle Walls, -certain Swarms of wing'd Ants, a little bigger than Bees; they would -bite very severely, and were blown up with Powder. - - -_May, 1687._ - -Till the 6. as before. - -6. In the Morning cloudy, a little after Noon some Wind, followed by -gentle Rain, which lasted till 3. _p. m._ after cloudy. - -7. Hot. 8. Cloudy about 10. _a. m._ a gentle Shower for ¾ Hour; about -8. _p. m._ a very violent Storm of Wind and Rain, but it quickly grew -moderate, and lasted in all not above ½ Hour. 9. Clear. - -10. About Noon a violent Shower for ¼ of an Hour; after 8. _p. m._ -another as long, but not so violent; past 9. another shorter. - -11. Clear. 12. Clear, past 9. _p. m._ a very Violent Tornada with Rain, -which lasted somewhat more than 2 Hours. - -13. Between 12. and 1. in the Night, a short Shower; about 9. _a. m._ -some Drops; so also in the Afternoon but nothing considerable; cloudy -all Day. - -14. Cloudy; at 9. _a. m._ a violent Rain for ¼; after gentle for above -an Hour; about 3. _p. m._ some Drops. - -15. About 3. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; between 4. and 5. another; after -foggy and cloudy, with some few Drops; about 7. _p. m._ a violent -Tornada with Rain for near an Hour. - -16. About 4. _a. m._ Rain for an Hour; after 8. for ¼ Hour; after 6. -_p. m._ Rain and Wind, but both moderate, for ½ Hour; past 8. about as -much. - -17. About 4. _a. m._ a short Shower, after clear; 18. clear. - -19. Cloudy, about 10. _a. m._ some Drops. - -20. Cloudy between 8. and 10. _a. m._ a Shower; first violent, after -more moderate, till it ended in a kind of Mist; it lasted in all about -1½ Hour; the Day after clear, 21, and 22. clear. - -23. In the Afternoon cloudy; about 6. _p. m._ some Drops; the Night -after, a Shower, not considerable. - -24. Hot, about 10. _p. m._ a little Shower. - -25. Clear; 26. in the Night some little Rain. - -27. Held up; 28. at 9. _p. m._ a short Shower. - -29. At 5. _a. m._ Rain till near 7. a little past 7. till 9. after -cloudy. - -30. Cloudy; the Night after some Rain. - -31. About 8. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; from 9. till 12. it rained for -the most part very violently; before 1. another Shower for ½ Hour; from -a little after 2. till 5. with very great Thunder. - -One Funeral on the 25th after but Three Days Sickness, of which I can -give no account. - -The beginning of this Month, we had an extraordinary Number of Toads, -which after some time were not to be seen. - -The 14th we had wing'd Ants, as before. - -24. Was the first Corn, the Seed-time having been the middle of _March_. - - -_June, 1687._ - -1. About 4. _a. m._ Rain for an Hour; past 1. _p. m._ for ½ Hour; the -rest cloudy and misty. - -2. From 2. _a. m._ till 5. continual Rain, 'tis said there was some -before; from 9. _a. m._ till ½ Hour past 6. _p. m._ continual Rain, -sometimes very fierce; from ½ Hour past 9 at Night, Rain till past 10. - -3. From 6. to a little past 7. _a. m._ a very gentle Rain, from thence -till 1. _p. m._ most commonly very fierce; thence for a little while -more moderate; but it rain'd hard again till 6. _p. m._ then it drop'd -but slowly, and so continued till about 7. in the Night some little -Rain. - -4. About 8. _a. m._ some Drops, thence clear. - -6, And 7. clear, except some few flying Clouds. - -8. After 3. _a. m._ gentle Rain for near an Hour; then cloudy and some -Drops, after 10. _p. m._ a Shower. - -9. At 5. _a. m._ a gentle Shower, lasted till past 7. thence a very -violent Rain till almost 9. some Drops after that; about 3. _p. m._ it -began and rain'd till past 10. somewhat moderately. - -10. Clear and hot. - -11. Cloudy; about 8. _p. m._ a few Drops. - -12. From about 2. _a. m._ till near 5. Rain, but not violent; a little -before 6. a furious Storm of Rain, but little Wind; it lasted till ½ -Hour past 7. about 3. _p. m._ a moderate Rain, till a little past 4. -and from thence to 6. somewhat more than a Mist; the Night after it -rained a little. - -13. Cloudy; in the Afternoon it drop'd a little. - -14. About 8. _a. m._ a few Drops. - -15. Somewhat cloudy. - -16. Extream hot; toward Night cloudy; about 5. _p. m._ a violent Shower -for ½ Hour; from a little before 8. till past 10. it rained continually. - -17. From 4. _a. m._ till almost 6. gentle Rain; so from a little past -6. till past 7. thence till past 3. _p. m._ cloudy, and now and then -some Drops; then a violent Shower for ⅛th of an Hour; half an Hour -after 4. it rain'd again and continued till past 10. for the most part -very furiously; with some little Intermission it rain'd all Night. - -18. At 3. _a. m._ it rained very fiercely; about ½ Hour after 6. it -held up, but cloudy still; from 8. _a. m._ till past 3. _p. m._ it -rained, but moderately; then it held up a little, but rained after till -past 6. all Day cloudy, and at Night a great Fog. - -19. About 9. _a. m._ some Drops; from 1. till past 3. _p. m._ very -gentle Rain. - -Thence to the First of _July_, foggy, Morning, sometimes hot, but for -the most cloudy, and more temperate than could be expected from the -Climate. - -Two Funerals, one the 9th of an Asthma; the other 21. of a Fever. - -We saw some Sorts of Insects not usual here, whether monstrous or not, -I cannot tell. The most notable, a kind of Spider, about the Bigness of -a Beetle, the Form nearest of a Crab-fish, with an odd kind of Orifice -visible in the Belly, whence the Web proceeded. - - -_July, 1687._ - -1. Extream hot. - -2. Foggy in the Morning; about 9. _a. m._ a few Drops; after clear. - -3. In the Morning a great Fog; about 9. _a. m._ it rained small Rain -for near an Hour; toward night more foggy than ever before; about 6. -_p. m._ small Rain for a little time; from 8. till past 9. somewhat -more brisk Rain, after that it cleared up. - -4. From 9. _a. m._ to 3. _p. m._ small Rain, the rest foggy; between -10. and 11. _p. m._ some Rain. - -5. From 2. _a. m._ till past 8. constant Rain, sometimes very fierce, -sometimes moderate; about 10. _a. m._ some Rain; between 2. and 3. _p. -m._ it began to Rain, but continued not long; from 8. _p. m._ to 10. -Rain. - -6. From about 2. _a. m._ to 6. Rain, after fair. - -7. Foggy and cloudy; between 7. and 8. _a. m._ some Drops. - -8. Foggy in the Morning, otherwise clear and hot. - -9. About 1. _a. m._ a smart Shower, between 3. and 5. some more Rain, -the time of which we know not exactly. The Day after foggy. - -10. Very dull and cloudy; from 3. _p. m._ till Night a very great Mist. - -11. Tolerably clear, and very hot, yet somewhat foggy Morning and -Evening. - -12. Cloudy; thence to 15. in the Morning and Evening foggy; else very -hot. - -15. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ some Drops; from half an Hour past 2. -till 4. moderate Rain; about 7. some Drops. - -16. Cloudy, several times it drop'd a little but nothing considerable. - -17. A little before Day, a short Shower; after cloudy; thence to 20. -foggy Morning and Evening, and the most part cloudy. - -20. Very clear all Day, and extream hot. - -21. Not foggy at all; yet somewhat cloudy, but about Mid-day it cleared -up. - -22, And 23. very clear and extream hot. - -24. Cloudy in the Morning; after as the Two last. - -25. Cloudy but not misty nor foggy, sultry hot. - -26. In the Morning cloudy, after extream hot. - -27. Hot and clear. - -28. Thin Clouds, through which the Sun shone very hot. - -29. And 30. cloudy. - -31. About 3. _a. m._ Two short Storms of Rain, the Day after clear and -hot. - -Two Funerals, one the 17th drowned; the other 21. of a Fever. - - -_August, 1687._ - -To 5. clear, for the most part in the Mornings cloudy; but without -Fogs; sometimes very hot. - -5. About 5. _a. m._ a Shower near an Hour long, about 7. another for ½ -Hour, till 10. some small Rain; thence cloudy till 1. about 7. _p. m._ -a few Drops. - -6. Cloudy all Day, sometimes it drop'd a little. - -7. about 2. _a. m._ violent Rain, with Wind for above ½ Hour. The Day -after cloudy. - -8. And 9. cloudy and foggy. - -10. More foggy than ordinary; about 10. _a. m._ a great Mist, or small -Rain for most part of the Day after. - -11. Foggy as the former and Misty; between 8. and 9. _a. m._ a Shower -of small Rain; after Noon clear. - -12. Small Rain in the Morning; after as 11. - -13. Clear and hot, the Land Breze very strong. - -14. Cloudy all Day, the Land Breze turn'd to a kind of Hermitan, but -not troublesome, nor continued beyond this Day. - -15. Cloudy, several times very misty, and some small Rain. - -16. Cloudy, but no Mist; after Noon clear. - -Thence to 22. clear and hot, but the Nights colder than at other times. - -22. At 6. _p. m._ cloudy, a Wind Tornada but moderate, with some few -Drops of Rain very large. - -23. Clear and hot. - -24. Cloudy and misty at first; about 10. _a. m._ clear and hot. - -25. Clear and hot. - -26. Very foggy, Morning and Evening; for the rest hot. - -27. From 5. to 10. _a. m._ it rain'd smartly; thence cloudy, about 2. -_p. m._ it clear'd up for a while; about 9. _p. m._ a sharp Rain for ½ -Hour. - -28. Between 12. and 3. _a. m._ it rained about Two Hours; about 7. some -few Drops, after Cloudy, in the middle of the Day, it clear'd a little, -but quickly overcast again. - -29. In the Night some Rain; at 7. _a. m._ Rain for ½ Hour; till past -12. a very thick Mist; about 3. _p. m._ clear; at Night a very thick -Mist. - -To the end cloudy and Misty. - -Three Funerals, 6. one of a Fever, 7. another of a Consumption, 29. a -third of a Fever. - - -_September, 1687._ - -1. And 2. as the last. - -3. Some few Drops. - -Thence to 8. cloudy also and misty. - -8. About 6. _p. m._ some small Rain; between 8. and 10. _p. m._ for an -Hour pretty brisk Rain. - -9. In the Morning cloudy and misty. - -10. About 10. _p. m._ a little Rain. - -11. Extream hot and clear; in the Night, considerable Rain for several -Hours. - -12. About 10. _a. m._ some small Rain, the Morning very foggy, -Afternoon clear. - -13. Clear and hot. - -14. And 15. In the Morning extream cloudy, and some Drops of Rain. - -16. Clear and extream Hot. - -17. Moderate, about 7. _p. m._ some Drops; at Night also some Rain, not -considerable. - -18. Cloudy; in the Morning about 12. some Drops; all this Week, Morning -and Evening Foggy and thick. - -19, 20, 21. Extream hot, the Fogs ceased. - -22. About 1. _a. m._ some Rain, the Day after cloudy. - -23, 24, 25. In the Morning cloudy after very hot. - -26. At Night also somewhat Misty, with many Flashes of Lightning, but -no Thunder. - -The like Flashes most Nights to the end of the Month, also often -cloudy; at other times extream hot. - -Two Funerals, one the 19th of a Fever, the other the 26th, whose -Disease I do not know. - - -_October, 1687._ - -1. About 3. _a. m._ a very fierce Rain for near an Hour, but milder -toward the end; the Day after some flying Clouds. - -2. About 4. _a. m._ a little Rain, the Day after as before; from 8. _p. -m._ till 10. moderate Rain. - -3. Cloudy; about 10. _a. m._ Rain for somewhat more than an Hour. - -4. Cloudy between 8, and 10. _p. m._ a very smart Rain for above an -Hour. - -5. About 9. _a. m._ a little Shower. - -6. About 5. _a. m._ a little Shower; another past 6. the Day after, and -7 extream hot. - -8. Hot in the Morning; after Noon a shew of a Tornada, with Thunder, -and a considerable Wind, but no Rain. - -Thence to 16. some flying Clouds, but generally hot. - -16. About 4. _p. m._ a little Rain, the Sun shining then, and the whole -Day very hot; about 8. _p. m._ a very strong Tornada, Wind and Rain for -about ½ Hour, afterward the Rain continued, but more moderate, for near -Two Hours. - -17. Clear and hot. 18. So too, except that about 3. _p. m._ there was a -very short Shower. - -19. And 20. somewhat cloudy. - -21. About 7. _a. m._ a few Drops, after clear and extream hot, but -quickly cloudy again; at 11. _a. m._ a violent Tornada, with very -strong Rain and Thunder for near an Hour; thence all the time till -Night, thick and misty; till 2. _p. m._ Rain. - -22. Cloudy. 23. Clear and hot. - -24. Somewhat cloudy; at 7. _p. m._ a little Rain. - -25. Cloudy; about 11. _a. m._ Expectation of a Tornada, with some -Thunder, but it ended in a few Drops of Rain about 1. _p. m._ - -26. About 2. _a. m._ a very violent Tornada, and after the Wind, Rain -not very fierce, which lasted till 8. _a. m._ the Day after cloudy. - -27. About 10. _p. m._ a violent Wind with Rain, but it lasted not long. - -28. About 3. _a. m._ a strong Rain for near an Hour the Day after -extream hot. - -29. And 30. hot, yet with some Clouds. - -30. Half an Hour after 11. _p. m._ began a very furious Tornada, the -Wind was quickly over, but the Rain lasted with extream violence about -Two Hours. - -31. In the Morning very hot; about 2. _p. m._ a violent Tornada, with -Rain and Thunder very near; it ceased sometimes, but beginning again, -lasted till near 4. _p. m._ afterward cloudy. - -Three Funerals, all upon the 6th Day, Two of Fevers, the other I know -not. - - -_November, 1687._ - -Clear and extream hot till the 6th. - -6. About half an Hour past 1. in the Morning a very violent Rain for -more than an Hour. - -Thence to 14. except that the 11th at Night there were some few Drops, -very hot. - -14. Extream hot, about 9. _p. m._ a little Shower; the same Night about -1. a smart Rain for an Hour and half. - -15. Hot; toward Night Cloudy and Foggy. - -Thence to 19. very hot. - -19. Some likelihood of a Tornada, but nothing followed. - -20. About 1. _p. m._ a short Shower; about a quarter past 2. another -not much longer; till Night Cloudy. - -Thence to 26. no Rain, but cloudy and somewhat cooler; yet some Days -extream hot. - -26. About 10. _p. m._ a short Shower. - -27. About 2. another; the rest clear. - -30. About 2. _a. m._ fierce Rain for about ½ Hour. - - - - - _An Account of the _Moorish_ Way of Dressing their Meat (with other - Remarks) in _West-Barbary_, from Cape _Spartel_ to Cape _de - Geer_. _By Mr._ Jezreel Jones._ - - -The _Mauritanian_ or _Barbarian Moor_, when he rises in the Morning, -washes himself all over, and dresses, then goes to their _Jiama_, or -Church, says his Prayers, and returns home, where his Wife, Concubine, -or Slave, hath his Breakfast provided for him, which is sometimes made -of Barly or Wheat-Gruel; for I have known both. It is made somewhat -thicker than ours, till it be ropy; they put Origan, and other Herbs, -powder'd, into it, which for such uses they keep dry'd all the Year; -some will put a little Pepper, and other Spice. I have often been -treated with warm Bread, fresh Butter, and Honey, in a Morning, which -is not seldom used among themselves, an Hour or two after they have -had Gruel; as also Hasty-Pudding, with Butter, and sometimes Butter -and Honey, (as the Guests are, and according to the Ability of the -Entertainers.) Some again give _Cuscusoo_, with Milk, others with -Flesh, a third with Roots. It is to be observed, when any one hath -a Guest or Guests in his House, the Neighbours bring their Dish to -welcome him or them, on account of the Respect and Love they bear -to their Neighbour, as well as to shew their Readiness to entertain -the Stranger. This Practice is found constantly used throughout the -whole Country among the _Moors_, one towards another, reciprocally. -And I have as often found the like Civility, as I had occasion to -take up my Lodging at any Place, where I was acquainted with any -of the Inhabitants. The _Jews_ likewise shew great Civility to any -_Christian_, and treat him with what they have, as stew'd or bak'd -Hens, Capons, hard Eggs, boil'd or roasted, which they press flat with -Pepper, and Salt, Wine, Brandy, _&c._ They have generally the best -Bread, and every thing else of the kind that they can get. They put -Annis, and two or three other sorts of Seeds, in their Bread; one is -black and angled, tastes almost like Carrot-seeds, and I think I have -seen these sometimes used in Bread in _Spain_; I know not the Names -of the other Seeds in _English_, nor any Language but _Arabick_. They -esteem Honey as a wholsome Breakfast, and the most delicious that which -is in the Comb, with the young Bees in it, before they come out of -their Cases, whilst they still look Milk-white, and resemble (being -taken out) Gentles, such as Fishers use: These I have often eat of, but -they seem'd insipid to my Palate, and sometimes I found they gave me -the Heart-burn. - -In _Suse_ I had a Bag of Honey brought by a Friend who made a Present -of it, as being of great Esteem, and such as they present to Men of -greatest Note among them. This, he told me, I was to eat a little of -every Morning, to the quantity of a Walnut; it was thick as _Venice_ -Treacle, and full of small Seeds. I used to breakfast on it for several -Days together, taking the said quantity at a time; it always made me -sleepy, but I found my self well, and in very good temper of Body after -it. The Seeds were about the bigness of Mustard, and, according to the -Description of them to me, and the Effects I found by eating the Honey -and them, they must be a large sort of Poppy-seed. The Honey was of -that sort they call in _Suse_, _Izucanee_, or _Origanum_, which (the -Bees feed on) and these Seeds were mixed with. - -_Cuscus_, or _Cusksoo_, is the principal Dish among them, as the _Olla_ -is in _Spain_: This is made of Flower of Wheat, and when that is -scarce, of Barley, Millet, _Indian_ Corn, _&c._ They shake some Flower -into an earthen Pan, made on Purpose, which is not glazed, sprinkling -a little Water on the bottom of the Pan first, and then working it -with both their open Hands flat, turning them backwards and forwards -to grain it, 'till they make it much resembling _Sago_, which comes -from the _East-Indies_. They stew their Flesh keeping their Pots close -covered, which are made of Earth, put the _Cusksoo_ into an earthen -Cullender, which they call _Caskass_, B. _vid._ Fig. and this Cullender -into the Mouth of the Pot, C. that so all the Steam which arises from -the Meat may be imbibed by the _Cusksoo_, which causes it to swell, and -make it fit to be eaten: When it is enough, for they love every thing -thoroughly done, they put this _Cusksoo_ out into the Dish they serve -it up in, which is somewhat like D. and the _Cusksoo_ being heaped up, -they make (as it were) a Bed or Place for the Meat to lie in, then they -put good store of Spice, as Ginger, Pepper, Saffron, _&c._ This Dish -is set upon a Mat on the Ground, and four Men may easily sit about it, -tho' I have seen six and more at one Dish; they sit with their Buttocks -upon the Calves of their Legs, with the bottom of their Feet on the -Ground. If there are many to eat at this Meal, there are more Dishes. -This Dish they have in use sometimes at Breakfast, as well as Dinner -and Supper, but it is commonly used for the two last Meals. They cover -it with a thing made on purpose, somewhat like E. and it will keep hot -enough two Hours. At a stately Entertainment they will have a Sheep -roasted whole, sometimes a half, or a quarter, on a wooden Spit, or -the most convenient thing they can find. They do not continually keep -turning it, as we do, but leisurely let one side be almost roasted -before they turn the other. The Fire is commonly of Wood burnt to -clear Coal, and made so, that the Heat ascends to the Meat. They baste -it with Oil, and a little Water and Salt incorporated. They let it -be thoroughly roasted; then they say, _Bismiillah_, _In the Name of -God_, after they have washed their Right Hands, and pulling the Meat -in pieces, they fall to eating. It is to be noted, that they never use -but their Right Hand in eating, and one holds whilst the other pulls -it asunder, distributing the pieces to the rest, as he pulls it off. -They seldom use a Knife, and a Fork is a strange thing among them. They -are dextrous at this way of carving, and never flinch at the Heat or -warmth, for that would look mean, and might occasion one more bold to -take his Office upon him to perform. When they have done, they lick -their Fingers, and as often as they have a hot Dish, they wash their -Hands afresh. Then they have _Alfdoush_, or _Virmizzelli_, with some -Meat on it, stew'd Meat, well spiced, with savoury Broth; which after -they have eat the Meat, they dip their Bread in the Sauce, or Broth, -and eat it. They are cleanly in their Cookery, and if a Hair be found -it is a capital Crime, but a Fly not, because it has Wings, and may get -in after it passes from the Cook's Charge or Management; to be well and -strongly season'd is no great Fault; and if one should say it is too -high of Pepper, they'll reply, it is better to be _Ah_ than _Faugh_; -alluding to the Differences between a strong, high, or hot, and savoury -Taste, and an insipid, watry, or unpleasant. _Cubbob_ is small pieces -of Mutton, with the Caul of a Sheep wrapped on them. Some make good -_Cubbob_ of the Liver, Lights, and Heart. They Pepper and Salt them, -and put Sweet Herbs and Saffron into them, and then roast them, and -when they dish them up, squeeze an Orange or two on them. Thus they use -commonly in their stew'd Meats, Lemon and Orange for Roast or Fish. - -_Elmorosia_ is another: This is pieces of Beef, of Cow or Camel, stew'd -with Butter, Honey, and Water; some will put _Rob_ of Wine among it; -they add Saffron, Garlick, or Onions, a little Salt, and when 'tis -enough, serve it up. They esteem this a delicious Dish, used mostly in -the Winter, and say it is good against Colds, notwithstanding they say -Beef is cooler than Mutton. They have a piece of good Housewifery for -a ready Dish, which is likewise appropriated to the Winter Season; and -this I will give an Account of before I have done. Then they will treat -you with Hare stew'd, stew'd and roasted Hens and Partridges: These -they disjoint, and let stew in Water, and Oil, or Butter, if they are -not fat enough of themselves. When they are almost enough, they beat -a couple of Eggs, mix them with the Liquor, with Juice of Lemon or -Vinegar, which they usually have very good, and serve it up. - -Then you may have more baked and roast, and another Dish of stew'd -Meat, which for its Goodness would be esteem'd among us: They take a -Leg of Mutton, cut off the fleshy part, leave out the Skin and Sinews. -This Flesh they mince very fine (with two Knives, one in each Hand) -by holding them across, which they manage with great Dexterity; they -also mince some Suet, Parsly, Thime, Mint, _&c._ Then they take Pepper, -Salt, and Saffron beaten together, and some Nutmeg; all these they add -to the rest, with about half a handful of Rice; they cut an Onion, of -the best sort, half through, and take off the first Lay, as not so fit -for use, unless it be thick. (They that are curious take out the inner -Skin, saying it is not wholsome, and bad for the Eyes, it being the -worst thing in an Onion, which otherwise would be the best of Roots.) -This Lay they fill with forc'd Meat, then the next, and so on, which -makes them look like so many Onions; some they put up in Vine-leaves -of the best they can find for their purpose. Whilst this is doing, the -Bones and Residue of the Leg of Mutton, being in moderate pieces, are -stewing, with as much Water as will just cover them; then they put on -their forc'd Meat-Balls a top of the Meat, and a green Bunch of Grapes -upon them, cover it, and let it boil till thoroughly enough. This I -think, is one of their best Dishes, which they often use in _Fess_ and -other Cities. _Pillowe_, or _Piloe_, is a Dish very well known, made -with Rice boil'd, with a good Hen, Mutton, and Spice, the Flesh and -Fowl being put on the Rice in a Dish as _Cusksoo_, and so served up. - -A Bustard, which they roast and stew, and make an excellent Dish of its -Guts, I eat of it once; to me it seemed very pleasant and savoury, and -very grateful to the Stomach. This Bird is fit for their King's Table, -as likewise the Hedgehog, of which I will give an Account anon. Then -they have _Ragous_, made with Sparrows, Pidgeons, _&c._ - -Their Drink is plain Water, or Milk, and sometimes _Rob_ of Wine mixed -with Water. I was once treated with this by the Bashaw of _Suse_, -_Abdolmeleck ben Alchotib_, and there was brought to me a great Bowl -which held above three Quarts; he told me there was not above half a -Pint of this _Rob_ in it, and the rest was filled up with Water. It was -very generous and pleasant, and tho' I did not drink a quarter of it, -yet I found the Strength in half an Hour. This they say is a Remedy -against Cold likewise, and pretend to take it medicinally; tho' _Rob_ -of Grapes is lawful according to their[20]Law. Under this Pretext, many -_Fessee_ Merchants, to make _Rob_, or Vinegar, press all the Grapes -in their Vineyards, put it up in great Jars, under Ground, and keep -it long, so that it proves excellent Wine. When four or five merry -Companions, with every one his Mistress, appoint to be merry, they go -out to their Vineyard or Garden, have Musick, and all or most of these -Dishes, and there sit and carouse over a great earthen Bowl full of -Wine, of about four or five Gallons, and so drink round in a Cup that -will hold almost a Pint, like a large Tea Dish, till there is none -left; it often happens that they do not part till they have made an end -of the whole Jar, which seldom is less than a Weeks time. I have known -some that have been nine Days successively drunk; those that are known -to drink Wine or Piss standing, their Testimony will not be valid in -Law. - -In a Morning, during this time of Merriment, they are for some savoury -Bit, _Pickled Fish_, or _Escaveche_, or _Elcholle_. They are great -Lovers of Fish, and have as great Variety and very good, which they -fry in _Organ Oil_, stew, roast, and bake, with good store of Spice, -Onions, Garlick, Cummin, Parsly, and Coriander. The _Escaveche_, or -fry'd Fish, is cut in thin slices, and put into Vinegar, with the -aforesaid Spices, adding Saffron, and Pepper, _&c._ It will keep above -a Month, and this they have commonly, as also pickled Limes, Olives, -Capers, _&c._ They eat parched _Garavancas_, parched Almonds, and -Beans, which they parch in a Pan with Water and Salt. These, and other -things, they have to relish their Glass of Wine, or give them a fresh -Appetite to drink. They say, to cure the ill Effects of a drunken Bout, -is, to take a swinging Cup of the same Liquor, which invites them to -more, and so on. - -But I have left some Dishes, by this Digression, to give an Account of -their extravagant Mirth. - -The Hedgehog is a princely Dish among them, and before they kill him -rub his Back against the Ground, by holding its Feet betwixt two, as -Men do a Saw that saws Stones, till it has done Squeaking; then they -cut its Throat, and with a Knife cut off all its Spines and singe it. -They take out its Guts, stuff the Body with some Rice, sweet Herbs, -Garavancas, Spice, and Onions; they put some Butter and Garavancas -into the Water they stew it in, and let it stew in a little Pot, close -stopped, till it is enough, and it proves an excellent Dish. The -_Moors_ do not care to kill Lamb, Veal, nor Kid, saying it is a Pity -to part the Suckling from its Dam. They eat with their boil'd Meat, -many times Carrots, Turnips of two or three sorts, Cabbage, Beans, -and Pease, _&c._ which they have plenty, and very good. I have eat of -Porcupine stewed, which much resembled Camels Flesh in Tast, and that -is the nearest to Beef of any thing I know. - -I come now to give an Account of the _Alcholea_: It is made of Beef, -Mutton, or Camel's Flesh, but chiefly Beef, which they cut all in long -slices, salt it well, and let it lie twenty four Hours in the Pickle. -Then they remove out of those Tubs, or Jars, into others with Water, -and when it has lain a Night, they take it out, and put it on Ropes in -the Sun and Air to dry; when it is thoroughly dri'd, and hard, they cut -it into pieces of two or three Inches long, and throw it into a Pan, -or Chauldron, which is ready, with boiling Oil and Suet sufficient to -hold it, where it boils till it be very clear and red, if one cuts it, -which, taken out, they set to drain: When all is thus done, it stands -till cool, and Jars are prepared to pot it up in, pouring the Liquor -they fried it in upon it, and as soon as it is thoroughly cold they -stop it up close. It will keep two Years, it will be hard, and the -hardest they look on to be best done. This they dish up cold, sometimes -fry'd with Eggs and Garlick, sometimes stew'd, and Lemon squeezed on -it. It is very good any way, either hot or cold. - -Before I conclude, I willingly give an Account of their -Travelling-Provision, _viz._ Bread, Almonds, Raisons, Figs, hard Eggs, -cold Fowl, _&c._ But what is most used by Travellers, is _Zumeet_, -_Tumeet_, or Flower of parched Barley for _Limereece_. These are not -_Arabian_ but _Shilha_ Names, so I believe it is of a longer standing -than the _Mahometans_ in that Part of _Africk_. They are all three -made of parched Barley Flower, which they carry in a Leather Satchel. -_Zumeet_ is the Flower mixed with Honey, Butter, and Spice; _Tumeet_ -is the same Flower done up with _Organ Oil_; and _Limereece_ is only -mixed with Water, and so drank: This quenches Thirst much better than -Water alone, satisfies a hungry Appetite, cools and refreshes tired and -weary'd Spirits, overcoming those ill Effects a hot Sun and fatiguing -Journey might occasion. This among the Mountaineers of _Suse_ is used -for their Diet as well at home as on their Journey. All things taken -in Game, as Hawking, Hunting, and Fowling, are lawful for them to eat, -if they take it before it be dead, so that they can have time to cut -its Throat, and say, _Bismiillahe_; or if he is known to be an expert -Man at the Game, and says those Words before he lets the Hawk take -its Flight, lets slip the Grey-hound, or fires his Gun, it is lawful; -all (I say, but Swine's Flesh, and what dies of its self) they have -Liberty to eat, and may sell it. They tell us there is but one Part -about the Hog or Swine that is unlawful, which they do not know, and -are obliged to abstain from the whole; but if they knew it, they would -let us have but little to our share. They eat Snails boil'd with Salt, -and praise their Wholesomeness. Fish of all sorts, are lawful. In -_Taffilet_ and _Dra_ most of their Food is Dates, there are ten or a -dozen sorts. They have good Capons all the Country over; no Turkeys, -Ducks, nor Geese but wild, and those they have of two sorts; Duck, -Teal, and Mallard, Curlews, Plovers, Snipes, Ox-birds, Pipers, a sort -of a black Crow, with a bald Pate, and long crooked Bill, is good -Meat, and a hundred other sort of Fowl. I have eat Antelope, which we -have kill'd in hunting, and are very good Food. They are as large as -a Goat, of a Chestnut Colour, and white under the Belly; their Horns -are almost quite streight from their Head up, tapering gradually, with -Rings at a distance from one another, till within an Inch and a half of -the top; fine large black Eyes, long and slender Neck, Feet, Legs, and -Body, shaped somewhat like a Deer; they have two Cavities between their -Legs, I think the Male as well as the Female. I have sent of these -Antelopes alive to _England_. There are many in a Herd, when at the -same time they have Scouts, or those who by running give 'em notice of -an approaching Foe. When two lie down together, they lay themselves so, -that their Backs are towards each other, and the Head of one towards -the Tail of the other, that they may see every way. Their Dung is sweet -and pleasant enough. They are taken sometimes by the Hawk, sometimes by -the Shot; for they are too swift for a Grey-hound. Partridges in _Sus_ -commonly roost on Trees; there are so many Foxes which would otherwise -destroy them. - -And here I should make mention of another Dish: The _Moors_ will eat -Fox, if it be Fat, either stewed or roasted, but they do not care for -it lean, which has occasioned a Proverb among them on that Account, to -wit, _Hellel deeb, harom deeb_; alluding to the Scruple might be made -of its lawfulness. Those Words signifie, a Fox is lawful, and a Fox is -unlawful; _i. e._ Fat, Lawful; Lean, Unlawful. - -[Illustration] - -[Sidenote: Lat. 30, or thereabouts.] - -Fruits and Sweat-Meats they have of many kinds, as of three or four -sorts of Pumpkins, Macaroons, Almonds prepared many ways, Raisins, -Dates, Figs dry and green, excellent Melons of two or three sorts, -and Water-Melons, Pomegranates of several kinds, Apples, Pears, -Apricocks, Peaches, Mulberries white and black, Plumbs, and Damascens, -Cherries,[21]Grapes of many kinds, and very good, and if they would -assist Nature, they might have every thing in Perfection. - - * * * * * - -Their Salating is Lettuce, Endive, Carduus, Parsley, Apium, and other -sweet Herbs, Onions, Cucumbers of several kinds, some about a Yard in -length, and two or three Inches thick, and hairy, (this is esteemed -the wholesomest) Radishes, _Fumatas_, or Apples of Love, all which -they will cut, and put Oil, Vinegar, and Salt, with some red Pepper: -This Salate they eat with Bread. They have a Fruit called _Baraneen_, -in _Spain_, _Baragenas_; these they stew with their Victuals, and -sometimes cut them in thin slices, and fry them; it makes a pretty -Dish. When the _Moors_ have feasted, every one washes his Hands and -Mouth, thanks God, and blesses the Hosts and Entertainers from whom -they had it; they talk a little, or tell some Story, and then lie down -to rest, where I shall leave them at present, and do beg your Pardon -for so tiresome and frivolous a Discourse. - -FOOTNOTES: - -[20] _Alcoran._ - -[21] Grapes in _Messina_ I have known as big as a Pigeon's Egg; but -they do not make Wine. - - - - - _A Letter from Mr. _John Monro_ to the Publisher, concerning the - Catacombs of _Rome_ and _Naples_._ - - - _SIR,_ - -The Catacombs are an obscure Argument. I have seen those of _Rome_, -I have seen those of _Naples_, and as they say there are Catacombs -in the Neighbourhood of all the great Towns of that part of _Italy_, -I had been glad to have seen them where-ever they are. They are an -obscure argument indeed; but perhaps the greatest obscurity about them -is, that a Matter that has so much exercis'd the Pens of the Moderns, -shou'd be totally neglected by the Ancients: Neither the name nor the -thing is found in the latter, whereas among the former, Antiquaries -and Travellers are full of them. All they into whose way they come, -think they do nothing if they do not exhaust them before they leave -them; they take all their dimensions, and measure their height, their -breadth and their length; they survey all the little Rooms, search -every hole and corner, Criticize nicely on the quality, and calculate -the Age of the poor Painting and Inscriptions, and make excursions into -other Arguments, to find out the end for which they were made. The -Catacombs are a narrow Gallery dug and carried a vast way under Ground, -with an infinite number of others going off it on all hands, and an -infinite number of little Rooms going off the Principal, and them too. -Those commonly shew'd Strangers are those of _San Sebastiano_, those of -_San Lorenzo_, those of _San Agnese_, and the others in the Fields a -little off of _Sant Agnese_. They take their Names from the Churches in -their Neighbourhood, and seem to divide the circumference of the City -without the Walls between them, extending their Galleries every where -under, and a vast way from it, so that all the Ground under, and for -many Miles about it, is said to be hollow. Now there are two sorts of -Authors that run into extravagance on this subject; the one will have -them made by the Primitive Christians, adding, that in the times of -Persecution they liv'd, held their Assemblies, and laid up the Bodies -of their Martyrs and Confessors in them. This is the Account that -prevails at _Rome_, and consequent to it there are Men kept constantly -at Work in them. As soon as these Labourers discover a Repository, -with any of the marks of a Saint about it, Intimation is given to the -Cardinal Treasurer, who immediately sends Men of Probity and Reputation -to the place, where they find a Palm painted or ingraven, or the Cypher -XP, which is commonly read _pro Christo_, or a small round projection -in the side of the Gallery, a little below the Repository; what is -within it is carried to the Palace. Many of these Projections we have -seen open, with pieces of the Vials in them; the Glass indeed was -tinctur'd, and 'tis pretended that in these Vials was conserved the -Blood of the Martyrs, which was thus laid up nigh their Bodies, towards -the Head, to distinguish them from those of the others that were not -called to the Honour of laying down their Lives for the Faith of the -Gospel. After the Labourers have survey'd a Gallery, they do up the -entry that leads into it; thus most of them are shut; nor are more left -open than what is necessary to keep up the Trade of shewing them to -Strangers, which they say is done to prevent what has often happen'd, -I mean Peoples losing themselves in these subterraneous Labyrinths; by -this conduct depriving us of the means of knowing whither and how far -they were carried. To this it may be justly excepted, that allowing the -Catacombs to be proper for the end for which they are presum'd to be -made, and that the Christians of that Age were in a capacity of making -that convenience, for themselves to live and assemble in below Ground, -at a time when 'twas so very unsafe to appear above it; yet to suppose -that a work of that Vastness and Importance cou'd be carried on without -the knowledge of the Government, is to suppose the Government asleep, -and that that was actually done under its Nose, that must necessarily -have alarm'd it, had it been attempted on the frontiers of the Empire. - -The other sort of Authors give indeed a mighty Idea of the Catacombs, -represent them as a work of that Vastness, that the Christians in the -persecuting times had not number enough to carry it on; but then most -unadvisedly with the same breath they confound them with the _Puticuli -in Festus Pompeius_, where, at the same time that the Ancient _Romans_ -us'd to burn the Bodies of their dead, the custom was, to avoid -expence, to throw those of the Slaves to rot. - -This is not all, the _Roman_ Christians, say they, observing at length -the great veneration that certain Places gain'd by the presence -of Relicts, resolv'd to provide a stock for themselves; entring -therefore the Catacombs, they made in some of them what Cyphers, what -Inscriptions, what Painting they thought fit, and then shut them up; -intending to open them again upon a Dream, or some other important -incident. The few that were in the secret of this Artifice either -dying, or as the Monks, who were the only Men that seem to have had -Heads adapted to a thought of this quality, were subject to so many -removes, being transported to other Places, the contrivance came to be -forgot, and those Galleries continu'd shut, till Chance, the Parent -often of great discoveries, open'd them at last. Thus they conclude, -the Remains of the vilest part of Mankind are trump'd up in the Church -for the Bodies of the most eminent Confessors and Martyrs. - -To leave the latter part of this Tale to shift for it self as well -as it can, either the Catacombs are not that great work they are -represented to be, nor to be found every where about the City, or -'twas very improper in _Festus Pompeius_ to call them by the little -name of _Puticuli_, and so confine them to one place only, that I mean -unknown now without the _Esquilin_-Gate. Indeed the Characters of the -Places are so very unlike, that one wou'd wonder how a common Burying -place, where in holes Bodies were thrown together to rot, came to be -confounded with Repositories cut in the face of a long Gallery, one -over another, sometimes to the number of seven, in which Bodies were -singly laid, and handsomly done up again, so that nothing cou'd offend -the view of those that went in, especially with the little Rooms of -the fashion of Chappels, that have all the Appearances of being the -Sepulchers of People of distinction. - -The Remark, _Puticulos Antiquissimum sepulturæ genus appellatos, quod -ibi in puteis sepirentur homines_, is that of an Etymologist, that -would be now thought to speak against all the property of Language, -if he apply'd the name to our Graves or Vaults, to which it may with -more Justice and Reason be apply'd, than to the Galleries of the -Catacombs, and the Rooms that go off them. What the particulars were -is not difficult to define, after what we have seen so often. When the -Persecutors spilt the Blood of so many Martyrs, they us'd to dig holes -perpendicularly in the Ground, and to throw their Bodies promiscuously -in them; of this the Memory is still conserv'd, Churches being built in -the Places where the holes were made, and little Monuments erected over -the holes themselves, to which the name of _Putei_ is continued to this -day. - -This is the true notion of the _Puticuli_, holes dug perpendicularly -in the Ground to throw Bodies indifferently and without any decency -in; and according to the Argument this ought to be the conduct of the -Ancient _Romans_, with Respect to their Slaves, as implying simplicity -and the care to avoid a greater expence; but then what's all this -to the Galleries and Chambers of the Catacombs, where decency and -distinction of quality is nicely observ'd; and that, if they were -look'd after, and kept in better repair, would be without dispute the -noblest Burying-place this Day in the World? As often as they fall -under my consideration, I cannot forbear thinking they were made for -this end by the Ancient _Romans_, and made in consequence of these two -Ancient opinions, that the shadows hate the light, and love to hover -about the place where the Bodies are laid, they appear so easie and -decent a resting-place for the one, without the least fear of being -ever disturb'd, and at the same time there is provided a noble and a -vast convenience full of variety for the others, to space themselves -freely and with pleasure in. - -I think 'twill not be denied, that laying up the Bodies in Caves -was the original way of disposing of the dead; this was that of the -_Phænicians_, and as they were the Men that with their Colonies peopled -the Western parts of the World, 'tis more than probable they carried -it along with them whither soever they went. Afterwards, as Men grew -great and powerful, they erected noble and magnificent Monuments -for themselves above ground; at length others of inferior degree -imitated them, all leaving room enough and excluding the light: But -then interring as we do now in the open Air, or in Temples, was never -the manner till Christianity brought it in. Of the whole we have many -Instances, and _Il Signior Abbate Bencini_, Bibliothecary of the -_Propaganda_, a Gentleman of good Ancient Learning, assured me in the -conversation I had with him on this Argument, that on the great Roads -in most parts of _Italy_ little Catacombs have been and are still -found under ground, and that 'twas the Custom to build little Houses -over them. This, and the testimony of the Labourers whom I consulted -on the matter, made me abandon an opinion of which I was once fond, -that the Catacombs are of the Nature of our Gravel-pits, as old as the -City itself, and yet out of them was taken the _Puzzolana_, the famous -Ingredient in the _Roman_ Mortar. The same learned Gentleman added, -relating to the marks of a Martyr, that they don't conclude much; -that the so fam'd Cypher XP was in use among the Ancients long before -Christianity begun: And when I ask'd him what the meaning of it might -be among them? return'd, that 'twas compos'd of the two _Greek_ Letters -Χ Ρ, under which something mystical was comprehended, but that he met -with no Author that gave account what the mystery was. - -Thus, after a multitude of thoughts about the Catacombs, I'm forced to -take up with this; so natural it is, arising from the sole Theory of -the Place, and falls in so oppositely with the Religion and Practice -of the Ancients, among whom the _Dii Manes_ were the Tutelary Gods of -the Country, and _D. M._ at the head of an Inscription, argues the -Moles, the Sepulchre, the Monument, _&c._ was in the primary intention -made for and dedicated to the Soul. Upon the same Maxims, in Foreign -expeditions, when a Hero died or was kill'd, as the Body was liable -to a quick corruption, and for that Reason unfit to be transported -entire, they fell on the expedient of Burning, in order to bring home -the Ashes, to oblige the _Manes_ to follow, that so the Country might -not be deprived of the Benefit of its tutelage. This I humbly conceive -was the Original of Burning, which by Degrees became more and more -universal, till at last the Pomp and Magnificence of it reconcil'd it -to all that were able to go to the length of the expence. - -As for the prejudice of the Silence of the Ancient Authors in this -matter, 'tis easily removed, and to be regretted at the same time -that the Authors of all Ages, too much neglect the customs of their -own time. Writing for the satisfaction of their Cotemporaries, they -think it impertinent to Trouble them with the Account of what they see -Transacted every Day. By this means the Ancient Customs, with the Time, -and Reasons of their disuse, are lost with Respect to us, and ours with -the same Circumstances may come to be so with relation to Posterity. -As the Authors are pleas'd to adopt them for their Children, one wou'd -wonder greater care is not taken not to entail visible occasions of -complaint on them; nay, one wou'd wonder more, to see these Gentlemen -so little ambitious of a future reputation, when they may infallibly -assure it themselves, without resigning the present, by transmitting -the knowledge of things, the knowledge of which may in a small series -of Years become otherwise irretrievable; they cannot but observe every -Day what esteem is placed on those Authors, to whom we are forced to -go, to find in them what cannot be found elsewhere, to compare with the -others, in whom nothing is to be found, but what Men of Reason are able -to find at home. - -Upon the whole, the Catacombs I humbly conceive were the Burying-places -of the Ancient _Romans_; at length the manner of Burning, which they -received from the _Græcians_, coming by degrees to prevail universally, -they fell under a total neglect. This is the State in which the -Primitive Christians must be suppos'd to have found them; 'tis not -to be imagin'd they could have made any use of them, at a time when -'twas the daily practice to lay up even the depositions of the Slaves -in them; so that either the Christians made no use of them at all, -or they never were the burying Place of the Slaves. Now as these are -Suppositions that naturally destroy one another, one would count it -more safe to follow the faint light of a glimmering tradition, than -abandon ones self to the Conduct of an _Ignis fatuus_, that for ought -a Man knows is actually misleading him, so I beg leave to call the -Testimony of _Festus Pompeius_, that may rather be apply'd to any other -thing than to the Galleries of the Catacombs, carry'd under ground, -they say 20 Miles from the City in some places, and no Body knows how -far in others, and to that vast number of Chambers that go off them. -Thus therefore the Christians finding them in a state of neglect laid -up the Bodies of their Dead in them; and perhaps when the Persecution -was hot, conceal'd themselves and kept little separate Assemblies in -their Chambers. At last the Empire turning Christians, they fell again -in the old state of neglect, in which they continu'd till upon the -reading of I have forgot what Author that makes mention of them, they -came to be look'd into and search'd. What I have writ relates to the -Catacombs of _Rome_, those of _Naples_ are a quite other thing, of -which _per_ next. I am, - - _Sir_, - - _Your most humble Servant_, - - Marseilles, Aug. 22. - 1700. - - J. Monro. - - - - - _An accurate Description of the _Lake of Geneva_, not long since - made by a Person that had visited it divers times in the - pleasantest season of the Year; and communicated to the Publisher - by one of his Parisian Correspondents: English'd as followeth._ - - -You have reason, _Sir_, to demand of me an Account of the _Lake of -Geneva_, which, in my opinion, about this Season of the Year (in -_June_) is one of the most pleasant Places of the World. This is the -Third time I have visited it, and I am, if I may say so, more charmed -with it than the first. - -I shall say nothing of the _Alpes_, nor of mount _Jura_, which do -environ it, which by this Lake as by a large Ditch, are separated -from one another: For that would not give you a sufficiently fair -_Idea_ of the Country. Be pleased therefore to represent unto your -self a Croissant of Water, one extremity whereof is Eighteen Leagues -distant from the other, and the Banks of which are gently raised to -some heights, then to collines, and at length to stupendous Mountains; -which yet are not so linked to one another but that they leave betwixt -them interstices of Fifteen or Twenty Leagues prospects, checkered by -Meadows, Corn-Fields, Orchards, Vines, Forrests of Fir-Trees, Snow -lying on the sides of the Rocks. All these Objects, which at a distance -are confounded, and seem to make but one, have near hand their several -Beauties: So well is the Country intersected by Rivulets, which, after -they have served to make Iron, Paper, &c.; run into the Lake, carrying -with them very many Fountains. - -But leaving these Things, I shall now content my self to entertain your -Curiosity by giving you a candid Relation of what I have there observed -in the space of Four Months. - - * * * * * - -Although I have told you, that this Lake hath the figure of a -_Croissant_, yet that point, where is _Geneva_, is somewhat longer and -more extended than the other. This Croissant where 'tis largest, which -is from _Morges_ to _Thonon_, is about Five good Leagues over. That -which hinders from making an exact estimate of its Largeness in other -places, is, that the Winds by driving the Water toward the Banks have -made certain points, which advance far into the Lake, in such sort -that when one happens to be opposite to the other, the Lake seems to -be narrow: As may be observed in going from _Geneva_ to _Nion_, where -it seems as if the _Pharus_ or watch Tower of _Prangin_, which is in -_Suisse_, did almost touch _Savoy_; whereas yet one is a League distant -from the other. And, what is remarkable, is, that at the coming out -of this Streight, the Lake hath there almost its greatest breadth and -depth. - -The Water of this Lake is very good to drink, and ever so limpid, that -even in the rolling of the Waves, which sometimes go high enough, the -Water is not troubled but along the Banks. And if one do attentively -look down from the Castle of _Chilon_ or from any of the neighbouring -heights into the bottom of the Lake, he may see high Mountains under -the Water. And the Water is so Deep before _Veuvay_, that the sounding -Line at the end of four hundred Fathoms seems, because it will not -stay, to Touch upon something slippery. 'Tis held to be 500 Fathoms -deep before _Roole_; and 'tis affirm'd, that near this great Depth -there may be seen a kind of _Isle_ under Water. - -The _Rhone_ enters at one of the Points of the Croissant into the Lake, -and issueth out at the other; but with this Difference, that whereas -he comes in Dirty and Miry, he ever goes out so Pure and Clear, that -under the Bridge of _Geneva_, where the Water is deep twenty five Feet -in Summer, you may well discern the smallest Stones at the bottom. And -the same Water, which in this Place appears of a Saphyring Blew in the -shade of the Houses, appears altogether Green, nor is so Transparent, -when the Sun shines on it. - -There is a great diversity of Opinions as to the _Current_ of the -_Rhone_ in the Lake; some maintaining, that it may be discerned, others -denying it. Having heard the Sentiments of the Curious of _Lausanne_ -and _Geneva_, and the Opinions of the most knowing Fishermen that are -there in great Number, and especially at _Coupet_, I believe with the -latter; that, although the _Rhone_ entring into the Lake loseth its -Violence, yet doth he still keep some sensible Motion in some places, -and every were observable, and that no Trouts are taken any were in -this Lake, but in this Current of the _Rhone_; which is what these -Fishermen call, to go and Fish _sur le mont_. - -Others there are, that go further and say, that one may every where -distinguish the Water of the Lake from that of the _Rhone_: But the -Fishermen will not allow this, but assert, that there is no other Mark -than those lately alledged, _viz._ of the Trouts, and the Current; -and that the latter of these is alone sufficient, in calm Weather, to -observe the Current of the _Rhone_ from the place of his entring the -Lake unto that of his going out. - -The Water of this Lake commonly begins to Increase about the end of -_January_, or the beginning of _February_, and continues to do so unto -the twentieth of _July_, and often unto the very Month of _August_; and -then it insensibly decreaseth, so that the Water is less high in Winter -than Summer by twelve or fifteen Feet; the Frosts draining the Springs, -or rather Freezing the Waters that issue out of them. - -About this Increase of the Water there are also different Opinions. -'Tis true, they all believe in general, that the principal cause of -the Increase of the Water is the melting of the Snow, and of the -Mountainous Ice, that is in the Winter form'd of the Waters of the -Springs and Torrents, which the Frost fixeth. This is so true, that -when there is much Snow in Winter, the Waters are very high the ensuing -Summer. But when great Rains chance to fall in _January_, then the -Snow, not yet being well hardened, melteth on a sudden altogether. -And when this melting is not so violent, all the Snow that will melt, -melts at the end of _May_ or at the beginning of _June_; so that, there -remaining but the stock of Ice for entertaining the Increase of the -Water unto the Month of _August_, some have thence been induced to say, -that this Increase, which amounts, as has been said, to 15 Feet Water -generally all over the Lake, is caused by the Herbs, growing, as they -pretend, at its bottom in great abundance; and that these Herbs, whilst -growing, do force the Water upwards, and dying in Autumn make the Water -to sink lower. Which is not satisfactory to me, because there are no -Herbs seen upon the Lake, and very little within it, and the Banks -being very dry. - -Others there are, that will have this Water rarified by the Heat of the -Sun, and thereupon swell'd on the Borders, hot Water not being so high -in the middle as cold. - -This is certain, that all the Rivers and Torrents, that fall into this -Lake, carry with them store of Stones and Earth, which may indeed -enlarge and raise it: But such an augmentation or rise cannot be -sensible but from Age to Age; not to mention, that in Winter, whilst -the Water is low, the Stones of the Lakes are carried away for building -or fortifying at _Geneva_. - -At the issuing out of the Barres, that form _Geneva_, on the side of -the Lake, are seen in the Water two or three huge Flints, standing out -of the Water; the chief of which they call _Niton_: And the Tradition -is, that it formerly was an Altar consecrated to _Neptune_; there being -also a place cut out in the middle, which they take to have been the -place for the Sacrifice. On this Flint seven or eight Persons can sit; -and sometimes, when the Waters are very low, there are found about it -Knives, and Needles as thick as Bodkins of tweeses, and much longer; -both of Brass, well enough made, and esteemed to have served for the -Sacrifices. - -This Lake in serene and calm Weather appears sometimes, and that even -before Sun-rising, as if it were made of divers pieces, differently -coloured; part of it being Browner than the rest, which seems to be -caused by a Breath of Wind passing thorough the Water, coming either -from the bottom of the Lake, or from above; tho' others think this -gentle agitation to proceed from some Springs that are at the bottom, -making the Water shiver above. But that part of the Water, that is not -moved, appears as even and smooth as a Looking-Glass, or like Water -traced by a Ship. And as for the Colours, they are, in my Opinion, an -effect of the neighbouring Mountains, the different Images of which, -being confounded in the Water, make an appearance of very pale Colours. - -After that the _Rhone_ is entred into the Lake, he retakes not his -impetuous course before a quarter of a Mile's distance from its coming -forth again, that is, above _Geneva_. And the nearer he comes to that -Town, the more his Bed becomes narrow, and consequently his course -more Rapid. Yet this Rapidness hath been in our times once surmounted -by Wind, and once by Water. To understand which, you may imagine, that -in _Geneva_ there is a streak of Land about an hundred Fathoms long, -which divides the _Rhone_ into two parts, passing under four Bridges, -then covered with Houses. From the Point of this Isle unto several -ranks of Stakes on that side of the Town, there are about a Thousand -common Paces. This whole space of Water, which makes the figure of an -V (whereof the Isle is the Point, and the Town forms the sides, and -the Stakes the empty place of the end) hath been once laid dry by a -violent Wind, after this manner. One Day in the Winter of the Year -1645. there arose in the Morning about 9 a clock so furious a Wind, -that not only it uncovered the Houses, but also laid dry the Bed of the -_Rhone_ above the Bridges, so that many, in the view of all the Town -crossed quite over it dry-foot, and one of the Sons of M. _D. Aubigny_ -took up some Medals, which he found in his way. This passage was free -during an Hours time; at the end of which the River retook its course. -At that Season the Water being very low, and a West-Wind, to arrive at -_Geneva_, being pressed by the high Mountains that bring it upon the -Town as by the nose of a pair of Bellows; it came to pass, that that -Wind did violently bear upon the Water near the said Bars keeping -suspended the Water that was beyond, and those Waters, that were -beneath, running away downwards by a declivity, and under the shelter -of the Houses. Whilst I was scrupling at this Relation, they brought -me _Gallasius_ his Commentary upon _Exodus_, Printed 1560. where 'tis -recorded, that the like accident had fallen out at _Geneva_ at the -time when that Minister lived there, a South West Wind having made -the _Rhone_ to recoil into the Lake, and many People having thereupon -passed over dry for an Hours time. - -Concerning the other Accident; you may remember, that the River _Arve_, -which is a kind of Torrent falls into the _Rhone_, about a 1000 Paces -beneath _Geneva_. In the Month of _December_ in the Year 1652. the said -_Arve_ did so extraordinarily swell, that not only it over-run its -Banks with impetuosity, but also interrupted the course of the _Rhone_, -and forc'd it to re-enter into the Lake for the space of fourteen -hours; though some do esteem, that the _Arve_ dis-gorged it self for -that time into the Lake, by passing _over_ the Water of the _Rhone_, -which, in their Opinion, continued his course under the Water of the -_Arve_. However the Water was seen at _Geneva_ to re-enter into the -Lake. - -But to conclude, this Lake doth very much abound in Fish; but that -which is observable is, that those Fishes have as 'twere cantonized -themselves, and divided the Lake among them. The _Trouts_ are not to -be found there, but, as hath been already mentioned, in the Current of -the _Rhone_: The _Carps_ have taken up their quarter towards _Veuvay_: -The _Pikes_ and _Pearches_ have also their Habitations apart. But some -other Fish, that are but Passengers, not living constantly in the Lake, -spread themselves almost every where indifferently. - -The great Trouts pass out of the Lake for four Months of the Summer, -and are taken in Autumn when they are returning thither. The Fishing -is farmed out at _Geneva_; and there are Conservatories where many of -those big Trouts are kept, among which there are some that weigh fifty -pounds. Sometimes they catch Pikes there of eighty pounds weight; and a -pound weight at _Geneva_ you know to be eighteen Ounces. - -In the Months of _July_ and _August_ they fish there for the Fry of -Pearches, at a time when they are no bigger than the smallest Taggs. -These are a very delicious Dish, there called _Mille Cantons_. - -I shall add no more than put you in mind of that Duke of _Savoy_, who -renounced his Crown and the Pontificat it self, to pass deliciously the -rest of his Days at _Ripialles_, where he made so good cheer to all -that visited him, that to express a very merry Entertainment, they say -still, _faire Ripialles_. - - - - - _Part of a Journal kept from _Scotland_ to _New Caledonia_ in - _Darien_, with a short Account of that Country. Communicated by - Dr. _Wallace_, F. R. S._ - - -_September 2._ we weighed at _Maderas_, and were under the Tropic of -_Cancer_ by the 10th of the Month, at which time the usual Ceremony -of Ducking from the Yards-arm was performed on those that could not -pay their Tropick Bottle. All this time we had a brisk and constant -Trade-wind, which lasted three days more, but afterwards we had it more -variable than is usual in that place of the Sea. - -The 28th we made _Deseada_, a small high Island, about a league in -length and as much in breadth; it is full of Trees, but whether it -affords Water or not I know not. It is uninhabited. Next morning we -were betwixt _Antego_ and _Montserat_, belonging to the _English_, -both pretty large and mountainous. _Antego_ is Peopled with _English_ -for the most part, and _Montserat_ by a mixture of _English_ and -_Irish_. Their Product is Sugar and Tobacco. We were in the afternoon -close by _Redonda_, a small Rock about a mile long, inhabited only by -Noddies and Boobies. When we were some leagues from _Redonda_, we -saw at the same time _Antego_, _Montserat_, _Redonda_, _Nevis_, _St. -Christophers_, and _Statia_. We sailed close by _Nevis_, it bearing -North of us; it is a small well Peopled Island, its Product is Sugar. -They twisted the Flag at the Harbour, and we shew'd them the Company's -Colours. _St. Christophers_ is a large Island, ill Peopled, belongs -half to the _English_, half to the _French_. Night parted us from -these Islands, and next day, which was the 30th, we came in sight of -_Santa Cruz_, belonging to the _Spaniards_. When we were within four -leagues they held a Council. The _Unicorn_ and _Snow_ were sent to St. -_Thomas_, a small Island belonging to the _Danes_; it is a free Port, -and they say is well fortified. We went on to the Southward of the -Island, and next Day, being _October 1._ we were about 12 a clock past -the S. W. corner. It is very level towards the South. That Night we got -a sight of _Crab Island_, and next Day - -_October 2._ we came into it, and sent some of our People ashore, and -took possession of it in the Companies name. _October_ the 4th we stood -to the Leeward, hearing there was a Harbour there; when we came we -saw the _Danes_ Colours flying on the Shore, for the Governour of St. -_Thomas_ had sent 14 Men and a Captain to take possession of it in the -King of _Denmark_'s name. Our Councellors sent to know his Business -there, and he told them this, but we found that we had taken possession -of the Place before they came from St. _Thomas_. They gave in their -Protest, yet seem'd to be glad enough of our Neighbourhood. We had -notwithstanding our Flag upon the Shore all the while we stay'd, with -100 Men, and Captain _Melean_ Governour; they stayed till we were gone, -but would certainly March next Day, otherwise the _Spaniards_ of _Porto -Rico_ would not miss to take them off. - -The 6th, Captain _Pinkerton_ and the _Snow_ came in from St. _Thomas_, -with old Captain _Alison_ along with them for a Pilot. On the 8th we -left this place, and on the 17th made _Nostra Signiora della Popa_, -we lay aside there along the Coast, until the 3d Day of _November_, -generally losing by Night what we had gain'd all Day. - -_Crab Island_ is about 6 Leagues long, and in some places 5 broad, -the Soil is very good. It's all full of Trees; all the South side is -full of Bays, very fit for anchoring in, but the best of all is to the -Leeward, where the _Dane_ hoised his Colours. It would have been worth -our while to possess it, had we not been a coming to a better Country. -It has this Inconvenience, that nothing but strength of Men, or Peace -with every Body, can render it secure. It is called _Crab Island_, from -the multitude of Land-Crabs there. - -_November 3._ We anchored before _Golden Island_, and sent in our -Pinnace to the Bay. The Natives had hoised a White Flag in sign of -Peace, and told us a great many Stories of Captain _Swan_, Captain -_Davies_, and others, for they took us for _English_, by reason of our -red Fly; but we took no notice of the Men they nam'd. At last they -ask'd us our Business? we told them we designed to settle among them, -and to be their Friends. They told us we were very welcome, and that -by prediction they had expected us these two Years; for they say that -two Years ago it was foretold them that a People should come and live -among them, that would treat them civilly, and teach them good manners. -We conversed some time with them, and after viewing the Harbour came -aboard. - -The 4th we came into the great Harbour of _Caledonia_: It is a most -excellent one, for it is about a League in length from N. W. to S. E. -It is about half a Mile broad at the Mouth, and in some places a Mile -and more farther in. It is large enough to contain 500 sail of Ships. -The greatest part of it is Land-lock'd, so that it is safe, and cannot -be toucht by any Wind that can blow the Harbour, and the Sea makes -the Land that lies betwixt them a Peninsula. There is a Point of the -Peninsula at the Mouth of the Harbour, that may be fortified against -a Navy. This Point secures the Harbour, so that no Ship can enter but -must be within reach of their Guns. It likewise defends half of the -Peninsula, for no Guns from the other side of the Harbour can touch it, -and no Ship carrying Guns dare enter for the Breast-work at the Point. -The other side of the Peninsula is either a Precipice, or defended -against Ships by Shoals and Breaches, so that there remains only the -narrow Neck that is not naturally fortify'd; and if 30 Leagues of a -Wilderness will not do that, it may be artificially fortified 20 ways. -In short, it may be made impregnable, and there is Bounds enough within -it, if it were all cultivated, to afford 10000 Hogsheads of Sugar -every Year. The Soil is rich, the Air good and temperate, the Water is -sweet, and every thing contributes to make it healthful and convenient. -The Product of this Place, I mean in the Harbour and Creeks hereabouts, -is Turtle, Manatee, and a vast variety of very good small Fish, from -the bigness of a Salmon to that of a Perch. The Land affords Monkeys of -different sorts, Wild-Deer, _Indian_ Rabbit, Wild Hog, Parrots of many -kinds, Parakites, Macaws, Pelicans, and a hundred more Birds we have -got no name to. There are moreover Land-Crabs, Souldiers, Land-Turtle, -Lizards, Guanha's, Cock-Lizards, and Scorpions: I had almost forgot -Partridges, Pheasants, and a kind of Turkey. All the Birds in this -Country are beautiful, but none of them that I could observe have any -Notes. We have a Monkey aboard that chirms like a Lark, it will never -be bigger than a Rat. This Place affords legions of monstrous Plants, -enough to confound all the Methods of Botany ever hitherto thought -upon. However, I found a shift to make some Specimens, and that is all -I can do. I say some Specimens, because if I should gather all, 'twould -be enough to load the St. _Andrew_, for some of their Leaves exceed -three Ells in length, and are very broad; besides these Monsters, -reducible to no Tribe, there are here a great many of the _European_ -kindred, (but still something odd about them) as _Lingua Cervina_ of -different kinds, _Filix_ of different kinds, _Polypodium_, several -of the _Plantæ Papilonaceæ_, _Musci_, _Fungi_, _Convolvuli_, and a -great many more I cannot now remember. Now come we to their People. -The Men are generally very Civil and Sagacious, have all of them good -Faces, are of low stature, but very well built; they are of a Copper -Colour, and have black Hair; they us'd to go naked, but are now as well -Cloath'd as our selves; they wear a Plate of Gold in their Nose, and a -great many rows of Beads about their Neck and Wrists. They cover their -Yard with a piece of Bark, or sometimes Silver, of the very shape and -bigness of that Paper-case we use to put a dose of Pills in; they seem -to be very ill furnish'd, for I never saw any of them have it half an -Inch long, yet no doubt it's longer, but I fancy they sheath it up, -as Dogs and Horses do. The Women are generally the most pitiful like -things that ever Man saw; their Habit differs from the Men, for they -ordinarily wear a Ring in their Nose; they have Petticoats and a Veil -over their Face. They are under no formal Government, but every Captain -commands his own River, Bay or Island, where he lives; the greatest -of them all is one Captain _Ambrosio_, he commands particularly the -Country about the _Samballoes_ Point, but when he pleases he can Levy -all the Men betwixt that and the Gulf about 20 Leagues. There is -another Captain _Pedro_, that lives in the House with _Ambrosio_, and -is his Nephew and Son in Law; there is a 3d Captain _Andreas_ that -commands the River _Das armas_; a 4th Captain _Brandy_, that commands -about the _Golden Island_; a 5th Captain _Andreas_, that commands the -Country adjoining to our Settlement; and a 6th Captain _Pedro_ his -Consort; a 7th Captain _Pacigo_, who commands at _Carret Bay_, and -Captain _Diego_ that commands the Gulph. _Ambrosio_ seems to be the -greatest, and _Diego_ next, both old Men; they are all very much our -Friends, and fond of us. All have been frequently here except Captain -_Diego_ who is Goutish. Some of these Captains wear the _Scots_ Flag in -their Canoa's. There is no such thing as a King or Emperor of _Darien_, -nor, so far as we can gather from all the chief Men hereabout, has -been these 40 or 50 Years: The old Men remember such a Man, they say -he was a Tyrant, would take as many Wives as he pleased, and allow -them but one, and therefore they cut him off. This derogates much from -the reputation of the _History of the Buccaneers_. If there were such -a Man, he has been an _Indian_ made Emperor by themselves, I mean by -the _Buccaneers_. This Country certainly affords Gold enough, for -besides that the Natives constantly assure us, that they know several -Gold Mines on this side; besides that, I say, the Plates they wear in -their Noses, and the quantity of Gold that is among them, is enough -to perswade any Man of the truth of it. There was one Night aboard -here some _Indians_ that had a hundred Ounces of Gold about them. -We are certainly much bound to Providence in this affair; for as we -were searching for the place we were directed to, we found this, and -though the Privateers had been so often at _Golden Island_, and though -_English_, _Dutch_ and _French_ had been all over this Coast, from -_Portobelo_ to _Cartegena_, yet never one of them made the discovery; -even the _Spaniards_ themselves never knew of this place. Besides, -for as great a secret as we thought the Project, it was known all the -_West Indies_ over, and yet it was not in their power to crush it. At -_Madera_ they seem'd to know it, at St. _Thomas_ I'm sure they knew -it; at _Portobelo_ their Intelligence was so good, that they knew the -names of all our Councellors and Captains of Ships before we landed, -and had that particular observation, that there were four _Roberts_ -among them. Our circumstances are in some Respects very good, for we -have advice by the way of _Portobelo_, that there is a great Rebellion -in _Mexico_, and Captain _Diego_ and all the _Indians_ about him are -at present at War with the _Spaniards_. Captain _Ambrosio_ is going -to his assistance, and that will divert them on that side; but which -is better than all, that we are now in a posture of defence against -all the _Spanish_ force in _America_. I have seen already _Dutch_, -_French_, and _English_ all at the same time in our Harbour, and all -of them wonder what the rest of the World have been thinking on, when -we came hither to the best Harbour of _America_, in the best place of -it. Captain _Long_ came in eight days after, and I believe we were a -great Eye-sore to him, tho' he said nothing. He commanded the _Rupert -Prize_, a small _English_ Man of War, fitted out by the King, upon -what design we know not, but he pretends it was to search for a Silver -Wreck; he was on this coast a Month before sounding it; and conversing -with the Natives, he put ashore Men in some places, to take possession -for the King of _Great Britain_, but none of them within 15 Leagues -of us. Hearing by the Natives that we were here, he came in with his -Long-Boat, as he said to see us, but I believe it was only to know the -certainty of what he feared was too true. He had told all the _Indian_ -Captains that he came only to try their inclinations, and that there -was a great Fleet coming with a great many People to settle among them, -and defend them against their enemies, he meant _English_ that were -to come by his direction; but our Fleet coming within a Month after, -they all lookt upon us to be the People he spoke of; so that whatever -Presents he made them before that time, was as much for our Advantage -as if our selves had given them. He pretends to be a Conjurer, and to -foretel things; but that was the truest Prophecy ever he spoke, though -he knew not whom he spoke of. - - - - - _A DISCOURSE tending to prove at what _Time_ and _Place_, _Julius - Cesar_ made his first Descent upon _Britain_: Read before the - _Royal Society_ by _E. Halley_._ - - -Though _Chronological_ and _Historical_ Matters, may not seem so -properly the Subject of these Tracts, yet there having, in one of -the late Meetings of the _Royal Society_, been some Discourse about -the Place where _Julius Cesar_ Landed in _Britain_, and it having -been required of me to shew the Reason why I concluded it to have -been in the _Downs_; in doing thereof, I have had the good Fortune -so far to please those worthy Patrons of Learning I have the Honour -to serve, that they thought fit to command it to be inserted in the -_Philosophical Transactions_, as an instance of the great Use of -_Astronomical Computation_ for fixing and ascertaining the Times of -memorable Actions, when omitted or not duly delivered by the Historian. - -1. The Authors that mention this Expedition with any Circumstances, -are _Cæsar_ in his _Commentaries_ _lib._ 4, and _Dion Cassius_ in -_lib._ 39; _Livy_'s account being lost, in whose 105_th._ Book might -possibly have been found the Story more at large. It is certain that -this Expedition of _Cæsars_, was in the Year of the _Consulate_ of -_Pompey_ and _Crassus_, which was in the Year of _Rome_ 699. or the -55_th_ before the usual Æra of Christ: And as to the time of the Year, -_Cæsar_ says that _Exigua parte æstatis reliqua_, he came over only -with two Legions, _viz._ the 7_th_ and 10_th_ and all Foot, in about 80 -Sail of Merchant Ships, 18 Sail that were ordered to carry the Horse -not being able to get out at the same time from another Port, where -they lay Wind-bound. He says that he arrived about the 4th hour of -the Day, _viz._ between Nine and Ten in the Morning, on the Coast of -_Britain_, where he found the Enemy drawn up on the _Cliffs_ ready to -repel him, which place he thus describes. _Loci hæc erat natura, adeo -montibus augustis mare continebatur ut ex locis superioribus in littus -telum adjicit possit_, by which the _Cliffs_ of _Dover_ and the _South -Foreland_ are justly described, and could be no other Land, being he -says in the 5_th_ Book of his Commentaries, _in Britanniam trajectum -esse cognoverit circitur millium passum triginta à continenti_, the -_Cliffs_ of the _North-Foreland_ being at a much greater distance. -Here he says he came to an Anchor, and staid till the 9_th_ hour, or -till about between Three and Four in the Afternoon, expecting till his -whole Fleet was come up; and in the mean time called a Council of War, -and advertised his Officers, after what manner they were to make their -Descent, particularly in relation to the Stuff of the Sea, whose motion -he calls _celerem atq. instabilem_, quick and uneven. Then, _viz._ -about Three in the Afternoon he weighed Anchor, and having gotten the -_Wind_ and _Tide_ with him, he Sail'd about Eight Miles from the first -place, and Anchor'd against an open and plain Shore. - -2. Here he made his Descent, and having told us the opposition that -was made, and the means he used to get on Shore, he comes to say, that -after he had been _Four Days_ in _Britain_, the 18 Ships with his Horse -put to Sea, and were come in sight of his Camp, when a suddain Tempest -arose, with contrary Wind, so that some of the Ships put back again, -others were driven to the Westwards, not without great danger, and -coming to Anchor, they found they could not ride it out: so when Night -came on, they put off to Sea and returned from whence they came. _That -same Night_ it was _Full-Moon_, which makes the greatest Tides in the -Ocean, and they being ignorant thereof, their Gallies, which were drawn -on Shore, were filled by the Tide, _&c._ - -3. Then he says that the Day of the Autumnal Equinox being at hand, -after some Days stay, wherein there passed no Action because he kept -close in his Camp by the shore; and not thinking it proper to stay till -the Winter came on, he returned into _Gallia_: The next Year he made a -further Expedition with 5 Legions and a good Body of Horse, but there -is but little in the History thereof serving to our purpose, excepting -that he says he set Sail from the _Portus Icius_ about Sun Set, with a -gentle S. W. Wind, _leni Africo profectus_; that about Midnight it fell -Calm, and being carried away with the Tide, by the time it was Day, he -found he had left _Britain_ on the left hand; but then the Tide turning -they fell to their Oars, and by Noon reached that part of the Island -where he Landed before, and came on Shore without opposition: and then -March'd up into the Country, leaving his Ships at Anchor _in littora -molli & aperto_. - -4. This is all in _Cæsar_ that is any thing pertinent, and I find no -where else any thing to guide us farther, except one passage in _Dion -Cassius_, who speaking of the first Landing of _Cæsar_, says οὐ μέντοι -καὶ ᾗ ἔδει προσέσχεν, that is, as I Translate it. But he Landed not -where he intended, for that the _Britains_ hearing of his coming, -had possest all usual Places of Landing Ἄκραν οὖν τινὰ προέχουσαν -περιπλεύσας ἑτέρωσε παρεκομίσθη. Κἀνταῦθα τοὺς προσμίξαντάς οἱ ἐς τὰ -τενάγη ἀποβαίνοντι νικήσας, ἔφθη τῆς γῆς κρατήσας, in my English. -Wherefore doubling a certain head Land, he made to the Shore on the -other side, where he overcame those that Skirmished with him at the -Waters edg, and so got well on Land. Here I make bold to translate the -Words ἐς τὰ τενάγη, _at the water edge_, which in _H. Stephens_ Edition -is interpreted _in paludibus_, but I have the Authority of _Suidas_, -who says τέναγος, πελαγία ἰλὺς, or the Sea Mud, and is therefore -properly the Ouse on the Sea Shore, and by an easie Figure may be put -for the Shore it self, where such Ouse commonly is found. - -5. From these _data_, That it was in the Year of the _Consulate_ of -_Pompey_, and _Crassus_; That it was _Exigua parte æstatis reliqua_, -and Four Days before a Full-Moon, which fell out in the Night time. -The time of this Invasion will be determined to a Day: For by the -Eclipse of the Moon, whereof _Drusus_ made so good use to quiet -a Mutiny in the _Pannonian_ Army, upon the News of the Death of -_Augustus_, it follows that _Augustus_ Died _Anno Christi_ 14. which -was reckoned _Anno Vrbis conditæ_ 767. and that this Action was 68 -Years before, _viz._ in the 55_th_ Year before Christ Current. In which -Year the Full Moon fell out _August 30._ after Midnight, or 31 in the -Morning before Day; and the preceeding Full-Moon, was _August 1._ soon -after Noon; so that this could not be the Full-Moon mentioned, as -falling in the Day time: nor that in the beginning of _July_, it being -not 10 Days after the Summer solstice, when it would not have been said -_exigua parte æstatis reliqua_. It follows therefore that the Full-Moon -spoken of, was on _August 30._ at Night, and that the Landing on -_Britain_ was _August 26._ in the Afternoon, about a Month before the -Autumnal equinox; which agrees to all the Circumstances of the Story in -point of Time. - -6. As to the Place, the high Land and Cliffs described, could be no -other than those of _Dover_, and are allowed to have been so by all, it -remains only to examine whether the Descent was made to the Northward -or Southward of the place where he first Anchored. The _data_ to -determine this are first that it was Four Days before the Full-Moon. -2. That that Day by Three of the Clock in the Afternoon the Tide ran -the same way he Sail'd. 3_dly._ That a S. by E. Moon makes High-Water -on all that Coast, the Flood coming from the Southward: hence it will -follow, that that Day it was High-Water there about Eight in the -Morning, and consequently Low-Water about Two, wherefore by Three the -Tide of Flood was well made up, and it is plain that _Cæsar_ went with -it, and the Flood setting to the Northward shews that the open plain -Shore where he Landed was to the Northward of the Cliffs, and must be -in the _Downs_; and this I take to be little less than Demonstration. -A second Argument is drawn from the Wind wherewith he set out on his -second Expedition, _viz._ S. W. as appears by the Words _leni Africo -profectus_, with which the Navigation of those times would hardly -permit a Ship to Sail nearer the Wind than Eight Points, or a N. W. -Course; which would serve indeed to go into the _Downs_, but would by -no means fetch the Low-land towards _Dengyness_, which is much about -West from _Calais_, and not more than W. N. W. from _Boulogne_, if it -shall be said that that was the _Portus Icius_ from which _Cæsar_ set -out. Whence I take it to be evident that if _Cæsar_ was not bound more -Northerly than the _South-Foreland_, he could not have thought the -_Africus_ or S. W. Wind proper for his passage, which was then intended -for the place where he first Landed the year before. - -7. Justly to determine which the _Portus Icius_ was I find no -where sufficient grounds; only _Ptolemy_ calls the Promontory of -_Calais-Cliffs_ by the name of Ἴκιον ἄκρον, whence there is reason to -conjecture, that the _Portus Icius_ was very near thereto, and that -it was either _Ambletuse_ on one side, or _Calais_ on the other. The -same _Ptolemy_ places Γισοῤῥίακον ἐπίνειον in the same Latitude with -the ἴκιον ἄκρον, but something more to the East, which seems to refute -those that have supposed the Ancient Port of _Gessoriacum_ to have -been _Boulogne_, whereas by _Ptolemy_'s position, it must be either -_Dunkirk_ or _Graveling_, but the former most likely, both by the -distance from the Ἴκιον ἄκρον, being about 20 Miles or half a degree -of Longitude to the East, or ⅔ of the whole Coast of _Flanders_, -which he makes but a degree and quarter from the _Acron Icion_ to the -mouth of the _Scheld_ which he calls _Ostia Tabudæ_: As also for that -_Pliny_ l. 4. c. 16. speaking of _Gessoriacum_, says the _Proximus -Trajectus_ into _Britain_ from thence is 50 Miles, which is too much -unless _Gessoriacum_ were something more Easterly than _Calais_. _Dion -Cassius_ makes the distance between _France_ and _Britain_ 450 _stadia_ -or 56 Miles, and says likewise 'tis the nearest, τὸ Συντομώτατον. But -this is in part amended by the explication given in the _Itinerary_ -of _Antoninus_, where the space between _Gessacorum_ and _Rutupium_ -is said to be 450 _stadia_ (for this was the ordinary passage of -the _Romans_ into _Britain_,) _Rutupium_ being more Northerly and -_Gessoriacum_ more Easterly than the _termini_ of _Cæsars_ Voyage, -and consequently the distance greater than 30 Miles which _Cæsar_ had -observ'd; and now lately an accurate Survey has proved the distance -between Land and Land to be 26 _English Miles_ or 28½ _Roman Miles_, -which shews how near _Cæsars_ estimate was to the Truth. - -A farther Argument (but not of equal force with the former because -of the modernness of the Author, who writ above 250 Years after) -may be drawn from the words of _Dion Cassius_, where he says ἄκραν -τινὰ προέχουσαν περιπλεύσας ἑτέρωσε παρεκομίσθη, that after his -first Anchoring he Sail'd about a Promontory to the place where he -Landed: Now there are no other Promontories on all that Coast but the -_South-Foreland_ and _Dengyness_; the latter of which it could not be, -because _Cæsar_ says he Sail'd but 8 Miles, and the _Ness_ it self is -about 10 Miles from the South and nearest end of the _Chalk-Cliffs_ -by the Town of _Hith_; and to have gone round that Point to the -other side, the distance must have been much greater. So that the -Promontory spoken of by _Dion_, must needs be the _South-Foreland_, -and _Cæsar_ must Anchor near over against _Dover_, from whence Sailing -8 Miles, he would double a Head-land and come to the _Downs_; which -is such a Coast as he describes in one place by _apertum ac planum -littus_, and in his 5_th_ Book by _molle ac apertum littus_. As to -_Dions_ word εἰς τὰ τενάγη, what I have already said about it seems -sufficient to prove that he means no more than the Waters edg; and the -_Etymologists_ derive it from τέγγω _madefacio_, because the wash and -breach of the Sea does always keep it wet. And this word τὰ τενάγη is -used by _Polybius_ for the Sea Ouse; and in another place he speaks of -the difficulty of Landing at the mouth of a River, Διὰ τὴν τεναγώδη -πάροδον, _ob limosum accessum_, so that it is not to be doubted that it -ought to be rendred in this place, _ad vadum maris_ rather than _in -paludibus_. And so this objection against the assertion that _Cæsar_ -Landed in the _Downs_, which is known to be a firm Champain Country -without Fenns and Morasses, will be removed; and the whole Argument -will 'tis hoped be admitted by the Curious. - - * * * * * - - _FINIS._ - - - - - _Books Printed for, and Sold by _Jeffery Wale_, at the _Angel_, in - St. _Paul's Church-Yard_._ - - -Miscellany Poems, as Saytyrs, Epistles, Love Verses, Songs, Sonnets, -_&c._ by _William Wycherley_, Esq.; Fol. - -A Supplement to Dr. _Hammond_'s Paraphrase and Annotations of the New -Testament, by Mr. _L'Clerk_. Quarto. To which is perfix'd a Letter from -the Author to a Friend in _England_, occasioned by this Translation. - -The Posthumous Works of Mr. _de St. Evermont_, containing variety of -elegant Essays, Letters, and Poems; and other Miscellaneous Pieces on -several curious Subjects. Vol. III. - -The plain Man's Guide to Heaven. By Dr. _Lucas_. 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Price 6 _s._ - - Where may be had all Sorts of Mathematical Books, Maps and - Instruments, for the Sea or Land. - - - - - TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES - - - In the texts of Greek inscriptions, original letter forms have been - normalised as follows: - - Lunate epsilon ϵ (the usual form in the inscriptions), curly - epsilon Ɛ (in the plate facing p. 235), and two reversed lunate - epsilons ϶ (both probable misprints) have been replaced by - ordinary epsilon Ε. - - Lunate sigma Ϲ (the usual form in the inscriptions) and - rectangular sigma ⊏ (in the inscription on pp. 118 and 149) have - been replaced by Σ. - - ω-shaped omega (the usual form in the inscriptions) has been - replaced by Ω. - - Inverted mu ꟽ (throughout the inscription on p. 130) has been - replaced by upright mu Μ. - - ου-ligature ȣ (in the inscription on pp. 118 and 149) has been - replaced by ΟΥ. - - In the illustration facing p. 232 the columns illustrating Chinese - characters in the caption are ordered from top to bottom then from - right to left across the columns. - - Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical - errors. - - Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed. - - Enclosed italics markup in _underscores_. - - Enclosed bold markup in =equals=. - - Enclosed Greek underline markup in _underscores_. - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Miscellanea Curiosa. 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- text-align: center;} - -/* Footnotes */ -.footnotes {border: dashed 1px;} - -.footnote {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; font-size: 0.9em;} - -.footnote .label {position: absolute; right: 84%; text-align: right;} - -.fnanchor { - vertical-align: super; - font-size: .8em; - text-decoration: - none; -} - -/* Poetry and Case Study: Poetry */ -.poem { - margin-left:10%; - margin-right:10%; - text-align: left; - display: inline-block; -} -@media handheld -{ - .poetry - { - display: block; - margin-left: 1.5em; - } -} - -.poem br {display: none;} - -.poem .stanza {margin: 1em 0em 1em 0em;} - -.poetry-center -{ - text-align: center; -} - -/* Transcriber's notes */ -#transnote {background-color: #E6E6FA; - color: black; - font-size: smaller; - padding: 0.5em; - margin-bottom: 5em; - font-family: Georgia, Times, "Times New Roman", serif} - -/* Easy Epub/Headings */ - -.ph1, .ph2 { text-align: center; text-indent: 0em; font-weight: bold; } -.ph1 { font-size: xx-large; margin: .67em auto; } -.ph2 { font-size: x-large; margin: .75em auto; } - -.small {font-size: small;} -.large {font-size: large;} -.xlarge {font-size: x-large;} - -div#titlepage { - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} -div#titlepage p { - text-align: center; - text-indent: 0em; - font-weight: bold; - line-height: 1.5; - margin-top: 3em; -} - -div.chapter {page-break-before: always;} - -/* Case Study: Title Pages */ - -div#halftitle -{ - text-align: center; - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; -} -@media screen -{ - #halftitle - { - margin: 6em 0; - } -} -@media print, handheld -{ - #halftitle - { - page-break-before: always; - page-break-after: always; - margin: 0; - padding-top: 6em; - } -} - -/* Easy Epub/Cover */ - -.covercaption {font-weight: bold; font-size: small;} -@media handheld { - .covercaption { display: none; } -} - -div.tnotes {background-color: #eeeeee; border: 1px solid black; padding: 1em;} -.covernote {visibility: hidden; display: none;} -@media handheld { - .covernote {visibility: visible; display: block;} -} - .poem span.i0 {display: block; margin-left: 0em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - .poem span.i2 {display: block; margin-left: 1em; padding-left: 3em; text-indent: -3em;} - - </style> - </head> -<body> - - -<pre> - -The Project Gutenberg EBook of Miscellanea Curiosa. Volume 3, by Various - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most -other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of -the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you'll have -to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this ebook. - -Title: Miscellanea Curiosa. Volume 3 - containing a collection of curious travels, voyages, and - natural histories of countries as they have been delivered - in to the Royal Society - -Author: Various - -Release Date: October 16, 2015 [EBook #50229] - -Language: English - -Character set encoding: UTF-8 - -*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK MISCELLANEA CURIOSA. VOLUME 3 *** - - - - -Produced by Richard Tonsing, deaurider and the Online -Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This -file was produced from images generously made available -by The Internet Archive) - - - - - - -</pre> - -<div class="tnotes covernote"> - <p>The cover image was created by the transcriber and is placed in the public domain.</p> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_i" id="Page_i">[Pg i]</a></span></p> - -<p class="ph2"><em>Advertisement.</em></p> - - -<p>There is now Engraving, and will -speedily be Publish'd, <em>A New Pair -of</em> <span class="smcap">Globes</span>, sixteen Inches Diameter; -the <cite>Terrestrial</cite> has on it all the New Discoveries -that have been lately made, together -with an useful View of the General -and Coasting Trade-Winds, Moonsoons, -<em>&c.</em> The <cite>Cœlestial</cite> has the Stars laid -down from the Correctest Tables of the -best Astronomers of our Age, with -eighteen Constellations never Engraven -upon any Globe.</p> - -<p>All those Gentlemen that are willing -to Furnish themselves with them, are desired -speedily to inform the Undertakers -<em>J. Senex</em> and <em>C. Price</em>, next the <em>Fleece</em>-Tavern -in <em>Cornhill</em>; They intending to fit -up no more than what are Subscrib'd for.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_ii" id="Page_ii">[Pg ii]</a></span></p> -<div id="titlepage"> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h1><em>Miscellanea Curiosa.</em><br /> - -<span class="large">Containing a</span><br /> - -COLLECTION<br /> - -<span class="large">OF</span><br /> - -Curious Travels,<br /> - -VOYAGES,<br /> - -<span class="large">AND</span><br /> - -<em>Natural Histories</em><br /> - -<span class="large">OF</span><br /> - -COUNTRIES,<br /> - -<span class="small">As they have been Delivered in to the</span><br /> - -<span class="smcap xlarge">Royal Society</span>.<br /> - -<span class="xlarge">VOL. III.</span></h1> - - -<p><em>LONDON:</em> -</p> - -<div class="hangindent"> - -<p>Printed by <em>J. B.</em> for <em>Jeffery Wale</em> at the <em>Angel</em> in -St. <em>Paul</em>'s Church-yard; <em>J. Senex <strong>&</strong> C. Price</em> -next the <em>Fleece</em> Tavern in <em>Cornhill</em>, 1707.</p></div> -</div> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_iii" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</a><br /><a name="Page_iv" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2 class="contents">THE<br /> - -CONTENTS.</h2> - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="CONTENTS"> - <tr> - <td><em>A Journal of a Voyage from <strong>England</strong> to <strong>Constantinople</strong>, made in the Year, 1668. by <strong>T. Smith</strong>, D. D. and F. R. S.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_1">1</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Historical Observations relating to <strong>Constantinople</strong>. By the Reverend and Learned <strong>Tho. Smith</strong>, D. D. Fellow of <strong>Magd. Coll. Oxon.</strong> and of the <strong>Royal Society</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_32">32</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>An account of the City of <strong>Prusa</strong> in <strong>Bythynia</strong>, and a continuation of the Historical Observations relating to <strong>Constantinople</strong>, by the Reverend and learned <strong>Thomas Smith</strong> D. D. Fellow of <strong>Magd. Coll. Oxon.</strong> and of the <strong>Royal Society</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Relation of a Voyage from <strong>Aleppo</strong> to <strong>Palmyra</strong> in <strong>Syria</strong>; sent by the Reverend Mr. <strong>William Hallifax</strong> to Dr. <strong>Edward Bernard</strong> (late) <strong>Savilian</strong> Professor of Astronomy in <strong>Oxford</strong>, and by him communicated to Dr. <strong>Thomas Smith</strong>, <strong>Reg. Soc. S.</strong></em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_84">84</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>An Extract of the Journals of two several Voyages of the <strong>English Merchants</strong> of the Factory of <strong>Aleppo</strong>, to <strong>Tadmor</strong>, anciently call'd <strong>Palmyra</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_120">120</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Some Account of the Ancient State of the City of <strong>Palmyra</strong>, with short Remarks upon the Inscriptions found there. By <strong>E. Halley</strong>.</em> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_v" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</a></span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_160">160</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Voyage of the Emperour of <strong>China</strong> into the Eastern <strong>Tartary</strong>, Anno. 1682.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_179">179</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>The Distances of the Places thro' which we passed in the <strong>Eastern</strong> Tartary.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_195">195</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Voyage of the Emperor of <strong>China</strong>, into the Western <strong>Tartary</strong> in the Year, 1683.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_196">196</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>An Explanation, necessary to justify the <strong>Geography</strong> supposed in these Letters.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_210">210</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Some Observations and Conjectures concerning the <strong>Chinese</strong> Characters. Made by <strong>R. H.</strong> R. S. S.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Letter from <strong>F. A.</strong> Esq; R. S. S. to the Publisher, with a Paper of Mr. <strong>S. Flowers</strong>, containing the Exact Draughts of several unknown Characters, taken from the Ruins at <strong>Persepolis</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_233">233</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Letter from Monsieur <strong>N. Witsen</strong> to Dr. <strong>Martin Lister</strong>, with two Draughts of the Famous <strong>Persepolis</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_236">236</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Description of the Diamond-mines, as it was presented by the Right Honourable the Earl Marshal of <strong>England</strong>, to the <strong>R. Society</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_238">238</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Letter from the <strong>East Indies</strong>, of Mr. <strong>John Marshal</strong> to Dr. <strong>Coga</strong>, giving an Account of the Religion, Rites, Notions, Customs, Manners of the Heathen Priests commonly called <strong>Bramines</strong>. Communicated by the Reverend Mr. <strong>Abraham de la Pryme</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_256">256</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Part of two Letters to the Publisher from Mr. <strong>James Cunningham</strong>, F. R. S. and Physician to the <strong>English</strong> at <strong>Chusan</strong> in <strong>China</strong>, giving an account of his Voyage thither, of the Island of <strong>Chusan</strong>, of the several sorts of Tea, of the Fishing, Agriculture of the <strong>Chinese</strong>, <strong>&c.</strong> with several Observations not hitherto taken notice of.</em> <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vi" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</a></span></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_269">269</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Letter from Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong> Rector of <strong>Crofton</strong> at <strong>Wakefield</strong> in <strong>Yorkshire</strong>, to the Royal Society, <strong>May 12 1688.</strong> giving an account of several Observables in <strong>Virginia</strong>, and in his Voyage thither, more particularly concerning the Air.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_281">281</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Mr. <strong>Clayton</strong>'s second Letter, containing his farther Observations on <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_293">293</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Continuation of Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong>'s Account of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_301">301</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong>, Rector of <strong>Crofton</strong> at <strong>Wakefield</strong>, his Letter to the <strong>Royal Society</strong>, giving a farther Account of the Soil, and other Observables of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_312">312</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Continuation of Mr. <strong>Clayton</strong>'s Account of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_337">337</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Part of Two Letters from Mr. <strong>J. Hillier</strong>, dated <strong>Cape Corse</strong>, <strong>Jan. 3. 1687/8.</strong> and <strong>Apr. 25. 1688.</strong> Wrote to the Reverend Dr. <strong>Bathurst</strong>, President of <strong>Trinity Colledge, Oxon</strong>; giving an Account of the Customs of the Inhabitants, the Air, <strong>&c.</strong> of that Place, together with an Account of the Weather there from <strong>Nov. 24. 1686.</strong> to the same Day 1687.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_356">356</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>An Account of the <strong>Moorish</strong> Way of Dressing their Meat (with other Remarks) in <strong>West-Barbary</strong>, from Cape <strong>Spartel</strong> to Cape <strong>de Geer</strong>. By Mr. <strong>Jezreel Jones</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_381">381</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Letter from Mr. <strong>John Monro</strong> to the Publisher, concerning the Catacombs of <strong>Rome</strong> and <strong>Naples</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_394">394</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>An accurate Description of the <strong>Lake of Geneva</strong>, not long since made by a Person that had visited it divers times in the pleasantest season of the Year; and communicated to the Publisher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_vii" id="Page_vii">[Pg vii]</a></span> by one of his Parisian Correspondents: English'd as followeth.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_404">404</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Part of a Journal kept from <strong>Scotland</strong> to <strong>New Caledonia</strong> in <strong>Darien</strong>, with a short Account of that Country. Communicated by Dr. <strong>Wallace</strong>, F. R. S.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_413">413</a></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>A Discourse tending to prove at what Time and Place <strong>Julius Cæsar</strong> made his first Descent upon <strong>Britain</strong>: Read before the <strong>Royal Society</strong> by <strong>E. Halley</strong>.</em></td> - <td class="tdr"><a href="#Page_422">422</a></td> - </tr> -</table></div> - -<p class="ph1"><em>Miscellanea Curiosa.</em><br /> - -VOL. III. -</p> -<div class="chapter"><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</a></span></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Journal of a Voyage from <strong>England</strong> -to <strong>Constantinople</strong>, made in -the Year, 1668. by <strong>T. Smith</strong>, -D. D. and F. R. S.</em></h2> - - -<p>On <em>Monday</em> Evening <em>August 3, 1668.</em> -we took Barge at <em>Tower-Wharf</em>, and -at <em>Greenwich</em> went on Board the -<em>Bezant</em> Yacht for the <em>Downs</em>, where we arrived -the next day in the Afternoon, and -went on Board the <em>Leopard</em> Frigat, a Ship of -56 Guns mounted, Captain <em>O Bryen</em> Commander, -appointed to carry Sir <em>Daniel Harvey</em>, -his Majesty's Ambassador to the Port of -the <em>Ottoman</em> Emperor at <em>Constantinople</em>. Here, -upon his first Arrival, the Ambassador was -Complemented by Sir <em>Jeremy Smith</em>, then riding -Admiral, Sir <em>Edward Spragg</em>, and several -other Commanders of the Men of War,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</a></span> -and afterwards Saluted with Fifteen Pieces -of Ordinance by the Admiral, to whom we -returned as many; then by the Vice-Admiral, -and several other Ships. All which were -answered together at the same time with 21 -in the whole.</p> - -<p>Here we were forced to Ride for several -days, the Winds being contrary.</p> - -<p>In the <em>Offing</em> between the <em>North Foreland</em> -and <em>South Foreland</em> it runs Tide and half Tide, -that is, it is either ebbing Water or Flood -upon the Shore, in that part of the <em>Downs</em>, -three hours, which is grossly speaking the -time of half a Tide, before it is so, off at Sea. -(For the flux and reflux of the Sea is not -made exactly twice in 24 hours, but, as it -appears by accurate observation, it requires -an overplus of almost 50 minutes.) The -reason of this diversity of Tides, I take to be -from the meeting of the two Seas in that -narrow Streight.</p> - -<p>Oftentimes when the Wind has blown hard -at N. E. or at W. or W. and by S. there has -hapn'd an alteration of the Tides in the -River of <em>Thames</em>, which ignorant People have -mistakenly lookt upon as a Prodigy.</p> - -<p>It is a most certain Observation, that -where it flows Tide and half Tide, tho' the -Tide of Flood runs aloft, yet the Tide of Ebb -runs under foot, that is, close by the <em>ground</em>; -and so at the Tide of Ebb, it will flow under -foot, as that great and experienc'd Sea-Commander, -Sir <em>H. Manwaring</em>, words it.</p> - -<p><em>August 9.</em> We sailed from the <em>Downs</em>, but -were soon forced back by distress of Weather, -and came to an Anchor S. W. of the <em>South -Foreland</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</a></span></p> - -<p>10. The Wind blew at S. S. W. and the -Sea run very high, so that we were in danger -of losing our Cable and Anchor; the Ground, -where we rode, at 16 Fathom ½ water, being -somewhat gruff.</p> - -<p>15. The Wind coming about at W. N. W. -we sailed, and were Saluted with nine Guns -from <em>Dover</em> Castle, and seven from one Fort, -and five from another. We carried a Flag -upon our Maintop, after we came out of the -<em>Downs</em>. The Wind in the Afternoon at N. E. -brought us by seven of the Clock to the <em>Ness</em>, -where we lay at Anchor during the Tide -of Flood; during which time the Mariners -caught good store of <em>Whitings</em>, baiting their -Hooks with raw Mutton.</p> - -<p>16. We were in the morning athwart St. -<em>Helen</em>'s Point in the <em>Isle of Wight</em>; where we -discovered Sir <em>Thomas Allen</em> with his Squadron -under Sail, bound for the <em>Straits</em>.</p> - -<p>17. In the morning we got to the West of -<em>Portland</em>, the Wind at N. by E. our Course -lying thereupon S. S. W. but about noon, -sailing over part of the Race of <em>Portland</em>, -where we met with a tumbling Sea, we Anchored -at the N. W. part in the Bay, over -against the Point that looks towards <em>Weymouth</em>. -We were ashore in the Island, which -seems to be but one continued Rock; the -Soil in several places not being above five or -six Inches deep, as I found by digging a hole -with my Knife; yet the Corn flourishing -enough. The Castle consists of a double Fortification; -we could not observe above five -Guns mounted. They told us, that in the -Island there was but 1 Church, and 4 Villages.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</a></span></p> - -<p>We weighed at twelve of the Clock at -night: But</p> - -<p>18. The Wind blowing fiercely at W. directly -in our teeth, we made but little way, -and could not weather the <em>Start</em> Point that -night. The Moon upon its first emerging -above the Horizon, seemed to have a colour -like burnt Brick, the Sky very cloudy: but -some Rain falling, as she advanced higher -and higher, she appeared more and more -fiery.</p> - -<p>19. We weathered the <em>Start</em> Point by -noon, but could not make much way beyond -it.</p> - -<p>20. We got into <em>Plymouth</em> Sound. The -Cittadel, built upon a Rock, with large -Counterscarps and Bastions, returned our Salute -with nine Guns. Sir <em>Thomas Allen</em> with -his Fleet stood to the Lizard, and came not -to an Anchor.</p> - -<p>21. Misty Weather. About eleven Clock -Forenoon, and about six in the Evening, we -observed the Vapours in great quantity -ascend out of the Sea, soon covering the tops -of the Mountains. Here we staid three days, -taking in some Provisions, ready prepared -for us.</p> - -<p>On <em>Sunday</em> the 23<em>d</em> of <em>August</em> we weighed -out of <em>Plymouth</em> Sound, and made the <em>Lizard</em>, -a Promontory in <em>Cornwall</em>, before night: -The <em>Manacles</em>, several Rocks so called, we -discerned very distinctly, it being then low -Ebb; as also the Lands end. The Wind -blew fresh; and we observed the Waves in -the Night-time, as if they had been liquid -Fire, but palish.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</a></span></p> - -<p>The <em>Lizard</em> bearing N. of us, we changed -our Course, and taking leave of <em>England</em>, we -sailed into the Ocean. God of his Mercy -send us a happy Voyage.</p> - -<p>24. We run this day thirty nine Leagues -by a Compute from our Log-line.</p> - -<p>25. We were full open with the <em>Bay of -Biscay</em>. Several <em>Gulls</em> were hovering over the -Surface of the Water to catch Fish, which -swam by in vast sholes, at about 50 Leagues -distance from any Land.</p> - -<p>At other times I have seen several Birds -floating upon the Water, which being driven -by some Tempest from the Coasts of <em>Spain</em> -and <em>Portugal</em>, have been tired in their flight, -and so drowned. This happens frequently -in the great Ocean, where they meet with -no Land to fly to in several hundreds of -Leagues; and sometimes even in the <em>Mediterranean</em>, -in the Mid-Seas between the <em>Christian</em> -and <em>Barbary</em> Shores. In blowing Weather, -among other Birds flying cross, we -saw a Hawk making to our Ship, then under -good and swift Sail, which perched upon the -round-top of the Main-mast; which one of -the Seamen espying, he presently run up the -Shrouds, and brought down the Hawk, which -made no attempt to fly away, being quite -spent. But not long after, the Hawk recovering -his Spirits by rest and meat which was -given him, took wing and got away from the -Fellow, notwithstanding all the care he took -to secure his new Adventure, which he hoped -to have made Mony of at the next Port that -we should come to.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</a></span></p> - -<p>26. A strong Levant still blowing, and the -Sea very rough and boisterous, the Gale continuing -almost right a stern, we run these -24 hours above 70 Leagues.</p> - -<p>27. We found our selves by our observations, -that we were in the Latitude of 42 -degrees 17 minutes, and began to be very -sensible of our nearer approach to the South, -the Weather being excessive hot. In the -Afternoon we heard the report of several -Guns fired at about seven or eight Leagues -distance, as we guessed. At eight of the -Clock at night another Gun was fired somewhat -near us, which we thought might be -from an <em>Algerine</em> Man of War, who gave a -signal to his Consorts, and who answered by -several flashes of Powder. Whereupon our -Trumpeters sounded a Point of War, but no -return was made. However, the Captain -quartered his Men, and the Decks were -cleared, and all things made ready in order -to a Fight the next Morning; as soon as day -appeared, we saw the Sea clear, no Ships -being in view any way: so that we concluded -that they were Merchant-Ships, with their -Convoy, standing to the Northward.</p> - -<p>28. Dreadful Lightnings in the Clouds towards -the Evening; after which great Dews -fell: the Weather extream hot.</p> - -<p>29. We saw a Pilot-fish swim by the sides -of the Ship, and several Bonito's and Albicores -playing, as it were with their Heads -above Water. The Wind took us short in -the night, and soon after there was a stark -Calm; and we had great reason to bless God -for it: For had we continued our Course<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</a></span> -that night, we had either run a-ground, or -had been cast upon the Rocks near to <em>Peniche</em> -in <em>Portugal</em>. The fault was mis-reckoning, -and haling in too soon to make the <em>Southern -Cape</em>: though the Seamen, to salve their Credit, -and to excuse their Error, which had -like to have proved so fatal to us, pretended -that we were set in by a strong Current. -God make us thankful for this great Deliverance.</p> - -<p>30. This Morning we were surprized to -see our selves within four or five Leagues of -the Shore, when we had thought that we had -been above twenty. In the Afternoon, the -Wind coming on fresh, we weathered the -westermost Isle of the <em>Barlings</em>. On the -greatest of which, being as we guessed, above -half a Mile in length, the <em>Portuguese</em> have -built a Fort to hinder the <em>Barbary</em> Pirates -from careening their Ships there, or taking -in fresh Water. The Land of it very high, -and bore off us S. E. by E. By it lie several -Rocks. The other Islands are distant -about a League. I told five of them: the -greatest of which last lie somewhere inward -to the Shore.</p> - -<p>For two Nights together about this time -(28 and 29) the Sky being very hazy, the -Sun set in a colour as deep as Blood, which -was very astonishing. We were then in the -Latitude of 40.</p> - -<p>31. Betimes in the Morning we sailed by -the Rock of <em>Lisbon</em>, at some distance, which -was scarce discernible by reason of the cloudiness -of the Weather. Two <em>Turks</em> Men of -War are now plying to the Windward of us;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</a></span> -but dare not come up to speak with us, perceiving -that we are only laden with Powder -and Bullet.</p> - -<p><em>September 1.</em> In the Morning we made Cape -<em>St. Vincent</em>. I went on Shore with the Lieutenant -and several others in our Pinnace, -which we drove into one of the Coves; and -were forced to climb up a Rock, the ascent of -which was very dangerous and troublesome; -and made more so by the Rays of the Sun, -which were reflected with that vehemence, -that the Heat was almost intolerable. Having -gained the top, we were met by an Officer -and some Soldiers, who had us into the -Castle, the middlemost of the three, which -are built along that Promontory for the Security -of the Coasts, and entertained us with -Wine, Grapes, and Marmalade. They told -us, that a Squadron of English Men of War -sailed by the day before. We here met with -two Vessels belonging to <em>Dartmouth</em>, laden -with Fish from <em>Newfoundland</em>, bound for <em>Alicant</em>. -All along the Coasts, at the distance -of about two or three Leagues, are several -Watch-towers built to give notice of Pirates.</p> - -<p>Becalmed for the most part these two or -three days.</p> - -<p>5. In the Morning we weathered the Point -of <em>Cadiz</em>, and came to an Anchor in the <em>Bay -of Bulls</em>, about half a League from the great -<em>Porgoe</em>; and in the Afternoon went on shore. -We were entertained by the <em>English</em> Consul, -and carried by him to view the Fortifications, -which are esteemed to be as regular as -any in <em>Christendom</em>; built in the same place<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span> -where the Town had been attacked formerly -by the <em>English</em>, under the Conduct of the -Earl of <em>Essex</em> in the Reign of Q. <em>Elizabeth</em>. -Plays are usually here, as in other parts of -<em>Spain</em>, acted on a <em>Sunday</em>. During the time -of our stay, was represented the History of -the Patience of <em>Job</em>, the Devil brought upon -the Stage, tempting <em>Job</em>'s Wife in a drolling -way, which caused great Laughter and Merriment -among the Spectators. At <em>Malaga</em>, -as the Merchants told us, the <em>Sunday</em> before -we arrived there, was acted the <em>Schism of -England</em> in the time of King <em>Henry</em> the Eighth, -whom the <em>Spaniards</em> will not yet forgive, for -Divorcing himself from Q. <em>Catherine</em>, their -Country-Woman.</p> - -<p>9. We sailed from <em>Cadiz</em>.</p> - -<p>10. This Afternoon we were forced to Anchor, -not far from <em>Cape Spartel</em> or <em>Sprat</em>, as -the Seamen call it, not being able to weather -the Point.</p> - -<p>11. This day we came to an Anchor in -<em>Tangier-Bay</em>, with Sir <em>Thomas Allen</em>'s Squadron.</p> - -<p><em>Tangier</em> lies within the Entrance into the -<em>Strait</em> of the <em>Mediterranean</em>, in the Latitude -of about 35°, 36´. It is situated in the bottom -of a Bay, and is built on the side of the Hill, -overlooking the Sea, encompassed with high -Walls to the Land-ward, and commanded by -a strong Castle. The Heats would be very -troublesome but for the Sea-breezes which -cool and fan the Air. In the Castle I met -with a <em>Roman</em> Monument, erected to the -Honour of <em>P. Belius</em>, a great Officer and -Souldier in <em>Trajan</em>'s time; who, among his<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span> -other Titles, is there stiled, PPO. FIG. -MAURITANIAE. TINGITANAE: -which since has been taken away, and presented -to the University of <em>Oxon</em> by Sir <em>Hugh -Cholmondley</em>, and now serves to adorn the -<em>Area</em> about the <em>Theatre</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>English</em> have two Churches here, -(though they only make use of one, the other -being reserved against all Accidents) both of -them very neat and convenient; though not -to be compared with the Church of the <em>Portuguese</em>, -retained still, according to the Articles -of Agreement, when the King of <em>Portugal</em> -made over the Right and Title, and -gave the Possession of <em>Tangier</em> to the Crown -of <em>England</em>, by the Canons Regulars, belonging -to it, which is very stately, and adorn'd -with rich Images, and supported by Marble -Pillars. Toward one end of the <em>English</em> -Church, just by the Vestiary, which had been -formerly a <em>Turkish</em> Mosch, and afterward -the Chappel of a Convent of <em>Dominicans</em>, -is a Monumental Stone-Table in <em>Arabick</em> -Characters, containing an account of the -Houses, Lands, and other Revenues belonging -to it, set up in the 743 year of the <em>Hegira</em>, -that is, of Christ 1341. The Mole is in -good forwardness, they having gained above -200 yards in the Sea, in order to the making -of a good and safe Harbour for Ships -to ride in, which lye open to Wind and -Waves; the outward side to the Seaward -somewhat sloping. The Garrison is in so -good a posture of Defence, that they defy -<em>Taffiletta</em> and all his Forces. Here we met -with great Civilities from Colonel <em>Norwood</em>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span> -Deputy-Governour, and the Gentlemen belonging -to the Garrison. Sir <em>Harry Mildmay</em> -and Mr. <em>Goodland</em>, two of King <em>Charles</em> -the First his Judges, are here; but who have -the Liberty of the Town. Now, at our being -here, come in several <em>Moors</em> from <em>Arzilla</em>, -and among the rest, the Father of one of -<em>Gayland</em>'s Wives, to get a Passage for <em>Algiers</em>.</p> - -<p>Old <em>Tangier</em> lyes at some little distance, -where they find very frequently in digging -several pieces of <em>Roman</em> Coin. But for the above-mentioned, -and the other Curiosities -and Antiquities of <em>Tangier</em>, of which I forbear -to make mention, from the imperfect and hasty -Observations of two days, the greatest -part of which being taken up by the Entertainment -of our obliging Country-men, you -may consult with great pleasure and satisfaction, -a little Book called <em>The present State -of Tangier</em>, written by a very ingenious Gentleman, -and printed in the Year 1676.</p> - -<p>There is a vast <em>draught</em> of <em>water</em> poured continually -out of the <em>Atlantick</em> into the <em>Mediterranean</em>, -the mouth or entrance of which between -<em>Cape Spartel</em> or <em>Sprat</em>, as the <em>sea-men</em> -call it, and <em>Cape Trafalgar</em>, may be near 7 -leagues wide, the <em>current</em> setting strong into -it, and not losing its force till it runs as -far as <em>Malaga</em>, which is about 20 leagues within -the <em>Streights</em>. By the benefit of this <em>Current</em>, -tho' the wind be contrary, if it does -not over-blow, <em>Ships</em> easily turn into the <em>gut</em>, -as they term the <em>narrow passage</em>, which is about -20 miles in length. At the end of -which are two Towns, <em>Gibraltar</em> on the coast -of <em>Spain</em>, which gives denomination to the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span> -<em>Streight</em>, and <em>Ceuta</em> on the <em>Barbary</em> coast: at -which places <em>Hercules</em> is supposed to have set -up his <em>Pillars</em>. What becomes of this great -quantity of water poured in this way, and of -that, which runs from the <em>Euxine</em> into the -<em>Bosporous</em> and <em>Propontis</em>, and is carried at last -through the <em>Hellespont</em> into the <em>Ægæan</em> or -<em>Archipelago</em>, is a curious <em>speculation</em>, and has -exercised the wit and understanding of <em>Philosophers</em> -and <em>Navigators</em>. For there is no sensible -rising of the <em>water</em> all along the <em>Barbary -Coast</em>, even down to <em>Alexandria</em>, the land beyond -<em>Tripoli</em>, and that of <em>Ægypt</em>, lying very -low, and easily overflowable. They observe -indeed, that the water rises 3 feet, or -3 feet and an half, in the <em>gulph</em> of <em>Venice</em>, -and as much, or very near as much, all along -the <em>Riviera</em> of <em>Genoa</em>, as far as the river -<em>Arno</em>: but this rather adds to the wonder.</p> - -<p>I here omit to speak at large of the several -<em>Hypotheses</em> which have been invented to solve -this difficulty: such as <em>subterraneous vents</em>, -cavities and indraughts, <em>exhalations</em> by the -<em>Sun-beams</em>, the running out of the water on -the <em>African side</em>, as if there were a kind of -circular motion of the water, and that it only -flowed in upon the <em>Christian</em> shore: which -latter I look upon as a meer fancy, and contrary -to all observation.</p> - -<p>My conjecture is, that there is an <em>under-Current</em>, -whereby as great a quantity of water -is carried out, as comes flowing in. To confirm -which, besides what I have said above about -the difference of tides in the <em>offing</em>, and -at the <em>Shore</em> in the <em>Downs</em>, which necessarily -supposes an <em>under-Current</em>, I shall present you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span> -with an instance of the like nature in the <em>Baltick -Sound</em>, as I received it from an able Seaman, -who was at the making of the tryal.</p> - -<p>He told me, that being there in one of the -<em>King's</em> Frigats, they went with their <em>Pinnace</em> -into the <em>middle stream</em>, and were carried violently -by the <em>Current</em>: that soon after they -sank a <em>bucket</em> with a large <em>Cannon</em> bullet to a -certain <em>depth</em> of water, which gave check to -the boats motion, and sinking it still lower -and lower, the <em>boat</em> was driven a-head to -wind-ward against the upper <em>Current</em>: the -<em>current</em> aloft, as he added, not being above -4 or 5 <em>fathom</em> deep, and that the lower the -bucket was let fall, they found the <em>under-Current</em> -the stronger. I designed to have -made the <em>Experiment</em> in the <em>Streights-Channel</em>; -but both times I past, the Easterly wind blew -so hard, that there was no putting out the -boat with any safety; nor indeed at those -times had we any leisure for such a <em>Curiosity</em>; -which those, who liv'd at <em>Tangier</em>, might -have tryed without any difficulty or danger.</p> - -<p>This conjecture, how likely or unlikely soever, -will stand or fall according to the certainty -of the <em>Observations</em>, which shall be made -there, which I will endeavour to procure in -order to the further establishment, or utter -overthrow of it.</p> - -<p>13. We weighed out of <em>Tangier</em> and turned -into the <em>Strait</em>, though against the Wind. -The distance between <em>Gibraltar</em> Cape, which -gives name to the <em>Straits</em>, and is joyned to -the Continent of <em>Spain</em> and <em>Ceuta</em> a well-built -and strongly fortified Town, lying under the -Hill <em>Alybe</em>, called so by the <em>Greeks</em>, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span> -the Seamen commonly call, as do some <em>Spanish</em> -Writers, <em>Apes-hill</em>, from the great number -of Apes which used formerly to haunt there, -(at which places <em>Hercules</em> is feigned to have -set up his Pillars) may be about six Leagues; -tho' both Lands lying very high (for we saw the -Clouds much below them) it does not appear -in the middle of the Current, out of a tall -Ship, scarce half so broad.</p> - -<p>14. Little Wind stirring.</p> - -<p>15. A great Mist all the Sea over, so that -we could scarce see three lengths of the Ship, -which began to vanish in the Afternoon; and -than we descryed the <em>Cape of Malaga</em> at about -four Leagues distance; and came to an Anchor -that Night. The City lies under a high -Hill, and is the Seat of a Bishop, who is at -this time a Natural Son of King <em>Philip</em> the -Fourth, of the Order of St. <em>Dominic</em>. Here -the Merchants told us, that it had not rained -for seven Months together, except a day or -two for an Hour: and that the <em>Algerines</em>, -who were then breaking with us, had not -been able to have set a Fleet to Sea about -two years before, if they had not been furnished -with Masts from <em>England</em>; and that -they were now in Expectation of another -Ship laden with the same, notwithstanding -the Rupture, which was as good as began. -I only make a Query, Whether <em>Jews</em> or <em>English</em> -Men were the Freighters?</p> - -<p>16. The next Morning the Governour immediately -returned our Salute Gun for Gun: -soon after we weighed from <em>Malaga</em> Road, -the Weather very hot. Some Rain fell at -Night, though very moderately. In the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span> -Evening, after we had sailed about eighteen -Leagues, we were becalm'd. The Sea being -quiet, we saw a great number of <em>Tortoises</em> -swimming above Water, several <em>Bottle-noses</em>, -fish of about three yards long, and very -thick, and Hawks flying over to the <em>Barbary</em> -Coast. The Hills of <em>Granada</em> were seen -plainly by us, though at a great distance.</p> - -<p>The Wind coming Easterly, we kept at -Sea, beating and plying to and again for -these four days, scarce gaining sixteen Leagues -of our way, and were forc'd to come to an -Anchor in the <em>Bay of Adera</em>, where there is -a strong Cittadel, about thirty four or thirty -five Leagues from <em>Malaga</em>.</p> - -<p>21. We passed by <em>Cape de Gata</em>: but the -Levant wind still blowing, having continued -almost in that Point for above two Months, -as we computed from what they had told -us at <em>Tangier</em>, we could make but little progress -in our Voyage.</p> - -<p>25. Between three and four of the Clock -in the Morning the Tornado's began to blow, -and the Wind violent for the time, with such -continued Flashes of Lightning for several -hours, as that the whole Sky seemed to be -on fire, intermixed with terrible Claps of -Thunder, after which followed great showers -of Rain.</p> - -<p>25. The Wind still contrary, we descryed -<em>Cape St. Martin</em> at about fifteen Leagues distance. -Tacking about and standing off to -Seaward, next Morning 27. we found that -we had lost about three Leagues of our way.</p> - -<p>28. We were athwart <em>Orlando's Gap</em> within -two Leagues of the Shore, <em>Cape St. Martin</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span> -bearing off us <em>N.</em> by <em>W.</em> The Wind now still; -but a swelling Sea coming from the Westward, -which is usual before a Wind, which -drives the Water before it.</p> - -<p>On <em>Michaelmas-day</em> we were up with the -Island <em>Ivica</em>, or <em>Ivise</em>, as the Mariners call it, -and the Wind blowing fair, we stood our -Course; and the next day at Noon we made -the <em>Island Majorca</em>, situate over against the -Kingdom of <em>Valentia</em>, and came to an Anchor -in the <em>Bay</em> of the City, being forced in -hither for want of fresh Water. In the Afternoon -the Boat was sent on shore; but the -Vice-Roy would not give us Prattick, not -bringing a Patent from <em>Malaga</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Octob. 1.</em> The Secretary was sent with the -King's Pass to the Vice-Roy to demand Prattick, -who presently summoned the Officers -of the <em>Sanita</em>. After long Debates and Delays -they consented, and came to the <em>Mole</em> -to receive him. He went directly to the -Governour to acquaint him, that we were -ready to Salute the City with what number -of Guns he pleased, if he would engage upon -his Honour to give us as many. He replied, -that he would give us three for five; -and wondered, that we being but a single -Ship, should make such a Demand. The Secretary -told him, That we were to be treated -as an Admiral, having a Flag on our Maintop; -and that the Governour of <em>Malaga</em> -had done it. To this he said, That <em>Majorca</em> -was a Kingdom, that he was the King's -Representative, and that by Reason of the -Miscarriage of his Predecessor, when Monsieur -<em>de Beaufort</em>, the <em>French</em> Admiral was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span> -there, he had received strict Orders from -<em>Madrid</em> not to do the like. The Secretary -replied, That we had an Ambassador on -board, and had as strict Orders, and should -answer as severely for the Breach of them. -His last Answer was, That we might, with -our Sails loose, keep before the Town, till -we had furnished our selves with what we -wanted. Upon receiving this Message, the -Ambassador dispatched away one <em>Joseph Gabriel -Cortez</em>, a <em>Spaniard</em>, but employed by the -<em>English</em> Merchants trading to that Island, then -on board our Ship, to acquaint him, That -when we were ready to go away, we would -loose our Sails, and not before. We landed -within the <em>Mole</em>; the Walk upon it about -four or five Yards broad; at the Extremity -of which is a very large and stately Gate, -which leads into the City. We went into -the great Church, somewhat wider than <em>Westminster-Abbey</em>, -but darkish within: the Portal -very magnificent, adorned with several Marble -Statues in Niches one over another. The -High Altar very plain and unadorned: but -others extraordinary rich and glorious. Not -far from the City are several Mills to grind -their Olives, Oyl being the great Commodity -of the Island.</p> - -<p>2. The next Morning we weighed, without -taking any kind of notice of the Town, -sailing all along in sight of the Island, which -presented us with a pleasing and delightful -Prospect; the Valleys, lying under the Hills, -fruitful of Wine and Corn. The whole Island -is judged to be about sixty Leagues in Compass, -and in length about fifteen: which we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span> -sailed from the Westermost Point, where lies -the Isle <em>Dragovera</em>, at a very little distance -to the Eastermost, where there is built a -small Fort. To the S. S. E. lie several little -Islands, called the <em>Cabreas</em>; between which -and <em>Majorca</em> we steered.</p> - -<p>3. We were athwart <em>Port Maon</em> in <em>Minorca</em>; -a fine level Country, having but one Hill in -it N. W. by W. as it bore off us. In the Evening -the Wind very scant.</p> - -<p>4. This day, as yesterday, excessive hot.</p> - -<p>5. In the Afternoon we descryed the Main -Land of <em>Provence</em>.</p> - -<p>6. We were over against the Islands <em>Hieres</em> -and the Highland of <em>Thoulon</em>.</p> - -<p>7, 8. These two Days becalmed; and the -Sea extraordinary smooth.</p> - -<p>9. We were over against the Westermost -part of the <em>Alpes</em>, which we distinctly saw at -about twenty Leagues distance, and appeared -far higher than the Hills of <em>Granada</em>.</p> - -<p>10. We sailed by <em>Final</em> and <em>Ventimiglia</em>.</p> - -<p>12. We came in the Morning to an Anchor -over against the <em>Mole</em>, and not far from -the Lantern in <em>Genoa</em>. Having obtained Prattick -of the <em>Maestri della Sanita</em>, after a little -demur about the Salute, the Senate being assembled, -and some of them protesting upon -their Honours, and ready to produce their -Registers, that they never saluted the Ship -wherein was an Ambassador of <em>France</em> or -<em>Spain</em>, as not taking any notice of the Person -who did bear that Character, 'till they -had first intimation, that the Ship was arrived -in their Port by its saluting the Town. -It was agreed that the Ship should Salute the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span> -Town with eleven Guns, which they were to -answer, as they did, with an equal number: -and after a little pause, they saluted the Ambassador -with nineteen more, which was answered -with as many. After this, the Duke -and Senate sent the Master of the Ceremonies -to wait upon the Ambassador: who going -away, returned soon after with a Present -of Calves, Fowl, Wine, Sweetmeats, <em>&c.</em> -and acquainted his Lordship, that they had -deputed six of their Gentlemen to Complement -him, and wait upon him; which Civility -he thought fit to refuse, desiring to be -<em>Incognito</em>. But however, going ashore, he was -welcomed by the <em>Illustrissimi Signiori</em>, the -<em>Durazzo's</em>, two Brothers, the elder of which -had been Ambassador for the Republick, in -the Court of <em>England</em>, and the other at <em>Constantinople</em>, -and by them carried to see the -<em>Villas</em> out of Town. The figure of <em>Genoa</em> is -Semicircular, beginning from the Lantern -Westward, lying under an high Hill, upon -the rising of which the several Houses, built -of Marble, afford a very fine Prospect, and -add much to the Beauty and Glory of the -place. <em>Strada nuova</em> perchance is the most -stately Street in the whole World. The new -Church of the <em>Annunciata</em>, built by the <em>Lomellini</em>, -where a thousand may go up the stairs -abreast at the same time, for curious Painting, -rich Altars, and exactness of Architecture, -incomparable. The <em>Duome</em> also and -the Church of the <em>Theatins</em> very stately and -curious. Other matters I purposely omit.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span></p> - -<p>14. In the Evening we set Sail from <em>Genoa</em>.</p> - -<p>Becalmed for the most part these three -Days, though helped somewhat forward by -the Breezes that blew off the shore after Sun -set.</p> - -<p>18. In the Afternoon we made the Island -<em>Gorgonia</em>, about nine Leagues from <em>Livorne</em>; -a little round Island, with a Castle on the -top.</p> - -<p>19. In the Morning we came to an Anchor -in <em>Livorne</em> Road, about a Mile from the -Town: the Road large and secure, especially -to the Northward. The Ambassador keeps -on Board, the Governour refusing to Salute -the Ship first, though he had formerly saluted -the <em>French</em>; pretending that every Convoy -might carry a Flag; and alledging that his -Master, the Grand Duke, was as great and -absolute, as the Republick of <em>Genoa</em>: and -that they had rather throw themselves upon -the King of <em>England</em>, than do a thing which -might prove of such an ill Consequence. -Sir <em>John Finch</em>, his Majesty's Resident, together -with Sir <em>Thomas Baines</em>, came from <em>Florence</em> -to Complement the Ambassador, and -immediately dispatched away a Courier to -the Grand Duke about the Salute; who referred -the whole Affair to the Governor: and -he making a Protest that he was ready to pay -all the respect which was due to the Ambassador's -Character and Quality, upon the fore-mentioned -Pretensions, six days, after our -arrival, absolutely refused to Salute the Ship -first.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>Livorne</em> is the great Magazine of Trade for -the <em>Levant</em>, being a free Port: Merchants of -all Countries residing here, <em>Armenians</em> especially, -and <em>Jews</em>; which latter enjoy great Priviledges, -without wearing any distinct Mark -in their Hats or Habits, whereby they may -be known. They are allow'd the publick -Exercise of their Religion: their Synagogue -large and handsome. The Port inward has -a <em>Mole</em> for the Duke's Galleys and other small -Vessels to ride in: the Entrance of which is -chained up every Night. Hard by is the -Statue of Duke <em>Ferdinand</em> in Marble, raised -upon an high Pedestal; under which are four -Slaves in Brass, in different Postures, very -large, and above the ordinary proportion, -but done with exquisite and admirable Art. -Two Castles to the Seaward well fortified: -the Town Walls very high, and the four -Gates strongly guarded: below which is a -Ditch of about fifteen or twenty yards over, -and very deep. No Stranger is allowed to -view the Works, nor Souldier permitted to -come out of the Castles. About four thousand -Slaves are there, as the Merchants told -us, who are lockt up in the <em>Bagno</em> every -Night. The <em>Piazza</em>, where the Merchants -meet, is adorned with Marble Pillars, which -sustain the Porticos: at the East end of -which is the great Church whose Roof appears -very glorious, having several Circles -richly gilded and painted with curious Figures.</p> - -<p>The broad Street is paved between two -and three yards on each side with Free-stone.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span></p> - -<p>27. In the Afternoon we weighed out of -<em>Livorne</em> Road, and sailed by the Islands <em>Gorgonia</em> -and <em>Capraria</em>, seeing <em>Corsica</em> at a distance.</p> - -<p>28. We lay beating at Sea all this Day, -the Wind being contrary.</p> - -<p>29. This Day we were forced back, the -contrary Winds still continuing.</p> - -<p>30. We weighed a second time, and sailed -by three small Islands, <em>Capraria</em>, <em>Planasia</em>, and -<em>Monte Christi</em>. We saw also <em>Gigio</em> and <em>Sanuti</em>, -two other small Islands near the Main: but -we made but little way, by reason of ill -Weather for 4 or 5 Days.</p> - -<p><em>Novemb. 5.</em> At Evening we saw the Eruptions -of Fire from <em>Stromboli</em>, which lies to the -N. W. of <em>Sicily</em>. Sometimes it flamed very -bright Light as a <em>Beacon</em>, at other times there -appeared only a glorious kind of Light, like -that of an ordinary Star when the Air is -thick and hazy. They say that it flames most -in rainy Weather.</p> - -<p>6. In the Morning we were up within a -League of it, and plainly perceived it to -smoke. It is of a round figure, and, as we -gathered, may be about three or four Miles -in compass. It bore W. by S. of us. Not -far from it lye scattered several other Islands, -called by the Ancients <em>Æoliœ</em> and <em>Vulcaniœ</em>: -among which are <em>Lipara</em>, a long flattish Island, -and <em>Vulcanello</em>, which smokes most. This -Afternoon we came to an Anchor in eight -Fathom Water in the <em>Phare</em> of <em>Messina</em>, in -the mid Stream between <em>Scylla</em> and <em>Charybdis</em>: -a violent and strong Current setting against -us, and the Wind not high enough, so as to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span> -be able to stemm it. The breadth of the -<em>Strait</em> from <em>Messina</em> to <em>Rhegium</em> may be about a -League. The Land is very high on the <em>Calabrian</em> -side, where are very steep Rocks, and -great depth of Water, above 150 Fathom, -as they told us: but on the <em>Sicilian</em> side, near -<em>Charybdis</em> Shole-water, and usually an Eddy. -On the Sandy Banks stands the Phare or -Watch-tower. Several Currents meeting in -this narrow Passage, cause a great rippling of -the Water: and great quantity of Water -coming in, as the Winds drive, in great quantity -meeting with the Shole, is broken into -Waves. The Eddies here are caused by the -meeting of the different Currents by which -the Waters are sometimes carried N. and -sometimes S. the great danger is, lest they -drive the Ship on either side. We have -had Lightning for seven or eight Nights together.</p> - -<p>7. We sail'd by <em>Ætna</em>, now called <em>Mongibel</em>, -where the Sea widens ten or eleven -Leagues over. Now we see plainly the Smoke -briskly issuing out of the <em>Crater</em>, the <em>Limbus</em> -of which was all black. The uppermost part -of the Mountain was covered with Snow, -except some streaks of Ashes, as we judge, -which lie as it were in a Gutter, spread here -and there.</p> - -<p>8. We espied a <em>Saettia</em> at about 3 Leagues -distance, and making up to her, found her -forsaken. The Captain sent several Seamen -on board, and carried the Vessel to <em>Smyrna</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> - -<p>Scanty Wind for several Days: and the -Lightning still continued.</p> - -<p>13. We were up with <em>Cape Modona</em>, the -Southernmost Cape of the <em>Morea</em>, and sailed -by <em>Coron</em>. The Land very high, the Hills of -<em>Arcadia</em> lying Eastward from us. The Weather -excessive hot at this time, as it is in -<em>England</em> at <em>Midsummer</em>. We espied from -our Maintop-mast five Sail of great Ships, -which we supposed to be <em>Tripolines</em>, who did -not think fit to come up and speak with us. -But afterward we heard for certain, that -they were part of the <em>Venetian</em> Fleet.</p> - -<p>14. We lay for the most part becalmed over -against <em>Cape Matapan</em>: but in the Evening the -Wind blowing fresh, we sailed between the -Island of <em>Cerigo</em> and the Main Land of <em>Greece</em>; -it being about three Leagues over to <em>Cape -Angelo</em>.</p> - -<p>15. We entred the Arches, and steered -through the North Channel, leaving <em>Melo</em> -and <em>Antimelo</em> on the Starboard-quarter, at -some Leagues distance.</p> - -<p>16. Betimes in the Morning we were -athwart <em>Negropont</em>, and sailed between it -and <em>Andros</em>. The <em>Bocca</em> lies S. W. and N. E.</p> - -<p>17. We sailed by <em>Chios</em> or <em>Scio</em>, which is -very mountainous toward the middle. It is -about four Leagues distant from <em>Cape Caraboroun</em>, -or the <em>Cape of the black Nose</em>, as the -<em>Turkish</em> word signifies, which the Seamen, in -their usual way of corrupting Names, call -<em>Cape Jobbernoule</em>, the <em>Corinœum</em> of the Ancients, -a Promontory of the famous Mountain -<em>Mimas</em>, which runs along the Southern side -of the <em>Bay of Smyrna</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span></p> - -<p>This Day the <em>Smyrna</em> Fleet from <em>England</em> -comes up to us very luckily, to our great Satisfaction -and Joy.</p> - -<p>18. We are now got into the <em>Bay of Smyrna</em>, -and come to an Anchor without the -Castle, not far from St. <em>Jacomo's Point</em>, as -the Seamen call it, or rather <em>Sangiac Point</em>. -In the Afternoon the Consul, with several -Gentlemen of the Factory, came to wait -upon my Lord Ambassador, and desired his -Lordship to defer his Entrance into <em>Smyrna</em> -till the Twentieth, that he might be received -with greater Honour. That Evening -we heard a great howling of <em>Jackalls</em> upon -the Hills.</p> - -<p>20. The Consul with the Nation, accompanied -with his <em>Druggermen</em> and <em>Janizaries</em> in -their <em>Habit</em>, together with several <em>French</em>, -<em>Dutch</em> and <em>Genoese</em> Merchants, residing in that -famous Emporium, came to the Village -near the Castle, who there expected us -with Horses. Upon our going ashore, -the <em>Leopard</em> fired fifty one Guns. We made -about 140 Horse; and immediately upon our -setting forth, we rode for about three Miles -together under the Hill to the S. W. of <em>Smyrna</em>; -the places adjoyning set thick with -Olive, Fig, and Almond-trees. Afterwards -we clambered over some rocky Ascents; but -the Horses of the Country being sure-footed, -we were in no danger of falling. Some little way -we were forced to ride on the Sea-shore, and -soon after came to the Jews burying place, -whose Monuments lie flat upon the ground. -As soon as we entred into the City, we found -the Streets full of <em>Greeks</em>, <em>Armenians</em>, <em>Turks</em>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span> -and <em>Jews</em>, whom Curiosity had drawn together -to see and observe our Cavalcade; the -<em>English</em> Ships, which were in the <em>Bay</em>, firing -their Guns, as we past near the Shore. And -so after three hours riding the Ambassador -was brought to the Consul's House, where -Lodgings were provided for him. During -our stay we met with not only kind, but very -noble Entertainment from the worthy Gentlemen -of the Factory.</p> - -<p><em>Decemb. 8.</em> We took our leave of <em>Smyrna</em>, -being accompanied by the Consul and Merchants -on board the <em>London-Merchant</em>, Capt. -<em>John Hill</em> Commander, the <em>Leopard</em> being ordered -to go no further than <em>Smyrna</em>, it being -feared in <em>England</em>, that if she had sailed up -to <em>Constantinople</em>, the <em>Turks</em> might have press'd -her for their Service in <em>Candia</em>, which they -were then besieging.</p> - -<p>9. This Morning we weighed betimes, -and sailed between <em>Scio</em> and <em>Mytilene</em>. But -on the</p> - -<p>10. We were forced back near the long -Island within the Bay, being unwilling to go -to <em>Scio</em>, the <em>Tripolines</em> and <em>Turkish</em> Galleys lying -there. Here we lay ten Days, expecting -a fair Wind.</p> - -<p>20. The Wind coming about and favouring -us, we sailed a second time between <em>Scio</em> and -<em>Mytilene</em>.</p> - -<p>21. We past by <em>Lemnos</em>, and were up with -the Island <em>Tenedos</em>; a fine Champaign Country, -only with one Hill toward the middle -of it. The Castle to the N. E. part of the -Isle: over against which lye three small -Islands in a strait Line. Here we came to an<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span> -Anchor. We saw the Ruins of <em>Troas</em> at a -distance, but did not think it safe to go ashore.</p> - -<p>22. The Wind coming about at S. we entred -the <em>Hellespont</em>, which may be about two -Leagues and a half over. The Castles built -upon the opposite points of Land, about 11 -or 12 Years before, after the great Defeat -given the <em>Turkish Armata</em> at the <em>Dardanels</em> by -the <em>Venetians</em>; <em>Cape Janizary</em> on the <em>Asian</em> -side; which, with the <em>Philæum</em>, makes a tolerable -good Bay for ordinary Vessels. The -narrowest Strait of the <em>Hellespont</em> is at the two -other Castles, distant about six Leagues, -where it may be about ¾ of a Mile wide. -These the <em>Christians</em> call the <em>Dardanelli</em>; at -which are situate the Towns, <em>Sestus</em> and <em>Abydus</em>, -famous in <em>Greek</em> Poesie. These Castles -we saluted with our Guns and Trumpets, as -we did the first: but each, whether out of -Pride, or out of Covetousness, to save the -<em>Grand Signior</em>'s Powder, return'd us no more -than two Guns. The Wind blowing very fair -we sailed into the <em>Propontis</em>.</p> - -<p>23. We passed by St. <em>Stephano's Point</em>, where -we had a full view of the S. E. Angle of <em>Constantinople</em>, -which being situated upon several -Hills to a mighty advantage, what with -the Cypress-Trees intermixed, and what -with the gilded Spires of the <em>Moschs</em>, yielded -us a very diverting glorious Prospect. -Passing by the <em>Seraglio Point</em>, which we saluted -by a discharge of several Guns, in the -mid Stream between it and the <em>Tophana</em>, we -came to an Anchor.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span></p> - -<p>26. On St. <em>Stephen</em>'s Day the Ambassador -landed at <em>Galata</em>, (having before been visited -by the Earl of <em>Winchelsea</em>, and the Merchants -residing there) and was received there -by the <em>Chiaus Basha</em> and the <em>Vaivod</em> of <em>Galata</em>, -the <em>Janizaries</em> and <em>Chiauses</em> attending, and -was waited upon by them to his Palace: and -soon after the <em>Kaimacam</em>, or Governor of -<em>Constantinople</em>, sent an Officer to Complement -him upon his Arrival; the <em>Grand Signior</em> -being then at <em>Larissa</em> in <em>Thessaly</em>.</p> - -<p><em>January 2.</em> The Ambassadors, Old and -New, went over to <em>Constantinople</em>, that Morning -being assigned by the <em>Kaimacam</em> to give -them Audience, the <em>Chiaus Basha</em> and other -Officers attending at the Water-side to receive -them; Horses being brought thither -for them and their Followers to mount. -This <em>Kaimakam Jusuph</em>, a little old Man, -had formerly been a Page of the Chamber, -and chief Falconer, and afterwards <em>Basha</em> -of <em>Silistria</em>. He entertained the Ambassadors -and their Company with Perfumes, -Coffee, and Sherbet, and distributed about -fifteen <em>Koftans Orrests</em> among them: after -about an Hours stay they took their -leave.</p> - -<p>Being upon the Coasts of <em>Greece</em> about -<em>August</em> or <em>September</em> 69. in the Latitude of -35°. 53´. we found by our <em>Azimouth</em> Compass, -that we had Westerly variation there -5°. 22´.</p> - -<p>The variety of Colours of the Sea-Water -at several times chiefly depends upon -the Wind and Weather, and the reflexion -of the Light upon it. It's usual and most<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span> -natural Colour is a deep Green: but in -Cloudy and Rainy Weather, the Surface of -the Water appears blackish. On the <em>Goodwins</em> -upon the Tide of Flood, the Water -was white, the Waves by reason of the Shallows, -meeting with opposition, and breaking -into Foam, till the Flood is well advanced. -Sometimes the Water is of a perfect -Azure colour, as we observed for several -Weeks in the <em>Mediterranean</em>. The Sun shining -bright upon the Water, sometimes the -upper part of the Waves appears Purplish, -sometimes Reddish; though in Shallows perchance -it may receive this latter Tincture -also from the Sands which lie under it. When -the Wind has freshened, and the Ship has -been under full Sail, I have observed the -Waves to the head, and at the sides of -the Ship, to appear with a pale kind of -brightness: and at <em>Malaga</em>, and at my return, -going on board our Ship, which lay -about half a League from the shore, at Night, -the Wind then at East, the Boats Crew letting -their Oar fall roughly into the Water, -diverted us as it were with the sight -of a continued Flame, raised by their rowing; -which I ascribe rather to the Saline -Particles of the Sea-Water, which were -then put into a violent Agitation, than to -the Spawn of Fish, as some of our Company -imagined.</p> - -<p>Sailing toward the West of <em>Portland</em>, we -saw several <em>Porpisces</em> playing with their -Heads above Water; which I mention only, -because the Seamen look upon them as -fore-runners of a Storm; the Wind soon<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span> -after blowing very hard at North by East. -And afterwards arriving at <em>Constantinople</em>, -the Wind blowing a stiff Gale at North, I -observed with a pleasing kind of astonishment -good part of the <em>Propontis</em>, that is, -from the <em>Seraglio Point</em> toward the Islands, -which lye against the <em>Bay of Nicomedia</em>, Eastward -and South-East from us, as far as we -could see, covered as it were with <em>Porpisces</em>, -which appeared every where in great -abundance. So that I am very apt to believe -that <em>Julius Solinus</em> in <em>Chap.</em> 12. of his -<em>Polykister</em> is to be understood of <em>Porpisces</em>, -and not of <em>Dolphins</em>, now properly so called, -though that be his Word, speaking -of the <em>Bosphorus</em> and <em>Propontis</em>: <em>Hæc profunda -Delphinas plurimos habent</em>: and soon after, -<em>ante omnia nihil velocius habent maria, -sic ut plerunque transvolent vela navium</em>. -I could not hear that any <em>Dolphins</em> are -caught in those Seas by the <em>Greeks</em>, whose -Poverty, added to the love which their Nation -has for Fish, and the advantage arising -thence, upon the account of their solemn -Fasts and Abstinences from all Flesh, -even to a wonderful strictness and scrupulosity, -has made them excellent Fishermen: -nor did I ever see any in their Fish-Markets, -or see one of them brought to the -Ambassador's Table by the Proveditor for -curiosity: Though otherwise it is an excellently -well tasted Fish, especially when -soused. I allow, that they will swim very -swiftly, as do the <em>Porpisces</em>; and that they -will follow a Ship for several Leagues together: -but then they Swim somewhat deep<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span> -in the Water, sometimes are catch'd, -though not often. The Seamen have reached -them with a Fisgig, a kind of barbed -Iron, at the End of a Pole tied fast to a -Rope, and have made good Chear with -them. But this is only my Conjecture, with -which I end my Journal.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right"><em>Deo Servatori Laus.</em></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Historical Observations relating to -<strong>Constantinople</strong>. By the Reverend -and Learned <strong>Tho. Smith</strong>, -D. D. Fellow of <strong>Magd. Coll. -Oxon.</strong> and of the <strong>Royal Society</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p><em>Constantinople</em>, formerly <em>Byzantium</em>, was<a name="FNanchor_1_1" id="FNanchor_1_1"></a><a href="#Footnote_1_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> -by <em>Constantine</em> the Great, called so after -his own Name, who being mightily pleased -with the beautiful and advantageous situation -of the Place between two Seas, and -defended by narrow Streights on both sides, -removed the Seat of the Empire hither, and -laid the foundation of its future Splendor -and Greatness. It was also by a<a name="FNanchor_2_2" id="FNanchor_2_2"></a><a href="#Footnote_2_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a>special -Edict or Law of the same Emperor, which -he caused to be engraven on a Marble Pillar, -placed near his own Statue on Horse-back, -in one of the Piazza's of his new built -City called <em>Strategium</em>, where the Soldiers -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>used to Muster, as in the <em>Campus Martius</em>, -called <em>second or new Rome</em>, in emulation of -old <em>Rome</em>, which he designed and endeavoured -this should equal in all things. Accordingly -he endowed it with the same Priviledges -and Immunities, and established -the same number of Magistrates and Orders -of People, and divided the whole extent -of it into fourteen Precincts or<a name="FNanchor_3_3" id="FNanchor_3_3"></a><a href="#Footnote_3_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a>Regions, -according to the division of <em>Rome</em>. And -the <em>Greek</em> Writers were as elegant and extravagant -in their commendations of it; but the -usual Title in their ordinary Discourses and -Writings, when they had occasion to mention -it without any flourish, was ἡ βασιλευούσα, -ἡ βασιλίς, that is, the Imperial City, to the -same sense with that of<a name="FNanchor_4_4" id="FNanchor_4_4"></a><a href="#Footnote_4_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a><em>Sidonius Apollinaris</em>,</p> -<div class="center"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><em>Salve sceptrorum columen, Regina orientis,</em><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><em>Orbis Roma tui.</em><br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<p>The Country about it was afterwards called -<em>Romania</em> in a limited and restrained sense, -(for that <em>Romania</em> was anciently the same with -<em>orbis Romanus</em>, seems clear from<a name="FNanchor_5_5" id="FNanchor_5_5"></a><a href="#Footnote_5_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a><em>Epiphanius</em>) -and the People Ρωμαῖοι. But I suppose -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>this was not done till about the middle times -of the Empire, when it began to decline. -The <em>Greeks</em> still retain this Name. For if -you ask any of the <em>Greeks</em> born upon the -Continent of <em>Thrace</em>, what Country Man he -is? he answers forthwith, Ρωμαῖος <em>Romios</em>, for -so they pronounce it. The <em>Turks</em> in like -manner call a <em>Greek</em> Christian <em>Urum Gaour</em>, or -the Roman Infidel, as they will call sometimes -the Emperor of <em>Germany</em>, <em>Urumler Padisha</em> -or Emperor of the <em>Romans</em>. Hence it -was, that the latter <em>Græcian</em> Emperors stiled -themselves βασιλεῖς Ρωμαίων, Kings of the Romans, -that is, such as were Born in <em>Romania</em> -and the other Countries, which made up the -Eastern division of the Empire. Tho' perchance -by this flourishing Title they pretended -a right to the Government of the West: -Upon which vain presumption they assumed -also the Title of Κοσμοκράτορες, or Emperors of -the World, as if they had been the true Successors -of <em>Augustus</em>, and the Western Emperors, -Usurpers, whom they called by way of -contempt and indignation, Ρῆγες, Reges, as<a name="FNanchor_6_6" id="FNanchor_6_6"></a><a href="#Footnote_6_6" class="fnanchor">[6]</a> -<em>Luitprandus</em> informs us in the accompt of his -Embassy to <em>Nicephorus Phocas</em>, and afforded the -People of <em>Italy</em> no other Title than that of<a name="FNanchor_7_7" id="FNanchor_7_7"></a><a href="#Footnote_7_7" class="fnanchor">[7]</a><em>Longobards</em> -or <em>Lombards</em>. The present <em>Greeks</em> call -all the Western Christians Λατῖνοι or φράγγοι -<em>Latins</em> or <em>Franks</em>, the <em>Turks</em> only making use of -the latter, when they speak civilly of us, and -calling <em>Christendom</em> <em>Phrenkistan</em>, in the present -<em>Greek</em> φραγγία. The <em>Turks</em> now as proudly call -<em>Constantinople</em> <em>Alem pena</em>, or the refuge of the -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>World: Where indeed seems to be a medley -of all or most Nations of three parts of it, -and of all Religions, which are allowed to -be publickly profest and exercised every -where throughout the Empire, except the -<em>Persian</em>. For they look upon it as a corruption -of, and deviation from the Rules and -Doctrine of <em>Mahomet</em>, their great false Prophet, -and therefore absolutely forbid it, as -repugnant to, and destructive of the Doctrine -of Life and Salvation, as they speak. And -accordingly they condemn with all imaginable -fury the Professors of it, who pretend to -follow <em>Ali</em>, as Sectaries and Apostates, and -entertain worse Opinions of them, than of -<em>Christians</em>, or <em>Jews</em> or <em>Infidels</em>. The <em>Persians</em> -are not behind-hand with them in their hatred -and disrespect, deriding them as gross -and stupid, and looking upon them as little -less than barbarous; Interest and Zeal for -their several Tenets heightning their differences -so much, that in time of War they destroy -one anothers <em>Moschs</em>. I remember, that -there was a great Discourse in <em>Constantinople</em> -among the <em>Turks</em> concerning an impudent -hot-headed <em>Persian</em>, who publickly in the new -<em>Mosch</em> built by the Mother of the present -Emperor, asserted that <em>Ali</em> was equal to <em>Mahomet</em>. -But it seems he very luckily made his -escape out of their Hands, at which the -Priests and the more zealous <em>Turks</em> were very -much scandalized.</p> - -<p>The <em>Greeks</em> have twenty six Churches within -the Walls of the City, besides 6 in <em>Galata</em>, of -which I have given an Account elsewhere. -They have also two Churches at <em>Scutari</em>, one<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span> -at <em>Kadikui</em> or <em>Chalcedon</em>. So at <em>Staurosis</em>, <em>Chingilkui</em>, -and several other Villages upon the -Asian Shore off the Bosphorus, as at <em>Beshictash</em>, -<em>Ortakui</em>, <em>Chorouch chesme</em>, which Church is dedicated -to St. <em>Michal</em> the Archangel, <em>Jenikui</em> -or <em>Neochorion</em>, <em>Therapia</em>, <em>Bujukdere</em>, and other -Villages on the <em>European</em> side. They have -also a Church at <em>Haskui</em>, where is their Burying -place, and another near the <em>Bagnio</em>, -dedicated to St. <em>Parasceve</em>. And at <em>Tatoula</em> -about a Mile from <em>Pera</em>, upon a Hill, which -from the Name of the Church is thence called -by the <em>Greeks</em> and <em>Franks</em>, St. <em>Demetrius</em> his Hill. -Next to the holy Virgin, St. <em>Demetrius</em> and -St. <em>George</em> have most Churches dedicated to -them.</p> - -<p>The <em>Armenians</em> have not, if I remember aright, -above seven Churches; they being few -in number in comparison of the <em>Greeks</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Jews</em> may have in the City and places -adjacent between twenty and thirty Synagogues, -this being the greatest shelter of that -accursed contemptible People in the Grand -Signiors Dominions, next to <em>Caire</em> and <em>Saloniki</em>: -and I believe there may be about twenty or -thirty thousand families of them. They are -of great use and service to the <em>Turks</em>, upon -accompt of their Brocage and Merchandise, -and Industry in several mechanical Trades. -All these I look upon as Natives, or Slaves rather, -each paying mony for his Head every -year. The <em>Jews</em> indeed very wisely collect -this Tax among themselves, and according to -an agreement made with the <em>Teftardar</em> or -Treasurer, pay a certain sum in gross for their -whole Nation residing there: by which piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span> -of cunning they are great gainers, and spare -the poor among them less able to pay, by a -contribution of the rich to make up the sum. -The <em>English</em> and <em>Dutch</em> Ambassadors have their -Chappels in their Palaces common to their respective -Nations.</p> - -<p>The Churches and Chappels of the Western -<em>Christians</em> of the <em>Roman</em> Communion in <em>Galata</em>, -are</p> - -<p>St. <em>Peters</em>, belonging to the <em>Dominicans</em>, -where is the famous piece of <em>Madonna di Constantinopolis</em> -as the <em>Italians</em> call it, or of the -blessed Virgin, holding the holy Child <em>Jesus</em> -in her arms: which they pretend to be drawn -by the hand of St. <em>Luke</em>, celebrated by some -of the latter Ecclesiastical Writers to have -been a famous Painter. Out of respect to this -idle tradition the credulous and superstitious -<em>Latins</em> and <em>Greeks</em> of the <em>Roman</em> Communion -shew great veneration to it, which otherwise -hath little in it of proportion, art, or beauty, -to derive any reputation upon the designer, or -upon his work.</p> - -<p>St. <em>Francis</em>, belonging to the <em>Conventuali</em>, -Friars of the order of St. <em>Francis</em>; the ground -of this by the wise conduct and intercession of -<em>Caviliere Molino</em>, the Venetian <em>Bailo</em>, after the -surrender of <em>Candia</em>, upon the Peace made by -the Republick with the Grand Signior, was -procured to be restored, and a handsome -Church rebuilt with the large contributions -of mony sent out of <em>Christendom</em>.</p> - -<p>St. <em>Benedict</em>, belonging to the <em>Jesuits</em>, where -is a rich Altar curiously adorn'd with several -figures in <em>Mosiack</em>. This Convent was purchased -for them by their great Benefactor, -<em>Henry</em> the fourth of <em>France</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span></p> - -<p>St. <em>Mary</em>, belonging to the <em>Observantines</em> or -<em>Zoccolanti</em>, a branch of the order of St. <em>Francis</em>, -so called from their going in <em>Zoccoli</em> or wooden -clogs.</p> - -<p>The <em>Capuchines</em> have a little Chappel dedicated -to St. <em>George</em>, hard by the <em>French</em> Ambassadors -Palace.</p> - -<p>St. <em>Ann</em>, a Chappel frequented by the -<em>Perotes</em>.</p> - -<p>St. <em>Paul</em> and St. <em>Anthony</em>, were both taken -away some years since from the <em>Christians</em>, and -turned into <em>Moschs</em>. The former of which is -now known by the name of <em>Arab Giamesi</em>, or -the Mosch of the <em>Arabians</em>. Our Interpreters -mentioned also to me the Church of St. <em>John</em>, -which the <em>Turks</em> have seized upon for their use, -St. <em>George</em>, which the <em>Jews</em> are possest of, and -St. <em>Sebastian</em>, which was used to be visited -chiefly on Holy days.</p> - -<p>The North-wind blows for the most part at -<em>Constantinople</em>. Which must be ascribed to its -nearness to the <em>Euxine</em> Sea, which bears that -point from it. So that for want of a Southwardly -wind Ships have been forced to lye a -month or two sometimes near the mouth of -the <em>Hellespont</em>. This was taken notice of long -since by <em>Eunapius</em> in the life of <em>Ædesius</em>, who -ascribes the seldom blowing of the <em>South</em> -wind to the situation of the mountains, whereas -it is checked and overpowered by the exuberance -of the Vapours continually sent forth -from the <em>black</em> and <em>great Sea</em>, as the <em>Greeks</em> call -it in comparison of the <em>Mediterranean</em>. <em>Vide -ad finem Codini de origin. Constantinopol. Edit. -Paris. Pag. 80.</em></p> - -<p>The <em>Hellespont</em> is about forty miles in length,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span> -and at the Castles of <em>Sestos</em> and <em>Abydos</em> -the streight may be about three quarters of -an English mile over, or less.</p> - -<p>The length of the <em>Propontis</em> is about a hundred -and fifty miles, both shores may be seen -in the middle of it. In it are,</p> - -<p><em>Cyzicus</em>, an Island near the <em>Asian</em> shore, to -which it is joined by two bridges. It still retains -its ancient name Κυζικὸ, and is the seat -of a Bishop, being inhabited by a considerable -number of <em>Greeks</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Proconnesus</em>, not far from the former; now, -as for some centuries past, called <em>Marmora</em>, -from the excellent quarries of Marble there -found, the marmor <em>Cyzenicum</em> also being famous -in the time of <em>Pliny</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Besbychus</em>, now called by the Greek καλόλιμνο, -or the good haven, not far from the entrance -into the bay of <em>Montanea</em> to the North and by -East. The <em>Turks</em> call it <em>Imralme</em>.</p> - -<p>There are several Islands over against the -bay of <em>Nicomedia</em>, formerly called <em>Sinus Astacenus</em>, -according to <em>Strabo</em>, about six or seven -leagues from <em>Constantinople</em>.<a name="FNanchor_8_8" id="FNanchor_8_8"></a><a href="#Footnote_8_8" class="fnanchor">[8]</a></p> - -<p><em>Prote</em>, so called because they approach first to -it, coming from <em>Constantinople</em>; to the South -of this <em>Prencipe</em> and <em>Pytis</em>, which I take to be -the same with <em>Pyrgos</em>, that lyes inmost toward -the bay: <em>Chalcitis</em>, in modern Greek, <em>Chalce</em> -or <em>Chalcis</em>. <em>Oxia</em> and <em>Platy</em> to the North-west. -I have expressed the <em>Turkish</em> names of the lesser -and uninhabited islands elsewhere, which perchance -were phantastically imposed by some -<em>Franks</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Seraglio</em> is at the extreme point of the -North-east Angle of <em>Constantinople</em>, where<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span> -formerly stood old <em>Byzantium</em>, within which -towards the Haven is a stately <em>Kiosk</em> or summer -house, from whence the <em>Grand Signior</em> usually -takes Barge, when he passes into <em>Asia</em>, -or diverts himself upon the <em>Bosphorus</em>, at which -time the <em>Bostangi Bashi</em>, who hath the principal -care of the Emperors palace, and hath the -command of the <em>Bosphorus</em>, sits at the helm -and steers.</p> - -<p>The seven Towers are at the South-east extremity.</p> - -<p>The only Suburbs are to the North-west, -along the Haven-side; for above the hill, -where the three walls begin, lies an open -champaign Country, except that here and -there at considerable distances farm houses -are scatter'd.</p> - -<p>The Haven runs in from the West, and so -opens East.</p> - -<p>At the East end of <em>Galata</em> is <em>Tophana</em>, where -they cast their great Guns.</p> - -<p><em>Pera</em> and <em>Galata</em> have about six gates to -the Seaward. The whole tract of ground was -anciently, before the times of the Emperor -<em>Valentinian</em>, who enclosed and fortified <em>Galata</em> -with walls and towers, styled Περαῖα or -Regio <em>Peræa</em> being πέραν τῆς πόλεως, on the other -side of the City to the North, which is the -reason of its name, seated on higher hills, and -whose ascent is more steep and difficult.</p> - -<p>Our modern <em>Geographers</em>, such as <em>Mercator</em> -and <em>Ortelius</em>, who herein follow <em>Ptolomy</em>, place -<em>Constantinople</em> in the Latitude of 43. degrees -and 5 minutes: the <em>Arabian</em> and <em>Persian Astronomers</em>, -as <em>Abulfeda</em>, <em>Nassir Edin</em>, <em>Vlugh Beigh</em>, -and so the πρόχειροι κανόνες, <em>Chrysococcas</em> transla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>ted -out of the <em>Persian</em> tables, place it more -Northerly in 45. But by latter and better -observation it is found, that they have erred -in assigning the Latitude of this City, as of -several other places. To salve these differences, -there is no just ground of pretence to say, -that the <em>Poles</em> are moveable and have changed -their situation since their time, whereas it -may better be imputed to their want of due -care, or to their taking things upon trust, -from the reports of <em>Travellers</em> and <em>Seamen</em>, not -having been upon the places themselves: -which certainly is to be said for <em>Ptolomy</em> whose -observations, as to places more remote from -<em>Alexandria</em>, are far from being accurate and -true. The learned Mr. <em>John Greaves</em>, as I -find in a Manuscript discourse, very worthy -of being Printed, which he presented to the -most reverend and renowned <em>Arch-bishop Usher</em>, -took the height of the <em>Pole</em> at <em>Constantinople</em> -with a brass sextant of above 4 feet <em>radius</em>, -and found it to be but 41 degrees 6´. but by -the observation we made in our Court-yard -at <em>Pera</em> with a very good <em>Quadrant</em> we found -it but 40 degrees and 58 minutes of North -Latitude.</p> - -<p>There is no place between the <em>Propontis</em> and -the walls of the City, except just at the Seraglio-point, -which may be two hundred paces -in length; where they have raised on a platform -a battery for Great guns; but from the -point to the end of the Haven West, the space -to the gates is unequal in some places about -twenty paces broad, in others three or four -times as many more.</p> - -<p>The distance between <em>Constantinople</em> and <em>Chal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>cedon</em> -upon the opposite <em>Bythinian</em>-shore may be -about three or four miles.</p> - -<p>In the Walls are engraven the Names of several -Emperors, who reigned toward the declension -of the <em>Græcian</em> Empire, as <em>Theophilus</em>, -<em>Michael</em>, <em>Basilius</em>, <em>Constantius Porphyrogenitus</em>, -by whose care, and at whose expence the several -breaches caused in them by the Sea or -by Earthquakes, were repaired.</p> - -<p><em>Kumkapi</em> or the sand-gate lies toward the -<em>Propontis</em>; this the <em>Greeks</em> call in their vulgar -language Κονδοσκάλι, <em>Contoscalium</em>, or the little -scale or landing-place. Here formerly was -an Arsenal for Gallies and other small vessels; -it being a convenient passage over Sea. Over -this Gate was anciently engraven a curious -Inscription still preserved in that excellent -collection published by<a name="FNanchor_9_9" id="FNanchor_9_9"></a><a href="#Footnote_9_9" class="fnanchor">[9]</a><em>Gruterus</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Jedicula Kapi</em>, or the Gate of the seven -Towers, so called from its nearness to that -<em>Acropolis</em>, is that, I guess, which the <em>Greeks</em> -formerly called χρυσῆ or the Golden Gate, and -by some late <em>Latin</em> Writers <em>Chrysea</em>, in <em>Luitprandus</em>, -<em>Carea</em>, by a mistake either of the -Transcriber or Printer, for <em>Aurea</em>, for so certainly -it must be mended. Over this Gate was -this inscription,</p> -<div class="center"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><em>Hæc loca Theudosius decorat post fata Tyranni,</em><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><em>Aurea secla gerit, qui portam construit auro.</em><br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<p>cited by <em>Sirmond</em> in his notes upon<a name="FNanchor_10_10" id="FNanchor_10_10"></a><a href="#Footnote_10_10" class="fnanchor">[10]</a><em>Sidonius</em>. -This Gate is in the twelfth Region, and was -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>also called ὡραῖα from its beautiful and curious -structure.</p> - -<p>The Gun gate formerly called Roman gate, -not because it leads towards the continent of -<em>Romania</em> or <em>Thrace</em>, but from<a name="FNanchor_11_11" id="FNanchor_11_11"></a><a href="#Footnote_11_11" class="fnanchor">[11]</a>St. <em>Romanus</em>, -where the last Christian Emperor was killed -at the assault which the <em>Turks</em> made to force -their Way into the City by it.</p> - -<p>Near <em>Adrianople</em> gate is a fair large <em>Mosch</em> -called <em>Ali-bassa</em>, upon a hill accounted the highest -in the City.</p> - -<p>The distance between tower and tower in -the upper wall to the landward may be about -ninety of my paces; the space between that -and the second wall about eighteen paces over.</p> - -<p>The place, where the <em>Lyons</em>, <em>Leopards</em>, and -such like wild creatures are kept, (where I -saw also several <em>Jackalls</em>) was formerly, as -the <em>Greeks</em> told me, a Christian Church dedicated -to Παναγία or the Blessed Virgin, where -this Verse is still legible,</p> - -<p class="center">Κατὰ Σκυθῶν ἔπνευσας θερμὸν ἐν μάχαις. -</p> - -<p>There is no tide or running back of the water -on any side of the <em>Bosphorus</em> into the black -Sea, as<a name="FNanchor_12_12" id="FNanchor_12_12"></a><a href="#Footnote_12_12" class="fnanchor">[12]</a>some have imagined, whose mistake -might possibly arise hence, that the wind being -at North, and blowing hard, the current -sets more violently at such times against the -several headlands jetting out into the channel, -which admits of several turnings, and -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>so the waters are forced back to some little -distance: or else because when the South-wind -freshens and grows boisterous, it makes a -high rolling Sea in the <em>Propontis</em> and <em>Bosphorous</em>, -and being contrary to the current, gives a -check to it, so that it becomes less sensible, -and is easily stemmed. Where it is narrowest, -the distance seems to the eye to be scarce a -mile over from one shore to another; where -broadest, not much above a mile and a half, -unless where it runs into the deep Bays, -which by reason of their shallowness only harbour -Boats.</p> - -<p>The channel certainly is natural and not -cut by art, as some have idly fansied, not considering, -how the <em>Euxine</em> Sea should discharge it -self otherwise of those great quantities of waters, -poured into it by the <em>Ister</em> and <em>Tanais</em>, -now called <em>Don</em>, and the other Rivers, whereby -it becomes less salt, even very sensibly to the -taste, than several parts of the <em>Mediterranean</em>.</p> - -<p>The Fish, by a strange kind of instinct, pass -in vast shoals twice a year, Autumn and -Spring, through the <em>Bosphorus</em>, that is, out of -one Sea into another, of which the <em>Greeks</em>, -who live several months of the year upon them, -take great numbers, and supply the markets -at easie rates; the Cormorants and other ravenous -water-fowl, which the <em>Turks</em> will not -suffer to be destroy'd or otherwise molested, -preying upon them.</p> - -<p>The weather in some months is very inconstant, -great heats and colds happening the -same day upon the change of the wind.</p> - -<p>The winters at <em>Constantinople</em> are sometimes -extraordinary severe. I have heard it related -by several old <em>Greeks</em>, as a thing most certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span> -that the <em>Bosphorus</em> was frozen over in the time -of <em>Achmed</em>, and that a Hare was coursed over -it. It hapned thus, that upon a thaw huge -cakes of Ice came floating down the <em>Danube</em> -into the black Sea, and were driven by the -current into the <em>Bosphorus</em>, whereupon the return -of the frost, they were fixed so hard that -it became passable. In the year 1669 there -was Ice in the Haven to the great amazement -of the <em>Turks</em>; and some were so frighted at -this unusual accident, that they lookt upon -it as a dismal prodigy, and concluded, that -the World would be at an end that Year. -The <em>Aguglia</em> or <em>Obelisk</em> in the <em>Hippodrome</em> is -betwixt fifty and sixty Foot high.</p> - -<p>The Historical Pillar in <em>basso relievo</em>, raised -in honour of the Emperors <em>Arcadius</em> and <em>Honorius</em>, -may be in height about an hundred -seven and forty feet.</p> - -<p><em>Alexius Comnenus</em> lies buried in the Patriarchal -Church against the wall, and his daughter -<em>Anna Comnena</em>, the Historian, who lived -about the year of Christ 1117. They pretend -to shew there the reliques of St. <em>Anastasia</em>, -who suffered Martyrdom under the Emperor -<em>Valerianus</em>, and of St. <em>Euphemia</em>, Virgin and -Martyr, who lost her life most gloriously for -<em>Christ's</em> holy religion at <em>Chalcedon</em> under <em>Dioclesian</em>.</p> - -<p>In <em>Sancta Sophia</em> there are pillars so great, that -a Man can scarce fathom them at twice. At -the end of the Gallery, that joins the other -two, each about thirty of my paces wide, -there is a piece of transparent Marble, two -or three Inches thick. In the North gallery -upon the Pavement is a reddish sort of a Mar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>ble -Stone, brought, as the <em>Turks</em> and <em>Christians</em> -relate, from <em>Palestine</em>, on which they Fable, -that the blessed Virgin used to wash the linnen -of our Saviour.</p> - -<p>I observed but one step from the Body of -the Church to the <em>Bema</em> or place where the -Altar formerly stood.</p> - -<p>The great <em>Mosch</em> at <em>Chasim-bassa</em> on <em>Pera</em> -side to the West, was formerly a Church dedicated -to St <em>Theodosia</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Gianghir</em>, a Mosch so called, upon a hill at -<em>Fondaclee</em> near <em>Tophana</em>.</p> - -<p>In <em>Constantinople</em> there are several narrow -streets of Trade, closed up with sheds and -pent-houses, which I suppose were in use before -the <em>Greeks</em> lost their Empire, and are the -same with the σκεπαστοὶ καὶ φρακτοὶ δρόμοι in <em>Chrysaloras</em> -his<a name="FNanchor_13_13" id="FNanchor_13_13"></a><a href="#Footnote_13_13" class="fnanchor">[13]</a>Epistle. But besides -these places, several Trades have -their distant quarters. The -streets are raised for the most part on each -side for the greater convenience.</p> - -<p>Not far from <em>Suleimania</em> is the house of the -<em>Aga</em> or General of the <em>Janizaries</em>, which so -often changes its Masters.</p> - -<p><em>Pompey</em>'s pillar, as the <em>Franks</em> erroneously call -it, is of the <em>Corinthian</em> order, curiously wrought, -about eighteen foot in height and three in -Diameter.</p> - -<p><em>Beshiktash</em>, a Village within three or four -miles of <em>Constantinople</em> towards the <em>Bosphorus</em>, -where lies buried the famous Pirate <em>Ariadin</em>, -whom the <em>Christian</em> Writers call <em>Barbarossa</em>, -who built here a handsome Mosch, having -two rows of Pillars at the entrance. The -Captain <em>Bassa</em> usually, before he puts to Sea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span> -with his Armata of Gallies, visits the Tomb -of this fortunate Robber, who had made several -thousand <em>Christians</em> Slaves, and makes his -Prayers at the neighbouring Church for the -good Success of his expedition.</p> - -<p>They reckon in the City above a hundred -publick Baths, every street almost affording -one. They are esteemed works of great Piety -and Charity; there being a continual use of -them, not only upon the accompt of Religion, -but of Health and Cleanliness. For their Diet -being for the most part hot spiced meats in -the Winter, and crude fruits in the Summer, -their Liquor Fountain Water, or Coffee, to -which we may add their lazy kind of Life -(for walking is never used by them for digestion, -or otherwise in the way of diversion) frequent -bathing becomes necessary.</p> - -<p>There are several receptacles of Water under -Ground, and one particularly under the -Church of <em>Sancta Sophia</em>, as I was informed; -but I did not think it worth my curiosity to -descend into it. These were of great use to -the poor <em>Greeks</em> in the last fatal Siege; but the -<em>Turks</em> are so secure, that they do not think, -that they deserve either cost or pains to keep -the Waters sweet, or the cisterns in repair.</p> - -<p>The <em>Aqueducts</em>, which answer to those glorious -<em>Aqueducts</em>, near <em>Pyrgos</em>, and convey the -water to the great cistern near Sultan <em>Selim</em>'s -Mosch, are in that part of <em>Constantinople</em>, -which lies between the Mosch of <em>Mahomet</em> the -Great and <em>Shaxade</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Turks</em> began to besiege <em>Constantinople</em> -on the fifth of <em>April</em>, and took it the twenty -ninth of <em>May</em> on <em>Whitsun Tuesday</em> morning 1453. -or as the <em>Turks</em> reckon in the year 857. of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span> -<em>Hegira</em>, or flight of <em>Mahomet</em>, the 22 day of -the first <em>Jomad</em>.</p> - -<p>The Chappel, where <em>Ejub Sultan</em> is interred, -at whose Head and Feet I observed great wax -Candles, is enclosed with latten wire Grates, -for the better accommodation of such religious -<em>Turks</em> as come to pay their respect to the memory -of this great <em>Musulman</em> Saint. In the -middle of the Area there is raised a building -sustained by excellent marble Pillars, ascended -by two several pair of stairs, where the -new Emperor is inaugurated, and where he -usually goes in <em>Biram</em>-time.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_1_1" id="Footnote_1_1"></a><a href="#FNanchor_1_1"><span class="label">[1]</span></a> Κατὰ τὴν ἐπώνυμον ἡμῖν πόλιν. <em>So the Emperor</em> Constantine -<em>in a Letter to</em> Eusebius. de vita Constantini. -<em>lib.</em> 4. <em>cap.</em> 36. & apud Theodoritum Histor. Eccles. -<em>lib.</em> 1. <em>cap.</em> 16. <em>v.</em> etiam Socrat. Scholast. Hist. Eccles. -<em>lib.</em> 1. <em>cap.</em> 16.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_2_2" id="Footnote_2_2"></a><a href="#FNanchor_2_2"><span class="label">[2]</span></a> V. Socratem ibidem. Et Theophanem in Chronographia -XXV. anno Constantini.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_3_3" id="Footnote_3_3"></a><a href="#FNanchor_3_3"><span class="label">[3]</span></a> <em>The <strong>Italian</strong> Word <strong>Rione</strong> is a manifest corruption of -the <strong>Latin</strong> Word.</em></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_4_4" id="Footnote_4_4"></a><a href="#FNanchor_4_4"><span class="label">[4]</span></a> In Panegyrico, quem Romæ dixit Anthemio -Augusto, bis Consuli.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_5_5" id="Footnote_5_5"></a><a href="#FNanchor_5_5"><span class="label">[5]</span></a> <em><strong>Hæresi LXIX. quæ est Arianorum. Sect. 2.</strong> where -he says a sad dismal Fire was kindled by <strong>Arius</strong>; πῦρ ὀυ τὸ -τυχὸν ὃ κατείληφε πᾶσαν τὴν Ρωμανίαν σχεδὸν, μάλιστα τῆς -ἀνατολῖς τὰ μέρη, which seized almost upon all <strong>Romania</strong>, -or <strong>Universum Romanorum imperium</strong>, as <strong>Petavius</strong> -renders it, but especially the Eastern parts of it.</em></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_6_6" id="Footnote_6_6"></a><a href="#FNanchor_6_6"><span class="label">[6]</span></a> Pag. 144, 152, 153.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_7_7" id="Footnote_7_7"></a><a href="#FNanchor_7_7"><span class="label">[7]</span></a> Pag. 139.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_8_8" id="Footnote_8_8"></a><a href="#FNanchor_8_8"><span class="label">[8]</span></a> v. Gillium de Bosp. Thracio lib. <span class="smcap">III.</span> cap. 12. &c.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_9_9" id="Footnote_9_9"></a><a href="#FNanchor_9_9"><span class="label">[9]</span></a> Pag. 169. Num. 3.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_10_10" id="Footnote_10_10"></a><a href="#FNanchor_10_10"><span class="label">[10]</span></a> Pag. 121.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_11_11" id="Footnote_11_11"></a><a href="#FNanchor_11_11"><span class="label">[11]</span></a> Vid. Historiam Politicam Constantinopoleos apud -Crusium in Turco-Græcia, pag. 9.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_12_12" id="Footnote_12_12"></a><a href="#FNanchor_12_12"><span class="label">[12]</span></a> This was an old error; for thus writes Dionysius -Byzantinus in his little Book of the Bosphorus. Τοῦ -ῥεύματος τὸ μὲν πλεῖον κατιόντος ἐστὶ δὲ ὅτε κατ' -ἐπικράτειαν ἀναστρέφοντος.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_13_13" id="Footnote_13_13"></a><a href="#FNanchor_13_13"><span class="label">[13]</span></a> Pag. 119.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span></p></div></div> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>An account of the City of <strong>Prusa</strong> in -<strong>Bythynia</strong>, and a continuation of -the Historical Observations relating -to <strong>Constantinople</strong>, by the -Reverend and learned <strong>Thomas -Smith</strong> D. D. fellow of <strong>Magd. -Coll. Oxon.</strong> and of the <strong>Royal -Society</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p><em>Montanea</em> formerly called <em>Nicopolis</em> according -to <em>Bellonius</em>, or rather <em>Cios</em>, the -bay hence called <em>Sinus Cianus</em>, lies in the bottom -of a Bay about Fourscore miles from <em>Constantinople</em>, -and is the Scale or Landing-place -for <em>Prusa</em>, from which it may be about twelve -miles; in the middle way to which is the -Village <em>Moussanpoula</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Prusa</em>, now called by the <em>Turks</em> <em>Bursia</em>, the -chief City of <em>Bythynia</em>, is seated at the foot -partly, and partly upon the rising of the mount -<em>Olympus</em>, which is one of the highest Hills of -the lesser <em>Asia</em>. Its top is covered with Snow -for nine or ten Months of the Year, several -streams of Water flowing down the Hill continually, -accounted very unwholesom from -the Snow mixed with it. In the upper part -of the City to the North-west lies the Seraglio, -which is walled round; but the Emperors not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span> -residing here since their acquests in <em>Thrace</em>, -or scarce making visits to this Imperial City, -and none of their Sons living here of late, -according to the former Policy of the <em>Turkish</em> -Emperors, who did not permit their Sons, -when grown up, to be near them, but sent -them to some Honourable Employment, accompanied -with a Bassa and Cadi to instruct -them in the Arts of War and Government, -it lies now neglected and despoiled of all its -ornaments.</p> - -<p>In this part also are the Sepulchers of <em>Osman</em>, -the founder of the Family, which now -Reigns, and his Son <em>Urchan</em>, who took the -City, near a Mosch, formerly a <em>Christian</em> -Church dedicated to St. <em>John</em>, and where was -formerly a Convent of Religious, built by -<em>Constantinus Iconomachus</em>, where I saw the figure -of a Cross still remaining upon the Wall. -Here hangs up a Drum of a vast bigness, -such as they carry upon the backs of Cammels, -and I suppose is one of those which they used -in the taking the Place.</p> - -<p>In the lower part, near the bottom of the -Hill, <em>Morad</em> the second, the Father of <em>Mahomet</em> -the Great, lies buried: near whereunto -was formerly the Metropolitical Church of -the <em>Holy Apostles</em>. The <em>Bezesten</em>, or Exchange, -seems to be much better and larger than the -great one at <em>Constantinople</em>, as are the several -Caravanserais built for the use and accommodation -of Merchants, and Travellers; in one of -which, the Rice Chane, I took up my quarters.</p> - -<p>Without the City toward the East is the -Mosch and Sepulcher of the Emperor <em>Bajazid</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span> -the first, whom the <em>Turks</em> call <em>Jilderim</em> or lightning, -and the Greek Writers λαίλαψ. Not -far from hence is the Mosch of <em>Mahomet</em> -the first, and his Sepulcher. Toward the -West upon the side of the Hill is the Mosch -of <em>Morad</em> the First, whom they call <em>Gazi</em> or -the Conqueror, near which he lies buried. -There are in the whole about 124 Moschs, -several of which were formerly <em>Christian</em> -Churches, and between fifty and sixty Chanes. -The Castles built by <em>Osman</em>, when he besieged -the City, are slighted and altogether unfortified, -the one to the North, the other to the -South-West.</p> - -<p>At <em>Checkerghe</em>, about a mile and a half out -of Town, are the hot Baths, much frequented -both by <em>Christians</em> and <em>Turks</em>. They are made -very Convenient to Bath in, and are covered -over, that they may be used in all Weathers. -Among others, there is a large round <em>Basin</em>, -where they usually divert themselves by Swimming.</p> - -<p>What opinions the <em>Turks</em> have of our Blessed -<em>Saviour</em> and the <em>Christian</em> Religion, I shall -briefly shew, as they lie dispersed in several -Chapters of the <em>Alcoran</em>, according to which -they frame their Discourse, whensoever either -Zeal or Curiosity puts them upon this Topick. -For <em>Mahomet</em> upon his setting up to be the -Author of a new Religion, finding such a considerable -part of the World professing the -doctrine of <em>Christ</em>, with all the Mysteries of -Faith therein contained, was cast upon a necessity -of saying something both concerning -Him and It. By which it will appear, how -great the Power of Truth is above Imposture<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span> -and Subtility, and that as the Devils in the -Possessed confess'd, though against their Wills, -<em>Christ</em> to be the Son of <em>God</em>, so this <em>Dæmoniack</em> -in the midst of all his Forgeries and Lies, -and Ridiculous and Childish Narratives, not -being able to contradict the universal Belief -of the <em>Christians</em> of that, and the preceding -Ages, founded on the History of the Gospel, -hath been forced to give Testimony to -several particulars of it.</p> - -<p>They confess then that <em>Christ</em> was Born of -a Pure Spotless Virgin, the Virgin <em>Mary</em>, -chosen by <em>God</em> and sanctified above all the -Women in the World; and that the Angel -<em>Gabriel</em> was dispatched out of Heaven to acquaint -her with the News of it. That such -a kind of Miraculous and Supernatural Birth -never hapned to any besides, and that <em>Christ</em> -was conceived by the <em>Holy Ghost</em>, and that -he wrought mighty Miracles, for Instance, -that he cleansed Lepers, gave Sight to the -Blind, restored Sick Persons to their Health, -and raised the Dead.</p> - -<p>That he is a great Prophet, sent by <em>God</em> -to convert Men from the Vanity and Error -of their false Worship to the Knowledge of -the true <em>God</em>, to Preach Righteousness, and to -correct and restore the Imperfection and Miscarriages -of Humane Nature; that he was of -a most Holy and Exemplary Life, that he -was the true Word of <em>God</em>, the <em>Apostle</em> or -<em>Ambassador</em> of <em>God</em>; That his Gospel was revealed -to him from Heaven, and that he is -in Heaven standing nigh to the Throne of -<em>God</em>. They Blaspheme indeed with a Brutishness -and Stupidity only befitting <em>Turks</em>, the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span> -Mysteries of the <em>Holy Trinity</em>, and of the Divinity -of our <em>Blessed Saviour</em>, and deny that -he was put to Death, and say that another -in his Shape was Crucified by the <em>Jews</em>, and -that he himself was assumed into Heaven in -his Body without dying at all, and consequently -they will not own, that he satisfied Divine -Justice for the Sins of the World; so -great an affinity is there between the Heresie -of <em>Socinus</em> and profess'd <em>Mahometanism</em>.</p> - -<p>I could never yet see any <em>Turkish</em> Translation -of the <em>Alcoran</em>; they cry up the Elegance -of the Style, which being Enthusiastick -and High-flown, by reason also of the tinkling -of the Periods, is very delightful to their -Ears, who seem to be affected with Rhime -mightily. Though I suppose it is upon a more -Politick Account, that they are so averse, as to -the translating it into their vulgar Language, -not out of respect to the Sacredness of the -Original only, whose full commanding Expressions -they think cannot be translated -without a great diminution to the Sense; but -to keep it in greater Veneration among the -People, who might be apt to Slight and Dis-esteem -it, should it become thus common among -them. It is enough, that the Priests -and Learned Men explain the difficult Passages -of it to the People, and write Commentaries -for the use of the more Curious -and Inquisitive. The <em>Persians</em> on the contrary -think it no disparagement to the <em>Arabick</em>, -or Profanation of the Sense, to Translate -this cursed Book into their own Language, -and Copies are frequent among them.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span></p> - -<p>The <em>Grand Signior</em>'s Women are usually the -choicest Beauties of the Christian Spoils, presented -by the <em>Bassa's</em> or <em>Tartars</em>. The present -<em>Sultana</em>, the Mother of the young Prince -<em>Mustapha</em>, is a Candiot; the <em>Valide</em> or Emperor's -Mother, a <em>Russian</em>, the Daughter of -a poor Priest, who with her Relations were -seized upon by the <em>Tartars</em> in an Incursion, -which they made into the <em>Muscovites</em> Country. -She being receiv'd into the <em>Seraglio</em>, by -her beautiful Complexion and cunning Behaviour, -gain'd the Heart and Affection of -<em>Sultan Ibrahim</em> (a Man wholly addicted to -soft Pleasures, and who seldom cared to be long -absent from the Women's Apartment, but chose -to spend his time among them) having the -good fortune to be the Mother of the Prince -<em>Mahomet</em>, the eldest Son of his Father, who -now Reigns, she had all the Honours that -could possibly be done her, and was the beloved -<em>Hazaki</em> or chief Concubine. During -this height of Splendor and Glory, the Court -removing from <em>Constantinople</em> to <em>Adrianople</em>, -distant about an Hundred and Twenty Miles, -as she was passing in great State attended -with her Guards, through the Streets of the -City, in a Coach, much like our Carriage-Wagons, -but that they are latticed to let in -the Air (for no one must presume to stare -or scarce look upon the Women, much less -must they themselves suffer their Faces to be -seen in this jealous Country) she out of Curiosity -looking through the holes, saw a poor -<em>Christian</em> Slave in a Shop, where Sugar and -such like Wares were Sold. Upon her return -she sent one of her Eunuchs to enquire for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span> -the Person, and to ask him several Questions -about his Country, Relations, Friends, -and the time when and how long he had been -a Slave: His answers were so particular and -satisfactory, that she was soon convinc'd of -the Truth and Certainty of her apprehensions, -when she first cast her Eyes upon him, that -he was her Brother, and accordingly it proved -so. Whereupon acquainting the Emperor -with it, she immediately redeemed him -from his Patron, and having made the poor -Wretch turn <em>Turk</em>, got him considerably preferred.</p> - -<p>The Bassa's for the most part are the Sons -of <em>Christians</em>, taken into the <em>Seraglio</em>, near -the Emperor's Person, and so are prefer'd to -considerable Governments, or else they raise -themselves by their Conduct and Valour. <em>Mahomet</em> -Bassa in the time of <em>Achmet</em>, whose -eldest Daughter he Married, was the first -natural <em>Turk</em>, that was made chief Vizir, having -before been Captain Bassa. The chief -Vizir <em>Mahomet Kupriuli</em>, (who settled the -Empire in the Minority of this Emperor, -when it was ready to be shaken into Pieces, -and dissolved by several powerful Factions -in the State, and by the Mutinies and Discontents -of the <em>Janizaries</em> and <em>Saphi's</em>, who -drove different ways) was an <em>Albaneze</em> by -Birth, the Son of a <em>Greek</em> Priest, whom out -of the height of Zeal for <em>Mahomet</em>, he made -turn <em>Turk</em> in his Old Age, and converted the -<em>Christian</em> Church in the Village where he was -Born into a Mosch. This Man also forbad -the <em>Dervises</em> to Dance in a Ring and turn -round, which before was their solemn Pra<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>ctice -at set times before the People, which -they would do so long, till they were giddy -by this swift circular Motion, and fell down -in a Swound, and then oftentimes upon their -recovery from such Trances, they pretended -to Revelation. The Church-Men are not -very kind to his Memory, looking upon him -as a Man of little or no Religion; and they -give out, that if he had lived, he would -have forbid their calling to Prayers from the -Spires of their Moschs, and hanging out -Lamps; both which they look upon as Solemn -and Essential to the exercise of Religion; -but he as the effect of Bigotry and -Superstition.</p> - -<p>They have a mighty Honour and Esteem -for Physicians, for though they are of Opinion, -that they cannot with all their Art -prolong Life, the Period and Term of it being -Fatal, and absolutely determin'd by God, -yet they often consult them upon any violent -Sickness or Pain, in order to make the -time allotted them in this World more pleasant -and easie. It is extraordinary rare, -that a natural <em>Turk</em> makes Physick his Profession -and Study. They who practice it among -them, when I was in <em>Turky</em>, were for -the most part <em>Greeks</em> and <em>Jews</em>, who know nothing -of Chymical Medicines, but follow the -usual Methods, which they learnt in <em>Italy</em> -and <em>Spain</em>, the former having studied in <em>Padua</em>, -and the latter in <em>Salamanca</em>, where they -pass for good <em>Catholicks</em>. And I remember I -met with a certain <em>Jew</em> Physician, who had -been a Capuchine in <em>Portugal</em>. During the tedious -Siege of <em>Candia</em>, the <em>Vizir</em>, what with the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span> -melancholy, and what with the ill Air of the -Camp, finding himself much indispos'd, sent -for a <em>Christian</em> Physician <em>Signior Massalins</em>, a -subject of the Republick of <em>Venice</em>, but Married -to a <em>Greek</em> Woman, by whom he had several -Children, who was our Neighbour at -<em>Pera</em>, an experienc'd able Man, to come speedily -to him, and made him a Present of about a -thousand Dollars, in order to fit himself for -the Voyage and bear the expence of it. By -this worthy Gentleman's Care, he recovered -his Health, and would not permit him to depart, -till after the surrendry of that City, -which might be about seven Months after his -Arrival there, treating him in the mean -while with all imaginable Respect. During -our short stay at <em>Bursia</em>, one of our <em>Janizaries</em> -accidentally discoursing with a <em>Turk</em> about us, -whom they knew to be <em>Franks</em>, told him that -there was a Physician in the Company, who -had been lately at the Grand <em>Signior</em>'s Court -at <em>Saloniki</em> with the <em>English</em> Ambassador, and -was now upon his return from <em>Constantinople</em> -to <em>Smyrna</em>, where he lived. This presently -took vent, and the <em>Turks</em> thought that they -had got a Man among them, that could Cure -all Diseases Infallibly; for several immediately -came to find us out in behalf of themselves -or their Sick Friends, and one of the -most considerable Men upon the Place, desir'd -the Doctor to go to his House to visit -one of his Women Sick in Bed, who being -permitted to feel her naked Pulse (for usually -they throw a piece of fine Silk or Curl -over their Womens Wrists at such times) soon -discovered by that and other Symptoms and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span> -Indications of her Distemper, that opening a -Vein would presently give her Ease and recover -her: which he did accordingly; for -which he received an embroidered Handkerchief -instead of a Fee, and gained the Reputation -of having done a mighty Cure.</p> - -<p>They have little of Ingenious or Solid -Learning among them; their chief Study, -next to the <em>Alcoran</em>, being metaphysical Niceties -about the Attributes of <em>God</em>, or else the -Maintenance of other odd speculative Notions -and Tenets, derived down to them -from some of their famed Masters and Holy -Men, whom they pretend to follow. Their -Knowledge of the motion of the Heavens, -for which the <em>Arabians</em> and the other Eastern -Nations have been so deservedly famous, -as their Astronomical Tables of the Longitude -and Latitude of the fixed Stars, and -of the appulse of the Moon to them, fully -evince, is now very mean, and is chiefly studied -for the use of Judiciary Astrology. The -great Instrument they make use of is an -Astrolabe, with which they make very imperfect -Observations, having no such thing -as a Quadrant or Sextant, much less a Telescope, -or any mechanical Engine, to direct -and assist them in their Calculation. Their -Skill in <em>Geography</em> is as inconsiderable; I remember -I heard the Captain Bassa, whom -they stile Admiral of the Black and White -Seas, meaning the <em>Euxine</em> and the <em>Mediterranean</em>, -ask this silly Question; whether <em>England</em> -were out of the Streights? and at another -time the <em>Caymican</em> or Governour of <em>Constantinople</em>, -hearing that <em>England</em> was an Island,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span> -desired to know, how many Miles it was about, -in order, we supposed, to make an estimate -of our King's Greatness and Strength -by the extent and compass of it.</p> - -<p>One of the great Astrologers of <em>Constantinople</em>, -having heard that I had a pair of Globes -in my Chamber, made me a Visit on purpose -to see their contrivance, being introduced -by a worthy Gentleman of our own Nation. -After the first Ceremonies were over, I took -my Terrestrial Globe, and rectified it to the -position of the Place, and pointed to the several -Circles both without and upon it, and -told him in short the several uses of them: -Then shewed him how <em>Constantinople</em> bared -from <em>Candia</em> at that time Besieged, <em>Cair</em>, <em>Aleppo</em>, -<em>Mecca</em>, and other chief Places of the Empire, -with the other Parts of the World: At -which he was mightily surprized to see the -whole Earth and Sea represented in that Figure -and in so narrow a compass, and pleased -himself with turning the Globe round several -times together. Afterwards I set before him -the Celestial Globe, and rectified that, and -shewed him how all the noted Constellations -were exactly described, and how they moved -regularly upon their Poles, as in the Heavens; -some rising, and others setting, some -always above the Horison, and others always -under, in an oblique Sphere, and particularly -what Stars would rise that Night with -us at such an Hour; the Man seemed to be -ravished with the Curiosity of it, turning this -Globe also several times together with his -Finger, and taking a mighty Pleasure in viewing -the motion of it: and yet this silly Animal<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span> -past for a Conjurer among the <em>Turks</em>, and -was look'd upon as one that could foretel -the events of Battels, the fates of Empires, -and the end of the World.</p> - -<p>They have no Genius for Sea-Voyages, -and consequently are very Raw and Unexperienc'd -in the Art of Navigation, scarce venturing -to Sail out of Sight of Land. I speak -of the natural <em>Turks</em>, who Trade either into -the <em>Black Sea</em>, or some part of the <em>Morea</em>, -or between <em>Constantinople</em> and <em>Alexandria</em>; and -not of the Pyrats of <em>Barbary</em>, who are for the -most part Renegado's, and learn'd their Skill -in Christendom, which they exercise so much -to the Terror and Damage of it. A <em>Turkish</em> -Compass consists but of eight Points, the -four Cardinal and four Collateral; they being -at a mighty Loss how to Sail by a side -Wind, when by hauling their Sails sharp, they -might lie their Course, and much more, when -they are in the Winds Eye, not knowing how to -make Tacks and Bords, but choose rather to -make hast into some Neighbouring Port, 'till the -Wind blows fair. An <em>English</em> and <em>Turkish</em> Vessel -both bound for the Bay of <em>Saloniki</em>, at the -time of the Grand Signior's being there, past -together out of the <em>Hellespont</em>; but foul Weather -happening, the <em>Turks</em> got into <em>Lemnos</em>; -while our Men kept at Sea and pursued their -Voyage, and after three Weeks stay, returned -back to us, observing in their way, -that the <em>Turks</em> remained in the same place -where they left them, for want of a Fore-Wind -to put to Sea in.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span></p> - -<p>They trouble not themselves with reading -the Histories of other Nations or of antient -times, much less with the Study of -<em>Chronology</em>, without which, History is very -lame and imperfect; which is the cause of -those ridiculous and childish Mistakes, which -pass current and uncontradicted among them. -For instance, they make <em>Job</em> one of <em>Solomon</em>'s -Judges and (<em>Iscander</em>) <em>Alexander</em> the great -Captain General of his Army. They number -<em>Philip</em> of <em>Macedon</em> among the Ancestors -of our <em>Blessed Saviour</em>, and believe that <em>Sampson</em>, -<em>Jonas</em>, and St. <em>George</em> were his Contemporaries. -In this they are more excusable then -their false Prophet <em>Mahomet</em>, who in his <em>Alcoran</em> -has perverted several Historical Notices -in the Writings of the Old Testament, -and is guilty of vile and absurd Pseudo-chronismes. -To remedy this defect, of which he -was very conscious, and the better to understand -the States of <em>Christendom</em>, and the particular -Kingdoms and Republicks of it, the -late Great and Wise <em>Vizir</em>, <em>Achmet</em>, made his -Interpreter <em>Panagiotti</em>, a Learned <em>Greek</em>, at -leisure Hours, even at the Siege of <em>Candia</em>, -as well as at other times, read several ancient -Histories to him, and render them <em>Ex-tempore</em> -into the <em>Turkish</em> Language, and particularly -<em>Blaeus Atlas</em>, with which he was mightily -pleased, and made great use of, and -truly gained the Reputation of a solid and -judicious States-man, as well as Souldier among -the <em>Christian</em> Ministers, who in the ordinary -course of their Negotiations apply'd -themselves to him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span></p> - -<p>Tho' their Year be according to the course -of the Moon, and so the <em>Turkish</em> Months run -round the civil Year in a Circle of thirty -three Years and a few odd Days, yet they -celebrate the <em>Neuruz</em>, which signifies in the -<em>Persian</em> Tongue the New Year, the twenty -first Day of <em>March</em> (on which Day the vernal -Equinox was fixed by the <em>Greeks</em> and other Oriental -<em>Christians</em>, in the time of the Emperor <em>Constantine</em>, -who made no Provision for the προήγεσις -ἰσημερινὴ, or Precession, which in process -of Time the inequality between the Civil and -Astronomical Year must necessarily produce) -at which time the <em>Cadyes</em> and other annual -Magistrates, and Farmers of the Customs -take Place, and reckon to that Day twelve -Month again.</p> - -<p>In their civil Deportment and Behaviour -one towards another, the left Hand is the -more Worthy and Honourable Place, except -among their Ecclesiasticks; and the Reason -they alledge is, because they Write from the -right Hand, and the Sword is worn on the -left Side, and so is more at his disposal, who -walks on that Hand. The chief <em>Vizir</em> accordingly -in the <em>Divan</em> sits at the left Hand -of the <em>Mufty</em>, each maintaining their Right -of Precedence according to this way of decision.</p> - -<p>In their Moschs they sit without any distinction -of degrees.</p> - -<p>Some of the more zealous <em>Turks</em> cause to -be engraven on their Scymitars and Bucklers -a Sentence out of the sixty first <em>Surat</em>, which -is concerning Fighting or Battle-array, and -contains Incouragements to Fight in the <em>Way<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span> -and Paths of God</em>, as the Impostor Words it; -for which he assures them, besides assistance -from Heaven to help them to get the Victory -over their Enemies, and that <em>God will Pardon -their Sins and bring them to Paradice</em>. Thus -spirited with Zeal, a <em>Turk</em> lays about him with -Fury, when he is a fighting, and seems ambitious -of dying to gain the delights of Paradice, -at least indifferent whether he dies or -lives.</p> - -<p>The <em>Turks</em> are as to their Temper serious, -or rather inclining to morosity, seldom Laughing, -which is accounted an argument of great -Vanity and Lightness. They perform the -Exercises, which they use in the way of Diversion, -as Shooting and Hunting, with a -great deal of gravity, as if they designed -them more for Health than for Pleasure; and -this too but seldom. The better and richer -sort, who have nothing to do, sitting all Day -at Home, lolling upon a Sofa or rais'd Place -in their Rooms, and taking Tobacco, which -their Slaves fill and light for them: And if -they retire in the Summer or Autumn, for a -Week or Fort-night to some convenient -Fountain in a Wood with their Women, it -is chiefly to enjoy the Refreshments of the -cool Air. In the times of Triumph indeed -for some great Success obtained against the -<em>Christians</em>, when the Shops are open for three -Nights together, and hung with Lights, as -well as the Spires of the Moschs in curious -Figures, they are guilty of extravagant -Mirth, running up and down the Streets in -Companies, and sometimes Singing and Dancing -after their rude way; but this fit being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span> -over, they soon return to their former Melancholy. -In the Coffee-Houses where they -use to resort to Tipple, there is usually one -hired by the Owners to read either an idle -Book of Tales, which they admire as Wit, -or filthy obscene Stories, with which they -seem wonderfully affected and pleased, few -of them being able to Read. These are the -Schools, which they frequent for their Information, -tho' in times of War, when things -went ill with them, their Discourses would -be of the ill Government; and the Grand -Signior himself and his chief Ministers could -not escape their Censures, which manifestly -tending to Sedition, and to the heightning -of their Discontents by their mutual Complaints, -and by this free venting of their -Grievances during the War at <em>Candia</em>, the -Wise Vizir seeing the evil Consequences that -would follow, if such Meetings and Discourses -were any longer tolerated, Commanded, -that all the publick Coffee-houses should be -shut up in <em>Constantinople</em> and several other great -Cities of the Empire, where the Malcontents -used to rendezvouz themselves, and -find fault upon every ill Success and Miscarriage -with the administration of Affairs.</p> - -<p>The custom of the <em>Turks</em> to salute the Emperor -or the <em>Vizir Bassa</em>'s with loud Acclamations -and Wishes of Health and long Life, -when they appear first in their Houses or any -publick Place, is derived from the <em>Greeks</em>, who -took it from the <em>Romans</em>. This was done by -them in a kind of Singing Tone; whence -<em>Luitprandus</em> Bishop of <em>Cremona</em> tells us, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span> -in a certain Procession (προέλυσις) at which he -was present, they Sang to the Emperor <em>Nicephorus</em> -πολλὰ ἔτη that is, many Years, (which -<em>Codinus</em>, who lived just about the taking of -<em>Constantinople</em>, by the <em>Turks</em>, expresses τὸ ψάλλειν -τὸ πολυχρόνιον or by τὸ πολυχρονίζειν and the -wish or salute by πολυχρόνισμα) and at Dinner -the <em>Greeks</em> then present wish'd with a loud -Voice to the Emperor and <em>Bardas</em>, <em>Ut Deus -annos multiplicet</em>, as he Translates the <em>Greek</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Turkish</em> Coin in it self is pitiful and inconsiderable, -which I ascribe not only to their -want of Bullion, but to their little Skill in -matters relating to the Mint. Hence it comes to -pass that Zecchines and Hungars for Gold, and -<em>Spanish</em> Dollars and Zalotts for Silver stampt -in <em>Christendom</em> pass current among them, most -of the great Payments being made in them, -they not caring either through Ignorance or -Sloth to follow the Example of the <em>Indian</em> or -<em>Persian</em> Emperors, who usually melt down the -<em>Christian</em> Mony imported by the Merchants -into their several Countries, and give it a -new Stamp. The most usual pieces are the -Sheriphi of Gold, somewhat less in value -than a <em>Venetian</em> Zecchine, and Aspers; ten of -which are equal to six Pence <em>English</em>, and some -few three Asper Pieces. A Mangur is an ugly -old Copper Piece, eight of which make -but one Asper, and is not I think a <em>Turkish</em> -Coin, but rather <em>Greek</em>. They have no Arms -upon their Coin, only Letters embossed on -both sides, containing the Emperor's Name, -or some short Sentence out of the <em>Alcoran</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Turks</em> look upon Earthquakes as Ominous, -as the vulgar do upon Eclipses, not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span> -understanding the Philosophy of them. During -my stay in <em>Constantinople</em>, which was above -2 Years, there hapned but one, which was -<em>October 26. 1669.</em> about six a Clock in the -Morning a stark Calm preceeding. It lasted -very near a Minute, and we at <em>Pera</em> and -<em>Galata</em> were as sensible of it, as those who -were on the other side of the Water; but -praised be God nothing fell, and we were -soon rid of the Fears in which this frightful -Accident had cast us, being in our Beds, and -not able by reason of the Surprize in so little -a space to have past through a Gallery down -a pair of Stairs into the Court, if we had attempted -it. The <em>Turks</em> made direful Reflexions -on it, as if some Calamity would inevitably -fall upon the Empire, quickly forgetting -the great Triumphings and Rejoycings -which they exprest but a few Days before for -the Surrendry of <em>Candia</em>. In the Year 1668. -in <em>August</em>, the Earth shook more or less for -forty-seven Days together in the lesser <em>Asia</em> -at <em>Anguri</em> (<em>Ancyra</em>), and for fifteen at <em>Bacbasar</em>, -as we heard from a <em>Scotch</em> Merchant, -who liv'd there: And particularly, that at -this latter Place on the second of <em>August</em>, between -three and four of the Clock in the Afternoon -it lasted for a quarter of an Hour; -several Houses were overthrown, and some -hundreds of Chimneys fell (it being a very -populous Town) and yet there were but seven -kill'd. The trembling being so violent, -both <em>Turks</em> and <em>Christians</em> forsook their Houses, -and betook themselves to the Fields, -Vineyards, and Gardens, where they made -their Abode for several Days.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span></p> - -<p>Their Punishments are very severe, this -being judg'd the most effectual way to prevent -all publick Disorders and Mischiefs. -They use no great Formality in their -Processes: If the Criminal be taken in the -Fact, and the Witnesses ready and present -to attest it, and sometimes if there be but -probable circumstances, without full Conviction, -condemn him; and soon after Sentence, -sometimes an Hour, or less, hurry him away -to Execution. For an ordinary Crime, hanging -is the usual Death: But for Robbery and -Murder, committed upon the High Way by -such as Rob in Parties and alarm whole Provinces, -or for Sacriledge, or for any hainous -Crime against the Government, either -Gaunching or Excoriation, or cutting off the -Legs and Arms, and leaving the Trunk of -the Body in the High Way, or Empaling, -that is, thrusting an Iron Stake through the -Body out under the Neck or at the Mouth; -in which extreme Torment the miserable -Wretch may live two or three Days, if the -Guts or the Heart happen not to be wounded -by the pointed Spike in its Passage. This -Punishment seems to have been in use among -the <em>Romans</em>, <em>Seneca</em>'s Epist. 14. <em>Cogita hoc loco -carcerem, & cruces, & eculeos, & uncum, & -adactum per medium hominem, qui per os emergat, -stipitem</em>: and so in his Book <em>De Consolatione -ad Marciam cap.</em> 20. <em>Ali capite conversos in terram -suspendere: Alii per obscena stipitem egerunt: -Alii brachia patibulo explicuerunt.</em> Murder is -seldom Pardon'd, and especially if the Relations -of the Murder'd Person demand Justice.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Circumcision, tho' it be a Sacred -Right, is perform'd in their private Houses, -and never in the Moschs.</p> - -<p>The Women colour their Eye-Brows and -Lids with an ugly black Powder, I suppose, -to set off their Beauty by such a Shadow; -and their Nails with the Powder of <em>Kanna</em>, -which gives them a Tincture of faint Red, -like Brick (as they do the Tails and Hoofs -of Horses) which they look upon as a great -Ornament. Their great diversion is Bathing; -sometimes thrice, if not four times a Week. -They do not permit them to go to Church in -time of Prayer, for fear they should spoil -their Devotion: The <em>Turks</em> being of so brutish -a Temper, that their Lust is rais'd upon -the sight of a fair Object. They are call'd -oftentimes by the Names of Flowers and -Fruits, and sometimes Phantastick Names are -given them, such as <em>Sucar Birpara</em>, or bit of -Sugar, <em>Dil Ferib</em>, or Ravisher of Hearts, and -the like.</p> - -<p>Their Skill in Agriculture is very mean. -In their Gardens they have several little -Trenches to convey Water, where it may be -most necessary for their Plants and Flowers. -They know little or nothing of manuring -their Grounds: Sometimes they burn their -Fields and Vineyards after Harvest and Vintage, -partly to destroy the Vermin, and partly -to enrich the Soil. They tread out their -Corn with Oxen, drawing a square Plank -Board, about a Foot and a half or two Foot -over, studded with Flints, and winnow it -upon their threshing Floors in the open Air, -the Wind blowing away the Chaff. They<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span> -feed their Horses with Barly and chopt -Straw; for I do not remember ever to have -seen any Oats among them; and they make -but little Hay.</p> - -<p>For Draught of great Weight in their -Carts they make use of Buffalo's.</p> - -<p>Camels will endure Travel four Days together -without Water, and will eat tops of -Thistles, Shrubs, or any kind of Boughs: -They are very sure-footed, and kneel when -they are a loading, and live to a considerable -number of Years, some even to sixty.</p> - -<p>The chief Furniture of their Houses are Carpets -or Mats of <em>Grand Cairo</em>, neatly wrought -with Straw, spread upon the Ground; they -having no occasion of Chairs, Couches, Stools, -or Tables; their postures within Doors, being -different from ours. They have no -Hangings, but their Walls are whited and -set off with Painting, only adorn'd with a -kind of Porcelane; no Beds clos'd with -Curtains.</p> - -<p>They seal not with Wax, but Ink, at the bottom -of the Paper the Emperor's Name being usually -written with Flourishes and in perplext -Characters: Nor have they any Coats of Arms -upon their Seals, there being no such thing as -Gentility among them.</p> - -<p>Some of them, notwithstanding their Zeal -for <em>Mahomet</em> and the Religion by him establish'd, -retain not only a favourable and honourable -Opinion of our Blessed <em>Saviour</em>, but -even place some kind of Confidence in the -usage of his Name, or of the Words of the -Gospel, tho' it may seem to be wholly in the -way of Superstition. Thus in their Amu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>lets, -which they call <em>Chaimaili</em>, being little -bits of Paper of two or three Fingers breadth, -roul'd up in pieces of Silk, containing several -short Prayers or Sentences out of the <em>Alcoran</em>, -with several Circles with other Figures, -they usually inscribe the Holy and Venerable -Name of <em>JESUS</em>, or the Figure of the -Cross, or the first Words of St. <em>John</em>'s Gospel, -and the like; they hang them about their -Necks, or place them under their Arm-pits, or -in their Bosom near their Hearts (being the -same with what the <em>Greeks</em> call ἐγκόλπια) and -especially when they go to War, as a preservative -against the Dangers of it; and indeed against -any misfortune whatsoever. Some have -them sow'd within their Caps: And I heard -of a <em>Turk</em>, who was so superstitious herein, -that he always pluck'd it off, and was uncover'd -when he had occasion to make Water. -Some are such Bigots in their Religion, and -so furious against the Christians, that not -only do they treat them with all imaginable -Scorn and Contempt, but take it ill to be salam'd -or saluted by them, as if it were the -effect of Sawciness or unbecoming Familiarity. -Their Malice against the Christians -makes them envy the rich Furs they line -their Vests with, and it is a trouble to these -hypocritical Zealots to see the <em>Franks</em> ride upon -their fine <em>Arabian</em> Horses.</p> - -<p>The respect which they shew the <em>Alcoran</em> is -wonderful: They dare not open the Leaves -of it with unwashen Hands, according to the -Advice or Command written in <em>Arabick</em> upon -the Cover, <em>Let no one touch this Book, but -he that is clean</em>. They kiss it, and bend their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span> -Heads and touch their Eyes with it, both -when they open it and shut it.</p> - -<p>The <em>Janizaries</em>, when they attend upon -<em>Christian Ambassadors</em> to their Audience, seem -to appear in their Bravery, and in a Habit -far from that of a Soldier, being without -either Fire-Arms or Swords, (which latter -are not worn but in time of Service), or when -they are upon a March, or embodied, wearing -a Cap made of Camel's Hair, with a -broad Flap dangling behind, a gilt embroider'd -Wreath running round it, and an -oblong piece of Brass rising up from the -middle of their Forehead near a Foot, with -a great Club in their Hand, like inferior Officers -of the Civil Government. But when they -are in the Camp, they throw off their upper -Vest, and Turbants, which they wear at all -other usual times, as troublesome, and put -on a <em>Fess</em>, or red Cap, which sits close to -their Head, and tuck up their <em>Duliman</em> or -long Coat, to their Girdle, that they may -be the more quick and expedite in their -Charge.</p> - -<p>They affect finery and neatness in their -Cloths and Shashes; not so much as a spot -to be seen upon them, and in rainy or suspicious -Weather, are very careful how they go -abroad without their <em>Yamurlicks</em>, which is a -kind of Coat they throw over their Heads at -such times.</p> - -<p>Their Pans and Dishes are for the most -part of Copper, but so handsomly Tinn'd over, -that they look like Silver.</p> - -<p>There are thousands of Gypsies or <em>Zinganies</em> -in <em>Turky</em>, who live the same idle nasty<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span> -kind of Life, as they do in <em>Christendom</em>, and -pretend to the same Art of telling Fortunes; -and are look'd upon as the Off-scouring of -Mankind. It is accounted the extremest -point of human Misery to be a Slave to any -of this sort of Cattel.</p> - -<p>The <em>Haggi</em>, or Pilgrims, that have been at -<em>Mecca</em> and <em>Medina</em>, forbear to drink Wine -most Religiously, out of a perswasion, that -one drop would efface all the Merits of that -troublesome and expensive Journey; and some -have been possess'd with such a mad Zeal, -that they have blinded themselves after their -having been bless'd with the sight of <em>Mahomet</em>'s -Sepulcher.</p> - -<p>After <em>Jatzih</em>, that is, an Hour and a half -in the Night, throughout the whole Year, -there is as great a silence in the Streets as at -Midnight: The Emperor <em>Achmet</em> in the Year -1611. having made an Order, that no one -should presume to be out of his House after -that time; which is to this Day most punctually -observed. The <em>Bostangi bashi</em>, who has -the Command of all the <em>Agiamoglans</em> in the -<em>Seraglio</em>, the <em>Topgibashi</em> or such great Officers -attended with a great Train of armed Men, -walking the Rounds, and drubbing such as -they find abroad at unseasonable Hours of -what Nation or Quality soever, except Physicians, -Chyrurgeons, and Apothecaries, whom -they allow at all times to visit the Sick.</p> - -<p>The <em>Turkmans</em>, (for so they are peculiarly -called, as if they were the true Descendents -of the <em>Old Turks</em> or <em>Scythians</em>, whose -wandering kind of Life is described by the -Poet;</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="wandering kind of Life"> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="br">Ἁμαξόβιοι </td> - <td><em>Nulla domus, plaustris habitant, migrare per arva</em></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><em>Mos, atq; errantes circumvectare penates.</em>)</td> - </tr> -</table></div> - -<p>have no fixt Residence any where, but Travel -with their Families and Cattle from -Place to Place, carrying their Wives and -Children upon Camels; they pitch their -Tents usually near Rivers and Fountains, for -the convenience of Water, and according as -their necessities require, make a longer or a -shorter stay. Their whole Estate consists in -their numerous Flocks and Herds, which -they sell upon occasion to supply themselves -with what they want, at the Towns they -pass by. Their only concern is how to enjoy -the Benefits and Blessings of Nature, without -the troubles and turmoils and disquiets -of Life; being contented and happy in one -another's Company, void of all Ambition and -Envy, Courteous and Humane to Strangers, -that may want their Help and Assistance, -kindly entertaining them with such Provision -as their Folds afford. I have met with some -Companies of these harmless Wanderers in -my Travels. The Country lies open without -any Inclosures, and the Propriety not being -vested in any one, they Travel thro' the -Plains unmolested, and find excellent Pasturage -every where. The <em>Turks</em> Till no more Ground -than will serve their necessities: Being supplied -with Corn from <em>Ægypt</em>, and from <em>Moldavia</em> -and <em>Walachia</em>, by the way of the <em>Black -Sea</em>, letting vast Tracts of Ground lie wast<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span> -and uncultivated; so that their Sloth herein -sometimes is justly punished with Dearths.</p> - -<p>They have nothing to shew for their Houses -and Possession, but an <em>Hogiet</em> or piece of -Paper subscribed by the <em>Cadi</em>, if they have -acquired them by their Mony, or that they -were their Fathers before them.</p> - -<p>The <em>Dervises</em> generally are Melancholy, -and place the greatest part of their Religion -in Abstinence and other Severities. Some -cut their Flesh, others vow not to speak for -six or seven Years, or all their Lives long, -tho' never so much provoked or distressed. -Their Garments are made of a course sort of -Wool or Goat's Hair: They are tied up by -the Vow of their Order ever from Marrying. -Several of this Sect in the heighth of their -Religious Phrenzy have attempted upon the -Lives of the Emperors themselves, (at whose -Government they have taken disgust) as -<em>Mahomet</em> the second, and <em>Achmet</em>, as if such -desperate Attempts were fatal to Bigots in all -Religions.</p> - -<p>They pay a mighty Veneration to any Relique -of <em>Mahomet</em>, his Banner is still preserved -in the Treasury of the <em>Seraglio</em>, and is -look'd upon as the great Security of the -Empire. They believe that it was sent from -Heaven, and conveyed into the Hands of -<em>Mahomet</em>, by the Angel <em>Gabriel</em>, as a Pledge -and Sign of Success and Victory in his Battels -against the <em>Christians</em>, and all other Enemies -of the <em>Musulman</em>-Faith. It was sent to -<em>Candia</em> to encourage the Soldiers to endure -the fatigue of that long and tedious Siege; -and when it was brought thence after the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span> -Surrendry of that City, to be deposited in -its usual Place, the <em>Vizir</em> gave several <em>Christian</em> -Slaves, that row'd in the Galley that -was fraught with this Holy Ware, their Liberty. -They pretend to have some Rags of -<em>Mahomet</em>'s Vest, to which they ascribe great -Virtue. In confidence of which, the Emperor -<em>Achmet</em>, in the time of a great Fire -which raged at <em>Constantinople</em>, when all other -means fail'd, dipt part of them in Water to -be sprinkled upon the Fire to rebate the Fury -of it.</p> - -<p>Next to the <em>Mufti</em> or <em>Cadaleskires</em> are the -<em>Mollas</em>, of which these four are the chiefest -in Dignity. The Molla of <em>Galata</em>, <em>Adrianople</em>, -<em>Aleppo</em>, <em>Prusa</em>; and after them are reckoned -these eight, <em>Stambol Ephendi</em>, <em>Larissa</em>, <em>Misir</em> -or <em>Cairo</em>, <em>Sham</em> or <em>Damascus</em>, <em>Diarbekir</em> or -<em>Mesopotamia</em>, <em>Cutaia</em>, <em>Sophia</em>, <em>Philippi</em>.</p> - -<p>The Priests have no Habit peculiar to their -Profession, whereby they are distinguish'd -from others. If they are put from their -Moschs for miscarriage or neglect of doing -their Duty, or if they think fit to resign and -be Priests no longer, they may betake themselves -without any Scandal to secular Employments, -their former Character and Quality -wholly ceasing. While they remain -Priests, they counterfeit a more than ordinary -Gravity in their Discourse and Walking: -and affect to wear Turbants swelling -out, and made up with more cross folds: -which was all the difference which I could observe -by their Head Attire, which is various, -tho' I could not find that this was constantly -and strictly observed.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span></p> - -<p>In <em>Byram</em> time, which is the great Festival -of the Year, at which time every one -looks cheerfully and merrily, among other -signs of mutual Respect, they besprinkle one -another with sweet Water. They indulge to -several Sports: and some are mightily pleased -with swinging in the open Air, the ordinary -sort of People especially, paying only a -few Aspers for the diversion.</p> - -<p>The Government is perfectly Arbitrary -and Despotical; the Will and Pleasure of the -Emperor having the force and power of a -Law, and oftentimes is above it. His bare -Command without any process is enough to -take off the Head of any Person, (tho' never -so Eminent in Dignity, tho' usually for -formality and to silence the Murmurings of -the Soldiery and People, the Sentence is confirm'd -by the <em>Mufti</em>) sometimes <em>Bassa</em>'s who -have amassed great Treasures in their Governments, -are cut off in their own Houses -in the midst of their Retinue, the Messengers -of Death producing the Imperial Command, -usually sent in a black Purse, and not -a Sword drawn in their Defence. Others, -if they are obnoxious to the least Umbrage -or Jealousie, tho' dismist the <em>Seraglio</em> with all -possible demonstrations of the Grand <em>Signior</em>'s -Favour, and with Rich Presents in order to -take possession of Places of great Command -in the Empire, before they have got two or -three Days Journey from <em>Constantinople</em>, have -been overtaken and strangled. In the Army -Commands are given according to Merit, -Courage and Conduct are sure to be rewarded, -the way lying open to the meanest Sol<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>dier -to raise himself to be the chief of his -Order. But other Preferments depend upon -meer Chance, and upon the fansie of the -Emperor, whether the Person be fit or no, -and they are as soon lost. The least ill Success -or Miscarriage proves oftentimes fatal, -and a more lucky Man is put in his Place, -and he succeeded by a third, if unfortunate -in a Design, tho' managed with never so -much Prudence and Valour. They admit of -no hereditary Honours, and have no respect -to Descent or Blood, except the <em>Ottoman</em> -Family: He only is Great and Noble, whom -the Emperor favours, and while his Command -lasts. According to a tradition, that -passes current among them, a Bassa's Son by -a <em>Sultana</em> or a Daughter or Sister of the Emperor -can rise no higher than to be a <em>Sangiac-bei</em> -or Governor of some little Province, much -inferior to a Bassa and under his Jurisdiction. -Being born of Slaves for the most part, they -do not pride themselves in their Birth, very -few among them being scarce able to give any -account of their Grandfathers. They have no -Sirnames, but are distinguish'd by their Possessions -and places of Abode, and enjoying -by Law a Liberty of having what Women -they please, they have little or no regard to -Alliance or Kindred.</p> - -<p>Their Empire owes the continuance of its -being to the severity of the Government, -which oftentimes takes place without regard -either to Justice or Equity, and to their frequent -Wars, which prevent all occasions of -Mutiny and Faction among the Soldiers, -which happen frequently when unimploy'd.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span> -So that tho' Ambition may put a warlike -Sultan upon enlarging his Territories by -new Conquests, yet reason of State forces a -weak and effeminate Prince, such as was <em>Ibrahim</em>, -to make War for his own Security. -Their Politicks are not owing to Books and -Study and the Examples of past times, but -to Experience and the plain Suggestions of -Nature and common Sense: They have Rules -of Government, which they firmly adhere -to, holding the Reins strait, especially being -cruel and inexorable to Criminals of -State, who never are to expect any Mercy or -Pity. Their Councils formerly were open, -and their Designs known, and proclaimed -before Hand, as if this had been a Bravery -becoming their Greatness, and that they -scorned to steal a Conquest. But they have -learned since the Art of dissimulation, and -can Lie and Swear for their Interest, and seem -excessive in their Caresses to the Ministers of -those Countries, which they intend to Invade. -But their preparations for Arming -are made with so much Noise, that an ordinary -Jealousie is soon awakened by it to oppose -them, in case of an Attack. They seldom -or never care to have War at both Extremes -of the Empire at the same time, and -therefore they are mighty sollicitous to secure -a Peace with <em>Christendom</em>, when they intend -a War upon the <em>Persians</em>: And as much as is -possible, they avoid quarrelling with two Christian -Princes at once, being usually at League -either with <em>Poland</em> and <em>Muscovy</em>, when they -War upon <em>Hungary</em>, and so on the contrary; -dreading nothing more than an Union of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span> -<em>Christian</em> Princes, bordering upon them, which -would prove so fatal to their Empire, and -quickly put a Period to their Greatness. For -hereby they would be put upon a necessity of -making a defensive War to their great Loss -and Disadvantage, and at last either be forced -to beg a Peace of the <em>Christians</em>, or run -the hazard of losing all, by a further Prosecution -of War.</p> - -<p>This they are very sensible of, and therefore -as they take all occasion to promote -Quarrels and Dissentions in <em>Hungary</em> and -<em>Transylvania</em>, so they greatly rejoyce, when -the Princes of <em>Christendom</em> are at War one -with another. This is their great time of -Advantage, and they know that it is their -true Interest to pursue it, tho' they do not -always, by reason of the ill condition of -their own Affairs, make use of it. During -the Civil Wars of <em>Germany</em>, the Bassa's and -other Commanders of the Army were very -importunate with the grand Signior, to make -a War on that side, and to enlarge his Conquests -as far as <em>Vienna</em>, no conjuncture having -been ever so favourable to consummate -such a Design, in which <em>Solyman</em> so unhappily -miscarried. They promised him an easie -Victory, assuring him that the Animosities -of the Princes of the Empire were so heightned, -that there was no room left for a Reconciliation, -that he was but to go in the -Head of an Army to take Possession, and that -<em>Austria</em> would Surrender at the first News of -his March towards it. The Emperor was -not to be moved at that time by these Insinuations -and plausible Discourses; being con<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>tinually -urged, He as often denied. One -day when they came to Renew their advice -about the <em>German</em> War, He having given order -before, that several Dogs should be kept -for some Days without Meat, commanded -that they should be brought out, being almost -Starved, and Meat thrown among them, -whereupon they snarled and bit one another: -In the midst of their Noise and Fighting, -he caused a Bear to be let loose in the same -Area; the Dogs forgetting their Meat, and -leaving off their fighting, ran all upon the -Bear, ready to Prey upon them singly, and at -last killed him. This Diversion the Emperor -gave his Bassa's, and left them to make the -application.</p> - -<p>A certain Prophecy of no small Authority -runs in the Minds of all the People, and has -gain'd great Credit and Belief among them, -that their Empire shall be ruined by a Northern -Nation, which has white and yellowish -Hair. The Interpretation is as various as -their Fansie. Some fix this Character on the -<em>Muscovites</em>: And the poor <em>Greeks</em> flatter -themselves with foolish Hopes, that they are -to be their Deliverers, and to rescue them -from their Slavery, chiefly because they are -of their Communion, and owe their Conversion -to the <em>Christian</em> Faith to the Piety and -Zeal of the <em>Grecian</em> Bishops formerly. Others -look upon the <em>Swedes</em>, as the Persons describ'd -in the Prophecy, whom they are most to fear. -The Ground and Original of this fancy I -suppose is owing to the great Opinion, which -they have of the Valour and Courage of that -Warlike Nation. The great Victories of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span> -<em>Swedes</em> in <em>Germany</em> under <em>Gustavus Adolphus</em> -were loudly proclaimed at <em>Constantinople</em>, as if -there were no withstanding the shock and fury -of their Arms: And their continued Successes -confirmed the <em>Turks</em> in their first belief, -and their Fears and their Jealousies were augmented -afterwards, when <em>Charles Gustave</em>, a -Prince of as heroick a Courage, and as great -Abilities in the Art and Management of War -as the justly admired <em>Gustavus</em>, entred <em>Poland</em> -with his Army, and carried all before him, -seized upon <em>Warsaw</em> and drove <em>Casimire</em> out of -his Kingdom, and had almost made an entire -and absolute Conquest, only a few Places -holding out. This alarmed the Grand Signior -and the Bassa's of the <em>Port</em>, as if the Prophecy -were then about to be fulfilled, who did not -care for the Company of such troublesome -Neighbours, who might push on their Victories, -and joyning with the <em>Cossacks</em>, advance -their Arms further, and make their Country -the seat of a War, which might draw after it -fatal Consequences. To prevent which, Couriers -are dispatch'd from <em>Constantinople</em> to <em>Ragotski</em>, -Prince of <em>Transylvania</em>, then in concert -with the <em>Sweeds</em>, to Command him to retire -with his Army out of <em>Poland</em>, as he valued the -Peace and Safety of his own Country, and the -Friendship of the Grand Signior, whose Tributary -he was, and by whose Favour he had -gain'd that Principality: And the <em>Crim-Tartars</em>, -the Sworn Enemies of the <em>Poles</em>, who at -that time lay heavy upon them, were wrought -upon by the same Motives and Reasons of -State, to clap up a Peace with them, that being -freed from these Distractions, they might<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span> -unite their Forces the better together, and -make Head against the <em>Sweeds</em>.</p> - -<p>The Ambassadors of <em>Christian</em> Princes, when -they are admitted by the Grand Signior to an -Audience, (their Presents being then of course -made, which are look'd upon as due, not to -say, as an Homage) are dismiss'd in few Words, -and referred by him to his <em>Wakil</em> or Deputy, -as he usually stiles the chief <em>Vizir</em>: And a small -number of their Retinue only permitted the -Honour of kissing his Vest, and then rudely -enough sent away.</p> - -<p>The Grand Signiors keep up the State of -the old <em>Asiatick</em> Princes: They do not expose -themselves often to the View of the People, -unless when they ride in Triumph, or upon -some such solemn Occasion; when they go to -the Moschs, or divert themselves in the Fields, -either in Riding or Hunting, they do not love -to be stared upon, or approached. It is highly -Criminal to pry into their Sports, such an -Insolent Curiosity being often punished with -Death. The Story is Famous of <em>Morad</em> -the Third, who baiting a Bear in the old Palace -with a Mastiff, and espying three Fellows -upon the Tower of <em>Bajazid's</em> Mosch, -who had planted themselves to see the Sport, -commanded their Heads to be struck off immediately, -and be brought before him, which -was done accordingly. Instances of such -Capricio's are frequent in the <em>Turkish</em> History; -this following happened during my stay -at <em>Constantinople</em>.</p> - -<p>Upon the return of Vizir <em>Achmet</em> from <em>Candia</em>, -after the Surrendry of that City, and a -happy end put by him to that tedious and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span> -bloody War, he acquainting the present Emperor, -then at <em>Adrianople</em>, with the History of -that famous Siege at large, made such terrible -Representations of their and the <em>Venetians</em> -Mining and Countermining one another, -that the Emperor was resolved out of Curiosity -to see the Experiment made of a thing, that -seemed to him almost Incredible. A Work was -soon raised and undermined, and above 30 -Murderers and Robbers upon the High-Way -and such like Villains were put into it, as it -were to defend it. The Grand Signior stood -upon an Eminence at some considerable distance, -expecting the issue of it; upon a Signal -given, the Mine was sprung, and the Fort -demolished, and the poor Wretches torn piece-meal -to his great Satisfaction and Amazement.</p> - -<p>The Moon is the auspicious Planet of the -<em>Turks</em>: According to the course of which they -celebrate their Festivals. They begin their -Months from the first appearance of it, at -which time they choose, except a delay brings -a great Prejudice and Inconvenience with it, -to begin their great Actions. The Crescent -is the Ensign of the Empire, which they Paint -in Banners, and place upon the Spires of their -Moschs. Next to the Day of the appearing -Moon, they pitch upon <em>Friday</em>, to fight upon, -to begin a journey, and especially their Pilgrimage -toward <em>Mecca</em>, or do any thing of -great Consequence, as very lucky and fortunate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2>A Relation of a Voyage from <em>Aleppo</em> -to <em>Palmyra</em> in <em>Syria</em>; -sent by the Reverend Mr. <em>William -Hallifax</em> to Dr. <em>Edward -Bernard</em> (late) <em>Savilian</em> Professor -of Astronomy in <em>Oxford</em>, -and by him communicated to -Dr. <em>Thomas Smith. Reg. Soc. S.</em></h2> - - -<p class="center"><em>D. Thomæ Smitho Edoardus Bernardus, S.</em> -</p> - -<p><em>Quanquam Epistolas tuas, O cor & medulla -amicitiæ nostræ, & alia munera grato animo -in finum hunc recipere soleo; eas tamen <strong>Notitias</strong>, -quas tuo dono hodie accepi, tanquam germana -& famæ nunquam marcescentis pignora, -multo chariores habeo, &, dum vivam, reverenter -adservabo. Sic enim Asianarum Ecclesiarum -Pleiada e tenebris denuo excitas: sic antiquissimorum -Episcoporum sedes instauras, ut candelabrum -ἑπτάλοφον cum magno Theologo & Apocalypta iterum -ardens ac fulgens videre mihi videor. Præterea, -in descriptione urbis Constantini Silentiarios, -Codinos, Gyllios, cæteros exsuperas. Fruere diu -superstes hac laude, quam suam esse maluit Sponius, -& præter morem ingenuum aut fas sibi abripere.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>Gaudeo tamen mihi jam novum adesse munus, -quod tecum queam impertire volente spero, & -læto. Id est Epigrapharum Sylloge, quas a columnis -<strong>Palmyrenis</strong> Charissimus amicus, <strong>Gulielmus -Hallifaxius</strong> pulchro studio descripsit. Utinam -<strong>Syriaca</strong> plura ipse addisset sub Græcis, & -Epocham <strong>Palmyrenam</strong> a <strong>Seleuco</strong> victore, non ab -<strong>Alexandri</strong> magni obitu incepisset. Historiæ vero -<strong>Augustæ</strong> scriptores qui teruntur, & <strong>Herodianus</strong> -Grammaticus plerasque Inscriptionum istarum -multum illustrant. Verum isthæc vix sunt nostri -otii. Attamen si hæc commiseris <strong>Philosophicarum -Transactionum</strong>, ut nunc loquuntur, conditoribus -haud injucundum πρόπομα fuerit, donec -vir illustris & adprime doctus <strong>D. Cuperus</strong> uberiora -forte ediderit de urbe <strong>Solomonis</strong> ejusque -reliquiis. Vale vir venerabilis.</em></p> - -<p> -Oxoniæ <em>Nonis</em> Octobribus<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><em>A. D.</em> CIↃIↃCXCV.</span><br /> -</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p> -<em>Reverend Sir</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Tadmor</em> -Castle.</div> - -<div class="sidenote">The Valley -of Salt.</div> - -<p>Having promised you an Account of my -Voyage to <em>Tadmor</em>, I cannot now Excuse -my self from being as good as my Word, -whatever Censure I may incur of having -misspent my Mony and Time in search of -such unprofitable Curiosities; or what I more -fear, of having made such poor Improvements, -of which a Man of larger Reading -and Understanding, might have afforded -much greater Information. We departed <em>Aleppo</em> -on <em>Michaelmas-day</em>, 1691. and in six easie -Days Travel over a Desart Country, came<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span> -to <em>Tadmor</em>; Journying almost continually to -the South, with very little variation to the -Eastward. As we rode into the Town, we -took notice of a Castle about half an -Hours distance from it, and so situated -as to Command both the Pass -into the Hills, by which we entred, and the -City too. But we could easily perceive it -was no Old Building, retaining no Footsteps -of the exquisite Workmanship and Ingenuity -of the Ancients. Upon Enquiry we -were informed, that it was built by <em>Man-Ogle</em>, -a Prince of the <em>Druces</em>, in the Reign of -<em>Amurath</em> the Third, <em>Anno D. N.</em> 1585. But I -know not how to give much Credit to this -Story, because I find not that either <em>Man-Ogle</em>, -or any <em>Drucian</em> Prince, was ever Powerful -in these Parts, their strength lying on -Mount <em>Libanus</em>, and along the Coast of <em>Sydon</em>, -<em>Berytus</em>, <em>&c.</em> 'Tis a Work of more Labour -than Art, and the very Situation alone -is enough to render it almost Impregnable; -standing on the top of a very high Hill, enclosed -with a deep Ditch, cut out of the very -Rock, over which there was only one sole -Passage by a Draw-Bridge: This Bridge too -is now broken down; so that there is no Entrance -remaining, unless you will be at the -Pains to clamber up the Rock, which is in -one place feasible, but withal so difficult -hazardous, that a small slip may endanger -ones Life. Nor is there any thing within -to be seen sufficient to recompence -your Trouble of getting up to it, the Building -being confused, and the Rooms very ill -contrived. Upon the top of the Hill there<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span> -is a Well of a prodigious depth, as certainly -it must be a great way to come at Water -from the top of such a Rock, the Ditch that -surrounds it, not having the least appearance -of moisture therein; which made it -therefore seem more strange that a Wild Boar -should rush out thence among our Horses, -when we rode up to take a more particular -View of the Place. This Castle stands on -the North side of the Town, and from hence -you have the best Prospect of the Country all -about. You see <em>Tadmor</em> under you inclosed -on three sides with long Ridges of Mountains, -which open towards the East gradually to -the distance of about an Hours Riding; but -to the South stretches a vast Plain beyond -the reach of the Eye. In this Plain you see -a large Valley of Salt affording -great quantities thereof, and lying -near about an Hours distance from -the City. And this more probably is the -Valley of Salt, mentioned 2 <em>Sam.</em> 8. 13. where -<em>David</em> smote the <em>Syrians</em>, and slew 18000 -Men, than another which lies but four Hours -from <em>Aleppo</em>, and has sometimes past for it. -The Air is good, but the Soil exceeding barren, -nothing green to be seen therein, save -some few Palm-Trees in the Gardens, and -here and there about the Town. And from -these Trees I conceive is obtained its Name, -both in Hebrew (<em>Tadmor</em>) which signifies a -Palm-Tree, and in Latin (<em>Palmira</em>;) and -the whole Country is thence denominated -<em>Syria Palmirena</em>; and sometimes <em>Solitudines -Palmirenæ</em>: So that the Latins did not change -but only Translate the old Name, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span> -therefore still obtains in these Eastern Parts, -and the more Modern is wholly unknown.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Tadmor.</em></div> - -<p>The City it self appears to have -been of a large Extent, by the space -now taken up by the Ruins; but -there are no Footsteps of any Walls remaining, -nor is it possible to judge of the ancient -Figure of the Place. The present Inhabitants, -as they are a Poor, Miserable, dirty -People, so they have shut themselves up, to -the Number of about Thirty or Forty Families, -in little Huts made of Dirt, within -the Walls of a spacious Court, which enclosed -a most Magnificent Heathen Temple. -Hereinto also we entred, the whole Power -of the Village, if I may so call it, being gathered -together at the Door, whether to -stand upon their Defence, in case we proved -Enemies, (for some of them had their -Guns in their Hands) or out of meer Curiosity -to gaze upon us, I know not. However our -Guide, who was an <em>Arab</em>, whom <em>Assyne</em><a name="FNanchor_14_14" id="FNanchor_14_14"></a><a href="#Footnote_14_14" class="fnanchor">[14]</a> -their present King had sent to Conduct us -through the whole Voyage, being a Man -known among them, we had an easie Admittance, -and with a great many Welcomes -in their Language were led to the <em>Sheck</em>'s -House, with whom we were to make our Abode. -And to mention here what the Place -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span>at first View represents. Certainly the World it -self cannot afford the like mixture of Remains -of the greatest State and Magnificence, together -with the Extremity of Filth and Poverty. -The nearest Parallel I can think of, -is that of the Temple of <em>Baal</em>, destroyed by -<em>Jehu</em>, and converted into a Draught-House, -2 <em>Kings</em> 10. 27. And if, what is not improbable, -this very Place was a Temple of <em>Jupiter -Belus</em>, the Similitude will run upon all Four.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The Temple.</div> - -<p>Being thus lodged within the -Place, I shall begin with a Description -thereof, and proceed to -what I observed remarkable without. -The whole inclosed Space is a Square -of 200 Yard each side, encompass'd with a -high and stately Wall, built of large square -Stone, and adorned with Pilasters within -and without, to the number, (as near as we -could compute by what is standing of the -Wall, which is much the greater part) of 62 -on a side. And had not the Barbarity of the -<em>Turks</em>, Enemies to every thing that is splendid -and noble, out of a vain Superstition, purposely -beat down those beautiful Cornishes -both here and in other Places, we had seen -the most curious and exquisite Carvings in -Stone which perhaps the World could ever -boast of; as here and there a small Remainder, -which has escap'd their Fury, does abundantly -evidence. The West side, wherein -is the Entrance, is most of it broken down, -and near the middle of the Square, another -higher Wall erected out of the Ruins; which -shews to have been a Castle, strong but rude; -the old Stones and many Pillars broken or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span> -sawn asunder, being rolled into the Fabrick, -and ill cemented. Within were to be seen -the Foundations of another Wall, which -probably might answer this Front, and that -the <em>Mamalukes</em>, whose Workmanship it seems -most likely to have been, built the Castle here -for the Security of the Place. Before the -whole length of this new Front, except a -narrow Passage which is left for an Entrance, -is cut a deep Ditch, the ascent whereof on -the inner side is fac'd with Stone to the very -Foot of the Wall, which must have render'd -it very difficult to have assaulted it. The -Passage to, and the Door it self is very narrow, -not wider than to receive a loaded Camel, -or that two Foot-men may well walk -abreast. And as soon as you are within the -first Door, you make a short turn to the Right, -and pass on to another of the like bigness, -which leads into the Court. But all this is -but a new Building upon an old, and by this -outward Wall is quite shrouded that Magnificent -Entrance, which belonged to the first -Fabrick; of the stateliness whereof we were -enabled to judge by the two Stones which -supported the sides of the great Gate, each -of which is 35 Foot in length, and artificially -carved with Vines and clusters of Grapes, -exceeding bold and to the Life. They are -both standing, and in their Places, and the -distance between them, which gives us the -wideness of the Gate 15 Foot. But all this -is now walled up to the narrow Door before -mentioned. Over the little Door there is an -Inscription in <em>Greek</em>, and also another in another -Language and Character, which I never<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span> -saw till in <em>Tadmor</em>, nor understand what to -make of it. From that in <em>Greek</em> we hoped -for some Information; but it will be evident -to any one that reads it, that the Stone -was brought from another Place and casually -put in there. 'Tis thus:</p> - -<p>ΤΟ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΤΟΥ ΤΑΦΕΩΝΟΣ ΕΚΤΙΣΕΝ -ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΣ ΟΔΑΙΝΑΘΟΣ Ο -ΛΑΜΠΡΟΤΑΤΟΣ ΣΥΝΚΛΗΤ[ΙΚΟΣ] ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ -ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΝΑΣΩΡΟΥΑΥ ΤΩΤΕ ΚΑΙ -ΥΙΟΙΣ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΥΙΩΝΟΙΣ ΕΙΣ ΤΟ ΠΑΝΤΕΛΕΣ -ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΝ.</p> - -<p>Under this was the unknown Characters, which -I shall here give you a Specimen of, it being as -well as it could be taken, thus. <em>Vide Figuram.</em></p> - -<p>The Letters between these [] Marks -were not Legible, but I have ventured to -supply the defect, as also you will see in some -others following. Neither was the Ε in -ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ upon the Stone, but was -doubtless omitted by mistake; and the Inscription -is nothing else but the Inscription of -a Sepulchre, the like to which we saw several, -as I shall have occasion to mention some -of them hereafter. And as for the other -Character, it being added almost under every -<em>Greek</em> Inscription we saw, and rarely found -alone, I am apt to believe it the Native Language -and Character of the Place, and the -Matter it contains nothing else but what we -have in the <em>Greek</em>.</p> - -<p>As soon as you are entred within the Court, -you see the Remainders of two Rows of very -Noble Marble Pillars 37 Foot high, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span> -their Capitals of most exquisite Carved -Work; as also must have been the Cornishes -between them, before by Rude and Superstitious -Hands they were broken down. Of -these there are now no more than 58 remaining -entire; but there must have been a great -many more, for they appear to have gone -quite round the whole Court, and to have -supported a most spacious double Piazza or -Cloyster. Of this Piazza the Walks on the -West side, which is opposed to the Front of -the Temple, seem to have exceeded the other -in Beauty and Spaciousness; and at each -end thereof are two Niches for Statues at -their full length, with their Pedestals, Borders, -Supporters, and Canopies, carved with -the greatest Artifice and Curiosity. The -Space within this once Beautiful Enclosure, -which is now filled with nothing but the -dirty Huts of the Inhabitants, I conceive to -have been an open Court, in the midst whereof -stands the Temple, encompass'd with another -row of Pillars of a different Order, and -much higher than the former, being above -50 Foot high. Of these remain now but 16, -but there must have been about double that -Number, which whether they enclosed an -inner Court, or supported the Roof of a -Cloyster, there being nothing now of a Roof -remaining, is uncertain. Only one great -Stone lies down, which seems to have reach'd -from these Pillars to the Walls of the Temple. -The whole Space contained within these -Pillars we found to be 59 Yards in Length, -and in Breadth near 28. In the midst of -which Space is the Temple, extending in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span> -Length more than 33 Yards, and in Breadth -13 or 14. It points North and South, having -a most Magnificent Entrance on the -West, exactly in the middle of the Building, -which by the small Remains yet to be seen, -seems to have been one of the most glorious -Structures in the World. I never saw Vines -and clusters of Grapes cut in Stone, so Bold, -so Lively, and so Natural, in any Place: -And we had doubtless seen things abundantly -more curious, if they had not been -maliciously broken to pieces. Just over the -Door we could make a shift to discern part -of the Wings of a large Spread-Eagle, extending -the whole wideness thereof. The -largeness whereof led me at first to imagine it -might have been rather a Cherub over-shadowing -the Entrance, there being nothing of -the Body remaining to guide ones Judgment, -and some little Angels or <em>Cupids</em> appear still -in the corners of the same Stone. But afterwards -seeing other Eagles upon Stones -that were fallen down, I conclude this must -have been one likewise, only of a much larger -size. Of this Temple there is nothing -at present but the outward Walls standing, -in which it is observable, that as the Windows -were not large, so they were made -narrower towards the top, than they were -below; but all adorned with excellent Carvings. -Within the Walls, the <em>Turks</em>, or -more probably the <em>Mamalukes</em>, have built a -Roof, which is supported by small Pillars and -Arches; but a great deal lower, as well as -in all other respects disproportionate and inferior -to what the Ancient Covering must<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span> -have been. And they have converted the -place into a Mosque, having added to the -South End thereof new Ornaments after -their manner, with <em>Arabick</em> Inscriptions and -Sentences out of the <em>Alcoran</em>, wrote in Flourishes -and Wreaths, not without Art. But -at the North End of the Building, which is -shut out of the Mosque, are Relicks of much -greater Artifice and Beauty. Whether they -were in the Nature of Canopies over some -Altars placed there, or to what other use -they served, I am not able to conjecture. -They are beautified with the most curious -Fretwork and Carvings; in the midst of -which is a Dome or Cupola, above six Foot -Diameter, which we found above to be of one -piece; whether hewn out of a Rock entire, -or made of some Artificial Cement or Composition, -by Time hardened into a Lapideous -Substance, seems doubtful; though I am rather -inclined to believe the latter. It is in -fine, a most exquisite Piece of Workmanship, -and on which I could have bestowed more -time to view it, than what was allowed us, -hastening to other Sights.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>A Mosch.</em></div> - -<p>Having taken this Survey of the Temple, we -went Abroad, where our Eyes were presently -accosted with an amazing sight of a multitude -of Marble Pillars, standing scattered up and -down, for the space of near a Mile of Ground, -this way and that, but so disposed as to afford -no solid Foundation to judge, what sort of -Structures they formerly framed. I pass by -the Ruins of a Mosch, which directing -our Course Northward, was -the first thing occurr'd to our View,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span> -after we came out of the Court of the Temple, -which though of a more Artificial Frame -and Composure than many I have seen, yet -is not worthy to stop us in the way to things -both of greater Antiquity, and every way -more noble and worthy our Consideration. -Having therefore past this, you have the Prospect -of such Magnificent Ruins, that if it be -lawful to frame a Conjecture of the Original -Beauty of the Place, by what is still remaining, -I question somewhat whether any City -in the World could have challenged Precedence -of this in its Glory. But it being impossible -as they now stand to reduce them to -any regular Method, I must be forced to give -you a rude Account of them as they came in -sight; and which will fall much short of the -Greatness and Stateliness which they shew -to the Eye.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">An Obelisk.</div> - -<p>Advancing then towards the -North, you have before you a very -tall and stately Obelisk or Pillar, -consisting of seven large Stones, besides -its Capital and a wreath'd Work above -it; the Carvings here, as in all other Places, -being extraordinary fine. The height of it -is above 50 Foot, and upon it I conceive may -have stood a Statue, which the <em>Turks</em>, zealous -Enemies of all Imagery, have thrown -down, and broken in pieces. 'Tis in compass, -just above the Pedestal, 12 Foot and a -half. On each Hand of this, towards the -East and West, you see two other large Pillars, -each a quarter of a Mile distant from -you, which seem to have some Correspondence -one to the other. And there is a piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span> -of another standing near that of the East, -which would incline one to think there was -once a continued row of them. The height -of this to the East I took with my Quadrant, -and conclude to be more than 42 Foot -high, and the Circumference proportionable. -Upon the Body thereof is the following Inscription.</p> - -<p>Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΛΛΙΛΑΜΕΝΑ ΠΑΝΟΥ -ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΘΘΑ ΚΑΙ -ΑΙΡΑΝΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΠΑΤΕΡΑ ΑΥΤΟΥ ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΣ -ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΑΣ Κ(ΑΙ) ΠΑΝΤΙ ΤΡΟΠΩ -(ΕΥ)ΣΕΙΜΩΣ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑΣ ΤΗ ΠΑΤΡΙΔΙ ΚΑΙ -ΠΑΤΡΙΟΙΣ ΘΕΟΙΣ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Ν -Υ Λ ΜΗΝΟΣ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΟΥ.</p> - -<p>I perswade my self it would be but lost -Labour to spend time in making Reflections -upon this or the following Inscriptions; as -for the Knowledge they may exhibit to the -World, your own Conjectures will more -happily lead you unto it, than any thing I -am like to suggest. It seems however pretty -evident they were a Free State, governed by -a Senate and People, though perhaps under -the Protection of great Empires, the <em>Parthians</em>, -it is probable, first, and afterward the -<em>Romans</em>, who for a long time contended for -the Mastery here in the East. And this Government -might continue among them till about -the time of <em>Aurelian</em>, who demolished -the Place, and led <em>Zenobia</em>, Wife of <em>Odenatus</em>, -Captive to <em>Rome</em>: Who, though she be -called Queen, yet I find not that ever her -Husband had the Title of King; but was on<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>ly -one of the Chief Inhabitants, a Leading -Man in the Senate (as 'tis probable this <em>Alilamanes</em> -and <em>Airanes</em> were before him) who -while the <em>Romans</em> were busied in <em>Europe</em>, made -himself great here, and by his own Force repelled -the <em>Parthians</em>; who having Master'd -whatever was held by the <em>Romans</em> on the other -side of <em>Euphrates</em>, made an Incursion into -<em>Syria</em>, but were by <em>Odenatus</em> driven back -beyond the River. In the course of these -Wars <em>Odenatus</em> was slain, but his Wife <em>Zenobia</em>, -being a Woman of a Masculine Spirit, not -only kept her Ground against her Enemies -Abroad, but maintained her Authority at -Home, keeping the Government in her Hands. -Afterwards out of a desire to cast off the <em>Roman</em> -Yoke, she caused the whole Garrison, -which was left there by <em>Aurelian</em>, to be barbarously -cut off: Which bringing <em>Aurelian</em> -back with his Army, he quickly took the City, -and destroyed it, putting the Inhabitants -to the Sword, and carrying <em>Zenobia</em> Captive -to <em>Rome</em>; which was the Fatal Period of the -Glory of the Place. This Custom of theirs -of running up their Genealogies or Pedigrees -to the fourth or fifth Generation, shews them -to have borrowed some of their Fashions -from their Neighbours the <em>Jews</em>, with whom -it is not unlikely they had of old great Commerce; -and perhaps many of them were descended -from that People, <em>Zenobia</em> her self -being said to have been a <em>Jewess</em>; Or else -this must have been the manner of all the -Eastern Nations. Their <em>Æra</em> or Account of -Time they begin from the Death of <em>Alexander</em> -the Great, as the <em>Syrians</em> generally do;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span> -the very Christians at this Day following the -same usage. Yet though they mark the Date -of the Year by <em>Greek</em> Letters, you may observe -they place them a different way from -the <em>Greeks</em>, setting the lesser Number first, -as if they were to be read backward, from the -right Hand to the left; as Ν Υ here, denoting -450. The third Letter Λ, I take to -stand for the Day of the Month, <em>viz.</em> -the last of <em>Xandicus</em>, which is with us <em>April</em>; -this and other names of Months, which are -found in other Inscriptions, being borrowed -from the <em>Macedonians</em> with very little variation. -That they were Idolaters, is plain by -the mention of their Country Gods, both -here and in other Places: So that their Commerce -with the <em>Jews</em>, did not, it seems, bring -them to the Knowledge of the true God, or -else they must have degenerated therefrom, -and relapsed into Idolatry. The other Pillar -towards the West in Height and Circumference -answers this, and has upon the side the -following Inscription engraved.</p> - -<p>Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΒΑΡΕΙΧΕΙΝ -ΑΜΡΙΣΑΜΣΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΕΟΥΣ -ΚΑΙ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΝ ΥΙΟΝ ΑΥΤΟΥ -ΕΥΣΕΒΕΙΣ ΚΑΙ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΔΑΣ -ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ.</p> - -<p>The Date of this is not legible, neither -does one know what Judgment to make of -the thing it self. That such a Pillar should -be erected only to support the Inscription,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span> -and convey these Mens Names to After-Ages, -without particularizing what they did -to deserve that Honour, is something strange: -unless we may suppose it was a prevailing -Vanity in these Eastern Countries thus to endeavour -to Eternize their Fame. An Instance -whereof we have in Scripture, in <em>Absalom</em>'s -setting him up a Pillar, 2 <em>Kings</em> 18. 18. -and perhaps before him, in <em>Saul</em>, 1 <em>Sam.</em> 15. -12. Otherwise it may appear no improbable -Conjecture, that the Pillar was erected long -before upon some other Occasion, and afterwards -made use of to this end: And I look -upon it as past all doubt that several other -Inscriptions which we saw, were much more -Modern than the Pillars, on which they were -engraved.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The Piazza.</div> - -<p>Proceeding forward, directly from -the Obelisk, about 100 Paces, you -come to a Magnificent Entrance, -vastly large and lofty, and for the -exquisiteness of the Workmanship not inferior -to any thing before described. I wish I -could add, that it had not suffered the same -Fate as the rest, and then we might have seen -a rare Piece of the Ancient Beauty of the -Place. This Entrance leads you into a Noble -Piazza of more than half a Mile long, -938 Yards according to our Measuring, and -40 Foot in breadth, enclosed with two rows -of stately Marble Pillars, 26 Foot high, and -8 or 9 about. Of these remain standing and -entire 129, but by a moderate Calculate -there could not have been less at first than -560. Covering there is none remaining, nor -any Pavement at the bottom, unless it be bu<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>ried -under the Rubbish. But upon almost all -the Pillars we found Inscriptions, both in -<em>Greek</em> and the Language unknown, of which -we had time to take but very few, and those -not very Instructive. But such as they are -I'll present you them here, without observing -any other Order, but as they happened to be -transcribed.</p> - -<p>ΙΟΥΛΙΟΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΝ ΖΕΒΕΙΔΑΝ -ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΖΕΒΕΙΔΟΥ .......: -ΑΣΘΩΡΟΒΑΙΔΑΟΙ ΣΥΝ Α(Υ)ΤΩ -ΚΑΤΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ ΕΙΣ ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ -ΕΝΠΟΡΟΙΑΝ ΕΣΤΗΣΑΝ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑ -ΑΥΤΟΙΣ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ -ΤΟΥ ΗΝΦ ΕΤΟΥΣ....</p> - -<p>I give you, Sir, these Inscriptions, as those -before, just as I found them, without any -Amendments, so much as of litteral Faults, -only where a Letter, or piece of a Word -was not legible, if I could make a probable -Conjecture what it should be, I have ventured -to add it. The last seems to have been put -up in Memory of an Embassy, performed by -those Men that are named therein, for settling -a Commerce and Traffick, which was -to their Satisfaction accomplish'd: But with -whom, till I can find out what Place is meant -by<a name="FNanchor_15_15" id="FNanchor_15_15"></a><a href="#Footnote_15_15" class="fnanchor">[15]</a>ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ, I must remain Ignorant. -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>I am unwilling to entertain any Thoughts of -<em>Getia</em> in <em>Macedonia</em>, or of <em>Olgassus</em>, a Place -mentioned by <em>Strabo</em> in <em>Bythinia</em>, which comes -a little nearer the Name, being both so remote, -and the City of <em>Tadmor</em> ill contrived -for a Place of Trade, being far from the Sea, -and without the Advantage of any River. -Yet the Magnificence of the Place shews -they have not wanted Riches among them: -And their Salt is a Commodity which still -brings them in a considerable Advantage. -The Order of the Numeral Letters you may -take notice is again inverted; but taking -them the right way, the Year 558 falls in -with the last Year of the Reign of <em>Alexander -Severus</em>, which is of our Lord 234.</p> - -<p>About the middle of the Piazza, upon another -Pillar, was this following Inscription.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span></p> - -<p>Η ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗΜΟΣ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΝ -ΖΗΝΟΒΙΟΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΖΑΒΔΙΛΑΝ ΔΙΣΜΑΛΧΟΥ -ΤΟΥ ΝΑΣΣΟΥΜΟΥ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΕΝ -ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙΑ ΘΕΟΥ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΚΑΙ -ΥΠΗΡΕΤΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΠΑΡΟΥΣΙΑ ΔΙΗΝΕΚΕΙ -ΡΟΥΤΙΛΛΙΟΥ ΚΡΙΣΠΕΙΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΗΓΗΣΑΜΕΝΟΥ -ΚΑΙ ΕΠΙΔΗΜΗΣΑΣΑΙΣ ΟΥΗΞΙΛΛΑΤΙΟΣΙΝ -ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΗΣΑΝΤΑΤΕ ΚΑΙ ΟΥΚΟΝΙΣΩΝΑ -ΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΧΡΗΜΑΤΩΝ ΚΑΙ ΚΑΛΩΣ -ΠΟΛΕΙΤΕΥΣΑΜΕΝΟΝ ΩΣ ΔΙΑ ΤΑΥΤΑ -ΜΑΡΤΥΡΗΘΕΝΤΑ ΥΠΟ ΘΕΟΥ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΚΑΙ -ΥΠΟ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ ....... ΤΟΥ ΕΞΟΧΩΤΑΤΟΥ -ΕΠΑΡΧΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΙΕΡΟΥ ΠΡΑΙΤΩΡΙΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΤΗΣ -ΠΑΤΡΙΔΟΣ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΠΑΤΡΙΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ -ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΝΦ.</p> - -<p>This is as perfect an Inscription as any I -met with, by the help of which we may make -a Judgment of all the rest; at least thus far, -that they were put up in Memory of some, -who had behaved themselves, in those publick -Offices they bore, either in their own -Republick, or under the <em>Romans</em>, with Commendation; -this being a Publick Place, where -their Names and worthy Actions were Recorded -and Transmitted to Posterity. What I -further observed particularly in this, was the -want of the Name after ΙΟΥΛΙΟΥ, and took -notice of the like space vacant in the other -Language under it; and in both places it seemed -to be not worn out with Time, but voluntarily -scratch'd out. Which confirms me in the -Opinion that they are both one, and that the -unknown was the Vulgar, as the <em>Greek</em> was -the learned Language of the Place. Upon another -Pillar in the same Walk was this.</p> - -<p>ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ -ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ ΚΑΙ -ΑΡΟΑΠΕΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΣ ΕΑΛΜΗΣ -ΚΑΣΣΙΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ Μ(Ε)ΛΕΝΑΙΟΥ ΙΠΠΕΥΣ -ΡΩΜΑΙΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ -Η Ο Φ ... ΜΗΝΕΙ (Ξ)ΑΝΔΙΚΩ.</p> - -<p>From another Pillar in the same Piazza was -Transcribed this broken Inscription which follows, -which I have endeavoured to make up -from the former, believing them in substance -the very same, with some little Alteration of -Names.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span></p> - -<p>ΣΕΠΤΙΜ(ΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ) ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑ(ΤΙΣΤΟΝ -ΕΠΙΤΡΟ)ΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣ(ΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚ)ΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ -ΚΑ[Ι ΑΡΟΑΠΕ]ΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥ[ΡΗΛΙ]ΟΣ -Ε[ΑΛΜΗΣ] ΠΥΙΛΣΟΣ Μ[ΕΛΕΝΑΙ]ΟΣ ΜΑΛΩΧΑ -ΝΑΣΣΟΥΜΟ[Υ] Ο ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΣ ΤΟΝ [ΦΙΛΟΝ] -ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ -ΕΤΟΥΣ ... [ΜΗΝΕΙ Ξ]ΑΝΔΙΚΩ.</p> - -<p>This is so like the preceeding, that I thought -I might fairly take the Liberty to make these -Additions to it. And what we may Collect -from both, and divers others of a like Import, -is, That as the State, the Senate, and People, -did sometimes Honour those that had been in -Publick Trust, with Inscriptions upon these -Pillars: So when this was not done by them, -private Persons had the Liberty to do the same -for their Friends. And I shall give you an Instance -by and by of one Engraven by a Husband -in Memory of his Wife. Upon several -of these Pillars are little Pedestals jetting out -about the middle of them, sometimes one way -only, and sometimes more, which seem to have -been the Bases or standing Places of Statues. -But none of these are remaining; neither is it -to be expected they should, in a place which -has been so long in the Hands of the <em>Turks</em>. -On these Pedestals we saw many Inscriptions, -sometimes when there were none upon the -Body of the Pillar, and sometimes when there -were. As for Instance this that follows upon -the Pedestal, thus.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span></p> - -<p>ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΑΙΡΑΝΗΝ ΟΔΑΙΝΟΘΟΥ ΤΟΝ -ΛΑΜΠΡΟΤΑΤΟΝ ΣΥΝΚΛΗΤΙΚΟΝ. And upon -the Body of the Pillar this Imperfect one; -which I dare not venture to fill up, but shall -give it you as we found it.</p> - -<p>ΕΞΑ......ΝΤΩΝ ΑΥΡΗΛΙ.....Ρ -ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡ..... ΣΤΡΑΤΙΩΤΗΣ ΛΕ.......ΚΗΣ -ΤΩΝ ΠΑΤΡΩΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΚΑΙ -ΕΥΧΑΡΙΣΤΙΑΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΓΞΦ.</p> - -<p>We see they esteemed it very Honourable -to have their Memories preserved after this -manner; but it is but little Knowledge of -them we can get from hence, save now and -then the Time when they lived. As here, 563 -Years after the Death of <em>Alexander</em> reach to -the Year of our Lord 239. Another Inscription -in the same Piazza was thus.</p> - -<p>Η ΒΟΥΛ[Η ΚΑΙ Ο ΔΗ]ΜΟΣ ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ -ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ Ε[ΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ Σ]ΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ -ΔΟΥΚΗΝ[ΑΡΙΟΝ] ....ΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ ΤΗΣ -ΜΗΤ[ΡΟΚΟΛΩ]ΝΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΑΝΑΚΟΜΙΣΑ(ΝΤΑ -Τ)ΑΣ ΣΥΝΟΔΙΑΣ ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ ΚΑΙ -ΜΑΡΤΥΡΗΘΕΝΤΑ ΥΠΟ ΤΩΝ ΑΡΧΕΜΠΟΡΩΝ -ΚΑΙ ΛΑΜΠΡΩΣ ΣΤΡΑΤΗΓΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΚΑΙ -ΑΓΟΡΑΝΟΜΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗΣ ΑΥΤΗΣ -ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ ΚΑΙ ΠΛΕΙΣΤΑ ΟΙΚΟΘΕΝ -ΑΝΑΛΩΣΑΝΤΑ ΚΑΙ ΑΡΕΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗ ΤΕ ΑΥΤΗ -ΒΟΥΛΗ ΚΑΙ ΤΩ ΔΗΜΩ ΚΑΙ ΝΥΝΕΙ ΛΑΜΠΡΩΣ -ΣΥΜΠΟΣΙΑΡΧΟΝ ΤΩΝ ΤΟΥ ΔΙΟΣ ΒΗΛΟΥ -ΙΕ[Ρ]ΩΝ ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ ΕΤ..... -ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span></p> - -<p>This affords a sufficient confirmation -of what I before observed, that these -were Honorary Inscriptions in Memory of -those that had behaved themselves well in -Publick Offices; of which we have several -mentioned here, whereof some are very well -known, but the others not easie to be met -with in Books. By the Word ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ, -we may be assured that though the -City was reduced by the <em>Romans</em> into the form -of a Colony, yet it had a peculiar mark of -Honour set upon it, to signifie that it was the -chief of their Colonies in these Oriental Parts. -That the Authority also of their Senate and -People was continued to them. And besides -that there was a Society of Men, either Curators -of the Temple of <em>Jupiter Belus</em> (to -whom the Temple before described perhaps -was dedicated,) or Overseers of the Sports -and Festivals that were celebrated in Honour -of him; of which Sodality this <em>Septimius</em> -was, when this Inscription was made, a -<em>Symposiarch</em>, perhaps their Chief and Governour. -By this too we find they did not wait -for the Deaths of those they thus honoured, -before they provided for the Preservation of -their Memories; but Famous Men were thus -Registered for After-Ages even while they -were alive. Upon one of these Pedestals before -described, not far from the former, was -the following Inscription; which I valued the -more for the little remainder it has preserved -of the Name of <em>Palmyra</em>, by which the Place -was known to the <em>Romans</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> - -<p>...ΥΠΙΛΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΩΔΗΝ [ΣΥΝΚΛ]ΗΤΙΚΟΝ ΚΑΙ -ΒΟΥΛΕΥΤΗΝ ΠΑΛΜΥΡΗΝΟΝ ΒΗΛΑ ΚΑΒΟΣΑΡΣΑ -ΤΟΝ ΦΙ[ΛΟΝ] ΤΕΙΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Ο Φ.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The Banquetting-House.</div> - -<p>The upper end of this spacious Piazza -was shut in by a row of Pillars, -standing somewhat closer than those -on each side; and perhaps there -might have been a kind of Banquetting-House -above, but now no certain Footsteps thereof -remain. But a little farther to the left Hand, -and, it may be, continued with the former -Walk, lie the Ruins of a very stately Building, -which I am apt to believe might have been for -such an use. 'Tis built of better Marble, and -has an Air of Delicacy and Exquisiteness in the -Work, beyond what is discernable in the Piazza. -The Pillars which supported it are of one -entire Stone; and on one of them that is fallen -down, but so firm and strong that it has received -no Injury thereby, we measured, and -found 22 Foot in length, and in compass 8 Foot -and 9 Inches. Among these Ruins we found the -only <em>Latin</em> Inscription we saw in the Place, and -that so imperfect, there is but little of it Intelligible.</p> - -<p><em>......es Orbis & Propagatores Generis Humani -D. D. N. N. <strong>Diocletianus</strong> ............ssimi -Impp. Et <strong>Constantius</strong> & <strong>Maximianus</strong> Nobb. -Cæs. Castra feliciter condiderunt.</em></p> - -<p>And upon the same Stone a little lower,</p> - -<p><em>........ntes <strong>Ossiano Hieroclete</strong>, V. P. -Præs. Provinciæ D. N. M. O. Eorum.</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span> -The Name of <em>Maximianus Hercules</em>, who was -Partner in the Empire with <em>Dioclesian</em> which -should have followed in the Inscription, seems to -have been on purpose scratch'd out, and defaced, -for what reason I cannot guess. The rest -is lost by the breaking of the Stone.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The Palace.</div> - -<p>In the West side of the great Piazza -are several openings for Gates leading -into the Court of the Palace: Two whereof, -one would easily believe when they were in -their Perfection, were the most Magnificent -and Glorious in the World, both for the Elegancy -of the Work in general, and particularly -for those stately Porphyry Pillars with which -they were adorned. Each Gate had four, not -standing in a Line with the others of the Wall, -but placed by couples in the Front of the -Gate, facing the Palace, two on one Hand, and -two on the other. Of these remain two entire, -and but one standing in its place. They are -about 30 Foot in length, and 9 in circumference; -of a Substance so exceeding hard, that it -was with great difficulty we broke off a few shivers -to bring home with us for a pattern of the -Stone, the Art of making which, I think is quite -lost. We saw several other broken pieces of Porphyry, -but neither of so accurate a Mixture and -Composition, nor so large as the former. The -hard Fate of one I could not but lament, when -I saw it debased to support the corner of a little -Hut, scarce good enough for a Dog-Kennel, -or a Hogsty. The Palace it self is so -entirely ruined, that no Judgment can be -made what it was in its Ancient Splendor, either -for the Figure or Workmanship thereof.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span> -There is only here and there a broken piece -of a Wall remaining, beat into pieces by Violence, -and consumed by Time to that degree, -that without the help of Tradition we -could hardly be well assured, that a Royal Palace -did once fill that Space. We may guess -however that it fronted the Famous Piazza -before mentioned, and was surrounded with -rows of Pillars of different Orders, many of -which are still standing, some plain, and some -wrought and channell'd, as those immediately -encompassing the Temple. And upon those -little Pedestals which stood out of the middle -of some of them, I observed several Inscriptions, -but could not conveniently take more -than one, which together with the Pillar that -supported it was fallen to the Ground. 'Twas -this.</p> - -<p>ΜΑΡΘΕΙΝ ΑΛΕΞΑΝΔΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΚΑΠΑΔΗΤΟΥ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΣΥΜΩΝΟΥ ΣΟΡΑΙΧΟΣ ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ -ΑΝΗΡ ΑΥΤΗΣ ΜΝΗΜΗΣ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ -ΜΗΝΕΙ ΔΥΣΤΡΩ ΤΟΥ Ϟ Υ ΕΤΟΥΣ.</p> - -<p>If the rest were of a like Nature with this, -we have lost no great matter by not taking -them, this being only a Memorial, which a -kind Husband caused to be set up in Honour of -his Wife. The Month <em>Dystrus</em>, answers our -<em>March</em>, and the Year 490 from the Death of -<em>Alexander</em> the Great, the Year of our Lord 166.</p> - -<p>I omitted to mention before, that under -the long Walk runs a Current of hot Sulphureous -Waters; and there is a Well and other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span> -Passages down to them. But whatever they -may have been of old, they are not now so -convenient as another about half a Mile Westward -from hence; where there is a very good -Descent into the Water, and it is still used -by the People to Bath in. Near to which, -upon the Pedestal of a broken Pillar, (or perhaps -it might be an Altar) remains this following -Inscription.</p> - -<p>ΔΙΙ ΥΨΙΣΤΩ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΩ ΚΑΙ ΕΠΗΚΟΩ -ΒΩΛΑΝΟΣ ΖΗΝΟΒΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΙΡΑΝΟΥ -ΤΟΥ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΘΘΑ ΕΠΙ -ΜΕΛΕΤΗ ΣΟΗ ΑΙΡΕΘΕΙΣ <span class="u">ΕΦΚΑΣ</span> -ΠΗΓΗΣ ΥΠΟ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ ΤΟΝ -ΒΩ [forsan ΒΩΜΟΝ] ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ -ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ Δ Ο Υ ΜΗΝΟΣ -YΠΕΡΒΕΡΕΤΑΙΟΥ Κ.</p> - -<p>I am pretty confident that the Word I -have mark'd with a Line under it, is rightly -taken, and therefore know not what to -guess it to be, unless the proper Name of -the Fountain. And upon that Supposition -the Inscription is easily Intelligible, shewing -that <em>Bolanus</em>, Son of <em>Zenobius</em>, &c. being -elected Overseer or Curator of this Fountain, -under <em>Jaribolus</em>, built this Altar to <em>Jupiter</em>, -in the Year of <em>Alexander</em> 474. <em>i. e.</em> of -our Lord 150. and on the 20<em>th</em> of <em>October</em>, -if the last <em>Kappa</em> be a Numeral, as I suppose -it must. But who this <em>Jaribolus</em> was, on whom -they bestow, as generally upon the <em>Roman</em> -Emperors, whose Names occur in the In<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>scriptions, -the Title of ΘΕΟΣ, is not so facile -a Conjecture. They were under the <em>Parthians</em>, -before the <em>Romans</em> fell in amongst -them; but the Date shews this to be after -the time of <em>Hadrian</em>, and so after their -coming. Nay, and in an Inscription before -mentioned, which is of a later Date -than this by 88 Years, we have the Name of -the same Person. Hot Sulphureous Baths -are things very frequent in this Country; -and thence it was that it obtained the -Name of <em>Syria Salutifera</em>. The scent of the -Waters here is much like those of <em>Bath</em> in -<em>England</em>, but not so strong, neither is the -Taste so offensive. On the contrary, when -they have run so far from the Fountain, as -to become cold, they are very potable, -and are the only Waters the Inhabitants -use. But we, during our stay there, sent -to a Fountain of very excellent Water, about -an hour distant from the City.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The little -Temple.</div> - -<p>On the East side likewise of the long Piazza -stands, if I may use such an Expression, -a Wood of Marble Pillars, some perfect, -and others deprived of their beautiful -Capitals; but so scattered and confused, -that it is not possible to reduce them into -any Order, so as to conjecture to what -they anciently served. In one place are -Eleven together in Square after this manner -<img src="images/117.png" height="32" alt="" /> - paved at the bottom with broad flat -Stone, but without any Roof or Covering. -And at a little distance from that stands the -Ruins of a small Temple, which -by the remains seems to have -been for the Workmanship very<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span> -curious: But the Roof is wholly gone, and -the Walls very much defaced and consumed -with Time. Before the Entrance which -looks to the South, is a Piazza supported -by six Pillars, two on one Hand of the -Door, and two on the other, and at each -end one. And the Pedestals of those in the -Front have been filled with Inscriptions, -both in <em>Greek</em> and the other Language; but -they are now so obliterated and worn out, -as not to be Intelligible. The most perfect -was this that follows.</p> - -<p>ΜΑΛΕΝΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ ΙΑΡΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΡΑΑΙΟΥ ΓΡΑΜΜΑΤΕΑ ΓΕΝΟΜΕΝΟΝ ΤΟ -ΔΕΥΤΕΡΟΝ ΕΠΙΔΗΜΙ[Α] ΘΕΟΥ ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ -ΑΛΙΜΜΑ ΠΑΡΑΣΧΟΤΑ ΞΕΝΟΙΣ ΤΕ, ΚΑΙ -ΠΟΛΕΙΤΑ[ΙΣ]...... And a little below were -these straggling Letters visible.</p> - -<p>ΕΝΗ....Ν ΥΠΗΡΕΤΗΣΑΝΤΑ ΤΗΤ.... -ΣΤΡΑΤΕΥΜΑ ΤΟΥ ... ΥΠΟ....ΗΚΑΙ.....ΤΟΝ -ΝΑΟΝ ΤΟΝ....ΔΙΟΣ....ΝΤΩΤ......</p> - -<p>I should have imagined the ΚΑΙ to have -been a Copulative, and the second Name -<em>Agrippa</em> distinct from the former, but that -the Words following in the Singular Number, -will not admit of such a Construction. The Person -then in Memory of whom this Inscription<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span> -was made, must have been named <em>Malentus -Cæagrippa</em>, who bearing such an Office as -Scribe, or the like, in the Expedition of <em>Adrian</em> -the Emperor, performed an Act of Publick -Benificence and Generosity, both to -Strangers and Citizens, denoted by the Word<a name="FNanchor_16_16" id="FNanchor_16_16"></a><a href="#Footnote_16_16" class="fnanchor">[16]</a> -ΑΛΙΜΜΑ, or ἄλειμμα, which signifies Unction. -Perhaps he distributed amongst them -Sweet Oyls, to be used in or after their -Bathings. 'Tis pity what follows is so imperfect; -and especially that we cannot find -out the Date: For that might have directed -us to the precise time of <em>Hadrian</em>'s Expedition -into these Oriental Parts, where he made -great Conquests, and enlarged the Bounds of -the <em>Roman</em> Empire.</p> - -<div class="sidenote">The Sepulchers.</div> - -<p>But as great a Curiosity as any -were their Sepulchers, being Square -Towers, four or five Stories high, -and standing on both sides of a hollow -way, towards the North part of the City. -They stretch out in length the space of -a Mile, and perhaps formerly might extend -a great way further. At our first view of -them, as we entred the place, we could not -conjecture what they were; some thought -them the Steeples of ruined Churches, and -were in hopes we should have found some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span> -footsteps of Christianity here. Others took -them to have been Bastions, and part of the -Old Fortifications, tho' there is not so much as -any Foundation of a Wall to be seen. But -when we came a Day or two after, more curiously -to enquire into them, we quickly found -their use. They were all of the same Form, -but of different Splendor and Greatness, according -to the Circumstances of their Founders. -The first we viewed was entirely Marble; -but is now wholly in Ruins, and nothing -but a heap of broken Stones, among which -we found the pieces of two Statues, one of -a Man, and another of a Woman, cut in a -sitting, or rather leaning posture; and the -Heads and part of the Arms of both being -broken off, but their Bodies remaining pretty -entire; so that we had the Advantage of -seeing their Habits, which appeared very -Noble, but more approaching the <em>European</em> -Fashion, than what is now in use in the East; -which inclined me to believe they might be -<em>Romans</em>. Upon broken pieces of Stone tumbled -here and there, we found some as broken -Inscriptions, but not affording any perfect -Sense, they are not worth the Transcribing.</p> - -<p>Many other Sepulchers there were, as -much gone to decay as this, which therefore -we past by, to go to two, which stood almost -opposite to one another, and seemed most -perfect of any, though not without marks of -the <em>Turkish</em> Malice. They are two square -Towers, rather larger than ordinary Steeples, -and five Stories high, the outside being of -common Stone, but the Partitions and Floors -within of good Marble; and beautified too<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span> -with very lively Carvings and Paintings, and -Figures both of Men and Women, as far as -the Breast and Shoulders; but miserably defac'd -and broken. Under these Statues, or -by their sides, are in the unknown Character, -the Names probably of the Persons -there buried, or by them represented; or -else some other Memorials of them. We -entred one of these by a Door on the South -side, from which was a Walk cross the whole -Building just in the middle. But the Floor -was broke up, and so gave us a sight of a -Vault below, divided after the same manner. -The Spaces on each Hand were again -sub-divided into six Partitions by thick Walls, -each Partition being capable of receiving -the largest Corps: And piling them one -above another, as their way appears to have -been, each of those Spaces might contain at -least six or seven Bodies. For the lowest, -second and third Stories, those Partitions -were uniform, and altogether the same; save -from the second Floor, which answered the -main Entrance, one Partition was reserved -for a Stair-Case. Higher than this, the -Building, being something contracted towards -the top, would not afford space for the -continuation of the same Method: Therefore -the two uppermost Rooms were not so -parted, nor perhaps ever had any Bodies -lain in them. Unless it was that of the -Founder alone, whose Statue wrapt up in -Funeral Apparel, and in a lying Posture, is -placed in a Nich, or rather Window in the -Front of the Monument, so as to be visible<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span> -both within and without. Near to this -Statue was the following Inscription.</p> - -<p>ΤΟ ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΕΚΤΙΣΑΝ -ΕΛΑΒΗΛΕΣ ΜΑΝΝΑΙΟΣ ΣΟΧΑΕΙΣ -ΜΑΛΧΟΣ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΥ ΤΟΥ -ΜΑΝΝΑΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΕΛΑΒΗΛΟΥ ΑΥΤΩ -ΚΑΙ ΥΙΟΙΣ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΥ ΜΗΝΟΣ -ΞΑΝΔΙΚΟΥ.</p> - -<p>'Tis a little doubtful whether ΑΥΤΩ should -not rather be made ΑΥΤΟΙΣ; or else there -must be a Fault in the Verb, and all -those but the Names of one Person. The -other Monument on the other side of the way -is very much like this; only the Front and -Entrance are towards the North, and 'tis not -altogether so Polite, nor so well Painted. But -the Carvings are as good, and it shews altogether -as Stately and Magnificent as the former. -Besides, it has the Advantage in Age -of a whole Century of Years: As appears from -the Date of the following Inscription. 'Tis -placed above a Nich in the Front, adorned -with handsom Borders and Cornishes; the -place, doubtless, of some Statue, and probably -that of the Founder.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span></p> - -<p>ΜΝΗΜΕΙΟΝ ΑΙΩΝΙΟΝ ΓΕΡΑΣ -ΩΚΟΔΟΜΗΣΕΝ ΓΙΧΟΣ ΜΟΚΙΜΟΥ -ΤΟΥ ΚΑΙΛΚΙΑΛΣΙΣΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑ......ΟΥ -ΕΙΣΤΕ ΕΑΥΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΥΙΟΥΣ ΚΑΙ -ΕΓΓΟΝΟΥΣ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΔΙΤ ΜΗΝΕΙ -ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ.</p> - -<p>This is the most Ancient Inscription I met -with in <em>Tadmor</em>, the 314th. Year from the -Death of <em>Alexander</em> the Great, preceding -the Birth of our Saviour about Ten Years. -The other also is between Twenty and Thirty -Years before the Reign of <em>Hadrian</em>, and -consequently before the <em>Romans</em> got footing -here. And from these sumptuous Structures, -and these costly <em>Mausolæa</em>, we may -reasonably conclude, they were a Potent and -Opulent People, before they became subject -to the <em>Romans</em>, and were not obliged to them -for their Greatness.</p> - -<p>And now I believe I have wearied you sufficiently -by leading you up and down the Ancient -and Famous City of <em>Tadmor</em>, and giving -you so dry an Account of our Employment -there. After 4 Days stay we returned, not the -way that we came, but proceeding Eastward -towards the River <em>Euphrates</em>. In our way to -which, the third Day, passing though a Village -called <em>Tieve</em>, upon a Stone set wrong -End upwards, in the midst of the Wall of -the Mosch, we met with the following Inscription.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span></p> - -<p>ΔΙΙ ΜΕΓΙΣΤΩ ΚΕΡΑΥΝΙΩ ΥΠΕΡ -ΣΩΤΗΡΙΑΣ ΤΡΑ: ΑΔΡΙΑΝΟΥ ΣΕΒ... -ΤΟΥ ΚΥΡΙΟΥ ΑΓΑΘΑΝΓΕΛΟΣ -ΑΒΙΛΗΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ ΔΕΚΑΠΟΛΕΟΣ -ΤΗΝ ΚΑΜΑΡΑΝ ΩΚΟΔΟΜΗΣΕΝ -ΚΑΙ ΤΗΝ ΚΛΙΝΗ.... ΕΞ ΙΔΙΩΝ -ΑΝΕΘΗΚΕΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ ΕΜΥ ΜΗΝΟΣ -ΛΩΟΥ.</p> - -<p>And under this was another in the same -Language and Character we had seen at <em>Tadmor</em>; -I was surprized to find such an Inscription -in this Place, nor can any way -guess how they should come by it: And the -mention of <em>Decapolis</em> makes me still more -in the Dark. If one might extend the -Bounds of <em>Decapolis</em>, as some are said to -have done, as far as <em>Cælosyria</em>, and comprize -under this Name again all <em>Syria</em>, <em>Phænicia</em> -only excepted, then need it not be brought -from elsewhere, but first set up in this -Village. But this will not be allowed by -those who make <em>Decapolis</em> only a part of <em>Palestine</em>. -The Matter of Fact it contains is -only an Account of the Magnificence of -this <em>Agathangelus Abilenus</em>, whoever he was; -who for the safety of the Emperor <em>Hadrian</em>, -erected at his own Charges, and Dedicated -to <em>Jupiter</em> the Thunderer, a Royal Ban<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>quetting-House, -(for so I take <a name="FNanchor_17_17" id="FNanchor_17_17"></a><a href="#Footnote_17_17" class="fnanchor">[17]</a>ΚΑΜΑΡΑ -to signifie) and a Bed of State; for after -ΚΛΙΝΗ there is doubtless a Letter omitted, -and it ought to be ΚΛΙΝΗΝ. The Date 445 -agrees to the Year of our Lord 123. which -was the seventh of the Reign of <em>Hadrian</em>. -And the Month ΛΩΟΣ is our <em>August</em>.</p> - -<div class="sidenote"><em>Arsoffa.</em></div> - -<p>The next Day we past by the -Ruins of a large Monastery of the -<em>Maronites</em>, as I guess it to have -been by an Inscription we met with upon -the Capitals of several Marble Pillars, -which supported the middle Isle of a handsome -Church, which was to this effect.</p> - -<p>† ΕΠΙ ΣΕΡΓΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΚ<sup>Ο</sup>. ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝΓΕΝ~ -ΜΑΡΩΝΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΡΕΠΙΣΚ<sup>Ο</sup>.</p> - -<p>From thence we past on, and came the -same Night to <em>Euphrates</em>, and having travelled -two Days on the Banks of that Famous -River, we came to the Tents of the -King of the <em>Arabs</em>, who had furnish'd us with -a Guide for our Voyage. With him we remained -two Nights, and in two Days Travel -more came back safe to <em>Aleppo</em>, having been -out in the whole just 18 Days.</p> -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span></p> -<p><em>The Reverend and Learned Author of this Account, -cannot with Justice be censured, if some -Minute Particulars of the History of this Place, -have escaped his Memory, being obliged to write -without recourse to the Books proper for his purpose, -which were not to be had in that Country. We have -since procured a Curious Prospect of these Noble -Ruins, taken on the Place; which, with some -further Remarks thereon, are here Published.</em></p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_14_14" id="Footnote_14_14"></a><a href="#FNanchor_14_14"><span class="label">[14]</span></a> This <em>Assyne</em> was in the Year of our Lord 1693. -Deposed by the <em>Turks</em>, and one <em>Dor</em> advanced to fill -his place; so that now he is constrained to live upon -Rapine, being followed by a considerable Number of -Men, who delight not to Labour, nor to live under -any settled Government.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_15_15" id="Footnote_15_15"></a><a href="#FNanchor_15_15"><span class="label">[15]</span></a> 'Tis not improbable that ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΣ might -have been the Name of a Person. <em>Vologeses</em> is a known -Name in History among the <em>Parthian</em> Kings; to which -the other seems to bear a great Affinity.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_16_16" id="Footnote_16_16"></a><a href="#FNanchor_16_16"><span class="label">[16]</span></a> <em>Plin. Secun. Ep. l.</em> 2. Tells us of one, who was -accused of an Illegal Exaction of Money from a Province, -<em>Titulo Unguentarii</em>; now what was in that case -unjustly exacted, might be in this a Voluntary Donation, -not of the Province to the Governour, but of a -great Man to the People. Or else <em>Unguentarium</em> may -be supposed to be a Donative, like <em>Clavarium</em> or <em>Culinarium</em>, -used sometimes by the <em>Romans</em>.</p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_17_17" id="Footnote_17_17"></a><a href="#FNanchor_17_17"><span class="label">[17]</span></a> This Word I find both in <em>Tacitus</em> and <em>Strabo</em>, -used for a kind of Ships or Boats, long, narrow, light, -and capable of receiving 20, or at most 30 Men; -but what they should do with Boats in an Inland -Town, without either River or Lake near it, I cannot -imagine. I rather adhere to the other signification.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span></p></div></div> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>An Extract of the Journals of two -several Voyages of the <strong>English -Merchants</strong> of the Factory of -<strong>Aleppo</strong>, to <strong>Tadmor</strong>, anciently -call'd <strong>Palmyra</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>Our Merchants of this worthy Factory, -being generally Men of more than -ordinary Birth and Education, have not been -wanting (as the intervals of leisure from -their gainful Traffick would permit) to make -Voyages of Curiosity, to visit the celebrated -Remains of Antiquity in those Parts, whereby -the once flourishing State of the World, -under the <em>Roman Empire</em>, is abundantly evinced. -And being inform'd by the Natives, -that the Ruins of the City of <em>Tadmor</em> were -more considerable than any they had yet seen, -they were tempted to enterprize this hazardous -and painful Voyage over the <em>Desart</em>; but -having been, by the perfidy of the <em>Arabs</em>, -disappointed of their Desires in their first -Attempt, they were obliged to defer their -Curiosity, till they could better provide for -their Security: whereof being assured, from -the Confidence some of them had in the -Friendship of <em>Assyne</em> then King of the <em>Arabs</em>, -they adventured again, in the Year 1691, -and had full liberty to visit, observe and -transcribe what they pleased.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/plate1_page120.jpg" width="700" height="157" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><em>A View of the Ruines of Palmyra alias Tadmor, taken on the Southern Side.</em></p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span></p> - -<p>What Account they there took, the Publick -has already seen in our Last, since which, -by the Favour of Mr. <em>Timothy Lanoy</em> and -Mr. <em>Aaron Goodyear</em>, two very Eminent -Merchants, who were both in the first -Voyage, we have received not only the -Draught of the Prospect of those noble Ruins, -taken upon the Place, (of which we -here give a Copy,) but also the Journals of -both the Voyages; which, for the Satisfaction -of the Curious, we have thought fit to -Publish.</p> - - -<h3><em>The first Voyage</em>, Anno 1678.</h3> - -<p><em>July 18.</em> at Five in the Morning, we set -out from <em>Aleppo</em>, being sixteen <em>English</em>; but -with Servants and Mulettiers in all forty; -and in four Hours and an half, travelling -South by East, we arrived at a Village call'd -<em>Cafferabite</em>, being at the edge of the Desart, -here we reposed the rest of that Day.</p> - -<p><em>July 19.</em> we rose at one in the Morning, -and directed our Course S. S. E. over the -Desart, for a Fountain call'd <em>Churraick</em>; but -our Guide losing his Way, there being no -Path, 'twas near Noon before we found it: -which made us doubt of our Safety. This -Well has no Signs near it to discover it by. -Here we pitch'd our Tents, and refresh'd our -Selves and Horses; and the Water being of -a Purgative Quality, made us some Diversion. -In our way, we found two <em>Arabs</em> with -two Asses, one whereof carried Water and -a little Bread, the other they rod on by -turns; they had one Gun, with which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span> -they shot Antelopes, the Bullet being a hard -Stone broken round, and cased with Lead; -they had on the Palms of their Hands, Elbows, -Knees and Feet, some Antelope-Skin -tied, that they may be able to creep the better -on the Ground, to Shoot; one of the -Asses walking by as a Stalking-horse, and -the <em>Arab</em> imitating the Cry of the Gazel till -he get within Shot: These <em>Arabs</em> are called -<em>Selebee</em>. At the Well came to us some <em>Arabs</em> -that were making Ashes of the ordinary sort -of Weeds call'd <em>Chuddraife</em>, <em>Ruggot</em> and <em>Cuttaff</em>; -these they cut and dry, and putting -them into a Pit, set Fire to them, and the -Ashes cake at the bottom. The Ashes they -carry to <em>Eglib</em> and <em>Tripoli</em>, to make Soap of: -But the best sort of Ashes are made of the -Weed <em>Shinon</em>, which grows about <em>Tadmor</em>, <em>Soukny</em>, -<em>Tibe</em> and <em>Yarecca</em>; it grows like Broom in -<em>England</em>, and in Shape resembles Coral.</p> - -<p><em>July 20.</em> we rose at four in the Morning, -and Travelling two Hours E. S. E. we arrived -at <em>Andrene</em>, where we found the Ruins of -two or three Churches, and of a great Town -lying in a large Plain; where having tarried -about an Hour and an half, and taken -some fragments of Greek Inscriptions, which -afforded no certain Sense, but yet were evidently -Christian, we march'd again S. by E. and -in about four Hours time came to a pleasant -Aqueduct call'd <em>Sheck-alal</em>; this Aqueduct -is cut through the main Rock, for a -great way from the Mountains; and where -it ends, the <em>Arabs</em> have made a Garden, -which afforded us Melons, Cucumbers, Purslain, -<em>&c.</em> In a Grotto hard by, there dwelt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span> -an <em>Arab</em> with his Family; he had a dozen -<em>Buffalo's</em>, which they used both for their Milk, -and to Plow the Ground, Sowing both Wheat, -and Barly: Hither the <em>Arabs</em> resort, when -they have committed any Robbery about <em>Aleppo</em>, -or <em>Hama</em>, and here they repose, and -divide the Spoil.</p> - -<p><em>July 21.</em> we rose at four in the Morning, -and riding two Hours South, we came to a -Ruin call'd <em>Briadeen</em>; here we found the following -Inscription on a Stone, good part in -the Ground:</p> - -<p class="center">ΑΦΙΕΡΩΘΗ ΑΑΙΛΥΝΔΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΑΜΦ ΕΤΟΥΣ<br /> -ΔΙΑ ΜΑΤΕΡΝΟΥ ΚΑ(Ι Π)ΑΠΠΟΥ ΚΑΙ ΜΑΙΚΟΥ ΚΝΕΤΜΝ<br /> --------- Υ ———— Ν -</p> - -<p>From hence going South-East, in four Hours -more we came to a Well called <em>Costal</em> (which -signifies a <em>Spring in Arab</em>.) Most part of our -way through the Desart we were troubled -with <em>Rat-holes</em> in great numbers, like Coneyboroughs, -which by the sinking in of the -Earth, very much incommoded our Horses -and Mules. These <em>Rats</em> have at the ends of -their Tails a bush of Hair, and the <em>Arabs</em> eat -them all, excepting one part. From this -Well we arose about four in the Afternoon, -and began to ascend small Hills, covered with -Trees, which, for the most part, were the -small <em>Pistacho</em>'s which the <em>Arabs</em> pickle with -Salt; but eaten green, are good to quench -Thirst. We travelled on three Hours up -the Hills, where we pitch'd that Night, having -no other Water but what we carry'd -with us; and at Night we had a small Shower<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span> -of Rain, a thing unusual in that Country at -that time of the Year.</p> - -<p><em>July 22.</em> we rose by Two in the Morning, -and Travelling E. S. E. we came by Eleven -to a Well call'd <em>G'hor</em>, where we found it very -Hot, and saw several prints of Horses -Feet, so that we suspected some <em>Arabs</em> had -newly past that way.</p> - -<p><em>July 23.</em> we rose by One in the Morning, -and Travelling most East, we came to a large -Plain, where we saw before us, on a high -Mountain, a great Castle, call'd by the <em>Arabs</em> -<em>Anture</em>. When we had travelled two or three -Hours in this Plain, we espied an <em>Arab</em> driving -towards us a Camel, with his Launce, so -fast, that he came on a round Gallop, and -we supposed him sent as a Spy: being come -up to us, he told us he was of <em>Tadmor</em>, and -that his Prince, the <em>Emir Melkam</em>, had that -Day made Friendship with <em>Hamet Shideed</em> -another Prince, and that together they had -four hundred Men; so he kept us Company -an Hour or two, and enquired of our <em>Mulettiers</em> -if we were not <em>Turks</em> disguised, with -intent to seize on <em>Melkam</em>; for we travelled -with a <em>Bandiero</em>, the Impress being a <em>Hanjarr</em> -or <em>Turkish</em> Dagger, and a Half-Moon. We -told him we were <em>Franks</em>, which he could -hardly believe, wondering that we travelled -thus in the Desart, only out of Curiosity. -Being come near to <em>Tadmor</em>, he went a little -before us, and on a sudden run full speed -towards the Ruins, we not endeavouring to -hinder him. Our Guide told us he was gone -to acquaint the <em>Arabs</em> who we were, and that -we ought to suspect and prepare for the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span> -worst; so we dismounted twenty of our -Servants, each having a long Gun, and Pistols -at his Girdle, and placed them abreast -before us: we following at a little distance -behind, on Horse-back, with Carbines and -Pistols. In this order we proceeded, and -came to a most stately <em>Aqueduct</em>, which runs -under Ground in a direct passage five Miles, -and is covered with an Arch of Bastard Marble -all the Way, and a Path on both sides -the Channel for two Persons to walk abreast; -the Channel it self being about an <em>English</em> -Yard in breadth, and ¾ of a Yard in depth. -At 20 Yards distance all the way are Ventiducts -for the Air to pass, and the holes are -surrounded with small Mounts of Earth to -keep the Sand and Dust from falling down. -We marched close by these Mounts, which -might serve us for Defence, expecting every -moment that the <em>Arabs</em> would come to Assail -us, having the disadvantage of Sun -and Wind in our Faces: wherefore we Travelled -hard to gain an Eminence where we -might Post our selves advantageously, and -stop and repose a little, to consider what we -had to do. The <em>Arabs</em> finding us to come -on with this Order and Resolution, thought -not fit to adventure on us, so we gained the -Hill, from whence we might discern these -vast and noble Ruins, having a Plain like a -Sea for greatness to the Southwards of it. -Here having refresh'd our Men, we fetch'd a -little Compass and descended by the foot of -a Mountain, on which stands a great Castle, -but uninhabited. Here two <em>Arabs</em> came to -us with Lances, one being Chiah to <em>Melkam</em>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span> -and we sent two to meet them; they gave -the <em>Salam alika</em>, and ours returned the <em>Alica -salam</em>, and advancing to our Company, told -us the <em>Emir</em> had understood of our coming, -and had sent them to acquaint us that he was -our Friend, and that all the Country was -ours. We sent back with them our <em>Janizary</em> -and a Servant to visit the Prince in his -Tents, which were in a Garden. In the -mean time we dismounted at a watering -Place amidst the Ruins, but did not unload -till our <em>Janizary</em> and Servant returned with -the <em>Emir's Tescarr</em>, assuring us of Friendship -and Protection, a Writing which the <em>Arabs</em> -were never known to violate before. With -them came also one that belonged to the -<em>Sheck</em> of the Town, for whom we had Letters -from <em>Useffe Aga</em> the <em>Emeer</em> of <em>Aleppo</em>. -He desired us for greater Security to -pitch our Tents under the Town Walls, -which is in the Ruins of a great Palace, the -Wall yet standing very high, the Town within -but small, and the Houses excepting two -or three no better than Hog-sties. So we -pitched in a deep Sandy Ground where we -found it exceeding hot. Here we waited -till three of the Clock without eating any -thing, expecting the <em>Sheck</em> should have presented -us according to the usual Custom of -the <em>Turks</em> to their Friends, and have given -some answer to the Letters we brought him; -but on the contrary we found by the gesture -of the People, that we had Reason to suspect -them. Hereupon two of our Company -believing that the want of a present to the -<em>Emir</em> was the cause thereof resolved to ad<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>venture -to give him a Visit, and taking the -<em>Janizary</em> and one Servant, they carried him -a Present of two pieces of Red Cloath, and -four of Green, and several other things: -Being come he welcomed them into his Tent, -and placed the one on his right Hand and -the other on his left. <em>Melkam</em> was a young -Man, not above Five and Twenty, and well -Featur'd, and a most Excellent Horse-man; -<em>Hamet Shideed</em>, the other Prince, was more -elderly, as about forty Years of Age, and -was not in the Tent, but sat under a <em>Palm-Tree</em> -near it. He treated them with <em>Coffee</em>, -<em>Camel's-flesh</em> and <em>Dates</em>, and enquired of their -Journey, and the Cause of their coming: -They told him 'twas only Curiosity to see -those Ruins; he said that formerly <em>Solomon -Ibnel Doud</em> Built a City in that Place, which -being destroyed, was Built again by a strange -People, and he believed, that we understanding -the Writing on the Pillars, came to -seek after Treasure, he having but six -Moons before found a Pot of <em>Corra Crusses</em>. -After this he went out of the Tent, leaving -them smoaking Tobacco, to the <em>Janizary</em> and -Servant, and told them, that never till that -Day any <em>Franks</em> had been at that Place, and -that now we knew the way through the Desert, -we might inform the <em>Turks</em> to their Ruin -and Destruction, so that 'twould be convenient -for them to destroy us all: But that -we coming as Friends, he would only have -4000 Dollars as a Present, else he would hang -them and the two <em>Franks</em> up, and go fight -the rest. This Message being brought them, -they wish'd they had excus'd themselves from<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span> -this Embassy, and answered, they could say -nothing to that Demand, not knowing our -Minds, but if he would permit them to go -and speak with the rest, they would return -an Answer. Hearing this, he threatened present -Death, but at length gave leave to our -<em>Janizary</em> to carry us a Letter from them, -wherein they shewed the danger they were in, -and earnestly entreated us to redeem them, -the Price set on them being 2000 Dollars, -one half in Mony, the other half in Goods, -as Swords, Cloaths, Tents, <em>&c.</em> which the -<em>Emir</em> promised to estimate at their Worth.</p> - -<p>This Letter amazed us mightily, and a little -before it arrived, we understanding a little, -and fearing more ill Treatment to our -Friends, were getting ready to free them or -die with them. The Garden where <em>Melkam</em> -lay, was about half a Mile from the Tents, -full of <em>Palm-Trees</em>, and had no Walls, but -loose Stones piled up Breast high about them, -so we designed to have gone suddenly and -given two or three Volleys on them, e'er they -could get to Horse; and the <em>Arab</em> know not -how to Fight on Foot. And though they -bragg'd they had 400 Men, we supposed 200 -might be the most, and they not all Lances. -But on receipt of this Letter, and the Servants -telling us that they would certainly -be cut off, if we endeavoured their Rescue, -we began to examin what Moneys we had, -Cloaths and other Trade, and found we -could not near make up that Sum. In this -Confusion came two <em>Arabs</em> to receive the -things, and immediately Word was brought -that the <em>Emir</em> would come and Visit us; we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span> -sent him Word, that if he came with more -than two followers, we would not admit him: -so he came with 2 Servants only; and in conclusion, -we made him up in Money and -Goods to the Value of 1500 Dollars. He valuing -our Things as we pleased; his Design -being not so much to compleat the Sum, as -to take from us all we had. After this, about -Sun Set, he returned us our two Friends, -when the <em>Sheck</em> of the Town invited us to -Lodge within the Town; which we found afterwards -was with a design to have forced something -from us: But we giving him to understand -that the Emir had taken all already, -and had left us only our Arms and the -Cloaths on our Backs; which if they would -have, they must Fight for: That Resolution -daunted them, and away they went, promising -us Barley for our Horses in the Morning. -We kept good watch in the Night, -and when Day broke, we began to consider -how to clear our selves; we expected the -Barly till Nine in the Morning, when it -came, and the Emir himself came and gave -us the good Morrow: We feared least they -should pretend to stop some of us in the -Gate-way, so we placed six of our Company -to secure the Passage, 'till all the rest were -got out, under pretence of taking an Inscription -that was over the Gate. Being all -got clear, we returned by the same way we -came and arrived at <em>Aleppo</em> <em>July 29.</em> in the -Morning. This <em>Melkam</em> told us, That if -we had not submitted our selves to his Demands, -he was resolved to Fight us after this -Method: Loading 50 Camels with Baggs of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span> -Sand, and making small holes in the Baggs for -the Sand to drop out, he would drive these -Camels abreast upon us before the Wind, that -the Sand might blow in our Eyes, and we -spending our Bullets on the Camels, might -so be easily overthrown; we answered, that -we believed he would not venture his Camels -and Horses to such a Combat. He wondered -extreamly when we talk'd of Shooting -Birds flying, and Hares running.</p> - -<p>This and other the like Violences used by -this <em>Arab</em> Prince, made the <em>Bassa</em> of <em>Aleppo</em> -resolve to destroy him; and not long after -he cajoled him with the Hopes of being -made King of the <em>Arabs</em>, and to draw him -near the City, he vested and caressed some -of his Followers: Which having its effect, -the <em>Bassa</em> surprized him in his Tents by Night, -and soon after he was put to Death: This -those People were willing to believe the effect -of their so abusing the <em>English</em>, and might -much contribute to the Security and good -Usage they found, that went the second time -on this Expedition.</p> - -<p>We had not time to view these Ruins by -reason of this usage, though perhaps we -might with safety. We only took one of the -Inscriptions as we past by, which was thus.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span></p> - -<p>ΣΕΠΤΙΜΙΟΝ ΟΥΟΡΟΔΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΡΑΤΙΣΤΟΝ -ΕΠΙΤΡΟΠΟΝ ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΥ ΔΟΥΚΗΝΑΡΙΟΝ -ΚΑΙ ΑΡ..ΑΠΗΤΗΝ ΙΟΥΛΙΟΣ ΑΥΡΗΛΙΟΣ ΣΑΝΜΗΣ -ΜΑΣΣΙΑΝΟΥ ΤΟΥ Μ..ΛΕΝΑΙΟΥ ΙΠΠΕΥΣ -ΡΟΥΜΑΩΝ ΤΟΝ ΦΙΛΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΠΡΟΣΤΑΤΗΝ -ΕΤΟΥΣ Η Ο Φ ΜΗΝΕΙ ΞΑΝΔΙΚΩ.</p> - -<p>Wherein the principal difference is in the -Word ἀραπήτην, which in the Account already -Published is read ἀράπετην, which seems to signifie -some peculiar Officer of the <em>Syrians</em>, as -<em>Ducenarius</em> of the <em>Latins</em>, which perhaps those -skill'd in the Oriental Customs and Languages -may be able to expound.</p> - -<p>As far as we could conclude from our -Journeys, and the Position of the Ways taken -by two good Compasses, the Distance -of <em>Tadmor</em> from <em>Aleppo</em> is about a 150 English -Miles, and the Course S. S. E. or rather -somewhat more Southerly, considering the -Variation of the Compass, which is above a -half a Point Westward in these Parts.</p> - - -<h3><em>The second Voyage</em>, Anno 1691.</h3> - -<p>We set out from <em>Aleppo</em> for <em>Tadmor</em> on -<em>Michaelmas-day</em>, being in all, Masters and -Servants, thirty Men, well armed, having obtained -a Promise of Security from <em>Assyne</em>, -then King of the <em>Arabs</em>, and one of his own -People for a Guide. This Day our Road -pointed S. b. E. and in four Hours we came -to a Fountain call'd <em>Caphir-Abiad</em>, leaving -Old <em>Aleppo</em> about an Hour distant on the -right Hand: Here we made but a very short -stay, but proceeded to a better Fountain -at the foot of a very high Hill, cover'd with -loose Stones, the Ruins of a Village called -<em>Broeder</em>, of which there was not one House -remaining; and dining here, we advanced -in an Hour and a quarter more, in the Afternoon, -through a fertile open Place, to a -Place called <em>Emghir</em>, famous for the best<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span> -Wheat that is brought to <em>Aleppo</em>. This we -made our first Stage; and mounting again -in the Morning about five a Clock, in less -than an Hour, past by an uninhabited Village, -call'd <em>Urghee</em>, our Road pointing as -before, through the fruitful Plain, even and -pleasant; but when we came to ascend the -Hills, where I reckon'd we entred the Desart, -and were to take our leave of Mankind, -at least of an inhabited Country for -some Days, we had a troublesome Passage, -over loose great Stones, without any appearance -of a Road.</p> - -<p>Our Guide had promised to conduct us -through pleasant Groves and Forests; but -no such thing appeared, unless we would -bestow that Name upon low withered Shrubs -that grew in the Way, only one Tree we -saw, which was of good use to us, serving -as a Land-mark; and when we were come -up with it, being left at a little distance on -the right Hand, we gain'd the Prospect of a -remote ridge of Hills before us, and on the -top of one of them an old Castle; this Castle, -we were told, was known by the Name -of <em>Gazar Ibn Wordan</em>; but what it anciently -was, or in what Condition it is at present, -I could not learn; therefore, not unwillingly, -I turned my Eyes from it, to a little -round Hill more on the left, by which we -were to direct our Course, and about a quarter -of an Hour from which stood a Sheck's -House, call'd <em>Sheck Ailha</em>, where we were to -bait, with a Well of Water by it, but such -that we had but little <em>gusto</em> to taste, though -it served our Horses: All the Country here<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>abouts -is stor'd with <em>Antelopes</em>, and there is a -barbarous sort of People there, that have -hardly any thing else to live upon, but what -of these they can kill; and Necessity has -taught them to be no mean Artists in their -way, for they lie down behind the Stones, -and as the poor harmless Creature passes, -shoot them; and though their Guns be very -ordinary, exceeding heavy and thick, with -Match-Locks, yet are they such excellent -Marks-men, that they kill many. That -Morning we had Travelled about five Hours -to reach <em>Sheck Ailha</em>'s; yet finding nothing to -invite our stay there, (though there were four -or five Tombs there not ill made, according -to the <em>Turkish</em> mode) about one a Clock we -mounted again, bending to the S. E. or something -more Easterly. In our way we had -two remarkable Prospects, one on the right -Hand, of the Ruins of an ancient City call'd -<em>Andreen</em>, and sometimes <em>Londrine</em>, which we -were told had been formerly inhabited by -<em>Franks</em>, and that there were many Inscriptions -there; but it was too far out of our -way, and withal something too dangerous -too, for us to take a view of them: The other, -on the left Hand, was another Tree, not -far from which our Guide assured us of good -Water, where we designed to take up our -Lodging; the hopes of the Water made us -slight a Well we past by on the Road, at -which afterwards we repented we had not -stay'd; for when we came up with the Tree, -from which we had declined a great way to -the right, we found our Water still at a very -great distance, and were constrained to take<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span> -new Directions by a white chalky Hill, almost -as far as we could see, and yet not much -beyond the Place which was to be our Stage; -on therefore we proceeded till Sun-set, very -weary, and almost without hope of our coming -to Water that Night, though at the -same time near dead with Thirst; and which -the more supriz'd us, our Guide was advanced -a great way before, out of our sight, -upon what design we knew not, but at his -return, we found it was only to assure himself -better of the way, and in an Hours time -more he brought us to the side of a Bog, -call'd by the Name of <em>Zerga</em>, where, such as -it was, we found Water enough, but it was -neither palatable nor wholsome, neither did -the Ground seem proper to Sleep upon; yet -we were forced to be content, there being no -removing thence that Night.</p> - -<p><em>October 1.</em> We departed from <em>Zerga</em>, about -two Hours before Sun-rise, and as soon as it -was light, had the Prospect of a very high -Hill, which was to be the bounds of our Travel -that Day. To this we made as directly -as we could look, finding nothing in our -way observable either to arrest our curiosity, -or to slacken our Pace, except a multitude of -Holes made in the sandy Earth, by Rats, Serpents, -and other Animals, which render'd -our Riding a little troublesome; as we had -found it upon the same Account the Afternoon -before. About two Hours short of our -Stage, we were shewn three little round Hills -lying to the right in a direct line, known by -the Name of <em>Tenage</em>; where we were told -there was good Water, and it's for that rea<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>son -only they deserve the notice of those that -Travel through such a thirsty Desart. The -Place to which we directed our Course was -called <em>Esree</em>, where we arrived about eleven -a Clock, and found to our great Satisfaction, -that our Guide had not deceived us in his -Promise of excellent Water: Here we could -discern the Foundations of a spacious City, -and a piece of a thick Wall, built of a -chalky Stone, was standing: This we judged -to be the remainder of a Castle situated on -the side of the Hill, so as both to defend and -command the City. On the top of the Hill, -above the Castle, stands the Ruins of a Fabrick, -in appearance very Ancient, built of -very hard Stone, yet exceedingly worn by -the Weather; 'tis of an oblong Figure, pointing -near to the N. E. and S. W. with only -one Door on the Easterly end, which was -once adorned with extraordinary good Carvings, -of which there are still some remains, -but the greatest part is either worn away, -or purposely defaced; and those marks of ancient -Beauty that remain are very obscure, -and difficultly discernable; the outside of the -Walls is beautified with Pilasters quite round, -with their Pedestals and Capitals regular and -handsom; but the Roof is all fallen down, -and within appears nothing which looks either -great or beautiful. The Situation, and -placing the Door, hinders one from conjecturing -it to have been a Christian Oratory, -or Chappel, and therefore in probability it -must have been a Heathen Temple; and if -so, then the piece of the Castle Wall being -of a softer Stone, must be much more mo<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>dern; -the goodness of the Water brings the -<em>Arabs</em> (who rove up and down the Desart) -and the <em>Turk-men</em> frequently hither, which -has occasion'd a great many Graves about -the Temple; and some have had leisure, and, -(which is more difficult to be imagin'd) skill -enough to scratch in the Walls the first Letters -of their Names, and many more in Arabick -Characters, which we could make nothing -of, no more than of an Arabick Inscription -which lay hard by, but appeared -not ancient.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 2d. We departed from <em>Esree</em>, -about an Hour, or an Hour and an half after -Midnight, and in six Hours and an half -arrived at two Wells, the Water 18 Fathom -and 2 Foot deep, known by the Name of -<em>Imp malcha Giub</em>: Through the greatest part -of this Stage we had a broad beaten Road, -and where that was not discernible, we guided -our selves by a ridge of chalky Hills, under -which the Wells lay; the Water we -found exceeding bad, and of so noisome a -Scent, that we could not endure it so much -as at our Noses; which made our Guide -laugh at us, who told us, the <em>Arabs</em>, and -even the King himself used to drink freely -of it; which, I am sure, our Horses would -not do, though they were under a necessity -of drinking that or none: For our selves -we had brought from <em>Esree</em> Water, sufficient -for one Day at least. In our way hither -we were shewn the true Plant which they -burn for Soap-Ashes, which has no Leaves, -but a soft juicy Stalk shooting into several -Branches, and something resembling our Cam<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>phire, -only it's more round than that; the -Ashes likewise we saw, which were made not -far from the Wells, which in burning run -into Cakes, not much unlike the Cinders of -a Forge, only they are heavier, and not so -full of Pores, nor so hard as they are. In -the Afternoon, we proceeded on our Voyage -two Hours and an half, to a place called <em>Almyrrha</em>, -passing rather between than over the -Hills, though we had something of an ascent -too; this we did to shorten our Stage -the next Morning, for we were told before-hand -we should find no Water upon those -Mountains; so, for our Selves, we liv'd upon -our old Stock, and our Horses were constrain'd -to pass that Night without Water. Our -Journy hitherto had been altogether Southerly, -and but little varying to the Eastward -of due South.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 3d. We mounted from <em>Almyrrha</em> -between five and six in the Morning, -making to the point of a high ridge of Mountains, -through an uneven Desart Way, frequently -interrupted with Gutts and Channels, -probably made by the descent of the -Waters from the Hills, upon sudden Rains: -We came to the ascent after about four Hours -Travel, which we found not difficult; and -when we were on the top, we had a pleasant -Prospect of the Country, and what we rejoyced -at most, we were shewn a little Hill, -just behind which, we were told lay <em>Tadmor</em>. -This Mountain was cover'd on both sides -with great plenty of Turpentine-Trees, which -was an Object very pleasing, having seen very -few greens in our whole Journey: This Tree<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span> -grows very thick and shady, and several of -them we saw loaded with a vast abundance of -small round Nut, the chief use whereof is to -make Oil, though some eat them, and account -them as great a Regalio as Pistaches; -their outward Husk is green, and more Oily -than that of Pistaches, and within a very -thin Shell is contained a Kernel both in colour -and relish very much resembling them; -but those that eat them, seldom take the -Pains to search for the Kernels, but eat -Husk and Shell all together, which have no -ungrateful Taste: From this Hill we had a -tedious descent, and coming at the foot into -a narrow Gut, winding this way and that -between the Mountains, our Passage seemed -very long, hot and tiresome; our want of -Water however obliged us to proceed, whereof -we now began to be in great necessity, especially -for our Horses and Mules, who had -none the Night before, nor none all that -Day; with this we had hopes of being supplied -two different ways; having had a shower -of Rain the Night before, we hoped to have -found Water standing in the hollows of the -Rocks; but either the Rain had not reach'd -so far, or not in such plenty as to fill those -naturally hewed Cisterns: Our other expectation -was from the Wells that were in the -Road; but these our Guide advancing before -and examining, met us with the unwelcome -News, that they were all dried up, -and the best Advice he could give us, was -to pitch where we were, and content our -selves with the remains of what we had -brought two Days in our Vessels, till our<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span> -Horses and Mules might be sent to a Fountain -two Hours out of our way, and being -watered there themselves, bring a fresh supply -for us: This way, with some difficulty, -we assented to, as more eligible, than weary -as we were, to wander so far out of the -Road, to have the same Ground to stage over -again the next Morning: We resolved therefore -to send our Guide, with one or two of -our Servants, in search of the Water, and -afterwards others with our Horses, while in -the mean time we pitch'd our Tents, it being -then about two a Clock in the Afternoon: -As soon as they were gone, a small drizzling -Rain, which we had about half an Hour, encreased -to a very plentiful Shower, which -put us upon producing all the Vessels we had -to catch it as it fell from the Heavens, or -ran down the Skirts of our Tents, our Horses -at the same time greedily drinking it from -the Ground; but we might have spared our -Pains, for in less than half an Hours time, -our Camp was in a manner a-float, and we -were surrounded with Water not only sufficient -for us, but for an Army of 20000 Men; -those hollow Gutts which we passed over -without the least appearance of moisture, -were, by the Cataracts which descended from -the Mountains, become Rivers; and our -Guide with those Servants we had sent out, -that before rode over it dry, it being swoln -to such a Torrent, were put to some difficulty -to repass it; so plentifully was God pleased -to provide for us in our greatest streight; -and which encreases both the Wonder and -Mercy, the next Morning, all this great<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span> -quantity of Water was past away, so that in -about two Hour's Riding we could hardly -perceive that there had been any Rain at all. -This memorable Place is known by the Name -of <em>Al-Wishal</em>.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 4th. From <em>Al-Wishal</em> we proceeded -for <em>Tadmor</em>, some of the Ruins of -which we perswaded our selves we could see -the Day before; perhaps it might be the -Castle, which is more than half an Hour's -distance from the City; our way lay Southward, -but the Gut in which we travelled -would not permit us to keep a direct course: -However, in about an Hour's Walk, we past -by <em>Antor</em> Mountains (our Guide call'd them -<em>Toul Antor</em>) through a Gut or Rent, both -sides of which so directly answered one to -the other, they would tempt a Man to believe -they were separated by Art, for an entrance -into the Country; but it must have -been a work of prodigious Labour and Charges -to have cut through such vast Mountains: -And if any one was so hardy as to -attempt it, he certainly grew weary of his -Undertaking; for the Ground is levelled -but a very little way, and almost as soon -as we were well got within the open space, -we were obliged to ascend another Hill, and -so our Road continued over Hills and Valleys -interchangeably all the way. On the -left Hand, some distance from the Road, we -saw a <em>Sheck</em>'s House on the top of a high -Hill, which made a better show than usually -those Buildings do, but being assured by our -Guide it was a modern Structure, and eager -too to come to the principal Place we aim<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>ed -at, we would not prolong our Stage so -much as to turn out of the Road, to see -more of it: So pressing still forwards, we -had hardly proceeded four Hours, when we -came to the brow of a Rocky Mountain, separated -from that whereon stands the Castle -of <em>Tadmor</em>, but by a narrow Valley: In which -Hill, by the Way, appeared some Quarries -of fine Stone, which probably might afford -Materials to the curious Buildings in the -City. Our Guide here (according to his accustomed -Diligence) advanced some few Paces -before us, and having espied three or -four Country-Fellows driving Asses towards -us, he caused us to make halt, to give them -an opportunity to come nearer to us, resolving -to speak with them, to know whether -the Coast was clear, or if any of the Mountain -<em>Arabs</em> were then at <em>Tadmor</em>, or not. -After a little space, with our Arms in our -Hands, we marched in as good order as the -Way would permit, down a rocky and steep -Precipice, into the Valley; and our Guide -making greater speed than we could, gallop'd -after the poor affrighted Country Fellows; -who seeing such a Company unexpectedly -descend the Hill, left their Asses, and -fled towards the City with all possible speed: -But they were soon overtaken, and brought -back again to us; to whom they related the -good News, that there was no Force at all -in <em>Tadmor</em>, and that we might proceed with -Courage, and see what we would there with -all safety: Which News obtained them their -Liberty to go again to their Asses, and we -continued in our Way.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> - -<p>Having tired our selves with roving from -Ruin to Ruin, and rummaging among old -Stones, from which little Knowledge could -be obtained; and more especially not thinking -it safe to linger too long in a Place, where -should the Mountain <em>Arabs</em> (who were Enemies -to <em>Assyne Abasse</em>, our Friend) have Intelligence -of us, they might either fall upon -or endeavour to intercept us in our return; -(for which reason also we had all along concealed -our intended Course, under a pretence -of proceeding forward to <em>Damascus</em>.) -On <em>Thursday</em>, <em>October 8.</em> about half an Hour -after four in the Morning, we departed from -<em>Tadmor</em>, being very well satisfied with what -we had seen, and glad to have escaped so -dreaded a Place, without any Trouble or -Pretences upon us; but else with some Regret, -for having left a great many things behind, -which deserved a more particular and -curious Inspection. Our Road lay almost due -East, or a little inclining to the North; and -on the left Hand, a ridge of Hills stretched along -for a great space, sometimes about half -an Hour distant from the Road, and sometimes -opening wider: These Hills, we were told, -were stored with rich Veins of divers Minerals, -and afforded all that vast quantity of -Marble, the Remains whereof we had seen -at <em>Tadmor</em>; and it was from a Fountain call'd -<em>Abulfarras</em>, at the foot of one of them, they -fetch out Water, which we drank there; -the Inhabitants contenting themselves with -that which runs from the Hot Springs. To -the right Hand lay a vast barren Plain, perfectly -bare, and hardly any thing green to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span> -seen therein, except it were a few Gourds -which our Servants found on the side of a -little rising-Ground, where there was no -shew of any thing moist to feed them. Our -Way being plain, we had the sight of <em>Tadmor</em>, -especially the Castle, for above half our -Stage, till we came to an old <em>Caphar</em> House. -We made indeed a very short Days Journey, -in the whole, finding a Fountain of excellent -Water in about five Hours and a half's -Riding; which, as it was a most welcome -Refreshment to us in such a thirsty Desart, -so it was the only good Water we met with -till we came to <em>Euphrates</em>, which was not till -the third Day from this Place. At this Fountain -we pitch'd, near to which is a Village, -but almost wholly ruined and deserted. 'Twas -some time before any Body would be seen, -for they were afraid of us; at length, three -Men came out to our Tents, Spectacles of a -miserable Poverty, occasion'd by their being -frequently pillaged by the Mountain <em>Arabs</em>, -and a great Duty they pay to <em>Assyne Abasse</em> -their King, for his Protection: Three hundred -Dollars they pay him Annually, when -one would think the whole Village was not -able to make up the Sum of one Hundred; -yet being the remotest Place that was under -his Jurisdiction, they often suffer by the -Inroads of the other. The Name of the -Place is <em>Yarecca</em>, a Name it received (as -we were inform'd) from a Victory obtained -there by the <em>Turks</em> over the <em>Mamalukes</em>.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 9th. From <em>Yarecca</em> we mounted -early, and Travelling N. E. or near that -Point, in seven Hours time arrived at <em>Souk<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>ney</em>. -The Road we found much like what we -had the Day before, lying over a barren -Plain; only we had Hills on both sides, and -sometimes closing within half an Hours riding -one of the other. The Village has its -Name from the Hot Waters, (for so the -Word imports,) which are of the same Nature -with those of <em>Tadmor</em>; herein they Bath -frequently, the same little dirty Hole serving -both for Men and Women; only they -have so much Modesty remaining, that they -have different Hours for one and the other. -To say the Truth, 'twas the only mark of -Modesty I could observe among them; in -other respects they seemed a Confident, or -rather Impudent Generation of People. Before -we could pitch our Tents, they flock'd -about us in multitudes, Men, Women, and -Children; and of the last, many of them as -naked as ever they came into the World, not -so much as a Rag about them to cover them; -and so numerous they appeared, that if we -had reason to think <em>Yarecca</em> wanted Inhabitants, -we had no less, to conclude <em>Soukney</em> -over-stock'd. At this Place usually resides an -Officer of <em>Assyne</em>'s, who is their Sub-Basha, -or Governor: He whom we found there, was -call'd <em>Dor</em>, of a good Family among the -<em>Arabs</em>, to whom we made a Present; and he -civilly return'd it in Barley for our Horses. -Afterwards he came under our Tents, and -invited us to an Entertainment; which, considering -the Circumstances of the Place, was -very Splendid, though it was nothing but -<em>Pilaw</em> at last, a little diversify'd by the dressing; -and, to speak truly, I judge we could<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span> -not have less than a Bushel of Rice set before -us. His Palace, indeed was not very stately, -there being few Cottages in <em>England</em> -but might vie with it. To the Room wherein -we were entertain'd, which, doubtless, -was the best, if not the only one he had, we -were forced to clamber, rather than ascend, -by broken Steps made of Stone and Dirt. -When we were got in, and commodiously -seated after the <em>Turkish</em> Mode, it seemed -large enough for about a dozen or fourteen -People: At the upper end was a little space -separated from the rest by a ridge made up -of Earth, within which, I suppose, he slept. -The Walls were mean; but the Roof much -worse, having no other Covering but Faggots; -so that certainly it could not be Proof -against a Shower of Rain which fell that -Night, and forced us out of our Tents, into -in old ruinous <em>Cane</em>, for shelter: However, -it served well enough for our Afternoons Collation; -and we had come away with a good -Opinion of the Gentleman's Civility, had he -not afterwards endeavoured to make a Pretence -upon us, and so would have forced us -to pay dear for our Rice: He pretended to -a Customary Duty of a Chequeen a Head -of all <em>Franks</em> that past that Road; though -probably neither he, nor his Grand-father -before him, had ever seen a <em>Frank</em> there before. -But when he understood by our Guide, -that we were not so easily to be imposed upon; -and withal, that we were <em>Assyne</em>'s -Friends, and in our Way to his Tents; and -especially our Treasurer a Person he very -much esteemed, who therefore would be sure<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span> -to acquaint him with any Exaction or Injury -offer'd us, his Mouth was quickly stop'd, and -he grew so sensible of his Error, that he sent -to excuse it, and presented our Treasurer -with a Fan of Black Ostrich Feathers; and -not only so, but in the Morning came himself, -and begging Pardon, desired nothing -might be said of what had past, and so -conducted us about an Hour on our way. This -Village pays to <em>Assyne</em> fifteen hundred Dollars -<em>per Annum</em>.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 10th. Continuing our Voyage -still to the N. E. or something more Easterly, -we found it another pleasant and easie Stage -to another Village call'd <em>Tiebe</em>, so called (as -they say) from the goodness of the Water, -the Word signifying <em>good</em>: But we found them -not so over excellent; they had the Tast, -and were doubtless tinctured with the same -Mineral, with those of <em>Soukney</em> and <em>Tadmor</em>, -though not so strong. But the Village it self -made a better Shew than usual; and the People -appear'd of something better Fashion, -and more civiliz'd, than those we had left. -It's pleasantly situated, and makes a good appearance -as one comes up to it; the Prospect -being helped by a well built Steeple, to which -is now adjoyned their Mosch: But I am apt -to believe it the remains of a Christian -Church, being built with more Art and Beauty -than you shall easily find in Turkish Fabricks: -And there are also several Ruins about -it, which speak it to have been a more -famous Place than now it is. Into the Mosch -we were permitted to enter, without any Disturbance. -This Village lies in one of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span> -Roads from <em>Aleppo</em> to <em>Bagdatt</em>, and pays to -<em>Assyne</em> an Annual Tribute of one thousand -Dollars. From hence we mounted again in -the Afternoon, and proceeded about two -Hours and a half farther, to shorten our -next Days Stage. Having travelled this Day, -in all, about seven or eight Hours, the Place -we pitch'd at was a Fountain, and known by -the Name of <em>Alcome</em>; but neither Town nor -House by it: neither was the Water fit to -be Drank, being of the same nature with that -of <em>Soukney</em>, and almost as warm.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 11th. From <em>Alcome</em> we rose about -an Hour and an half after Midnight, -our Guide groping out the way, by the help -of the Stars, which now bended more to the -North than formerly. As soon as it was -light enough to look about us, we found our -selves in a wild open Desart, the Ground, in -some Places covered with a sort of Heath, -and in others quite bare. Nor had we travelled -long after the Sun was up, before, by -the help of a rising Ground, we discovered -<em>Arsoffa</em>, the Place whither we were tending, -which gave us hopes we should quickly be -there: But having a dry tiresome Plain to -traverse, and the hot Sun causing our Mules -a little to slacken their Pace, 'twas after ten -a Clock before we reach'd it: And which -was more vexatious still, finding no Water -any where near, we were necessitated to -proceed forward for the River <em>Euphrates</em>, -which we found four Hours distant from hence. -<em>Arsoffa</em>, or (as the <em>Arabs</em> call it) <em>Arsoffa Emir</em>, -seems to be the remains of a Monastery, having -no Town nor Village near it, and being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span> -one continued Pile of Building of an oblong -Figure, stretching long ways East and West, -and enclosing a very capacious Area: At a -distance it makes a glittering shew, being -built of <em>Gypsine Stone</em>, or Rock-Ising-glass, -resembling Alabaster, but not so hard; several -Quarries of which we past by in our -way to it. When the Sun shines upon it, it -reflects the Beams so strong, that they dazzle -the Eyes of the Spectators. Art or Accuracy -in the Workmanship we found none; -and but very little Carved Work, and that -mean enough; nay, the very Cement they -made use of, is but little better than Dirt; -so that it's no great Wonder to see it in Ruins, -though it has not the appearance of any -great Antiquity. Round about were the -little Apartments or Chambers for the Monks, -built Arch-wise, only one Story above -Ground; but underneath are several Cells -or Vaults, larger than the Chambers, which -perhaps might serve for their Schools, or -Working-houses. In the midst of the Area -stand the Ruins of several Buildings, some -of which seem to have been Cisterns for Water, -and it may be the Bathing-Places: But -the most remarkable was one, which probably -was the Abbot's or Bishop's House, -there having been something more Pains bestow'd -upon it, than the rest: And another, -which was the Relicks of their Church. This -was formerly no unhandsom Structure, being -built in the form of our Churches, and distinguish'd -into three Isles, of which the middle -one is supported by eighteen turned Marble -Pillars, with Capitals upon them, not of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span> -Marble, but of a sort of Clay, and Cast into -the shape they are in, but of a Colour -exactly resembling the Pillar it self. That -which perswades to believe them Cast, is -a Greek Inscription to be seen on all of them; -the Letters whereof are not made by Incision -in the Stone, but seem to be stamped, -standing out higher than the distance between -them; and on one of them, by mistake, -they are so placed, as to be read after the -Oriental manner, from the right Hand to -the left. The Words are these, with the -Crucifix before, as follows:</p> - -<p>✠ ΕΠΙ ΣΕΡΓΙΟΥ ΕΠΙΣΚ<sup>Ο</sup>. ΤΟΥ ΣΥΝΓΕΝ -ΜΑΡΩΝΙΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΧΩΡΕΠΙΣΚ<sup>Ο</sup>.</p> - -<p>From hence our Guide led us to the River, -by the assistance of two little Hills, which -are known by the Name of <em>Aff Dieu</em>, our -way lying North, and a little bending to -the East. The sight of the River was a very -pleasing Prospect; and to our great comfort, -we found the Water very clear, happening -to be there before the Rains, and after -the Snow-Waters (which swell and disturb -it in the Summer-time) were all past: -And our Happiness seemed the greater, having -had so tedious and thirsty a Journey -of at least fourteen Hours, and neither our -Selves nor our Horses touch'd a drop of Water -all Day. We pitch'd upon a Reach of the -River, where it was not very broad, not being -above half a Musket-shot over.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 12th. This Morning, about -Sun-rise, we proceeded on our Voyage, keeping -along the Banks of the River, which, for -the most part, led us West and North-West: -And here we had pleasant Travelling, having -the River on the right Hand, and Hills -of Marble or other fine Stone, on the left; -and delightful Groves of Tamarisk, Mulberry, -and other Trees to pass through. -Here every thing about us lookt fresh and -verdant, and we met frequently Men and -Women passing on their Occasions, a thing -to which (in our former Stages) we had not -been accustomed. We had also a pleasing -Prospect of the opposite Shore, and could -see a great way into <em>Mesopotamia</em>, but could -meet with no Convenience to cross the River, -which we were very desirous to have -done. There are no Places of Note remaining -upon the River either on one side or the -other, only on the farther side we saw an old -Castle call'd <em>Giabar</em>, which made a good Shew, -being situated on the top of a Hill, and both for -that and the way of Building, very much resembling -that of <em>Aleppo</em>, only that is the -larger, and in the midst of a City; this less, -and has neither Town nor Houses about it. -On our side we past by a <em>Sheck</em>'s House call'd -<em>Abul-Rarra</em>, and the Ruins of a Town a little -farther, where there was a square Tower -built of a very ordinary Brick, but pretty -entire. After we had left these Ruins, we -rested to bait, under the Shadow of a Rock, -wherein were many Apartments and Conveniences -cut to lodge in, which I suppose are -made use of in the Winter by the People,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span> -who, during the Summer, pitch among the -Trees by the River-side. In the Afternoon -we continued our Journey as before, keeping -always at a little distance from the River, -till a little before Sun-set; when we came to -a very convenient Place upon the Banks, -where we took up our lodging for that Night, -having travell'd between seven or eight Hours -the whole Day.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 13th. This Day we had the -same Satisfaction as the Day before, proceeding -as near the River as the Road would -permit; and having made a Stage of about -six Hours, we rested under the shade of the -Tamarisk Trees by the River side, hoping to -have found conveniency to have crossed it, but -we could not. In our Way we saw nothing -observable but the Ruins of a City call'd -<em>Baulas</em>, where the <em>Turks</em> had formerly a <em>Sangiack</em>; -but now there is never an Inhabitant -in the Place, nor House standing, but the -Ruins of Houses, and an Octagonal Tower -of a considerable height, <em>viz.</em> One hundred -and seven Steps, and beautified on the outside -with Flourishes and an Arabick Inscription -round about: It's a handsome Structure, -and probably the Work of the <em>Mamalukes</em>, -since whose time little has been done to adorn, -but abundance to destroy and wast -this Country. After Dinner, we mounted -sooner than ordinary; because hoping to -reach the Tents of <em>Assyne</em>, we were unwilling -it should be late when we arrived: yet -we made it near Sun-set before we got to -<em>Fay</em>, a Fountain by which he lay. We had -travell'd still on the same Point N. W. with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span> -the Prospect of the River the greater part -of the Way; the nearest Reach thereof not -being above an Hours Riding from the Fountain. -On the Road we met with several <em>Bandera</em>'s -of the <em>Emir</em>'s Soldiers, who knowing -our Guide, and understanding we were going -to him, gave us a very courteous <em>Salam</em>, who -else, perhaps, might have treated us with -another sort of Civility. The King's Tents -spread over a large Plain, and took up so -vast a Space, that though we had the advantage -of a rising Ground, we could not see the -uttermost extent of them. His own particular -Tent was pretty near the middle of the -rest, which were pitch'd about it, not in a -circular manner, but stretching out in length -as the Plain open'd, or for the better conveniency -of a Current of Water, which from -the Fountain ran through the midst of them. -'Twas not at all distinguishable from the rest, -but by its bigness, and a little more Company -about it, being all made of a sort of -Hair-Cloth, which seemed hardly a defence -against Rain or Sun: But certainly they must -find otherwise, else their Necessity (they -spending their Lives in such moveable Habitations) -would have taught them to have -contrived something better. It cannot well -be doubted but they are descended from the -old <em>Arabs Scenitæ</em>, they living just after the -same manner, having no settled Abode, but -remove from Fountain to Fountain, as they -find Grass for their Sheep and Camels, and -Water for them and themselves. They love -to derive themselves from <em>Ismael</em> the Son of -<em>Abraham</em>; and it may be they are descended<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span> -from him, but I believe they would be hard -put to't to prove their Pedigree.</p> - -<p>As soon as we alighted, we were attended -by the Officers of the <em>Emir</em>, and conducted to -a very noble Tent built after the <em>Turkish</em> -Mode, and pitch'd next to his own. Hither -he sent to bid us welcome, and to enquire -how we had past in our Voyage; and presently -after we had a Repast of several Dishes -of Meat set before us, to stay our Appetites -till a more plentiful Supper could be -got ready. But before Supper the King -himself made us a Visit in Person, bidding us -Welcome to <em>Fay</em>, and asking what we had -seen in our Travels that pleas'd us? how we -liked <em>Tadmor</em>? and whether we had found a -Treasure there? For this Notion sticks in -the Heads of these People, That the <em>Franks</em> -go to see old Ruins, only because they there -meet with Inscriptions which direct them to -some hid Treasures. And therefore it's no -unusual thing with them, when they find a -Stone with an Inscription on one side, to turn -that down to the Ground, that it might not -be seen or read of any. But we assur'd him -we went with no such Expectations, but only -out of a desire to see the Place: Neither -had we brought any thing away with us; but -a piece of Porphyry Stone, which, upon his -Request, we shew'd him. We let him see -too, a kind of rude Draught which we had -taken of the Place; which he seemed to like. -He made his Visit the shorter, that he might -not incommode us after our Journey; but desir'd -us we would live after our own Pleasure -and to our Satisfaction, and command freely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span> -whatever the Camp would afford; ordering -some of his People constantly to attend upon -us. When there was mention made of our -Design to be gone the next Morning, he answer'd, -It must not be; himself was invited -the next Day, to a great Entertainment, by -one of his <em>Grandees</em>, and we should accompany -him: But the Day following, he would -go out with us, and Hunt part of our Way -towards <em>Aleppo</em>. When Supper was brought -in, there was Victuals enough for three times -our Number: A large Dish of <em>Pilaw</em> in the -middle, and twelve or fifteen Dishes of several -sorts of Meat about it, all dress'd after -their manner, but exceeding good, and such -as one might have fed heartily upon, had he -not spoil'd his Appetite before. After we -had Eat and Drank what we pleas'd, we -rose up, and our Servants sat down in our -Places; it being the Custom of the <em>Arabs</em>, -and <em>Turks</em> too, from the Highest to the Meanest, -all to eat at the same Table: The best -sort sit down first, and so in order till all are -satisfy'd, and then what remains is carry'd -away. We might, if we had pleas'd, have -lodg'd under the same Tent where we eat; -but having Tents of our own pitch'd, some -of our Company chose rather to retire thither, -to avoid being disturbed by too many -Visitants.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 14th. The next Morning, about -ten a Clock, we were told that the -King was gone to the Entertainment, and -expected we should follow him; and that two -young Camels were kill'd, to furnish this -sumptuous Feast; which is the highest piece<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span> -of Magnificence and Greatness to which these -People, whose greatest Riches consist in -Camels, can arrive. The Tent was about a -Furlong from ours; so mounting our Horses, -we rode to it, and found it surrounded -with a numerous train of Guests, three hundred -at least, of different Sort and Quality: -It was very large of it self, and to be still -more capacious, 'twas left open toward the -West. The King was seated at the North-end, -about the midst of the Tent, upon a Place -raised with Cushions and Quilts, and Carpets -before him: Neither did he sit cross-Legg'd, -as all the rest of the Company were -obliged to do, but in a leaning Posture. -They seemed to observe an exact Order in -their Places; and when any Person of Note -enter'd, those that were near his Place, rose -up and stood till he had seated himself. But -the far greatest part could not come within -the compass of the Ring, but stood behind -the Backs of the rest, leaving a spacious -<em>Area</em> vacant in the middle. When we entred, -they made room for us on the King's left -Hand, which here is esteem'd the more Honourable; -where we sat down in the same -Posture with those about us, cross-Legg'd -upon a thin Carpet. Before mid-day, a Carpet -being spread in the middle of the Tent, -our Dinner was brought in, being served up -in large Wooden Bowls between two Men; -and truly to my apprehension, Load enough -for them. Of these great Platters there -were about fifty or sixty in number, perhaps -more, with a great many little ones, I mean, -such as one Man was able to bring in, strew<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>ed -here and there among them, and placed -for a Border or Garnish round about the -Table. In the middle of all was one of a -larger size than all the rest, in which was the -Camel's Bones, and a thin Broth in which -they were boiled: The other greater ones -seemed all filled with one and the same sort -of Provision, a kind of Plumb-Broth, made -of Rice, and the fleshy part of the Camel, -with Currants and Spices, being of something -a darker Colour than what is made -in our Country. The lesser were, for the -the most part, charged with Rice dress'd -after several Modes, some of them having -<em>Leben</em>, (a thick sour Milk) poured upon -them. <em>Leben</em> is a thing in mighty Esteem -in these Hot Countries, being very useful -to quench Thirst: And truly we had need -of it here; for I did not see a drop of any -sort of Liquor, excepting a Dish of Coffee -before Dinner, drank at this splendid Feast. -Knives, Forks, Spoons, Trenchers, <em>&c.</em> are -silly Impertinent Things in the Esteem of the -<em>Arabs</em>: However, we being known to make -use of such things, had large Wooden Spoons -laid before us. When the Table was thus -plentifully furnish'd, the King arising from -his Seat, went and sat down to that Dish -that was directly before him; and so did -the rest, as many as it would contain, which -could not be much short of a hundred; -and so without further Ceremony, they fell -to thrusting their Hands into the Dishes, -and Eating by Handfuls: Neither was there -any occasion of Carving; only because those -Dishes in the middle were too remote to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span> -be reach'd, there was an Officer on purpose, -who stepping in among them, and standing -in the Spaces designedly left for that -end, with a long Ladle in both his Hands, -helpt any one according to their Desire. -When the King had eaten what he thought -fit, he rose up and wash'd, and retir'd back -to his former Seat; and we also did the -like; others being ready to fill our Places. -Nor did we continue much longer under -the Tent in that numerous Crowd; for <em>Assyne</em> -perceiving us a little uneasie, and supposing -we had now sufficiently satisfy'd -our Curiosity, though perhaps not our Appetites, -told us we might take our Liberty, -and if we thought fit retire to our -Tents. This Favour we gladly accepted, -and without Ceremony returned, several -of his Attendants waiting upon us back. -Here we had another Dinner set before -us; and having some of our own Wine -and Water to Drink with it, it went down -better with us than the famous Camel-Feast. -In the Evening, the King mounted to see -the flight of a new Hawk, and stay'd Abroad -very late, his Hawk flying away: -But she was afterwards taken up by his Falconer; -otherwise he had not been in a good -Humour all that Night, being a Man that -delights very much in Sport. After his return -from Hawking, we went to Wait upon -him at his own Tent, to return him Thanks for -his most courteous and royal Reception of us, -and to desire leave to depart the next Morning. -Here we found him surrounded with -the chiefest of his People; and being pla<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span>ced -again on his left Hand, he entertain'd -us with a great deal of pleasant Discourse; -and ask'd such Questions, as shew'd him to -be a Man of extraordinary Capacity and -Judgment. As for Learning, they have no -such thing among them, and therefore it's -not to be expected that he should be a Scholar: -But were he not a Person of more than -common Prudence and Understanding, he -could never have managed that Wild and -Unruly People as he has done, ever since -his Advancement to the Throne; which -must therefore have been the more difficult, -because as he came to it by the Deposition -of his Father (though not immediately) -who now lives with him as a private Man, -so has he never wanted Competitors. To -his Father he pays a great deal of outward -Respect, but is forced to keep a very watchful -Eye over him. After about an Hours -Discourse, we were dismiss'd.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 15th. In the Morning, <em>Assyne</em> -not being at leisure to go a Hunting, we -proceeded on our Voyage Homewards, with -a great deal of Alacrity; and finding nothing -remarkable in our Road, in about 3 -Hours and an half arrived at <em>Seray</em>. And -hence, after a short Repast, we continued -our Journey to <em>Sherby</em> Fountain, which took -us up about the like space of Time. Here -we accounted our selves as good as at Home, -being at a Place with which we were well -acquainted, and to which several times in -the Year some or other of our Nation usually -resort, either for Antelope or Hog-hunting, -according to their Season; nor had<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span> -we hence above seven or eight Hours to -<em>Aleppo</em>.</p> - -<p><em>October</em> the 16th. Getting up pretty early -in the Morning, we resolved to Hunt -the greatest part of our Way Home, as we -did; and Dining at the famous <em>Round-Hill</em>, -whereon has been spent by the <em>English</em> more -Money than would purchase a noble Estate -round about it, in the Afternoon we arrived -safe at <em>Aleppo</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Some Account of the Ancient State -of the City of <strong>Palmyra</strong>, with -short Remarks upon the Inscriptions -found there. By <strong>E. Halley</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>The City of <em>Tadmor</em>, whose Remains -in Ruins do with so much evidence -demonstrate the once happy Condition thereof, -seems very well to be proved to be the -same City which <em>Solomon</em> the great King of -<em>Israel</em> is said to have founded under that -Name in the <em>Desart</em>, both in 1 <em>Kings</em> 9. 18. -and 2 <em>Chron.</em> 8. 16. in the Translation of -which, the <em>Vulgar Latin Version</em>, said to be -that of St. <em>Jerom</em>, has it, <em>Condidit Palmyram -in Deserto</em>. And <em>Josephus</em> (in <em>lib.</em> 8. <em>Antiq. -Jud.</em> wherein he treats of <em>Solomon</em> and his -Acts) tell us, that he Built a City in the Desart, -and called it <em>Thadamora</em>; and the <em>Syrians</em> -at this Day (says he) call it by the same -Name; but the <em>Greeks</em> name it <em>Palmyra</em>. The -Name is therefore Greek, and consequently -has no relation to the Latin <em>Palma</em>, and -seems rather derived from Παλμυός or Πάλμυς, -which <em>Hesychius</em> Interprets βασιλεὺς πατὴρ: or -perhaps from Παλμύτης, which (according to -the same Author) was an <em>Egyptian</em> God. Neither -is the Word תרמר but תמר that in Hebrew -signifies a <em>Palm-Tree</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span></p> - -<p>History is silent as to the Fate and Circumstances -of this City, during the great Revolutions -in the several Empires of the East; -but it may well be supposed, that so advanced -a Garrison as this was, being above three -hundred Miles from <em>Jerusalem</em>, continued -not long in the Possession of the <em>Jews</em>, who -immediately after <em>Solomon</em>, fell into Civil -Dissention, and divided their Force: so that -it is not to be doubted, but that it submitted -to the <em>Babylonian</em> and <em>Persian</em> Monarchies, -and afterwards to the <em>Macedonians</em> under -<em>Alexander</em> and the <em>Seleucidæ</em>. But when the -<em>Romans</em> got footing into these Parts, and the -<em>Parthians</em> seemed to put a stop to their farther -Conquests in the <em>East</em>, then was this -City of <em>Palmyra</em>, by reason of its Situation, -being a Frontier, and in the midst of -a vast Sandy <em>Desart</em>, where Armies could not -well subsist to reduce it by Force, courted -and caressed by the contending Princes, and -permitted to continue a Free State, a Mart -or Staple for Trade, for the Convenience of -both Empires, as is abundantly made out -from the Words of <em>Appian</em> and <em>Pliny</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Appian</em> (<em>lib.</em> 5. <em>de Bellis Civil.</em>) tells us, that -<em>M. Antonius</em>, after his Victory at <em>Philippi</em>, about -forty Years before <em>Christ</em>, sent his Horse -to Plunder the City of <em>Palmyra</em>, pretending -only that they were not sufficiently in the -<em>Roman</em> Interest. ὅτι Ρωμαίων καὶ Παρθυαίων ὄντες -ἔφοροι ἐς ἑκατέρας ἐπιδεξίως εἶχον, and that being -Merchants, they conveyed the <em>Indian</em> and -<em>Arabian</em> Commodities by the way of <em>Persia</em> -into the <em>Roman</em> Territories; though the true -reason were their Riches: But the <em>Palmyrenes</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span> -being informed of the Design, took care to -prevent them, and so escaped Plunder: And -this Attempt of <em>Antony</em>'s occasioned a Rupture -between the two Empires. The Words -of <em>Pliny</em> (<em>lib.</em> 5. <em>Nat. Hist.</em>) above an hundred -Years after, do likewise testifie that this City -then continued in the same Enjoyment of -their Liberties. They being very much to -the purpose, I thought fit to Copy them: -<em>Palmyra Urbs nobilis situ, divitiis soli atque -aquis amœnis, vasto undique ambitu arinis includit -agros, ac velut terris exempta à rerum Natura; -privata sorte inter duo imperia summa -Romanorum Parthorumque, & prima in discordia -semper utrinque cura</em>. Whereby it appears not -only that it was a Common-wealth in the -time of <em>Vespasian</em>; but the situation thereof -is truly described, as it were an Island of -fertile Land, surrounded with a Sea of barren -Sands. Such Spots <em>Strabo</em> tells us were -frequent in <em>Lybia</em>, and by the <em>Egyptians</em> were -called <em>Abases</em>; whence possibly the Name of -the <em>Abassyne</em> Nation is derived.</p> - -<p>With these Advantages of Freedom, Neutrality -and Trade, for near two Centuries, -'tis not strange that it acquired the State -and Wealth answerable to the Magnificence -of these noble Structures. But when the <em>Romans</em> -under <em>Trajan</em> had made it appear, that -there was no comparison between the Puissance -of the <em>Parthians</em> and them, (<em>Trajan</em> having -taken <em>Babylon</em> and <em>Ctesiphon</em> the then -Seat of the <em>Parthian</em> Empire,) the <em>Palmyreni</em> -were at length determined to Declare for -the <em>Romans</em>; which they did, by submitting -themselves to the Emperor <em>Adrian</em>, about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span> -the Year of Christ 130, when <em>Adrian</em> made -his Progress through <em>Syria</em> into <em>Egypt</em>. And -that Magnificent Emperor being highly delighted -with the native Strength and Situation -of the Place, was pleased to adorn and -rebuild it: When, as 'tis likely, he bestowed -on it the Privileges of a Colony <em>Juris Italici</em>, -which it enjoyed (as <em>Ulpian</em> assures us.) And -the Inhabitants of the City, in Gratitude, -were willing to call themselves <em>Hadrianopolitæ</em>, -ἐπικτισθείσης τῆς πόλεως ὑπὸ τοῦ Αὐτοκράτορος (says -<em>Stephanus</em>.) Nor is it unlikely that many of -those Marble Pillars were the Gift of that -Emperor, and particularly those of the Long -<em>Porticus</em>; for that none of the Inscriptions -are before that Date. And it was usual for -the <em>Cæsars</em> to present Cities that had obliged -them, with Marble Pillars to adorn their -Publick Buildings. These here were not far -to fetch, the Neighbouring Mountains affording -<em>Marble-Quarries</em>: But the Magnitude -of the <em>Porphyry</em> Columns is indeed very remarkable, -considering how far those vast -Stones must have been brought by Land-carriage -to this Place; it being not known -that any other Quarries yield it, except those -of <em>Egypt</em>, which lie about mid-way between -<em>Cairo</em> and <em>Siena</em>, between the <em>Nile</em> and the -<em>Red-Sea</em>: The Stone being very valuable for -its Colour and Hardness, and so that it rises -in Blocks of any magnitude required; -<em>Quantislibet molibus cædendis sufficiunt Lapidicinæ</em>, -(<em>Plin.</em> <em>lib.</em> 36.) And it is a great mistake -of those who suppose it fictitious.</p> - -<p>From the time of <em>Adrian</em> to that of <em>Aurelian</em>, -for about an hundred and forty Years,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span> -this City continued to flourish and encrease -in Wealth and Power, to that degree, that -when the Emperor <em>Valerian</em> was taken Prisoner -by <em>Sapores</em> King of <em>Persia</em>, <em>Odænathus</em> one -of the Lords of this Town (which Name -occurs in several of these Inscriptions) was -able (whilst <em>Gallienus</em> neglected his Duty both -to his Father and Country) to bring a powerful -Army into the Field, and to recover -<em>Mesopotamia</em> from the <em>Persians</em>, and to penetrate -as far as their Capital City <em>Ctesiphon</em>. -Thereby rendring so considerable Service to -the <em>Roman</em> State, that <em>Gallienus</em> thought -himself obliged to give him a share in -the Empire: Of which Action, <em>Trebellius Pollio</em> -(in the Life of <em>Gallienus</em>) has these Words, -<em>Laudatur ejus (Gallieni) optimum factum, qui, -Odenatum participato Imperio Augustum vocavit, -ejusque monetam, qua Persas captos traheret, -cudi jussit: quod & Senatus & Urbs & omnis -ætas gratanter accepit</em>. The same in many -Places speaks of this <em>Odænathus</em> with great -Respect; and mentioning his Death, he -says, <em>Iratum fuisse Deum Reip. credo, qui interfecto -Valeriano noluit Odenatum reservare</em>. But -by a strange reverse of Fortune, this Honour -and Respect to <em>Odænathus</em> occasioned the -sudden Ruin and Subversion of the City. For -he and his Son <em>Herodes</em> being murder'd by -<em>Mæonius</em> their Kinsman, and dying with the -Title of <em>Augustus</em>, his Wife <em>Zenobia</em>, in Right -of her Son <em>Waballathus</em> then a Minor, pretended -to take upon her the Government of -the East, and did administer it to admiration: -And when soon after <em>Gallienus</em> was -murder'd by his Soldiers, she grasped the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span> -Government of <em>Egypt</em>, and held it during the -short Reign of the Emperor <em>Claudius Gothicus</em>. -But <em>Aurelian</em> coming to the Imperial -Dignity, would not suffer the Title of <em>Augustus</em> -in this Family, tho' he was contented -that they should hold under him as <em>Vice Cæsaris</em>; -as plainly appears by the Latin Coins -of <em>Aurelian</em> on the one side, and <em>Waballathus</em> -(which Name is often found in these Inscriptions) -on the other, with these Letters -V. C. R. IM. OR., which <em>P. Harduin</em> has -most judiciously interpreted <em>Vice Cæsaris Rector -Imperii Orientis</em>, but without the Title of <em>Cæsar</em> -or <em>Augustus</em>, and with a Laurel instead -of a Diadem. But both <em>Waballathus</em> and <em>Zenobia</em> -are stiled ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΙ in the <em>Greek</em> -Coins, made, 'tis probable, within their own -Jurisdiction. Two of the <em>Latin</em> I have seen, -and they are as described, excepting the -Points.</p> - -<p>But nothing less than a Participation of -the Empire contenting <em>Zenobia</em>, and <em>Aurelian</em> -persisting not to have it dismembered: He -marched against her, and having in two Battles -routed her Forces, he shut her up and -Besieged her in <em>Palmyra</em>: And the Besieged -finding that the great resistance they made, -availed not against that resolute Emperor, -they yielded the Town; and <em>Zenobia</em> flying -with her Son, was pursued and taken: With -which <em>Aurelian</em> being contented, spared the -City, and leaving a small Garrison, march'd -for <em>Rome</em> with this Captive Lady: But the -Inhabitants believing he would not return, -set up again for themselves, and (as <em>Vopiscus</em> -has it) slew the Garrison he had left in the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span> -Place. Which <em>Aurelian</em> understanding, tho' -by this time he was gotten into <em>Europe</em>, with -his usual fierceness, speedily returned; and -collecting a sufficient Army by the way, he -again took the City without any great Opposition, -and put it to the Sword, with an -uncommon Cruelty, as he himself confesses -in a Letter (extant in <em>Vopiscus</em>), and delivered -them to the Pillage of his Soldiers. And -it is observable, that none of the Greek Inscriptions -are after the date of this Calamity, -which befell the City in or about the Year -of <em>Christ</em> 272, as far as may be collected, after -it had been nine or ten Years the Seat of -the Empire of the East, not without Glory.</p> - -<p>In this appears also the great utility of -Coins to illustrate Matters of History; for -by them alone 'tis made out, that there was -such a Prince as <em>Waballathus</em>, <em>Vopiscus</em> singly -mentioning him by the Name of <em>Balbatus</em>. -And from the same Coins it appears, that -<em>Odænathus</em> had the Title of <em>Augustus</em> four -Years, and <em>Waballathus</em> six at least; and that -the first Year of <em>Aurelian</em> was the fourth of -<em>Waballathus</em>. And by the Testimony of <em>Pollio</em>, -<em>Odænathus</em> was declared Emperor of the -East, <em>Gallieno</em> & <em>Saturnino Coss.</em> which was <em>Anno -Christi</em> 263, and died before <em>Gallienus</em>, but -in the same Year, <em>viz.</em> <em>Anno</em> 267, which, by -the Coins, was the first of <em>Waballathus</em>. He -therefore immediately succeeded <em>Odænathus</em>, -and was without doubt his Eldest Son by <em>Zenobia</em>, -and not his Grandson the Son of <em>Herodes</em>, -as some learned Men have supposed: -For if <em>Zenobia</em> could not endure that <em>Herodes</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span> -Son of <em>Odænathus</em> by a former Wife, should -succeed his Father in prejudice to her Children, -and for that reason was consenting to -his Murther (as <em>Pollio</em> intimates in <em>Herodes</em> and -<em>Mæonius</em>,) much less would she endure the -Title of <em>Augustus</em> in the Son of <em>Herodes</em>, especially -when her own Sons were, as 'tis probable, -elder than such Grandson. So that -'tis most likely that <em>Herennianus</em> and <em>Timolaus</em>, -whom <em>Pollio</em> reckons among his XXX Tyrants, -might be the Younger Sons of <em>Zenobia</em>, -on whom also, out of Motherly Affection, -she might bestow the same Titles of -Honour.</p> - -<p>But it must be observed, that in the Greek -Coins, this Prince's Name is usually written -ΑΥΤ. ΕΡΜΙΑΣ ΟΥΑΒΑΛΛΑΘΟΣ ΑΘΗΝΟΥ (as -<em>Tristan</em> says he found it upon several Medals,) -but <em>Patin</em> has the last Word only ΑΘΗ. I -should be glad to peruse some of these curious -Coins, especially if found in or near <em>Palmyra</em>: -but I am inclinable to believe that his -true Name was <em>Æranes Waballathus</em> (as was -one of his Progenitors, in Inscription <em>Pag.</em> -91.) though perhaps the remoter Cities of -<em>Asia</em> and <em>Ionia</em> might by mistake write it -<em>Hermias</em>. And 'tis probable that ΑΘΗΝ might -be for the first Letters of the Name of -ΟΔΗΝΑΘΟΣ, which in Syriack begun with -an <em>Aleph</em>; and the Δ was with those People -used instead of Θ, as we see the Month <em>Xanthicus</em>, -written Ξανδικὸς in many of these Inscriptions, -which doubtless was pronounced -like D <em>blæsum</em> or the Saxon D.</p> - -<p>Though this City were at that time so -roughly treated by <em>Aurelian</em>, yet it is certain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span> -that he did not burn it, or destroy the Buildings -thereof: And though <em>Zosimus</em>, on this -occasion, uses the Words τὴν πόλιν κατασκάψας, -yet that seems only to relate to his demolishing -the Walls and Defences of the Place; -and that Emperors own Letter extant in -<em>Vopiscus</em>, doth sufficiently shew that he spared -the City it self, and that he took care -to re-instate the beautiful Temple of the -<em>Sun</em> that was there, which had been Plundered -by his Soldiers. However, the Damage -then sustained was never retrieved by -the Inhabitants, and I do not find that ever -this City made any figure in History after it: -Yet the <em>Latin Inscription</em>, (Pag. 106.) seems -to intimate, as if <em>Dioclesian</em> had restored -their Walls within thirty Years after. About -the Year of Christ 400, it was the Head -Quarters of the <em>Legio Prima Illyricorum</em>; and -though <em>Stephanus</em> gives it no better Title -than φρούριον, yet it appears to have been an -Archbishop's See, under the Metropolitan -of <em>Damascus</em>. To say in what Age, or from -what Hand it received its final Overthrow, -which reduced it to the miserable Condition -it now appears in, there is no light in -any of our Historians; but it is probable it -perish'd long since, in the obscure Ages of -the World, during the Wars of the <em>Saracen</em> -Empire; and being burnt and desolated, it -was never rebuilt; which occasions the Ruins -to lie so entire, in a manner as they were -left, neither being used to other Structures -on the Place, nor worth carrying away, because -of the great distance thereof from any -other City.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span></p> - -<p>As to the Geographical Site of <em>Palmyra</em>, -<em>Ptolemy</em> places it in the Latitude of <em>Tripoly</em> on -the Coast of <em>Syria</em>, and four Degrees more -Easterly, <em>viz.</em></p> - -<p class="center">Παλμύρα. οα, ϛ′. λδ. -</p> - -<p>and he makes it the Capital of sixteen Cities -in <em>Syria Palmyrena</em>, whereof <em>Alalis</em>, <em>Danaba</em> and -<em>Evaria</em> were afterwards <em>Bishops Sees</em>. <em>Pliny</em> -places it CCIII Miles from the nearest Coast -of <em>Syria</em>, and CCCXXXVII from <em>Seleucia ad -Tygrim</em> near <em>Bagdat</em>, (which Numbers are -erroneously Printed 252 and 537 in most Editions, -contrary to the Authority of the -MSS.) <em>Josephus</em> places it one Days Journey -from <em>Euphrates</em>, and six from <em>Babylon</em>; which -must be understood of Horse-man's Journeys -of about sixty Miles <em>per diem</em>, it being more -than so much from this City to <em>Euphrates</em>. -<em>Ptolemy</em> also mentions a River running by -<em>Palmyra</em>, which did not appear to our Travellers, -unless that Gut or Channel wherein -they were overflowed by the Rain-Waters, -were the Bed thereof; which may, possibly, -run with a constant Stream in the Winter -or times of much Rain: But this (as the -Rivers of <em>Aleppo</em> and <em>Damascus</em> at this Day) -is made by <em>Ptolomy</em> to have no <em>exit</em>; but to -go off in <em>Vapour</em>, and to be imbibed by the -thirsty Earth of these Desarts.</p> - -<p>The <em>Æra</em> or Accompt of Years observed -by the <em>Palmyreni</em> in these Inscriptions, is evidently -that of <em>Seleucus</em>, call'd afterwards -<em>Dhilcarnian</em> or <em>Bicornis</em> by the <em>Arabians</em>, and -by them kept in use till above 900 Years of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span> -Christ (as appears by the Observations of -<em>Albatani</em>, published in <em>Numb.</em> 204 of the <em>Philosoph. -Transact.</em>) and not that of the Death -of <em>Alexander</em>. This may be demonstrated -from the Inscription (<em>Pag. 101.</em>) wherein -<em>Alexander Severus</em> is stiled ΘΕΟΣ; that is, -after the Death and Consecration of that Emperor, -or after the Year of our Lord 234; -and from the Name of <em>Julius</em>, who, when -this Inscription was put up, was <em>Præfectus -Prætorio</em>, (and could be no other than <em>Julius -Philippus Arabs</em> who might be esteemed by -the <em>Palmyreni</em> as their Country-man,) it follows, -that it was in the last Year of <em>Gordian</em> -<em>Anno Christi</em> 242 or 243: And that Emperor -being soon after Murder'd by the Treachery -of this <em>Philip</em>, who succeeded him: And his -Treason coming afterwards to light, 'tis not -strange that his Name was purposely effaced -in this Inscription. The Date thereof, <em>Anno</em> -554, shews the beginning of this Accompt -311 or 312 Years before Christ, co-incident -with the <em>Æra</em> of <em>Seleucus</em>, which was likewise -observed by several other Cities in the -East.</p> - -<p>I shall not undertake the part of a Critick -on these Inscriptions, but chuse rather to -leave them to the more professedly skilful in -that part of Learning, and shall only make -some few Remarks on them, such as occurred -whilst they pass'd through my Hands.</p> - -<p>1. That the more ancient of these Inscriptions -dated before the Year 500, do no -where make use of <em>Roman Prænomina</em>, which -yet are very frequent in them that follow; -particularly <em>Julius</em>, <em>Aurelius</em> and <em>Septimius</em>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span> -taken up by these People out of Respect to -the Emperors that bore those Names; and -consequently that <em>Septimius Odænathus</em> (the -Inscription of whose Tomb we have, <em>pag. 91.</em>) -was most probably the same who was afterwards -<em>Augustus</em>. That Name growing in -use in the Reign of <em>Septimius Severus</em>, under -whom or his Son <em>Caracalla</em> this <em>Odænathus</em> -was certainly Born. And this Monument -being erected by him whilst he was yet a private -Man; and he afterwards attaining the -Imperial Dignity, it was necessary the Inscription -of his Tomb (which perhaps was -that single one that was all of Marble) should -be changed: Upon which occasion this Stone -might be brought back into the Town, and -after its Destruction, be clapt up casually -over the little Gate-way where now it -stands.</p> - -<p>2. <em>Pag. 100.</em> ΚΑΤΕΛΘΟΝΤΕΣ ΕΙΣ ΟΛΟΓΕΣΙΑΔΑ -ΕΝΠΟΡΟΙΑΝ ΕΣΤΗΣΑΝ: <em>Descendentes -Vologesiada Commercium stabiliverunt, Anno</em> -558, <em>sive Anno Christi</em> 247. Whereby it appears, -that this People having had their -Trade interrupted by the Wars between the -<em>Romans</em> and the <em>Persians</em>, under <em>Gordian</em>; did -now send an Embassy to the Court of <em>Sapores</em> -King of the <em>Persians</em>, to get it re-established; -which succeeded according to their Desires. -<em>Vologesias</em> was a City built by <em>Vologeses</em> King -of the <em>Parthians</em> in the time of <em>Nero</em>, on the -<em>Euphrates</em> below <em>Babylon</em>. <em>Ptolemy</em> calls it -Οὐολογεσιάς; <em>Stephanus</em>, Βολογεσιὰς; <em>Ammianus</em> -<em>Vologessia</em>; and <em>Pliny</em> lib. 6. <em>Vologesocirta</em>.</p> - -<p>3. <em>Pag. 101.</em> ΚΑΙ ΟΥΚΟΝΙΣΩΝΑ ΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ -ΧΡΗΜΑΤΩΝ. I submit it to the Judgment of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span> -the Criticks, whether this faulty Place may -not be amended by reading it ΟΥΚ ΟΙΚΕΙΩΝ -ΑΦΕΙΔΗΣΑΝΤΑ, <em>&c.</em> as likewise whether -ΔΙΣΜΑΛΚΟΥ in the same Inscription may not -be instead of ΜΑΛΛΟΥ ΤΟΥ ΜΑΛΚΟΥ, which is -the Ingenious Conjecture of that excellent -Grammarian Mr. <em>William Baxter</em>.</p> - -<p>4. <em>Pag. 102.</em> <em>Septimium Vorodem Procuratorem -Ducenarium Augusti &</em> ΑΡΟΑΠΕΤΗΝ. This -Word, if <em>Greek</em>, is faultily transcribed; and -in one Copy I have seen, the Ο is very small, -as I suppose it on the Stone, which might -occasion the transcribing thereof without it -in the former Voyage (<em>Pag. 130.</em>) So that -'tis most probable that 'tis the remains of -some other Letter almost worn out. I conjecture -it to have been ΑΡΤΑΓΕΤΗΝ, Π being -taken for Γ, and that this <em>Septimius</em> was <em>Præfectus -Annonæ</em>, having the Care to see that -the City were sufficiently provided with -Bread; which was a most necessary Officer -in a Place that must needs be furnish'd with -Corn from Abroad. And this same <em>Septimius</em>, -(in the Inscription, <em>Pag. 105.</em>) is stiled -.... ΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ ΤΗΣ ΜΗΤΡΟΚΟΛΩΝΕΙΑΣ. -<em>lege</em> ΚΡΕΟΔΟΤΗΝ, which should signifie that -he was the Distributor of the Emperor's Munificence -in Flesh to the People. These Inscriptions -bear Date in <em>April</em>, <em>Anno Dom.</em> 267. -not long before the Death of <em>Odænathus</em>, who -is herein stiled ΣΕΒΑΣΤΟΣ: and 'tis not improbable -but he might institute such a Custom, -as at the Publick Charge, to give the -People a Largess in Flesh on particular Days, -to reconcile them to the Dominion of their -Fellow-Citizen. This is certain, that <em>Au<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>relian</em> -first instituted such a Custom of giving -Flesh at <em>Rome</em>: The Words of <em>Vopiscus</em> are, -<em>Idem Aurelianus & porcinam carnem populo Romano -distribuit, quæ hodieque dividitur</em>; which -Custom continued till the time of <em>Constantine</em>, -when (according to <em>Zosimus</em>) one <em>Lucian</em>, -who had this Office of distributing Swines -Flesh at <em>Rome</em>, had Interest enough among -the People to set up <em>Maxentius</em> for Emperor; -and <em>Salmasius</em> assures us, that it was not discontinued -till the time of <em>Heraclius</em>. It will -not therefore seem strange, if I suppose <em>Aurelian</em> -might find that Custom at <em>Palmyra</em>, and -at his return from thence institute the like at -<em>Rome</em>.</p> - -<p>I am inclined to believe, that not only -those two Inscriptions, <em>Pag. 102</em>, and the -last of <em>Pag. 103</em>, but also that of <em>Pag. 106</em>, -were in Honour of the same <em>Septimius Vorodes</em> -who seems to have been a great Favourite of -<em>Odænathus</em>, and was without doubt respected -by the <em>Romans</em> on that account, whom I conclude -to have effaced all the Memorials of -<em>Zenobia</em> and <em>Waballathus</em>, insomuch that no -one appears, among those many taken, that -was set up during the six Years they reigned. -The Name <em>Vorodes</em> seems the same with -<em>Orodes</em>, which was the Name of the King of -the <em>Parthians</em> that slew <em>Crassus</em>: and the <em>Persians</em> -having, about forty Years before, expelled -the Race of the <em>Arsacidæ</em>, 'tis not improbable -but the Remains of that Royal -Family might fly for Succour to <em>Palmyra</em>, -and this <em>Vorodes</em> might be one of them.</p> - -<p>5. In two other Copies of these Inscriptions; -the first of <em>pag. 104.</em> is read, <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>Σεπτίμιον -Αἰράνην Ὀδαινάθου, and not Ὀδαινόθου as in the -first Copy, and perhaps ought rather to be -Ὀδαίναθον, as being the Inscription under a -Statue of the same <em>Odænathus</em>, who is here, -as well as on his Tomb, stiled <em>Illustrissimus -Patricius</em>, but without a Date.</p> - -<p>6. ΥΠΟ ΙΑΡΙΒΩΛΟΥ ΘΕΟΥ (<em>pag. 101.</em> & 109.) -It cannot well be doubted but that this <em>Deus -Jaribolus</em> is the same with what <em>Gruter</em> (<em>pag.</em> -86.) and <em>Spon</em> (in the first of his Inscriptions) -reads ΑΓΛΙΒΩΛΩ. By the Figure of the -Idol extant in <em>Spon</em>, it appears that this God -was made with the Moon upon his Shoulders, -and consequently was the <em>Deus Lunus</em> worshipped -by the <em>Syrians</em>, whose Name, in the -Language of that Country, could not be -better expressed than by <em>Jarehbol</em> ירה ביעל -<em>Dominus Lunus</em>. Whence I am induced to -believe, that <em>Gruter</em> mistook it ΑΓΛΙΒΩΛΩ for -ΑΓΑΙΒΩΛΩ, the Ι in the beginning, and the -lower part of the round stroke of the Ρ, being -effaced, so as to pass for Γ. I have taken -care to have the Stone purposely viewed, as -also to get from thence the exact Figure of -the <em>Syrian</em> or <em>Palmyrene</em> Characters thereon, -wherein there is an irreconcilable difference -between <em>Spon</em> and <em>Gruter</em>. By the help of -these, compared with two others taken at -<em>Palmyra</em>, which I have by me, (they being -all very near the same Date,) I hope we may -be able, one Day, to make out the <em>Palmyrene</em> -Alphabet: But it were to be wish'd our Travellers -had transcribed them with more Curiosity, -and taken more of them.</p> - -<p>By the way, it is remarkable, that the Person -who dedicated this Monument, in <em>Gruter</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span> -and <em>Spon</em>, is stiled Λ. ΑΥΡ. ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΣ: and -the same Name occurs in a broken Inscription -which Mr. <em>Hallifax</em> omitted in his Letter -to Dr. <em>Bernard</em>, as being too imperfect. -It stood on the right Hand of the entrance -to the little Temple described <em>pag. 110.</em> and -was thus,</p> - -<p>ΛΟΥΚΙΟΥ ΑΥΡΗ[ΛΙ]ΟΥ ..... ΗΛΙΟΔΩΡΟΥ ΤΟΥ.</p> - -<p>And after a Blank of three lines all worn out -except one single Ο, there followed,</p> - -<p>[ΤΕΙ]ΜΗΣ ΧΑΡΙΝ ΕΤΟΥΣ....... ΜΗΝΟΣ -[ΑΠ]ΕΛΛΑΙ[ΟΥ]. And that imperfect one in -<em>pag. 104.</em> seems to have relation to the same -Name.</p> - -<p>7. <em>Pag. 111.</em> ΜΑΛΕΝΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ -<em>lege</em> ΜΑΛΗΝ ΤΟΝ ΚΑΙ ΑΓΡΙΠΠΑΝ, it being written -ΜΑΛΗΝΤΟΝ, with Η in the two other -Copies I have seen, whereby the Sence is -cleared.</p> - -<p>8. <em>Pag. 117.</em> ΑΓΑΘΑΝΓΕΛΟΣ ΑΒΙΛΗΝΟΣ ΤΗΣ -ΔΕΚΑΠΟΛΕΟΣ, <em>Agathangelus Abilenus, Decapolitanus, -Patronymice</em>. There were in these -Parts two Cities known by the Name of <em>Abila</em>; -to distinguish which, the one was called <em>Abila -Lysaniæ</em>, from the Name of the Tetrarch: -St. <em>Luke</em>, ch. 3. 1. and is placed by <em>Ptolemy</em> -(in his <em>Cælosyria</em>) about mid-way between -<em>Damascus</em> and <em>Heliopolis</em>: The other in <em>Judæa</em>, -called <em>Abila ad Jordanem</em>, described by <em>Josephus</em> -in many Places, to lie over-against <em>Jericho</em>, -near the <em>Dead-Sea</em>. <em>Decapolis</em> was so -called from its Ten Cities, enumerated by -<em>Pliny</em> (<em>lib.</em> 5. 18.) And with them he reckons -up, among others, the <em>Tetrarchy</em> of <em>Abila</em>, in -the same <em>Decapolis</em>: Which demonstrates the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span> -<em>Abila Decapolis</em> and <em>Abila Lysaniæ</em> to be the -same Place. And tho' it cannot be denied, -but that some of <em>Pliny</em>'s Ten Cities are not -far distant from that near <em>Jordan</em>; yet it doth -not appear that ever this other had the Title -of a <em>Tetrarchy</em>. Here it is to be observed, -that what <em>Pliny</em> calls <em>Decapolis</em>, <em>Ptolemy</em> makes -his <em>Cæle Syria</em>; and the <em>Cæle Syria</em> of <em>Pliny</em>, is -that part of <em>Syria</em> about <em>Aleppo</em>, formerly call'd -<em>Chalcidene</em>, <em>Cyrrhistice</em>, &c.</p> - -<p>What this Town of <em>Teibe</em> was anciently -call'd, is not so easily conjectured: But if the -Numbers of <em>Ptolemy</em> may be confided in, it -is very near the Situation of a City he calls -<em>Oriza</em>; and perhaps his <em>Adada</em> may be our -<em>Soukney</em>, and his <em>Rhæsapha</em> what is now called -<em>Arsoffa</em>.</p> - -<p>It is taken for granted, that Old <em>Aleppo</em> -was anciently the City of <em>Berrhæa</em>, and there -wants not ancient Testimony to prove it; -which being granted, I think I may without -scruple conclude, that <em>Andrene</em> (<em>pag. 122.</em> and -133.) is the Ruins of the City of <em>Androna</em>; -and <em>Esree</em> (<em>pag. 135.</em>) that of <em>Seriane</em>, both -mentioned in the Itinerary of <em>Antoninus</em>, in -the Journey <em>à Dolicâ Seriane</em>. But this whole -Country is laid about half a Degree more -Southerly than it ought, by <em>Ptolemy</em>, who -places <em>Berrhæa</em> in Lat. 36 <em>deg.</em> For the Meridian -Altitude of the Tropical Sun at <em>Aleppo</em> -is found there but 77 <em>deg.</em> whence the Latitude -36 <em>deg.</em> 30 <em>min.</em> as it was observed, <em>Anno</em> -1680. by three several Quadrants, in the presence -of a curious Gentleman, to whom I am -obliged for this Communication.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span></p> - -<p>By the same Observation a much greater -Error is amended in the Latitude of <em>Aleppo</em>, -in the <em>Rudolfine</em> Tables of <em>Kepler</em>, who supposes -<em>Aleppo</em> to have been the ancient <em>Antiochia -ad Taurum</em>, and accordingly places it Lat. 37. -<em>deg.</em> 20 <em>min.</em> wherein he is followed by <em>Bullialdus</em> -and others; and several Maps have copied -the Mistake. But a much greater use -of it is, that thereby we are assured, that -the City of <em>Aracta</em>, wherein <em>Albatani</em> made -the Observations we have Publish'd in the -<em>Philosoph. Transact. Numb.</em> 204. was, without -doubt, the same which is now called <em>Racca</em> on -the <em>Euphrates</em>; of which Town an Account -may be seen in <em>Rauwolf</em>'s Voyages, and which -was not many Miles below the Place where -our Travellers first came on the River: And -if <em>Arecca</em>, in the Language of this Country, -relates to Victory (as is said in <em>pag. 143.</em>) it -was, doubtless, anciently the City <em>Nicephorion</em>, -built by <em>Alexander</em> the Great; with which the -Situation exactly agrees. The Latitude thereof -was observed by that <em>Albatani</em> with great -accurateness, about eight hundred Years since; -and therefore I recommended it to all that are -curious of such Matters, to endeavour to get -some good Observation made at this Place, to -determine the Height of the Pole there, thereby -to decide the Controversie, whether there -hath really been any Change in the Axis of -the Earth, in so long an Interval; which -some great Authors of late, have been willing -to suppose. And if any curious Traveller, -or Merchant residing there, would please to -observe, with due care, the Phases of the -Moons Eclipses at <em>Bagdat</em>, <em>Aleppo</em> and <em>Alexan<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>dria</em>, -thereby to determin their Longitudes, -they could not do the Science of Astronomy a -greater Service: For in and near these Places -were made all the Observations whereby the -middle Motions of the Sun and Moon are limited: -And I could then pronounce in what -Proportion the Moon's Motion does Accelerate; -which that it does, I think I can demonstrate, -and shall (God willing) one Day, -make it appear to the Publick.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>The <em>Philosophical Reader</em> is desired to excuse -our breaking in upon the Subject of these -Tracts, by intermixing Historical and Philological -Matters, as also our exceeding the -Bounds of an Extract: But we hope the Curiosity -of the Subject, joyned to the Desires of -the <em>Royal Society</em>, may make an easie Apology -suffice. There may be many other Instructive -Remarks made thereon, which still deserve -the Consideration of the Learned, and from -such the Publick may yet expect a further Account.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Voyage of the Emperour of <strong>China</strong> -into the Eastern <strong>Tartary</strong>, -Anno. 1682.</em></h2> - - -<p>The Emperour of <em>China</em> made a Voyage into -Eastern <em>Tartary</em>, in the beginning of -this Year 1682, after having appeased (by the -Death of three Rebellious Kings) a Revolt, -formed in some Provinces of the Empire: One -of those revolted Princes, was Strangled in -the Province, of which he had made himself -Master: The second being brought to <em>Pekin</em> -with the Principal Heads of his Faction, was -cut in Pieces in the sight of the whole Court: -The most Considerable among the <em>Mandarines</em>, -acting with their own hands in this sad Execution, -to Revenge upon this Rebel the -Death of their Parents, which he had caused -to be Cruelly Murdered.</p> - -<p>The third which was the most Considerable, -(and indeed the Chief of all the Revolt) -had by a voluntary Death prevented his deserved -Punishment, and so put an end to a -War, which had lasted for Seven Years.</p> - -<p>The Peace having been settled, by the Re-establishing -in the Empire and all the Provinces, -the Peaceable Enjoyment of their -Ancient Liberties: The Emperour departed -the 23<em>d.</em> of <em>March</em> to go into the Province -of <em>Leao-tum</em>, the Country of his Ancestors,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span> -with a Design of visiting their Sepulchers, -and (after having honoured them with the -usual Ceremonies) of prosecuting his Journey -into the Eastern <em>Tartary</em>: This Journey was -was about 1100 <em>miles</em>, from <em>Pekin</em> to the end -of it.</p> - -<p>The Emperour took with him his eldest -Son, a young Prince of ten years old, which -had already been declared Heir of the Empire: -The three principal Queens went also -in this Journy, each in their gilded Chariot; -the principal Kings also which compose this -Empire, were accompanying with all the -Grandees of the Court: And the most considerable -<em>Mandarines</em> of all the Orders, who -having all a very great Train of Attendants, -and very numerous Equipage, made a Court -about the Emperour of more then 70000 Persons.</p> - -<p>It was his Will that I should accompany -him in this Journey, and that I should be always -near him, to the end I might make in -his Presence, the Observations, necessary for -knowing the disposition of the Heavens, the -elevation of the Pole, the Magnetical Declinations -of every Place, and for Measuring -with Mathematical Instruments the height -of the Mountains, and the distances of Places: -He was well pleased also to be informed -of what concerned Meteors, and many -other Physical and Mathematical Matters.</p> - -<p>In so much, that he gave Order to an Officer -to carry upon Horses such Instruments -as I should have occasion to make use of, and -recommended me to the Prince his Unkle, -who is also his Father in Law, and the se<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>cond -Person of the State, he is called by a -<em>Chinese</em> Name, which signifies an Associate -of the Empire: He gave charge to him to -cause all things to be provided for me which -were necessary for this Journey, which this -Prince performed with a very particular goodness, -causing me to Lodge always in his -own Tent, and to eat at his Table.</p> - -<p>The Emperour ordered that they should -give me Horses of his own Stables, to the -End I might the more easily Change in Riding, -and some of those were of them He -Himself had Rid, which is a Mark of very -extraordinary distinction. In this Journey -we always went toward the North-east: -From <em>Pekin</em> to the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, -the Way being about 300 Miles is pretty -equal: In the Province it self of <em>Leao-tum</em>, -it is about 400 Miles, but much more unequal -by Reason of the Mountains; from the -Frontier of this Province to the City of <em>La</em>, -or the River which the <em>Tartars</em> call <em>Songoro</em>, -and the <em>Chinoise</em> <em>Sumhoa</em>, the way (which is about -400 Miles) is very difficult, being crossed -sometimes by Mountains extreamly -Steep, sometimes by Valleys of extraordinary -Depth, and through Desert Plains, wherein -for two or three Days March we met with -nothing. The Mountains of this Country -are Covered on the East side with great Oaks -and old Forrests, which have not been cut -for some Ages.</p> - -<p>All the Country which is beyond the Province -of <em>Leao-tum</em> is exceeding Desert where -nothing is to be seen on all sides but Mountains -and Valleys, and Dens of <em>Bears</em>, <em>Tigers</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span> -and other <em>Devouring</em> Beasts, you can scarce -find a House, but only some <em>poor Reed Huts</em>, -upon the sides of some Brooks and Streams. -All the Cities and <em>Burrow-towns</em> which I have -seen in the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, and which -are in very great Numbers are intirely ruined: -One can see nothing thro' the whole Country, -but old ruined Walls with Rubble, Bricks and -Stones. In the out-skirts of these Cities there -have been of late some few Houses built, but -without any order. Some of them made of -Earth, others of the Rubbish of the old Buildings, -the most part of them covered with Straw -or Thatch, and but few with Tiles. There is -now not the least Footsteps remaining of a -great number of Towns and Villages which -were here before the War. Because the petty -King of the <em>Tartars</em>, who began to kindle -this War having but a very small Army, -caused the Inhabitants of those Places to take -Arms, which Places he forthwith destroyed, -that he might take from his Soldiers the hopes -of ever returning again to their own <em>Homes</em>.</p> - -<p>The Capital City of <em>Leao-tum</em>, which is -called <em>Xyn-Yam</em>, is a City very fair and pretty -intire, it has as yet the Remains of an -Antient <em>Palace</em>. It is (for as much as I was -able to remark by divers Observations) of -the Latitude of 41 <em>degrees</em> 56 <em>minutes</em>; that is -to say, two <em>degrees</em> above <em>Pekin</em>, tho' hitherto -both the <em>Europeans</em> and the <em>Chinese</em> have -given that City the Latitude of 41 <em>degrees</em>. -There is in that City no declination of the -Magnetick Needle, as I have found by many -reiterated Observations. The City of <em>Ula</em> -which was almost the very Extream of our Jour<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>ney, -lies in 44 <em>degrees</em> and 20 <em>minutes</em>. The compass -there declines from the South to the -West one <em>degree</em> 40 <em>minutes</em>.</p> - -<p>But to resume the Prosecution of our Journey, -from <em>Pekin</em> to this Extream towards the -East there is made a new Way, by which the -Emperour can commodiously March with his -Horse, and the Queens in their Chariots. -This Way is about 10 <em>foot</em> broad, and as even -and streight as could possibly be made; -it is extended above 1000 <em>Miles</em>, it has a little -Raising on each side of about a Foot high -every where equal and perfectly Parallel to -one another; and this Way was as neat, -especially when the Weather was fair, as a -Floor where the Husbandmen beat out their -Corn in the Field; there were also certain -Persons along this way, who only took care -to Smooth and Cleanse it. The Christians -have no where so great care of Sweeping their -Streets and publick Places where the Holy -Sacrament is to pass in the Processions, as -these Infidels have of cleansing the Ways, -where their Kings and their Queens are to -pass, every time they go out of their Palaces.</p> - -<p>There was made for their Return a way -like the former, they plained or levelled the -Mountains as far as they were able, they -raised Bridges over the Rivers, and for ornamenting -them, they had extended on each side -of them a sort of Mats upon which they had -Painted divers Figures of Animals, which had -the same effect with Tapestry Hangings, with -which the Streets are usually hung in Procession.</p> - -<p>The Emperor did very seldom make use -of this Way, being almost always in Hunt<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>ing: -And when he accompanied the Queens -he only Rode by the side of it, to the End -that the great number of Horse which were -in the Train that followed should not spoil -it: He ordinarily Marched at the Head of -this kind of Army. The Queens followed -immediately in their Chariots, with their -Train and their Equipage; they notwithstanding -left some space between the King and -themselves: After these Marched the Kings, -the Grandees of the Court and the <em>Mandarines</em>, -every one according to his Rank, behind -these an infinity of Attendants, and other -People on Horse-back brought up the -Rear-guard.</p> - -<p>As there was not one City upon all this -Way, that could either Lodge so great a -Multitude, or Furnish them with Provisions, -and that the greatest Part of their Journey -was through a Country very little Inhabited, -so they were Necessitated to carry along with -them all things that were Necessary for the -journey, and even Provisions of Victuals for -three Months.</p> - -<p>Upon this Account there were sent before -by the Ways which were made on each side -of the Emperors Way, an Infinity of Waggons, -Cammels, Horses, and Mules for to -carry the Baggage: Besides these the Emperor, -the Kings and almost all the Grandees -of the Court, had great numbers of Horses -led, for the use of changing from time to time. -I do not here reckon the Droves of Beefs, -Sheep, and other Cattel, which they were obliged -to have with them. And though this -great Multitude of Men, Horses, and Droves,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span> -passed by a way at a good distance from that -of the Emperor, yet it raised so horrible a -Dust, that we always seemed to March in -a cloud, and thence found it Difficult to distinguish -those that Marched 15 or 20 Paces -from us.</p> - -<p>The March was so well regulated, that -this Army Incamped every Night upon the -sides of some River or Brook. 'Twas for -this Reason that they caused the Tents and -the Baggage necessary for this Incamping to -set out very early in the Morning; and the -Quarter-masters upon their first arrival, -Marked the Ground most proper for the placing -of the Emperors Tent, of the Queens, -of the Kings, of the Grandees, of the Court, -of the <em>Mandarines</em>, each according to his Dignity, -and according to the Dignity he had -in the <em>Chinese</em> Militia, which is divided into -eight Orders or into eight Standards.</p> - -<p>In the space of three Months we passed about -1000 <em>Miles</em>, advancing towards the North-east, -and about as many in our return: In -fine, we arrived at <em>Kam-Hay</em>, which is a Fort -situated between the South Sea and the Mountains -of the North: It is there where is the -beginning of that so much Celebrated Wall, -and which separates the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em> -from that of <em>Pekely</em>; from whence it is extended -very far on the side of the North over the -tops of the highest Mountains. When we entred -this Province, the Emperor, the Kings, -and the Grandees of the Court, quitted the -great Way of which we have hitherto spoken, -to take that of the Mountains of the North, -which are extended without Interruption to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>wards -the North-East: There some Days -were passed in Hunting, which was performed -in this manner.</p> - -<p>The Emperor chose 3000 Men of his Life-guard, -Armed with Arrows and Javelins, -and dispersed them some on this side some on -that; so that they possest themselves of a -great Circuit about the Mountains, which -they Environed on all Parts, which made a kind -of Circle whose Diameter was at least 3000 <em>Paces</em>; -then Marching to draw nearer together -with equal Progress and without quitting their -Range, what ever Obstacles they found in -the way (the Emperor having joyned with -them several of the Captains, and of the -Grandees of the Court, for the better keeping -of their Order) they Reduced this great -Circle to another much less, which had about -300 <em>Paces</em> in the Diameter: So that all -the Beasts which had been stayed within the -first, found themselves taken in this last as in -a Net: for that every one setting his Feet -upon the Ground, they Locked themselves together -so closely, that they left no meshing -Place for them to make their Escape by. Then -they Pursued them so Vigorously in this little -Space, that the poor Creatures tired with the -violence of their Coursing, came and fell -down at the Feet of their Chasers, and suffered -themselves to be taken without trouble. -I saw taken in this Manner two or three -Hundred Hares in less then one day, without -counting an Infinite of Wolves and Foxes. -I have seen the same thing divers times done -in that part of <em>Tartary</em>, which is on the other -side of the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, where I re<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span>member -to have seen, among others, more -than 1000 Deer so pent up by these sort of Nets, -which came to cast themselves into the Hands -of the Hunters, having found no passage to -save themselves by: they kill'd also Bears, -Boars, and more than 60 Tigers, but these -are taken by other means, and with other -Weapons.</p> - -<p>The Emperor will'd that I should be present -at all these different Huntings, and he recommended -to his Father in Law, in a most obliging -Manner the having a particular care -of me, and of giving charge that I should not -be exposed to any danger in the Hunting of -the Tigers, and the other fierce Beasts; I was -the only Person of all the <em>Mandarines</em> who was -without Arms, and so near to the Emperor; -though I made Light of the Fatigue during -the time we were in our Journey, I found my -self so wearied every Evening when I got -to my Tent, that I was not able to support -my Self; and I should have dispensed -with my self divers times from following the -Emperor, if my Friends had not counsel'd -me to the contrary, and if I had not fear'd -that he would have taken it ill if he should -have perceived it.</p> - -<p>After having passed about 400 Miles in -Hunting daily after this manner, we arrived -at last at <em>Xyn-Yam</em>, the Capital City of the -Province, where we stayed four Days.</p> - -<p>The Inhabitants of <em>Coree</em> came to present to -the Emperor a <em>Sea-Calf</em> which they had taken, -the Emperor caused me to see it, and asked -whither our <em>European</em> Books had spoken any -thing of this Fish? I told him we had a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span> -Book in our Library at <em>Pekin</em> which had explain'd -the Nature of it, and dispatched presently -a Courrier to our Fathers at <em>Pekin</em>, who -brought it me in a few Days: The Emperor -was pleased to see that what was said of this -Fish in this Book, was agreeable to this which -he had seen, and caused it to be carried back -again to <em>Pekin</em> to be carefully preserved.</p> - -<p>During the stay which we made in this City, -the Emperor with the Queens went to visit -the Sepulchers of his Ancestors, which -are not very far distant, from whence he sent -them back to <em>Xyn-Yam</em>, to continue his own -Journey into the Eastern <em>Tartary</em>.</p> - -<p>After several Days of Marching and Hunting, -he arrived at <em>Kirin</em>, which is distant -from <em>Xyn-Yam</em> 400 Miles: This City is built -along the great River <em>Songoro</em> which takes its -source from the Mountain <em>Cham-pe</em>, distant -400 Miles towards the South: This Mountain -so Famous in the East for having been -the Antient Seat of our <em>Tartars</em>, is always -covered with Snow, from whence it had its -Name, because <em>Cham-pe</em> signifies the white -Mountain.</p> - -<p>So soon as the Emperor saw it, he alighted -from his Horse and fell on his Knees on -the Bank of the River, and bowed Himself -three times to the Ground to Salute it: After -which, he caused himself to be carried upon -a glorious Throne of Gold, and so made -his Entry into the City: All the People ran -in a throng before him, testifying by their -Acclamations the Joy they had to see him. -This Prince took great Pleasure in those Testimonies -of their Affection; and that he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span> -might give them some Marks of his being very -sensible of it, he was pleased to suffer himself -to be seen by all, and forbid his Guards -to hinder the People from approaching him, -as they used to do at <em>Pekin</em>.</p> - -<p>They make in this City Barks of a very -particular manner: The Inhabitants keep always -a great number of them ready fitted to -Repulse the <em>Muscovites</em>, who come often into -this River, to dispute the Fishing of Pearls. -The Emperor reposed himself two Days, after -which he Descended upon the River with -some Lords, accompanied with more than 100 -Boats, till he arrived at the City of <em>Ula</em>, -which is the fairest of all this Country, and -which at other times hath been the Seat of -the Empire of the <em>Tartars</em>.</p> - -<p>A little below this City, which is at most -about 32 <em>Miles</em> from <em>Kirin</em>, the River is very -full of a certain Fish which resemble near enough -the Plaice of <em>Europe</em>: and 'twas principally -for the taking the Divertisement of -Fishing, that the Emperor went to <em>Ula</em>; but -the Rains coming on so suddainly, swelled -the River so much, that all their Nets were -broken and carried away, by the great Flood -of those Land Waters: The Emperor notwithstanding -stayed 5 or 6 Days at <em>Ula</em>; but seeing -the Rains were not at all discontinued, he -was obliged to come back to <em>Kirin</em>, without -having enjoyed the Pleasure of Fishing: as we -ascended the River, the Bark wherein I was -with the Emperors Father in Law, was so -indamaged by the agitation of the Waves, -that we were constrained to go a Shore, and -mount a Chariot drawn by one Ox, which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span> -carried us very slowly to <em>Kirin</em>, the Rains -not at all ceasing during our Journy.</p> - -<p>In the Evening when the Emperor was entertained -upon all these Adventures, he said -Laughing, <em>the Fish have cheated us</em>; at length, -after we had stayed two Days at <em>Kirin</em>, the -Rains began to diminish, and we retook our -Way towards <em>Leao-tum</em>. I cannot here express -the Pains and Fatigues these had caused -us to undergo, during the whole Course of -this Journy, by Reason of the Ways which -the Rains had Spoiled, and rendred almost -impassable: we went without staying over the -Mountains and over the Vallies, and we could -not pass but with extream Danger, the Brooks -and Rivers which were swelled by the Floods -and Inundations which ran from all Parts: the -Bridges were either overturned by the Violence -of the Currents, or all covered by the -great overflowing of the Waters. There were -made in divers Places great Collections of -Water, and of Mud, that it was almost impossible -to be drawn out of it. The Horses, -Cammels, and other Beasts of Burthen, which -carried the Baggage could not advance, but -remained sticking in the Mud of the Marshes, -or died of tiring upon the Ways. The Men -were not at all less incommoded, and all were -enfeebled for want of Victuals, and of Refreshments -necessary for so great a Journy: -Many of the Horsemen were obliged, either -to lead their Horses on Foot, who were no -longer able to carry them, or to rest in the -middle of the Fields to suffer them to take -Breath: And though the Quarter-masters and -the Harbingers, spared not their Pains, nor<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span> -for Wood (which they cut on all sides) to fill -with Faggots all the bad Passages: Yet notwithstanding -after the Horses and Chariots, -which took the Van early in the Morning -had quite passed, it was impossible to pass after -them: The Emperor himself, with his -Son, and all the great Lords of the Court, -were obliged more than once, to Foot it -over the Mud and the Marshes, fearing to expose -themselves to greater danger, if they -should have passed them on Horse-back.</p> - -<p>When they came to Bridges, or those -other obstructions all the Army stayed: And -as soon as the Emperor was passed, with some -of the most considerable Persons, all the rest -came together in a Throng, and every one -striving to pass first, many were tumbled over -into the Water: Others taking Ways more -about, found them more dangerous, falling -into Sloughs and Bogs, out of which they -could not Recover themselves. In fine, there -were so many Inconveniencies to be met with, -in all the Ways of Eastern <em>Tartary</em>, that the -old Officers who had followed the Court above -30 <em>Years</em>, said they had never suffered -so much in any Journy.</p> - -<p>It was on those Occasions, that the Emperor -more than once, gave me the Marks -of a Respect altogether particular: the first -Day that we put our Selves in the way for -returning, we were stay'd in the Evening, by a -Torrent so great and rapid, that 'twas impossible -to Ford it: The Emperor having by -chance found a little Boat, which could not -hold above 4 Persons at most, passed first with -his Sons, and some of the Principal Kings -followed: All the other Princes, Lords, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span> -<em>Mandarines</em>, which the rest of the Army attended, -(in the mean while) with Impatience -the return of the Boat, to carry them to the -other side of the Torrent, because the Night -approached, and the Tents had long before -passed: But the Emperor being come back -to us in such another Boat as the former, demanded -aloud where I was? and his Father -in Law having presented me to him, he added, -let him come in and Cross over with us: So -we were the only Persons that passed with the -Emperor; and all the rest stayed on the Bank, -where they must pass the Night <em>under the open -Heaven</em>: The same thing happened the next -Day almost in the same manner. The Emperor -at Noon meeting with a like rapid and -swelled Torrent, gave order that the Boats -should be made use of for Transporting the -Tents, Packs, and other Baggage till the -Evening; then willed that I should pass alone -with him and some few of his Attendants, having -left on the other side all the great Lords, -who were necessitated to pass the Night -there. The Emperor's Father in Law himself, -having asked if he should not pass with me, -since I Lodged in his Tent and eat at his Table? -this Prince answered him, that he should -stay, and he himself would take Order to give -me what was necessary.</p> - -<p>After we had past, the Emperor sitting on -the Bank-side, made me sit by him, with the -two Sons of the two petty Western Kings, -and the first <em>Colao</em> of <em>Tartary</em>, whom he distinguished -on all Occasions.</p> - -<p>As the Night was Fair, and the Heavens -very Clear; he willed me to Name in the <em>Chi<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>nese</em> -and <em>European</em> Languages, all the Constellations -that then appeared above the Horizon, -and he himself first named all those he -already knew; then unfolding a small Map -of the Heavens, which I had some Years since -presented him, he put himself upon inquiring -the Hour of the Night, by the Stars in the -Meridian: Pleasing himself to shew to all -the Knowledge he had acquired in these Sciences. -All the Marks of his Favours which -he so often gave me, even to the sending me -to Eat from his own Table, these Marks I -say were so Publick, and so Extraordinary; -that the two Unkles of the Emperor, who -bore the Titles of Associates of the Empire, -being on their Return to <em>Pekin</em>, said that -when the Emperor had some Regret or appeared -somewhat Sad, he would Resume his -ordinary Gaiety upon the sight of me.</p> - -<p>I arrived at <em>Pekin</em> in perfect Health the 9<em>th</em> -day of <em>June</em> very late, though divers were detained -in the Way by Distempers, or were -returned from their Journy, Hurt and Lamed.</p> - -<p>I say nothing of what we did for Religion -in this Journy, having reserved that for a particular -Relation, by which it will appear, -that by the Grace of our Lord, the Favours -we received at the Court of <em>China</em>, produced -considerable Fruits for the Church, and did -not take away the Cross from the Missionaries.</p> - -<p>I shall here add the <em>Tartarean</em> Names, and -the distance of every Place through which we -passed in the Eastern <em>Tartary</em>, from the Capital -of the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em> even -to <em>Kirin</em>, according to the order of Days -which we Spent in this Progress. A <em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>Topographic -Chart</em> may be made and inserted into -the Map of the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, to be -found in the Atlas of Father <em>Martin Martinius</em>, -by changing only the <em>Latitudes</em> according -to the Heights of the <em>Pole</em>, which we have before -Specified.</p> - -<p>I shall add one thing more which I Understood -from the Inhabitants of <em>Ula</em>, to wit -that <em>Nincrita</em> (which is a Place much Renowned -in those Parts) is distant from <em>Ula</em> 700 -<em>Chinese Stadia</em> (each of which is 360 <em>Geometrical -Paces</em>) and that Embarking at <em>Nincrita</em> -upon the great River <em>Heleum</em>, into which -the <em>Songoro</em>, and some other more considerable -Rivers are discharged, and following the -course of the River, which runs towards the -North-East, or somewhat more to the North, -they arrive in 40 Days Journy at the Eastern -Sea, which is (as I believe) the Streight of -<em>Anien</em>: I was told this by the General of the -Militia which is at <em>Kirin</em>; and who had performed -this Voyage himself.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>The Distances of the Places, thro' -which we passed in the Eastern -<strong>Tartary</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Distances of the Places"> - <tr> - <td class="tdw">The first Day we passed from <em>Xyn-Yam</em>, the Capital of the Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, and we arrived at <em>Seao-Lysto</em>, so the Place is called in the <em>Chinese</em> Language.</td> - <td class="tdr">95. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 2<em>d.</em> day we arrived at <em>Cha-cay Angha</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">85. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 3<em>d.</em> day at another Torrent of the same Name.</td> - <td class="tdr">70. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 4<em>th.</em> at <em>Kiaghuchen</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">50. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 5<em>th.</em> at <em>Feyteri</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">80. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 6<em>th.</em> at the Torrent of <em>Seipery</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">60. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 7<em>th.</em> at the Torrent of <em>Ciam</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">60. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 8<em>th.</em> at <em>Courou</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">50. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 9<em>th.</em> at the Burrow of <em>Sape</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">40. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 10<em>th.</em> at <em>Quaranny Pira</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">40. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 11<em>th.</em> at <em>Elten eme Ambayaga</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">70. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 12<em>th.</em> at <em>Ypatan</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">58. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 13<em>th.</em> at <em>Suayen ny Pyra</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">60. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 14<em>th.</em> at <em>Ylmen</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">70. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 15<em>th.</em> at <em>Seuten</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">70. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>The 16<em>th.</em> the City of <em>Kirin</em>.</td> - <td class="tdr">70. </td> - <td><em>stadia</em>.</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td class="bt tdr">1028.</td> - </tr> -</table></div> - -<p>All this Course being 1028 <em>Chinese</em> Stadia, -contains 369 Miles (each) of 1000 Geometrical -Paces; the <em>Chinese</em> Stadium containing as -I mentioned before 360 Geometrical Paces.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Voyage of the Emperor of <strong>China</strong>, -into the Western <strong>Tartary</strong>, in the -Year, 1683.</em></h2> - - -<p>The Emperor this Year, which is the -30<em>th.</em> of his Age, made a Voyage into -the Western <em>Tartary</em>, together with the Queen -his Grand-mother, which they call the Queen -<em>Mother</em>; he departed the 16<em>th.</em> of <em>July</em>, in the -Company of more than 60000 Men, and -100000 Horse. He positively resolved, that -I, with one of the two Fathers that were -at the Court of <em>Pekin</em>, the Choice of which -he left to me, should follow him, I chose -Father <em>Philip Grimaldi</em>; because he is the most -known, and because he perfectly understood -the <em>Mathematicks</em>.</p> - -<p>Several Reasons prevailed with the Emperor -to Enterprize this Journy. The first -was, that he might keep his Militia during -the Peace as well as in the Wars, in continual -Exercise; and for this Reason it was, -that after he had Establish'd a firm Peace in -all the Quarters of this so vast an Empire; -he recalled his best Troops hither out of -every Province, and resolved in his Council -to make every Year Expeditions of this kind, -in several Seasons, that by hunting of Deer, -Boars, Bears, and Tigers, they might learn -to overcome the Enemies of the Empire,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span> -or at least to prevent the cooling of their -Courage, or the degenerating from their -Pristine Valour, by the Luxury of <em>China</em>, in -a too long Repose.</p> - -<p>In effect these kinds of Hunting had more -of the shew of a Military Expedition, than -of one for Divertisement, as I have already -noted: The Emperor took in his Train, -100000 Horse, and above 60000 Men, all -armed with Arrows and Cimiters, divided -into Companies and Marching in Battle-Array -after their Colours, with the sound of -Drums and Trumpets: During their Hunting, -they intirely invested the Mountains and -Forrests, as if they had been Cities which -they design'd to Beleaguer; following in this -the manner of Hunting used by the Eastern -<em>Tartars</em>, of which I have spoken in my last -Letter. This Army had its Van-guard and -Rear-guard, and its Main Body, its Right -Wing and Left Wing, was commanded by so -many Generals and petty Kings. There -were spent more then Seventy Days before -they were on their March, in bringing together -all the Ammunitions of the Army upon -the Waggons, upon the Camels, upon -the Horses, and upon the Mules, by reason -of the Incommodious Ways. For in all the -Western <em>Tartary</em> (I call it Western) not -with Relation to <em>China</em>, which lieth in Respect -of it Westward it self, but with respect -of the Eastern <em>Tartary</em> there is nothing to be -found but Mountains, Rocks, and Vallies; -there are neither Cities, Towns nor Villages, -nor so much as any Houses. The Inhabitants -Lodge under Tents, pitched on all sides in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span> -the open Fields. They are for the most part -Graziers, and transport their Tents from one -Vally to another, according as the Pastures -are better. There they Pasture their Beefs, -their Horses, and their Camels, they breed -no Hogs, nor any of those other Animals, -which elsewhere are fed in the Villages, as -Poultry and Geese. But only of such as the -Herbs, which an uncultivated Land doth Naturally -produce, will serve to sustain. They -pass their Life either in Hunting, or doing -nothing. And as they neither sow nor cultivate -the Earth, so they make no Harvest. -They Live upon Milk, Cheese, and Flesh, -and have a sort of Wine, not much unlike -our Aqua-vitæ; with which they make their -Feasts, and are often Drunk. In short they -care for nought from Morning to Night, -but to Drink and Eat; like the Beasts, and -Droves which they Feed.</p> - -<p>They are not without their Priests, which -they call <em>Lamas</em>, for whom they have a singular -Veneration, in which they differ from -the Oriental <em>Tartars</em>; the most part of whom -have no Religion, nor do they believe any -God. For the rest both of the one and the -other are Slaves, and wholly depend upon -the will of their Masters, whose Religion -and Manners they blindly follow: Like in -this to their Droves, who go where they are -lead, and not where they ought to go.</p> - -<p>This part of <em>Tartary</em>, lies without the -prodigious Wall of <em>China</em> about 1000 <em>Chinese -Stadia</em>, that is to say more than 300 <em>European</em> -Miles, and extends from the North-east towards -the North.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Emperor Rides on Horse-back, in the -Head of his Army through these Desert Places, -and these Steep Mountains, and far from -great Roads, exposed all the Day to the -Scorchings of the Sun, to the Rains, and to -all the Injuries of the Air. Many of those -which had been in the last War, assured me, -that they had not suffered so much during all -that as during this Hunting. In so much -that the Emperor, whose principal Aim it -was to give his Forces a Breathing, performed -effectually what he pretended.</p> - -<p>The second Reason he had of undertaking -this Journy, was that he might keep the -Western <em>Tartars</em> in their Duty, and to prevent -any pernitious Designs that might be -formed against the States.</p> - -<p>It was for this that he entred their Country -with so great an Army, and with so great -Preparations for War. Having carried along -several great Guns, that he might cause them -to be Discharged from time to time into the -Vallies, and by the Noise and Fire which -issued out of the Mouths of those Dragons, -which served to Ornament them, he might -cast a Dread upon the Rout.</p> - -<p>Besides this great Retinue, he would yet -be accompanied with all the Marks of Grander, -with which he was environed at the -Court at <em>Pekin</em>. To wit, with a Multitude -of Drums, Trumpets, Timbals, and other -Musical Instruments, which formed Consorts -During his sitting at Table, when he entred -the Palace, or when he went out. He caused -all these to March with him, that he might -by this outward Pomp Astonish these <em>Bar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>barous</em> -People, to strike them with a Fear and -Respect of his Imperial Majesty.</p> - -<p>For the Empire of <em>China</em> never had any -Enemies more to be feared than these Western -<em>Tartars</em>; which beginning on the East of -<em>China</em> encompass it with an almost infinite of -People, and keep it as it were continually beleaguered -on the North and West sides thereof; -and 'twas to make a Bulwork against -their Incursions, that a <em>Chinese</em> Emperor in -antient Times caused this great Wall to be -Built, which separates <em>China</em> from their Country. -I have passed it four times, and have considered -it very attentively. And I can say -without Hyperbolizing, that all the seven -Wonders of the World put together, are not -comparable to this Work. And all that -Fame has spread concerning it among the -<em>Europeans</em>, is far short of what I my self have -seen.</p> - -<p>Two things have more especially caused -my Admiration. The first is, that in this -long extent from the East to the West, it -passes in several places not only through vast -Champains, but also above the tops of exceeding -high Mountains, upon which it is -raised by little and little, and fortify'd at -certain Intervals with great Towers; not -distant the one from the other more than -two flight Shot. At our return I had the -Curiosity to measure the height of it in one -place by means of an Instrument, and I found -that it was in that Place 1037 Geometrical -Feet above the Horison; in such sort that -'tis hard to comprehend how 'twas possible to -elevate this enormous Bulwork to the height<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span> -we saw it, in places dry and full of Mountains, -whence they must be obliged to bring -from a great distance with incredible Labour, -the Water, Brick, Mortar, and all -the Materials necessary for so great a -Work.</p> - -<p>The second thing that surprized me was, -that this Wall is not continued upon the -same Line, but bent in divers places following -the situation of the Mountains, in such -manner, that instead of one Wall, one may -say that there are three, which Environ all this -great part of <em>China</em>.</p> - -<p>After all, The Monarch which in our Days -hath re-united the <em>Chinese</em> and the <em>Tartars</em>, -under one and the same Government, has -done some things more for the advantage of -the security of <em>China</em>, than the <em>Chinese</em> Emperor -that built the long Wall. For after -having reduced the Western <em>Tartars</em>, partly -by Artifice, partly by force of Arms: He -has obliged to go and remain at 300 Miles -distance from the Wall of <em>China</em>; and in this -Place he distributes to them Land and Pastures, -whilst he has given their Country to -other <em>Tartars</em>, his Subjects which have their -Habitation there at present: Notwithstanding -which, these Western <em>Tartars</em> are so powerful, -that if they should agree together, -they might make themselves Masters of all -<em>China</em>, and of the Eastern <em>Tartary</em>, even in -the Face of the Oriental <em>Tartars</em>.</p> - -<p>I have said, that the <em>Tartarian</em> Monarch -that conquered <em>China</em>, used an expedient for -subduing the Western <em>Tartars</em>. For one of -his first Cares was to engage to his Interest<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span> -by his Royal Bounties, and by demonstration -of a Singular Affection, the <em>Lamas</em> (or -<em>Priests</em>) these Men having a great Repute about -all those of their Nation, easily perswaded -them to submit to the Government -of so great a Prince; and 'tis in consideration -of this Service done to the Estate, that -the present Emperor looks upon these <em>Lamas</em> -with a favourable Eye, that he bestows -Presents on them; and that he makes use of -them to keep the <em>Tartars</em> in the Obedience -which they owe him: Tho' at the bottom he -hath nothing but Dis-esteem for their Persons, -and looks upon them as a sort of Ignorant -Fellows, which have not the least -Tincture of the Sciences or commendable -Arts, in which without doubt this Prince -shews a Wise Policy, in so disguising his true -Sentiments, by these exterior Marks of Esteem -and Good-will.</p> - -<p>He has divided this vastly extended Country -into 48 Provinces, who have submitted -and are Tributary to him. From whence it -comes to pass, that the Emperor that Reigns -at present in <em>China</em>, and in the one and the -other <em>Tartary</em>, may justly be called the greatest -and most powerful Monarch of <em>Asia</em>, having -so many vast Estates under him, without -being any where interrupted by the Territory -of any Foreign Prince, and he alone -being as the Soul which gives motion to all the -Members of so vast a Body.</p> - -<p>For after he had charged himself with the -Government, he did not at all intrust the -Care to any of the <em>Colaos</em>, nor to any of the -great Men of his Court. He has not at all<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span> -suffered, that the Eunuchs of the Palace, or -any of his Pages, or any of the young Lords -that have been raised by him, should dispose -of the least thing in his House, or should regulate -any thing of themselves: Which appears -very extraordinary; especially if we -examin what Customs his Predecessors were -wont to use.</p> - -<p>He chastises with wonderful Equity the -great Ones as well as the Inferiors; he deprives -them of their Charges, and makes -them descend from the Rank they held, proportioning -always the Penalty to the heinousness -of their Fault. He takes Cognisance -of the Affairs which are transacted in the -Royal Counsel, and in the other Tribunals, -even to the causing them to render to him -an exact account of the Judgments there given. -In one Word, he of himself Disposes -and Orders all things; and 'tis by reason of -the absolute Authority which he hath thus -acquired, that the greatest Lords of the -Court, and Persons of the highest Quality -in the Empire; even the Princes of the -Blood, never appear in his Presence, but with -a profound Respect.</p> - -<p>But to what remains, the <em>Lamas</em> or <em>Tartarian</em> -Priests, of whom we have spoken, are -not only respected by the People, but also by -the Lords and Princes of their Nation, who -for Politick Ends testifie to them a great -deal of Friendship: This makes us fear that -the Christian Religion, will not find so easie -an entrance into the Western <em>Tartary</em>. They -are also very powerful upon the Mind of the -Queen Mother, who is of their Country, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span> -who is at present Threescore and Ten Years -Old; they are wont to tell her, that the Sect -(of which she makes Profession) has no more -declared Enemies than us. And 'tis a kind of -Miracle, or at least an extraordinary Protection -of God, that notwithstanding this, the Emperor, -who has very much regard and respect -for her, has not hitherto ceased to heap -on us Graces and Honours, considering us -after another manner than the <em>Lamas</em>.</p> - -<p>During the Journey, as the Princes and the -chief Officers of the Army went oftentimes -to the Queen to attend at her Court; and -that we also were advertised to do so likewise: -We were willing first to consult a Person -of the Court, who loved us very much, -and who spake for us to the Emperor in -our Affairs. This Lord having enter'd the -Princes Tent, told him what had passed, -and presently coming out again: <em>The Emperor</em> -(said he to us) <em>has given me to understand, -that 'tis not at all necessary for you to attend the -Queen as others do</em>; which made us to apprehend -enough, that this Princess did not favour -us.</p> - -<p>The 3d Reason which the Emperor had -for making this Journey, was for his Health: -because he knew by his Experience long -enough, that when he is too long at <em>Pekin</em> -without going Abroad, he cannot avoid his -being attacked by several Distempers, which -he prevents by means of these long Progresses. -For during the whole time he never -sees any Woman; and that which is more -surprizing, there appears not any one in all -this great Army, except those which are of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span> -the Retinue of the Queen Mother: 'Tis yet -also a Novelty that she has accompanyed the -King this Year, it having not been practiced -above once, when he took with him the -three Queens as far as the Capital City of the -Province of <em>Leao-tum</em>, to visit the Sepulchers -of their Ancestors.</p> - -<p>The Emperor and the Queen Mother pretend -moreover by this Journey, to avoid the -excessive Heats which are in <em>Pekin</em>, in the -Summer during the Dog-days. For in this -part of <em>Tartary</em>, there reigns during the -Months of <em>July</em> and <em>August</em> so cold a Wind, -especially in the Night, that 'tis necessary to put -on thick Cloths and Furs. The Reason that -may be assigned for this so extraordinary Cold, -is that this Region is very much elevated and -full of Mountains: There is one among the -rest, upon which we continually ascended, -for the space of 5 or 6 Days March. The -Emperor being desirous to know how much -it surmounted the Plains of <em>Pekin</em>, distant about -300 Miles; at our return (after having -measured the height of above a hundred -Mountains that lay in our Road) we found -that it had 3000 Geometrical Pace of Elevation, -above the Sea that nearest approached -<em>Pekin</em>.</p> - -<p>The Salt Peter also with which these Countries -abound, may contribute to this great -Cold, which is so violent, that in digging -the Earth to three or four Foot deep, there -are fetched out Clods all frozen, and pieces of -Ice.</p> - -<p>Divers of the Petty Kings of the Western -<em>Tartary</em>, came from all sides for 300 Miles,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span> -and some for 500 Miles, together with their -Children, to salute the Emperor. These -Princes, who for the most part know none -but by their own natural Language, which -is very different from that of the Eastern -<em>Tartary</em>: Took regard of us, with Aspects -and Gestures of a goodness very particular. -There were some among them, who had made -a Journey to <em>Pekin</em> to see the Court, and who -had seen our Church.</p> - -<p>One or two Days before we arrived at the -Mountain which was the boundary of our -Journey, we met a Petty King very aged, -who returned from accompanying the Emperor, -he seeing us stayed with all his Retinue, -and enquired by his Interpreter, which of -us was called <em>Nauboaij</em>; one of our Servants -having made a sign that it was I, this Prince -accosted me with a great deal of Civility, -and told me that for a long time he had -known my Name, and that he had desired to -know me. He spoke also to Father <em>Grimaldi</em>, -with the same marks of Affection. The favourable -Entertainment he gave us in this -Re-encounter, gave some Reason to hope -that our Religion might find an easie Entrance -to those Princes, particularly if care be -taken to insinuate into the Minds of those -Princes, by the means of the Mathematicks: -Which if there should at any time be a design -to penetrate into their Country, the most -sure way for divers Reasons, (which I have -not the leisure to explain here) will be to begin -the entrance with the other <em>Tartars</em> more -remote, which are not all Subjects of this -Empire, from whom we may pass on to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span> -these, advancing by little and little towards -<em>China</em>.</p> - -<p>During the whole Journey, the Emperor -has continued to give us singular Tokens of -his good Will, shewing us Favours in the -sight of his Army, which he shewed to none -besides.</p> - -<p>One time meeting us in a great Valley, -where we were measuring the height and -the distance of some Mountains, he made a -stay with the whole Court; and calling to us -from a great distance, he demanded of us -in the <em>Chinese</em> Language, <em>Hao-mo?</em> that is to -say, are you well in Health? And then asked -us several Questions in the <em>Tartarian</em> Language, -concerning the heighth of these Mountains, -to which I answered also in the same -Language; after which, turning to the -Lords that were about him, he discoursed -with them concerning us in very obliging Expressions, -as I learned the same Night from -the Prince his Unkle, who was then by his side.</p> - -<p>He testifyed also his Affection to us, by -causing often Meat to be carry'd to our -Tents from his own Table, willing also that -on some Occasions we should eat in his; and -every time he did us this Honour, he had a -regard to our Days of Abstinence, and of -Fasting, sending us only such Meats as we -could use.</p> - -<p>The eldest Son of the Emperor, after the -Example of his Father, gave us marks also -of his Bounty, for having been constrained -to stay more than 10 Days, by reason of a -fall from his Horse, by which he was hurt -in his right Shoulder; and one part of the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span> -Army in which we were, having attended, -whilst the Emperor with the other, continued -his Hunting, he was not wanting in -sending to us daily, and sometimes twice a -Day, during this space, Food from his own -Table. In fine, we look'd on all these Favours -of the Royal Family, as the effects of -a particular Providence which watched over -us, and over Christianity, for which we had -so much the more occasion to thank God, -for that the affection of the Emperor, was -never so constantly shewn to the Grandees -of the Empire, nor to the Princes of -the Blood.</p> - -<p>As to what relates to the other particularities -of our Journey, they are like to those -which happened to us the last Year, in the -Journey to the Eastern <em>Tartary</em>, which I have -fully described in my last Letter; that is to -say, that we made use of the Emperor's Horses, -and of his Litters, that we lodged in the -Tents, and eat at the Table of the Prince -his Unkle, to whom he had particularly recommended -us.</p> - -<p>During more than 600 Miles, which we had -passed in going and returning (for we did -not return by the same Road) he caused to -be made a great High-way cross the Mountains -and the Vallies, for the Queen Mother, -who went in a Chariot; he caused also an infinite -number of Bridges to be made over the -Torrents, as also the Rocks to be cut, and the -Points of the Mountains, with incredible -Pains and Expences: Father <em>Grimaldi</em> shall describe -the other particulars in his Letters.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span></p> - -<p>As to the benefit which the Religion may -draw from our Journey, I have spoken elsewhere; -it sufficeth to say that the Emperor, -to whose Will we cannot make the least resistance, -without exposing all this Mission to -a manifest Danger, has order'd us to follow -him. I ceased not however to speak twice -to that Lord of the Court, who is our particular -Friend, to excuse us for the time to -come from these long Journeys, and especially -me, <em>who am not of an Age fit for it</em>: I -tried to obtain at least that they would be -contented to take only one of us; the Letters -of our Fathers were daily brought us -during the Journey, and I had the convenience -of writing to them, by means of the -Couriers which continually went to and came -from the Royal City: I write all this in haste, -that I may continue to give you an account -of our Affairs.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>An Explanation, necessary to justify -the <strong>Geography</strong> supposed in -these Letters.</em></h2> - - -<p>It may seem wonderful, that the Author -of these Letters makes mention in his -former, of a kind of War between the <em>Oriental -Tartars</em> and the <em>Muscovites</em>, notwithstanding -the extream distance these People -appear to be from one another in our -Geographical Charts; but those who know -how much the <em>Muscovites</em> have extended -the Bounds of the Empire along the <em>Tartarian</em> -Sea, will judge the thing less difficult, -besides those who have seen these Countries, -have made Discoveries much differing from -those which our Geographers have informed -us of hitherto. Very lately <em>Monsieur D'Arcy</em>, -who commands one of the King's Ships, in -the Fleet of <em>Monsieur Le Marescal d'Estrees</em>, -informed us, that having served in <em>Poland</em>, -and having been made Governor of a Place -towards <em>Moscovy</em>, the <em>Moscovite</em> Ambassadors -in their return having pass'd by him, -and being by him treated in such a manner -as put them into a very good Humour; one -of them shewed him a Chart of the Countries -between <em>Moscovy</em> and <em>China</em>: and told -him, that from three Cities which he shewed -him, whose Names were <em>Lopsla</em>, <em>Abasinko</em>, -<em>Nerginsko</em>, all three under the Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span> -of the great Dukes, tho' situated in the great -<em>Tartary</em>, there was a way to <em>Pekin</em>, which -was not more than 25 or 30 Days Journey. -This Map it seems must be kept very secret -in <em>Moscovy</em>: For the next Day the <em>Moscovite</em> -was in despair, for having given it, saying -that if it should be known, he should -come to great Damage. The Officer being -come back since into <em>France</em>, has given a -Copy to the King, and another to <em>Monsieur -Le Marquis de Signelay</em>. To confirm this, it -may be added, what a <em>French</em> Man has writ -from <em>Moscovy</em> within this two Months, that -they are actually raising Troops to go to -War with the <em>Chinese</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Some Observations and Conjectures -concerning the <strong>Chinese</strong> -Characters. Made by <strong>R. H.</strong> -R. S. S.</em></h2> - - -<p>Whether there ever were any Language -natural, I dispute not: But that -there have been, are, and may be, artificial -Languages 'tis not difficult to prove. The -<em>Chinese</em> Court Language is said to be of this -kind, invented and spoken by the <em>Literati</em> -and <em>Mandarines</em> throughout the whole Empire -of <em>China</em>, differing from all the other -Languages spoken in it, and I conjecture it -to be nothing else but the Names of the -Character by which they write and express -their meaning, arbitrarily imposed by them, -as we in <em>Europe</em> set names to Arithmetical -Figures, not as we pronounce Words written -with a litteral Character. This I Judge -by comparing the Characters with the Names, -Monosyllables or Words they pronounce and -read them with. Nor do they ascend above -a Monosyllabical Name, tho' the Character -be composed of many single Characters, each -of which hath its proper Sense, and Monosyllabical -Name, and though the meaning of -each Character, be an ingredient in the -Notion of that compounded Character.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span></p> - -<p>I might give an Instance also in the Artificial -Language Invented by the Late Reverend -Bishop of <em>Chester</em> Dr. <em>Wilkins</em>, which -in all the accomplishments of Language doth -excel any one yet extant; to which is also -annexed a real Character, Legible into that -or any other Language Spoken. By which -Language the Character and every additional -Mark is effable, and yet the Character is not -Literal but Real, which is more curious and -useful than the <em>Chinese</em> way. Great pity it -is that Discourse is not published in Latin, -that the Learned of <em>Europe</em>, may think of -further Improving it, and bringing it to -Use.</p> - -<p>But whatever we may judge of Language, -'tis past dispute that Writing was ever Artificial, -how Antiently so ever it were in Use, -and was the Invention of some thinking and -Studious Men. 'Tis also evident that there -have been various ways thought of for Expressing -Significancy, according to the several -<em>Genii</em> of the Persons that were the Inventors. -As may be guessed by the <em>Ægyptian</em> -Hieroglyphicks, the <em>Chinese</em> Characters, the -<em>Mexican</em> Chronology, and the Literal Characters -of several Nations, each of which -seem to proceed upon differing methods, and -from differing thoughts of Invention.</p> - -<p>Which of these ways is the most Antient, -is hard to prove. The <em>Ægyptian Mummies</em> -and <em>Obelesks</em> prove a great Antiquity of the -Hieroglyphicks, but yet the <em>Chinese</em> Chronology -(if to be credited) outstrips the <em>Ægyptian</em> -in pretence to Antiquity. For the <em>Chinese</em> -make <em>Fohi</em>, the first King of <em>China</em>, to be<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span> -the inventer of their Character: And account -him to have lived 2950 Years before -the time of Christ, during all which time -they pretend to have a certain and written -Account in their Books: But their Account -of the times preceding, they esteem more -Hypothetical and Fabulous; depending chiefly -upon Fiction and Oral Tradition: As you -will easily believe, when you understand how -many Years they make it since the Creation of -the World to the present Year 1686. which by -the Account thereof in Mr. <em>Graves</em>'s Translation -of <em>Vulg. Beig.</em> will be found to be no -less than eighty eight millions six hundred -and forty thousand one hundred and two -Solar Years, there having been run out since -the Creation 8864 <em>Ven.</em> of Years (every <em>Ven.</em> -containing ten thousand such Years) and of -the present <em>Ven.</em> this Year 1686. is the 102d. -Which Account is abundantly more extravagant -than the <em>Ægyptian</em>: But this need not -invalidate their History since <em>Fohi</em>; by which -it appears that their Character was invented -before the time of <em>Moses</em> about 1400 -Years, and even before <em>Menes</em> the first King -of <em>Ægypt</em> about 500 Years. So that the <em>Chinese</em> -Invention of Writing or Characters, -seems to be the most ancient of that kind. -And the Book <em>Yekim</em> said to be written by -<em>Fohi</em>, the most antient Book.</p> - -<p>These Accounts made me the more desirous -to understand somewhat of the Reality -and Truth, of what is related concerning -the Knowledge of Literature and manual -Arts, which these People of <em>China</em> are said to -have possessed so long a time in so great Per<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>fection, -and without Alteration from the -primitive Institution, especially upon the Account -of their Art of Printing, which gave -a hint to the Inventors of that admirable -and most useful of all Inventions (for the -Common Wealth of Learning) the way of -Printing here in <em>Europe</em>. For <em>Paulus Jovius</em> -affirms that the first occasion of that Invention -in <em>Germany</em>, was a <em>German</em> Merchant, -who returning out of <em>China</em> into his own -Country, related what he had observed concerning -the Practice of it as used in that -Country. And tho' the <em>Chinese</em> way be -wholly differing as to the method of composing, -from what was invented and perfected -here: Yet such an intimation was enough to -an ingenious Artist to improve the first Contrivance, -and make it more accomodate to -the literal way of Writing with us: And as -our way may possibly be now brought to the -greatest Perfection for exactness and expedition, -so without doubt must be their way of -Printing any thing just as it is written, since -I find, that they can engrave their Stamps -for a Sheet, as soon as one of our Compositers -can set and correct a Sheet of our literal -Character, and when so done, one Man alone -will print off 1500 Sheets in one Day. And -though 'tis generally believed to be much the -same with our Wooden Cuts for Printing, -yet from some Observations I have made, I -believe it to be much another way; of which -I shall hereafter say more when I describe their -other Arts of Pottery, Staining, Varnishing, -<em>&c.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span></p> - -<p>By a <em>Chinese</em> Manuscript, out of which I -transcribed the Lord's Prayer in the Year -1666 (when it was lost) I found that the Pronunciations -had no affinity with the stroaks -of the Character. Whence I conceived it -was either a numeral Character consisting of -Numbers, or else a real Character, but not -a literal, unless it were a literal Character of -some other Language than that by which it -was pronounced, whose pronunciation is lost -though the significancy be retained, as if -one should read what is written in <em>Hebrew</em> -בראשיהברא into the <em>Latin</em> or <em>Roman</em> Language, -<em>In Principio Cræavit</em> instead of <em>Brasit -bra</em>, or <em>Beresith Bara</em> according to the <em>Masorethæ</em>.</p> - -<p>Since that time I procured from <em>China</em>, a -Dictionary of the Court Language, (as I -found it written upon by the Person that -sent it me from thence) but this whole Book -(which I found was Printed) consisted only of -the <em>Chinese</em> Characters without any Interpretation, -or Pronunciation; however by the -help of the Pictures of that, and a <em>Chinese</em> -Almanack, I quickly found out their Characters -for Numbers, and their way of Numeration, -together with the Figure and Use of -their <em>Abacus</em> or counting Board, for performing -the Operations of <em>Arithmetick</em>, which I -find pretty near to agree with that of the -antient <em>Romans</em> (a Description and Picture -of which is given by <em>Ursinus</em>, <em>Pignorius</em> and -<em>Velserus</em>) save only, that, instead of Pins -and sliding Groves of the <em>Roman</em>, the <em>Chinese -Abacus</em> hath Strings or Wires and Beads, to -slide upon them; and that, instead of four<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span> -Pins for Digits or Units, the <em>Chinese</em> hath -five Beads: So that it may seem to argue -that the <em>Chinese Abacus</em> was designed for a <em>Duodecimal</em> -Progression: Whereas that of the -<em>Romans</em> was design'd for the <em>Decimal</em>.</p> - -<p>One thing is remarkable in the <em>Chinese</em>, -that I find the <em>Abacus</em> to lie Horizontal, and -their first place to be that next the left Hand, -which I judge was also the first in their old -way of reading, much the same with ours, -though their other Characters are erected -(as I shall by and by shew) from the posture -of Writing and Reading, which I conjecture -they did at first make use of; and what does -yet further agree with this conjecture, is remarkable -in the newly mentioned Treatise -of <em>Vulg. Beig.</em> That whereas the way of -Writing and Reading used by the <em>Arabs</em>, was -from the right to the left, the first place or -the place of Units in their Numeration, was -that next the right Hand; and so came first to -be read: As did that of <em>China</em>, who as I conceive -read the contrary way, from the left to -the right.</p> - -<p>It appears therefore by this Remark that -we received this way of expressing Numbers -from the <em>Arabians</em>, for that we keep the same -posture or position of places with them, tho' -our progression in Writing and Reading be -the contrary way. And though we now -read them also in the order they are set, -twenty one, twenty two, thirty six, forty -eight, <em>&c.</em> yet we retain also the other way -of Pronouncing, <em>viz.</em> one and twenty, two -and twenty, six and thirty, eight and forty, -<em>&c.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span></p> - -<p>Now as the <em>Chinese</em> and <em>Roman Abacus</em> do -much agree save only that they proceed -contrary ways, so doth their way of -expressing Numbers by Letters or Marks, -one stroke or line signifying one; two lines -two; three lines three; a cross ten; two -crosses twenty; three crosses thirty; and so onwards -to a hundred, which they expressed by -a square Mark, and a cross with a stroak added -for a thousand, as will appear by the -Table annexed. And though the Characters -are not all the same; yet the order and -method of one agrees very near with that of -the other, especially if I may be allowed my -supposition, that the primitive way of Writing -and Reading with the <em>Chinese</em> was Horizontal, -and like the <em>Greek</em> and <em>Latin</em> or <em>European</em> -way. Now that these are properly -numeral Figures, or Characters, is manifest -from this, that they have also word Characters -for every Number, and they can (in -the same manner as the <em>Romans</em> could) express -a Number by their numeral characters -or Marks, and by their literal or word Characters; -for as one single stroak signifies one -or the first, so does the Character (<em>in the Plate -marked with E</em>) signify the same thing, that is -one or the first.</p> - -<p>Having thus discovered their Characters -for Numbers, and their way of Numeration, -I was next desirous to understand something -concerning their Language and Character.</p> - -<p>Upon perusing all the Accounts I could -meet with in Books, I found very little satisfaction -as to what I principally inquired af<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>ter, -which was first concerning the method -of the Character, whether it consisted of a -certain number of Marks methodically disposed -like Letters in a literal, or like Numbers -in a Numeral, or like Radicals in composite -and decomposite Derivations? 'Tis said -to be legible into a great many Languages -considerably different one from another, but -how this is effected is not related, only 'tis -said that the Marks are of the nature of our -Arithmetical Figures, (which are become almost -Universal at least to us here in <em>Europe</em>,) -and 2dly, concerning the number of these Characters? -to which I found as little satisfaction; -for, by some Relations I found that there -were 120000, by others 80000, and by others -60000. And that a Man must be able to -remember to Write and Read at least 8000, -or 10000, before he will be able to express -his meaning thereby, and that it is the business -of a Man's whole Life to be throughly -understanding in the whole Character; seeming -to intimate that the Characters are immethodical, -and there are as many primitive -Characters as Words. Others tell us of various -kinds of Characters which have been in -use in several Ages. The first they say were -<em>Hieroglyphical</em> like the <em>Ægyptian</em> or <em>Mexican</em>, -consisting of the Pictures of Animals and Vegetables. -But that the last are made up of -Lines and Points, that they have no such -thing as Letters or Syllables, but every distinct -Word and Notion has a distinct Character, -and that all are primitive or in composite, -so that if <em>Calepines</em> Dictionary were to -be translated into the <em>Chinese</em>, 'twere neces<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>sary -to have as many distinct radical Characters -as there are Words therein to be found, -which accounts do seem to insinuate that this -Character is the most difficult, and the most -perplexed piece of Learning in the World, -and depends wholly upon the strength of the -Memory, in retaining the form and signification -of a perplexed scrawl. But whether -they who gave us these Accounts did do -it knowingly, is much to be doubted, my own -Observations, at least, make me think otherwise.</p> - -<p>I have not yet been able to procure sufficient -helps to inform my self of the whole -Art of Writing and Reading the <em>Chinese</em> Character, -and I fear the Relations I have hitherto -met with concerning it, were written -by such as did not well understand it, however -from such helps as I had, what I collected -or do conjecture, I shall here relate. The -best help I had, was the perusal of some Books -Printed in <em>China</em>, with the pronunciation and -signification of the Character in Latin Letters. -By these Books then I observed, first, -that every one of their Characters, whether -consisting of more or fewer strokes or marks, -were comprised within a certain square space, -which is proportion'd according to the bigness -of the size or manner of Writing, they -design there to make use of, not that the -whole Square is filled with every Character, -but that no part of that Character does exceed -the limits of that Square, so that tho' -the Character have but one stroak, it takes -as much room in the line as another that hath -20 or 30 several Marks, so that their Cha<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>racters -are most exactly ranged in Rank -and File, not unlike our Numbers in Arithmetick.</p> - -<p>Notwithstanding which I find they do vary -the bigness of the Character upon several -Occasions, as in the Titles of Books, in the -Titles of the Chapters or Sections, in the -Comments, Explications or Notes, and upon -several other occasions of variety, which -they do at Pleasure with their Pencil, as we -use variety of Letters in the Printing of a -Book. The Titles of Books are generally in -very large Characters, 6 or 8 times as big as -those of the Book, the explication Notes ½ -of the bigness, the Contents usually twice as -big, and the like variety on several other -occasions. I have met with also three several -kinds of Characters, the most usual -is the fixed or set square form. The second -sort is the running Hand, in which the orders -of the Courts are written by their Secretaries, -of which I have seen 3 or 4 kinds, -in which the Pencil is never taken off, till -the whole Character be finished, and sometimes -two or three are all written without -break. The third seems to be somewhat -like the flourishing great Letters, used by -Scriveners at the beginning of Deeds, and -by the <em>Germans</em> in the beginning of Chapters -and Sections. They are compounded of the -same strokes as the set Character, but modulated -and shaped a little otherwise to make -them appear the more beautiful and regular.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span> -A Specimen of each of these three are in the -Plate. This third is made use of for Epitaphs, -and other Inscriptions on Buildings or -Monuments. These three sorts I may call -the three general kinds of Writing, but there -is to be found an almost infinite variety of -forms which Men use. This will be the more -easie to be believed, when we consider that -the Printed Characters are exactly the same -with the Written, insomuch that every variety -in each stroke, line or point, that is -or can be made with the Pencil, is perfectly -expressed in the Impression, and the Form, -Mode, or Hand, as we call it, of every Writer -is exhibited so curiously, that I think it -hardly possible to be performed after the way -of wooden Cuts, as Authors affirm it is, -but must be done after the method of our -Copper Cuts, Printed by a Roll-press, which -the way of expressing the Running or Court-Hand, -does, I conceive, most evidently demonstrate, -and from divers circumstances, I -could evidently make appear from the Book -it self, which I cannot so well express in -Writing. Their Paper is generally very thin -and fine, and very transparent, but brown, -so that whatever is Written or Printed on it, -is almost as legible on the back, as on the -foreside, which is of great use in the cutting -of their Stamps. And thence they never -Write or Print on both sides of the same -Leaf, but only on one, and to make the Leaf -appear Printed on both sides, they double -the Sheet with the Printed sides outwards, -and putting the folded part forward, they -Sew, Bind, or Stitch together, all these Sheets<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span> -with the cut Edges, and upon whole Sheets -instead of single Leaves; just in the same -manner as the Plate annexed to this Discourse -is Printed. They begin the Book on the top -of the right Hand side of the Page that is -next the right Hand, and they read downwards -to the bottom, then begin the next -Line towards the left Hand at the top, and -so read to the bottom, and so proceed to the -end of the Book. But this I suppose not to -be the primitive or first way of Writing -or Reading. The Title of the Book is set -first upon a whole Leaf, usually of a thicker -Paper, and some Title is likewise Written -upon the folding or edge of every Sheet, -where is set also the Number of the Book, -and the Number of the Sheet, half of which -appears on one side, and half on the other -side of the fold.</p> - -<p>As to the Character it self, (I find by all -the Books and Writings I have yet met with -of that kind) that each of them is made up -of a certain number of Strokes, Lines or -Marks, which are very distinct from each -other in their shape and position, and by reason -that these are single Strokes, and as I -conceive uncompounded, I think they may -be called the Letters, Elements or Particles, -out of which the more compounded Characters -are constructed or contexed. These are -the first kind of which there are but a very -few, and I think those I have described -in the thirteenth Line of the Plate are -all.</p> - -<p>Two, three, four, or more of these joined -together in a certain order and contex<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>ture -(in the doing of which there is a great -Regularity and Order observed, which is -not varied from, and all within the regular -square Space) I conceive do make Syllables -or primitive radical Characters, each of which -have a primitive, single or distinct Notion -or Signification as well as Sound, which is -made much use of in the more compounded -Characters or Words. Of this kind I take -the Figures of the Numbers to be: If at least -they are not single Letters like the way of -expressing Numbers in the <em>Hebrew</em>, <em>Greek</em>, -<em>Arabick</em>, &c. Languages, for though there -may be two or three of the single strokes -joyned together into a compound Character, -it hinders not, but that it may still signify a -Letter, as in the <em>Greek</em> ΛΑ.Δ.Ι.Γ.Π.Γ. In the -Runick; where every Letter hath one upright -Line and some other additional Marks: -In the <em>Roman</em> I.L.F.E.O.Q.V.Y: Or it may -signify a Syllable as in the <em>Æthiopick</em>, and -in the <em>Hanscret</em>, and <em>Sunscrit</em> Languages and -Characters: The first of which being the -<em>Brackmans</em> Character we find in <em>P. Kircher</em>'s -<em>China Illustrata</em>, described by <em>P. Roth</em> who studied -it seven Years; and the second (being -a literal Character used over all <em>India</em> by -the Merchants) I have seen in a Transcript, -brought lately out of <em>India</em> by a very Worthy -Gentleman who lived there many Years, -and had the Curiosity to cause to be Transcribed -and Translated also into English, -a Dictionary of their Language in their own -Character: who did me the favour to let -me peruse it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span></p> - -<p>In which Characters or ways of Writing a -Vowel is always join'd with a Consonant into -one compound Character to make it effable. -And then the single Strokes may be taken -for single ineffable Letters as are the Consonants, -and the composition of two or three -(of which one at least may be a Vowel) will -make Syllables.</p> - -<p>Of this kind, there are not so many in the -whole <em>Chinese</em> Character, but that it will be -easie enough to assign each a proper Monosyllable -which shall only have 1 or 2 Consonants, -and one or two Vowels; that is, the -Consonants together, and not separate, either -both behind the Vowel or Vowels, if -it be a Diphthong or both after it or them.</p> - -<p>Of this kind, I understand there are about -500, probably 8×8×8, or 512. I could enumerate -a great many, and give you also the -Name or Words by which they are pronounced -as also their signification, but (as I said -before) first, I conceive the present <em>Chinese</em> -Language to have no affinity at all with the -Character, the true primitive, or first Language, -or Pronunciation of it, having been -lost. And secondly, I want some further -help to make a full and compleat Discovery: -What I have learn'd from the Book of <em>Fohi</em> -I shall give the next opportunity; which will -explain the reason of the multiplication of 8. -and the order and method of places in the -Letter or Word square.</p> - -<p>The third sort of Characters, is a decompounded -sort being made up of two, three or -more of those of the second kind, diminish'd -proportionably in their size, either as to their<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span> -length, or breadth, or both, from what they -have in the same Writing when they are single -and fill up the whole Letter square or Words -square. For there being several of them to -be crouded together within the same square, -according as there are more in number, so -they are always more squeezed together. In this -decompound sort, there is a regular Order -observed in the placing of the several Characters -of the 2d sort; there being some -that are always on the left side, some always -on the right, some at the top, some at the -bottom. Of which I doubt not but that they -have a certain regular Method, which had we -Dictionaries explained, would be easie enough -to be discovered.</p> - -<p>This method alone of crouding together -all the Characters (how many soever go to -make up the decompounded Character) into -one square (which is of the same size for the -most Simple and for the most Compound) seems -to be the great singularity, by which the <em>Chinese</em> -Characters differ from those of all the rest of the -World. And this I conceive has been the reason -why all People, and possibly even the very <em>Chinese</em> -themselves have, and do believe it to be a -real and not a literal Character: For if the -primitive Language, or pronunciation of the -Characters be lost (as I conceive it is) and -that the disposition, order, method, texture, -or manner of placing the more simple in the -more compound Characters be also lost, forgotten, -or not understood; then the whole -Characters becomes a real and not a literal -Character: And an immethodical one to such -as want a method, that must be learned<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span> -by rote, and depend wholly upon the strength -of the Memory to retain it. But I conceive -it might be at first either a literal Character, -and so the whole square Character was composed -of so many distinct Letters or Syllables, -which composed the Word signified -thereby; and so there might be a regular -Order of placing these Letters in the Character, -that is, that the whole square being -divided into so many parts, there was a -Rule which was the first, second, third and -fourth place: so that there being placed in -those the several Letters that made up the -Word, according to the order they had in -the Word, it was easie by that Rule to Decipher -the said Character, and thence to -find the Word and the Signification, as regularly -as if the Letters had been written -one after another, as most other literal Characters -we know are at this Day written.</p> - -<p>Or Secondly, it might be a real Character -consisting of divers Marks or Letters, that -expressed so many simple Notions, several -of which joined together might make up the -more compounded Characters, of which I -have added some Examples in the Plate, -which may be also made literal and pronounceable, -tho' that consideration were not -made use of, when they were first invented. -What things I have observed in my <em>Chinese</em> -Books that seem to respect this Method, I -will give more particulars of by the next opportunity, -by Printing a Specimen of the -Book <em>Ye-kim</em> which explicated by these Notions -will I conceive appear more intelligible, -than by the Accounts we find given of it by<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span> -the <em>Chinese</em> Commentators, and those that -have Translated them into <em>Latin</em>, who seem -not to have understood the true design thereof: -For both the <em>Chinese</em> and <em>European</em> Commentators -assert it to be a Conjuring Book, -or a Book to tell Fortunes by, and to be made -use of by the <em>Chinese</em> for that purpose; whereas -by the small Specimen I have seen of it, -I conceive it to contain the whole Ground, -Rule or Grammar, of their Character, Language -and Philosophy, and that by the understanding -of it, the Foundation and Rule of -their Language and Character may be without -much difficulty Deciphered and Understood.</p> - -<p>The present use of this Character, I conceive -to be differing from what it was at first, -both as to the position of Writing and Reading -it, and as to the Expression and Pronunciation -thereof.</p> - -<p>For the way of Writing and Reading it, -I conceive might at first be exactly the same -with that of the <em>Greeks</em>, <em>Romans</em>, <em>English</em>, and -all other <em>European</em> Nations, and also the <em>Æthiopick</em> -and <em>Coptick</em>. That is, they began at -the top of the Page towards the left Hand, -and so proceeded towards the right in the -<em>Horizontal</em> Line to the end of it, and then -began at the left end of the next Line under -the first and proceeded with that in the same -manner, and so with the next under that -and all the remaining. Continuing to Write -the Words of the Line towards the right -Hand, and the Lines of the Page one under -another till the whole Discourse were compleated, -joyning Leaf to Leaf one under another, -after the same manner as the Rouls<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span> -are at present Writ, and as the <em>Volumina</em> -were of the Ancients. And to make the -parts of the Volume to be the more easily to -be come at, without the trouble of rolling -and unrolling as the Ancient <em>Romans</em> did, -and we do with our Rouls, they contrived to -fold them, like the folds of a Fan, forwards -and backward: And so stitching them together, -that the Written sides might lie outwards, -and open freely one from another, -and the fair sides might meet together, it -came to make the present form of their Book, -which being laid as we generally place our -Books before us, they seem to begin at the -top of the Page on the right Hand, and to -proceed to the bottom, and then at the top of -the next Line towards the left Hand, and descend -as in the former; proceeding in this -order with all the rest, which way must needs -be very inconvenient for Writing, however -they may use their Pencil differing from our -Pen. Though there be a way of Writing -from the top to the bottom of the Page, -which is very convenient for Writing the <em>Syriack</em>, -as also for Writing <em>Latin</em>, <em>English</em>, or -<em>Greek</em>, where the Writing is to be used for -cutting the Stamps of Wood, or graving of -Copper Plates with the same Character for -Printing, in which Cases the Letters must be -written backwards.</p> - -<p>Secondly, as to the Pronunciation of this -Character, by the Court Language, or by any -other now used, I conceive it to be wholly -differing from that of a literal Character, -that is from being pronounced or spoken according -to the Marks or Figures thereof,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span> -whether they be simple or compounded, and -made up of simple Characters (though there -are some Instances of affinity in Characters -and Words.) The reason of which differing -pronunciation I conceive may have proceeded, -partly from the loss of the primitive -Language, for which it was made, partly -from a most inconvenient affection of Monosyllabical -Words in this Court Language, to -help the Poverty of which, they are fain to -make one Syllable to signifie many differing -Notions, to do which they have introduced a -kind of Musical toning or accenting of each of -them, and not single but compound of two or -three Tones to each signification of every one -of these Monosyllables: Partly from the using -of this way of Writing, by divers Nations of -differing Languages, who minding only the -Figure and Signification, read it into their -own Mother Tongues, as we in <em>Europe</em> do -Arithmetical Figures: And partly, also from -the omission of most Grammatical Distinctions, -the same Character serving for Substantive and -Adjective, Singular and Plural, in all Cases, -(save only they have some Characters for Particles, -as <em>of</em> and <em>to</em> in English) for the Verb -in all Tenses, and Numbers, <em>&c.</em> for the abstract -and the concrete Signification, and for -divers Metaphorical; if at least the Interpretation -I have met with in the Books I have perused -be exact: Partly, also from the <em>Syntaxis</em> of -them, it being necessary to consider the whole -Sentence, to discover which part of Speech -each Character is of, in that Sentence, wherein -the Order and Positions of the Characters -to one another, for which they have Rules,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span> -hath its signification: And lastly, from the loss -of the very Notion of a literal Character, -whence for the expressing of proper Names, -they are fain to make use of several Characters, -whose Sounds or Words come nearest to the -Sounds of the Syllables of that Name, as in -the Plate <em>tam. jo, van</em>, for <em>Adam. Jovan</em>.</p> - -<p>Now, though I conceive this Character is -not effable properly as a literal Character by -any of their present Languages: And though -possibly it might be at first a real Character, -that is each of them compounded of such -Strokes or Marks as by their Figures, Positions -and Numbers in the square, denoted the -several Philosophical Ingredients, that made -up the Notion of the whole Character, as the -Book <em>Ye-Kim</em> seems to shew by giving Rules as -I conceive for the Order and Significancy of -places in the Square, <em>&c.</em> Yet I think it not -difficult to make it a Literal, or at least a Syllabical -Character, and legible into a Language somewhat -after the manner of the Universal Character -I mentioned before. And tho' this would -not be the primitive Language for which it was -made, yet for the present uses of it (the chiefest -of which is the assisting and refreshing the Memory, -and helping the Imagination by proper -Sounds) it might be as good: Wherein the -single Characters might be Monosyllables and -the compounded Dissyllables, Trissyllables, <em>&c.</em> -According to the Numbers and Order of simple -Characters in the square of the Compounded. -And I am apt to think that the present -pronunciation of Languages, as of <em>Hebrew</em>, <em>Syriack</em>, -<em>Arabick</em>, <em>Greek</em> and <em>Latin</em>, or any other<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span> -Language that has been so long Written, may -be as much differing from what it was 2000 -Years since, as an Arbitrary one now invented, -and grounded on the Letters, might possibly -be. And such an arbitrary Pronunciation -if generally agreed upon might serve -<em>as well</em> for a help to learn the signification of -Words, or <em>Word Combinations</em> of Characters, -as if we now knew the exact primitive Pronunciations, -as critically as the <em>Masorethæ</em> are -said to have done that of the <em>Hebrew</em>; and -possibly also a <em>much better</em>, for that by such a -one a great many irregularities and difficulties -of Pronunciation (which are to be found in -all Languages now spoken) might be omitted, -and the whole made exactly regular and easie, -as might be shewn in the <em>Hebrew</em> and <em>Greek</em>, -and especially in the <em>Arabick</em>, whose difficulties -are sufficiently manifested by <em>Alphabetum -Arabicum</em>, Printed at <em>Rome</em> 1592. Now as by -such a Language the Character might be made -effable without Musical Tones or difficult Aspirations, -so had we Dictionaries of the signification -of the Characters, we might as soon learn -the <em>Chinese</em> Characters, as we can <em>Latin</em>, or any -other Language to be learn'd by Book, and -not by speaking.</p> - -<p class="center">IMPRIMATUR, -</p> - -<p class="right"><em>John Hoskyns</em> Vice P. R. S.<br /> -<em>July</em> 17<em>th.</em>, 1686.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/plate2_page232.jpg" width="700" height="479" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p><em>The Roman Abacus out of Marcus Velserus</em></p> - -<p><em>The Chinese Abacus from the Chinese Dictionary containing nine places or -degrees</em></p> - -<p>一二三四五六七八九</p> - -<div class="center"> -<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Abacus"> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">I</td> - <td>一</td> - <td>yĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II</td> - <td>二</td> - <td>th́</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IV</td> - <td>四</td> - <td>sú</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V</td> - <td>五</td> - <td>v̀</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI</td> - <td>六</td> - <td>lŏ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VII</td> - <td>七</td> - <td>ziĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VIII</td> - <td>八</td> - <td>pă̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">IX</td> - <td>九</td> - <td>kièn</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">XI</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>一</td> - <td>yĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">II</td> - <td>二</td> - <td>lh́</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">III</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">X</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V</td> - <td>五</td> - <td>v̀</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><br /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XX</td> - <td>廾</td> - <td>lh́xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">XX</td> - <td>二</td> - <td>lh́</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XXX</td> - <td>卅</td> - <td>san̄xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">XXX</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">XXXX</td> - <td>四</td> - <td>sú</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">L</td> - <td>五</td> - <td>v̀</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">LX</td> - <td>六</td> - <td>lŏ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">LXX</td> - <td>七</td> - <td>ziĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">LXXX</td> - <td>八</td> - <td>pac</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><br /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">100</td> - <td>白</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">100</td> - <td>百</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">200</td> - <td>二</td> - <td>lh́</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>白</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">300</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>百</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">400</td> - <td>四</td> - <td>sú</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>百</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">1000</td> - <td>千</td> - <td>zien̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">2000</td> - <td>二</td> - <td>lh́</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>千</td> - <td>zien̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">3000</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>千</td> - <td>zien̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">10000</td> - <td>萬</td> - <td>ván</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">30000</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>萬</td> - <td>ván</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><br /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">CIↃ</td> - <td>千</td> - <td>zien̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">DC</td> - <td>六</td> - <td>lŏ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>百</td> - <td>pĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td rowspan="2" class="tdr">LXXX</td> - <td>八</td> - <td>pă̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">VI</td> - <td>六</td> - <td>lŏ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">añus</td> - <td>年</td> - <td>nien̂</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">V</td> - <td>五</td> - <td>v̀</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">mensis</td> - <td>月</td> - <td>yuĕ</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">XIII</td> - <td>十</td> - <td>xĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td class="tdr">die</td> - <td>三</td> - <td>san̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>日</td> - <td>gĕ̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>正</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>E</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td><br /></td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>年</td> - <td>nien̂</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>五</td> - <td>v̀</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>人</td> - <td>gin̂</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>大</td> - <td>ta</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>先</td> - <td>sien̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>仁</td> - <td>gin̂</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>八</td> - <td>pă̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>之</td> - <td>chī̇</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>湯</td> - <td>tàm̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>若</td> - <td>jo</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>望</td> - <td>vàm</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>天</td> - <td>tìen̄</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>原</td> - <td>yuên</td> - </tr> - <tr> - <td></td> - <td>又</td> - <td>yéu</td> - </tr> -</table></div> - -<p class="right"><em>I Senex Sculpsit</em></p> - -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Letter from <strong>F. A.</strong> Esq; R. -S. S. to the Publisher, with -a Paper of Mr. <strong>S. Flowers</strong>, containing -the Exact Draughts of -several unknown Characters, taken -from the Ruins at <strong>Persepolis</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p> -<em>SIR</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>I here send you some Fragments of Papers -put into my Hands by a very good Friend, -relating to antique and obscure Inscriptions, -which were retrieved after the Death of Mr. -<em>Flower</em>, Agent in <em>Persia</em> for our <em>East-India</em> -Company, who, while he was a Merchant -at <em>Aleppo</em>, had taken up a Resolution to procure -some Draught or Representation of -the admired Ruins at <em>Chilmenar</em>, pursuant -to the third Enquiry for <em>Persia</em>, mention'd -in the <em>Philosophical Transactions</em>, pag. 420. -<em>viz.</em> <em>Whether there being already good Descriptions -in Words of the Excellent Pictures -and <strong>Basse Relieves</strong> that are about <strong>Persepolis</strong> -at <strong>Chilmenar</strong>, yet none very particular, some -may not be found sufficiently Skilled in those -parts, that might be engaged to make a Draught -of the Place, and the Stories there Pictur'd -and Carved</em>. This Desire of the Royal So<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span>ciety, -as I believe, it hinted at a Summary -Delineation, which might be perform'd by -a Man qualifi'd in a few Days, taking his -own opportunity for the avoiding much Expence, -(which you know they are never -able to bear:) So I cannot but think Mr. -<em>Flower</em> conceived it to be a Business much -easier to perform than he found it upon the -Place, where he Spent a great deal of Time -and Mony, and dying Suddainly after, left -his Draughts and Papers dispersed in several -Hands, one part whereof you have here, -the rest its hoped may in some Time be -recovered, if Sir <em>John Chardin</em>'s exact and -accurate Publication of the entire Work -do not put a period to all further Curiosity, -which I heartily wish.</p> - - -<div class="hangindent"> - -<p><em>An Exact Draught or Copy of the several Characters -engraven in Marble at the Mountains -of <strong>Nocturestand</strong> and <strong>Chahelminar</strong> in <strong>Persia</strong>, -as they were taken in <strong>November 1667.</strong> -By Mr. <strong>S. Flower</strong>.</em></p></div> - -<p><em>N</em> 1. <em>N</em> 2. These two Characters are engraven -on the Breast of two Horses cut -out of the Mountain of Black Marble at -<em>Nocturestand</em>, distant a League from <em>Chahelmanare</em>, -or the Ancient <em>Persepolis</em>, one whereof -is said to be <em>Alexander</em>'s, the other -<em>Rustram</em>'s, (a Famous Hero supposed to have -lived about the time of <em>Cambises</em>.) Mr. <em>Fl.</em></p> - -<p><em>N</em> 1. This Character hath some Similitude -with the Ancient Hebrew, but the -<em>Persians</em> would have it their own, tho' they -understand not a Letter. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 391px;"> -<img src="images/plate3_page235.jpg" width="391" height="700" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"> -<div class="center"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0">ΤΟΥΤΟΤΟ ΡΟΣUΥΟΝ ΜΑΣΛΑΣΝΟΥ<br /></span> -<span class="i0">ΘΕΟΥΑΡΖΑ......ΣΙΑΩΣΒΑΣΙΑΕΩΝ<br /></span> -<span class="i2">ΑΡΙΑΝΩΝ....ΣΘΣΩΝΥΙΟΥ<br /></span> -<span class="i2">ΘΕΟΥΠΑΠΑ..ΥΒΑ..ΕΩΣ<br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<p class="center">ΤΟΥΤΟΤΟ ΠΡΟΣΩΠΟΝ ΔΙΟΣΘΕΟΥ -</p> - -<p class="right"><em>I Senex Sculpsit</em></p> - -</div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>N</em> 2. In these Lines the places are prickt -where the Letters were defaced and not -Perceptible. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<p><em>N</em> 3. This is the (<em>Arabick</em>) <em>Persian</em> Character -engraven at <em>Persepolis</em> not above 500. -years since, and is little different from the -Writing us'd at this day. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<p><em>N</em> 4. These two Lines were writ entire on -<em>Rustram</em>'s Horse. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<p><em>N</em> 5. This Character, whether it be the -Ancient Writing of the <em>Gaures</em> or <em>Gabrees</em>, or -a kind of <em>Telesmes</em>, is found only at <em>Persepolis</em>, -being a part of what is there engraven in -white Marble, and is by no Man in <em>Persia</em> -legible or understood at this Day.</p> - -<p>A Learned Jesuit Father, who deceased -Three Years since, affirmed this Character to -be known and used in <em>Ægypt</em>. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<p>It seems written from the Left Hand to -the Right, and to consist of Pyramids, diversly -posited, but not joined together. As to the -Quantity of the Inscriptions, <em>Herbert</em> reckon'd -in one large Table Twenty Lines of a Prodigious -Breadth. Of this sort here are distinct -Papers each of several Lines.</p> - -<p><em>N</em> 6. This Character is likewise Engraved -at <em>Persepolis</em>, of the like Antiquity with the former. -It has some Affinity with the <em>Syriack</em> -and <em>Arabick</em>, and has been pretended to be -understood by some of the <em>Padrees</em>. Mr. <em>F.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Letter from Monsieur <strong>N. Witsen</strong> -to Dr. <strong>Martin Lister</strong>, with -two Draughts of the Famous <strong>Persepolis</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>This Ingenious and Inquisitive Gentleman -having already often obliged the -World with Communications of his Discoveries, -lately sent the following Letter with -the Draughts to Dr. <em>Lister</em>, who was pleased -to permit their Publication in these Tracts: -The greatness of the Curiosity we hope will -recommend them to the Lovers of Antiquity, -little of those famous Remains having -been yet publish'd, and those that have been, -but ill designed or graved. Monsieur <em>Witsen</em>'s -Letter, translated from the <em>French</em>, is as follows.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/plate4_page237.jpg" width="700" height="296" alt="" /> -</div> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 700px;"> -<img src="images/plate5_page237.jpg" width="700" height="429" alt="" /> -<div class="caption"><p>Tsjihil mmar</p></div> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span></p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p> -<em>SIR</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>Since I had the Honour of receiving your -last, there came to my Hands several curious -<em>Shells</em> from you, with a piece of <em>English -Agate</em>, and the Transactions of the Royal Society -for the Month of <em>June</em> last, for which -Favours I return my humble Thanks. As to -the Cockles of the <em>Caspian</em> Sea, and from the -Mouth of <em>Wolga</em>, I have advice from <em>Moscou</em>, -that they are expected there this Winter: -Mean while I herewith send you some <em>Snail-Shells</em>, -taken out of the River <em>Jaute</em>, not far -from the City of <em>Moscou</em>. Our Apothecaries -make use of them powdered, and probably -for the same purpose as <em>Crabs-Eyes</em>. There -are some others likewise which are found in -the Rivers of <em>Moscou</em> and <em>Neglina</em>, and in the -<em>Wolga</em>. Since you have been pleased to communicate -to me an Inscription found at <em>Persepolis</em>, -I thought it would be acceptable to -send you the Draughts of part of the Ruins -of the Stone-work of that proud Palace, given -me by the Person himself that drew them -upon the place. I should be much satisfied -had I any thing worthy of your Curiosity and -the Publick, which you so often oblige with -your Discoveries, which justly merit mine -and the Thanks of all that esteem them as -much as my self, who am the Cherisher of your -Friendship, and desirous to shew that I am,</p> - -<p> -<em>SIR</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p class="center"><em>Your most Humble and Obedient Servant</em>, -</p> - -<p class="right">N. Witsen.</p> - -<p> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;"><em>Amsterdam</em>,</span><br /> -<em>Jan. 1. 1694.</em><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Description of the Diamond-mines, -as it was presented by the -Right Honourable the Earl -Marshal of <strong>England</strong>, to the <strong>R. -Society</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>The parts of the World known to contain -<em>Diamonds</em>, are the Island <em>Borneo</em>, -and the Continent of <em>India extra & intra Gangem</em>: -<em>Pegu</em> is likewise reported to have several; -but the King not potent, his Country -being but thinly inhabited, contents himself -with his Mines of <em>Rubies</em>, <em>Saphires</em>, <em>Topasses</em>, -<em>Emeralds</em>, <em>Gold</em>, <em>Silver</em>, <em>Brass</em>, <em>Tinn</em> and <em>Lead</em>, -and several other Commodities his Country -affords, in great plenty, rather than to suffer -new enquiries to be made, lest the Discovery -of such an additional Treasure should invite -some of his Neighbours, more potent to invade -him. But leaving the description of -other Places to those that know them better, -I shall only keep my self to the Coast of <em>Coromandel</em>, -with which I am acquainted, and -having visited several of its Mines, am able -to say something thereof Experimentally.</p> - -<p>The Diamond-Mines in these parts are -generally adjacent to Rocky-hills, or Mountains, -whereof begins a great Ledge or Range -near <em>Cape Comorin</em>, extending in Breadth -about 50 <em>English</em> Miles, some conjoyning,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span> -others scatter'd: and running thence in length -quite through <em>Bengula</em>. In, among, and near -these Hills, in several places, are known to -be (as its believed most of them have) Mines; -many of them are possessed by petty Princes, -or <em>Rajaes</em>, of the <em>Hundues</em>; some driven thither -for shelter by the <em>Mores</em>, who have taken -the greatest part of their Country from -them; others never overcome, as the <em>Rajaes</em>, -on the Hills in and near <em>Bengala</em>, who admit -of little or no Commerce with their -Neighbours, or passage through their Country, -which (being Barren, in few Places affording -good Water, the ways craggy and -very toilsome, especially to an Army) the -<em>Moors</em> covet not, but let them enjoy it peaceably; -yet to prevent danger, they forbid -digging (as the King of <em>Pegu</em> does) or dig -some few Mines only very privately, so that -a great part of the Mines are unsearcht and -concealed. But the Kingdoms of <em>Golconda</em> -and <em>Visiapore</em> contain in them scope enough -of ground, known to have Mines sufficient -to furnish all the World plentifully with Diamonds; -but their Kings permit digging only -in some Places appointed, lest, as it is -imagined, they should become too common; -and withal for fear of tempting the threatening -greatness of <em>Aurenge Zebe</em>; forbidding also those -Places that afford the largest Stones, or else -keeping workmen in them for their own private -uses: So that but a very small quantity -(in Comparison of what might be) and those -only of ordinary Size, are found.</p> - -<p>In the Kingdom of <em>Golconda</em> (as near as I -can gather from the best acquainted) are 23<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span> -Mines now employed, or that have been so -lately, viz. <em>Quolure</em>, <em>Codawillicul</em>, <em>Malabar</em>, -<em>Buttephalem</em>, <em>Ramiah</em>, <em>Gurem</em>, <em>Muttampellee</em>, -<em>Currure</em>, <em>Ganjeeconeta</em>, <em>Luttawaar</em>, <em>Jonagerree</em>, -<em>Pirai</em>, <em>Dugulle</em>, <em>Purwillee</em>, <em>Anuntapelle</em>, <em>Girrogeta</em>, -<em>Maarmood</em>, <em>Wazzergerre</em>, <em>Munnemurg</em>, -<em>Langumboot</em>, <em>Whootoor</em>, <em>Muddemurg</em>, and <em>Melwillee</em> -or the New Mine.</p> - -<p><em>Quoloure</em> was the first Mine made use of -in this Kingdom. The Earth is something -Yellowish, not unlike the Colour of our -Gravel dried; but whiter in some Places -where it abounds with smooth Pebbles, much -like some of those that come out of our Gravel-pits -in <em>England</em>. They use to find great -quantities in the Vein, if it may properly -be so called, the Diamonds not lying in -continued Clusters as some imagine, but frequently -so very scattering that sometimes -in the space of ¼ of an Acre of Ground, -digged between two or three fathoms Deep, -there hath been nothing found; especially -in the Mines that afford great Stones, lying -near the superficies of the Earth, and -about three Fathoms deep; deeper they -could not dig for Water; it being in a Vale -near a River. In other places the Earth is -mixt with rugged Stones, where they seldom -mine deeper, though in higher ground, -before the Colour of the Earth alters, and -the Vein ceases; which they give a guess at -by the small Stones they find in the Earth, -the principal Guide they have in the discovery -of the Mines.</p> - -<p>The Diamonds found in these Mines are -generally well-shaped, many of them point<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>ed, -and of a good lively white Water; but -it also produces some <em>Yellow</em> ones, some <em>Brown</em>, -and of other colours. They are of ordinary -sizes, from about six in a <em>Mangelin</em><a name="FNanchor_18_18" id="FNanchor_18_18"></a><a href="#Footnote_18_18" class="fnanchor">[18]</a> -(of which they find but few) to -five or six <em>Mangelins</em>, each; some -of 10, 15, 20. they find but rarely. -They have frequently a bright -and transparent skin, inclining to -a greenish Colour, though the heart of the -Stone be purely white; but the Veins of these -Mines are almost worn out.</p> - -<p>The Mines of <em>Codawillicul</em>, <em>Malabar</em>, and -<em>Buttepallam</em> consist of a reddish Earth, inclining -to an Orange-colour (with which it stains -the Cloaths of the Labourers that work in -it) they dig about four Fathom deep. They -afford Stones generally of an excellent Water -and crystaline Skin; smaller sizes than -those of <em>Quoloure</em>, <em>Ramiah</em>, <em>Gurem</em>, and <em>Muttampelleo</em>; -have a Yellowish Earth, like <em>Quolure</em>; -their Stones like those of the two former -Mines, but mixt with many of a blue -Water. These five Mines being under the -same Government with <em>Melwillee</em>, where the -Governour resides; He to draw the Adventurers -and Merchants near him, that he may -be better informed of the Actions and Advantages, -and know the better how to Fleece -them, the general practice of Governours in -these parts, has very lately forbid their use; -and commanded all to repair to his Residence, -which they must obey, or fly into another -Government.</p> - -<p>The next Mine in our way is <em>Currure</em>, the -most famous of them all and most Ancient -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span> -It has been under Subjection of the King of -<em>Golconda</em>; but about 25 Years, taken, with -the Country of <em>Rarnaticum</em>, from the <em>Hendue-Rajaes</em>, -about that time, by the <em>Nabob</em>, <em>Meer -Jumla</em>. In it have been found Diamonds of -a <em>size</em> weight, which is about 9 Ounces <em>Troy</em> -or 81½ <em>Pago's</em> weight. It is only employed -by the King for his own private use: The -Diamonds that are found in it, are very well -spread, large Stones (it yields few or none -small,) they have generally a bright Skin, -which inclines to a pale Greenish colour, but -within are purely white. The Soil is Reddish -as many of the others.</p> - -<p>About sixty or seventy years ago, when it -was under the Government of the <em>Hundues</em>, -and several Persons permitted to adventure -in digging, a <em>Portugeez</em> Gentleman went thither -from <em>Goa</em>, and having spent in Mining -a great sum of Mony to the amounts of 100000 -<em>Pago's</em>, as 'tis reported, and converted every -thing he brought with him, that would fetch -any mony, even to what wearing Cloaths he -could spare, while the Miners were at Work -for the last Days expence, he had prepared a -cup of Poison, resolving, if that Night he -found nothing, to drink his last with the conclusion -of his Mony; but in the Evening the -Workmen brought him a very fair spread -Stone of 20 <em>Pago's</em> weight, in commemoration -whereof he caused a great Stone to be erected -in the place, with an Inscription ingraven -on it, in the <em>Hundues</em> or <em>Tellinga</em> Tongue, to -the following effect, which remains to be seen -to this day;</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span></p> -<div class="center"> -<div class="poem"><div class="stanza"> -<span class="i0"><em>Your Wife and Children sell, sell what you have,</em><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><em>Spare not your Cloaths, nay, make your self a Slave;</em><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><em>But money get, then to <strong>CURRURE</strong> make hast;</em><br /></span> -<span class="i0"><em>There search the Mines, a Prize you'll find at last.</em><br /></span> -</div></div> -</div> -<p>After which he immediately returned with -his Stone to <em>Goa</em>.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Not far from <em>Currure</em> are the Mines of -<em>Lattawaar</em> and <em>Ganjeconta</em>, which are in the -same Soil as <em>Currure</em>, and afford Stones not -unlike: But <em>Lattawaar</em> hath many representing -the great end of a Razor-blade, thin on -one side and thick on the other, very white -and of an excellent Water; but the best -of the Mine is worn out, and <em>Ganjeconta</em> -employed only to the Kings private -use.</p> - -<p><em>Jonagerre</em>, <em>Pirai Dugulle</em>, <em>Purwillee</em> and <em>Anuntapellee</em>, -consist also of Red earth, are now -employed, and afford many large Stones; -part of them of a greenish Water, but the -most absolute Mines are of <em>Wazzergerre</em> and -<em>Munnemurg</em>, (the other rather representing -Pits than Mines;) for there they sink through -high Rocks till they go so far below their basis, -that they can go no further for Water, -in some places 40 or 50 Fathom deep. The -superficies of the Rocks consist of hard, firm, -white Stone, into which they cut a Pit like -a Well, of about 4 or 5, in some places 6 -Foot deep, before they come to a crust of a -Mineral Stone, like the Mineral of Iron; -when they fill the Hole with Wood and keep -as hot a Fire as they can there for two or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span> -three Days, till they think it sufficiently heated; -then they pour-in Water till they have -quencht it, which also slacks and mollifies -both Stone and Mineral; both being cold, -they dig again, take out all the crumbled -stuff and dig up what they can besides, before -they heat it anew; the Crust seldom is thicker -than three or four Foot, which ceasing, they -come to a Vein of Earth, that usually runs -under the Rock two or three Furlongs; sometimes -much further: This they dig all out -and search, and if their first attempt prove -successful, they go to Work again (digging -after the same manner) as deep as they can, -till they come to Water; for the drawing -whereof, wanting the help of Engins, known -in <em>Europe</em>, they can go no deeper, although -the Vein lie lower; all lumps of the Mineral -they break in pieces, and frequently find Diamonds -enclosed in them. To Work on -these Mines is very expensive, but the advantage -is commonly answerable; yet in respect -of the certain disburse, that must be before -any thing be found, they are not so much frequented -as others, where they may try their -Fortunes with a smaller Stock. The Earth -they dig out is Red: Many large Stones are -found here; the smallest about 6 in a <em>Mangelleen</em>. -They are mixt Waters, but the -greatest part good, only of ill-favoured shapes, -many cragged pieces of Stones, some as if -they had been parts of very great ones, -others with pieces broken off them; yet I -never heard of any that ever found two -seeming fellows, although they do those that -look as if they had been newly Broken.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span></p> - -<p>In <em>Langumboot</em> they dig as they do at <em>Wazzergerree</em> -and <em>Munnemurg</em>; the Rock is not -altogether so solid, but the Earth and Stones -it produces much alike.</p> - -<p><em>Wootoor</em> should have been placed next to -<em>Currure</em>, it lying near it, and affording Stones -of a like magnitude, shapes and waters; 'tis -employed only to the Kings use: And singular, -in that its Diamonds are found in black -Earth.</p> - -<p><em>Muddemurg</em> far exceeds all the rest for Diamonds -of a delicate Shape, Water, and -bright transparent Skin, Proud, as it were, -in discovering their inward Beauties, with -which no other Mine can compare; yet it -has also store of Veiny ones, but those likewise -of so curious Shape and Water, that its -difficult to discover them from the good, -especially the small ones. It produces Stones -of divers Magnitudes, from ten and twelve -in a <em>Mangelleen</em>, to six or seven <em>Mangelleens</em> -each, and besides, some great ones. The -Earth is Red, but its seated in the Woods, -and the Water so bad, that to all (except -the People Bred there) it presently occasions -Fevers and destroys abundance, insomuch -that most of the Adventurers have forsaken -it; notwithstanding which it hath been more -profitable than any of the rest, the Vein frequently -lying near the superficies of the Earth, -seldom running deep, and is better furnisht -than any other yet discover'd. The River -<em>Kishna</em>, of excellent waters, is but 9 Miles -distant; but the Miners or Merchants are either -poor that they cannot, or else over-awed -by the Governour, pretend to be and dare not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span> -be at the charges of fetching their Water -from thence. Divers are of the opinion, -that, besides the Water, the Town lying in -a bottom, environ'd with Hills and Morass -adjoyning, the Air may be infected, and contribute -to its unhealthfulness.</p> - -<p><em>Melwillee</em> or the <em>New Mine</em>, so called, because -it was but lately found out (or at least -permitted to be made use of) in the Year -1670. it had then a Year employed the Miners, -but it was forbidden, and lay unoccupied -till 1673, when complaint being made at -<em>Quoleur</em>, that the Vein was worn out, the -King again licensed its settlement. The -Earth they Mine in, is very red, and many -of the Stones found there, have of it sticking -to them, as if it had clung there while -they were of a soft glutinous Substance, and -had not attained their hardness, maintaining -its Colour on its Skin (seeming to be -roughened with it) that it cannot be fetch'd -out by grinding on a rough Stone with Sand, -which they make use of to clean them. The -Stones are generally well-shaped, their size -from 5 or 6 in a <em>mangelleen</em> to those of 14 or -15 each, and some bigger; but greatest quantities -of the middle sorts: Most of them have -a thick dull Skin, incline to a yellowish Water, -not altogether so strong and lively as -of the other Mines; very few of them of a -crystaline Water and Skin. They are reported to -be apt to flaw in splitting, which occasions these -People to esteem them something softer than -the Product of many of the other Mines: -Several that flatter by their seeming whiteness -when rough, discover their deceitfulness<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span> -having past the Mill, and too often a yellowish -Tincture, to the disappointment and -loss of them that have cut them; but what -they want in goodness, is in part supplied -by the plenty they find, which, together with -their properties, make them the cheaper. -This being what I have gathered, both by -Experience of several of the places I have -seen, and the best Informations I could meet -with, of the Mines in this Kingdom; I shall -now proceed to those in <em>Visiapore</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Visiapore</em> is known to contain Mines enclosing -Stones as large and good as those of <em>Golconda</em>; -but the King, for Reasons already -given, makes use but of the meanest: Whereby, -as <em>Golconda</em> is famous for the largeness -of those it affords, <em>Visiapore</em> is noted for the -smallest; whose Mines, though they seldom -or never render an Adventurer a Fortune or -Estate at once, as sometimes those of <em>Golconda</em> -do, by a great Stone or several found -together; yet they are more Populous and -better employed, the small Stones lying -thicker in the Earth, so that the generality -are gainers, and few but they get their Expence; -whereas those of <em>Golconda</em> dig away -a considerable Estate and find nothing, others -not their Charges, and where one is a gainer, -divers lose.</p> - -<p>There are 15 Mines employed in the Kingdom -of <em>Visiapore</em>, viz. <em>Ramulconeta</em>, <em>Banugunnapellee</em>, -<em>Pendekull</em>, <em>Moodawarum</em>, <em>Cumerwillee</em>, -<em>Paulkull</em>, <em>Workull</em>, <em>Lungeepoleur</em>, <em>Pootloor</em>, <em>Punchelingull</em>, -<em>Shingarrampent</em>, <em>Tondarpaar</em>, <em>Gundepellee</em>, -<em>Donee</em> and <em>Gazerpellee</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span></p> - -<p>In <em>Ramulconeta</em> Mines in red Earth, about -15 or 16 Foot deep, they seldom find a Diamond -of a <em>mangelleen</em> weight, but small to -20 or 30 in a <em>mangelleen</em>. They are generally -of an excellent Crystalline Water, have a -bright clear Skin, inclining frequently to a -pale greenish Colour, are well shaped, but -few of them, pointed ones. There are also -found among them several broken pieces of -Diamonds, by the Country People called -<em>Shemboes</em>.</p> - -<p>In <em>Banugunnapellee</em>, <em>Pendekull</em>, and <em>Moodawarum</em>, -they dig as at <em>Ramulconeta</em>, and in -the same kind of Earth; they also afford -Stones much alike, being neighbouring Places.</p> - -<p><em>Cummerwillee</em>, <em>Paulkull</em>, and <em>Workull</em>, are -not far distant, produce Stones much alike -out of the same coloured Earth, but very -small ones even to a hundred in a <em>mangelleen</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Lungepoleur</em> Mines are of a yellowish Earth -(like those of <em>Quoleur</em>,) its Diamonds are -generally well shaped, globular, few pointed, -of a very good Crystalline Water and -bright Skins; many of them have a thick -dark Grass-green Skin, some spotted also -with Black, that they seem all foul, yet are -not so, but within purely white and clean. -Their sizes are from 2 or 3 <em>mangelleens</em> downwards, -but few very small.</p> - -<p><em>Pootloor</em> Mines are of reddish Earth, but -afford Stones much like those of <em>Lungepoleur</em>, -only smaller, under a <em>mangelleen</em>; the general -sizes are of ½, ⅓, ¼, ⅙ of a <em>mangelleen</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>Punchelingull</em>, <em>Shingarrampent</em>, and <em>Tondarpaar</em>, -are also of red Earth, their Diamonds -not unlike those of <em>Quoleur</em>, only -rarely or never any large ones are found -there.</p> - -<p><em>Gundepellee</em> hath the same Earth with -the former, and produces Stones of equal -Magnitude; but frequently of a pure Crystalline -Water, wherein they exceed the -former.</p> - -<p><em>Donee</em> and <em>Gazerpellee</em> dig both in red Earth -likewise, and afford Stones alike, the greatest -part whereof are of good Shapes and -Waters. They have also many <em>Shemboes</em>, -and some of bad Waters, some brown, which -these People call soft or weak water'd, being -esteemed of a softer and weaker Body -than others, by reason they have not so much -Life, when cut, and are subject to flaw in -splitting, and on the Mill; their general -Product is in Stones of middle Sizes: But -<em>Gazerpellee</em> has besides many large ones, and -is the only Mine noted for such in the Kingdom -of <em>Visiapore</em>. With which concluding the -description of the Mines, I shall give some -Account how the Diamonds are found, and -how they handle the Earth to find them; -which is as followeth.</p> - -<p>The Diamonds are so scatter'd and dispersed -in the Earth, and lie so thin, that in -the most plentiful Mines it's rare to find one -in digging, or till they have prepar'd the -Stuff, and do search purposely for them: -They are also frequently enclos'd in Clods; -and some of those of <em>Melwillee</em>, the New -Mine in the Kingdom of <em>Golconda</em>, have the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span> -Earth so fix'd about them, that till they -grind them on a rough Stone with Sand, they -cannot move it sufficiently, to discover they -are Transparent; or, were it not for their -Shapes, to know them from other Stones. -At the first opening of the Mine, the unskilful -Labourers, sometimes to try what -they have found, lay them on a great Stone, -and striking on them with another, to their -costly experience discover they had broken -a Diamond. One I knew who had an excellent -Stone of 8 <em>mangelleens</em>, served so by -ignorant Miners he employed.</p> - -<p>Near the Place where they dig, they raise -a Wall with such rugged Stones as they find -at Hand (whereof all the Mines afford -Plenty) of about two Foot high, and six -Foot over, flooring it well with the same; -for the laying of which they have no other -Mortar than the Earth tempered with Water. -To strengthen and make it tight they -throw up a Bank against the side of it: In -one whereof they leave a small vent about -two Inches from the bottom, by which it -empties it self into a little Pit, made in the -Earth to receive small Stones, if by chance -any should run through. The vent being -stopped, they fill the Cistern they have made -with Water, soaking therein as much as -the Earth they dig out of the Mines, as -it can conveniently receive at a time, breaking -the Clods, picking out the great Stones -and stirring it with Shovels, till the Water -is all Muddy, the gravelly stuff falling -to the bottom; then they open the vent, -letting out the foul Water and supplying<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span> -it with clean, till all the Earthly Substance -be wasted away, and none but a -gravelly remains at the bottom. Thus -they continue Washing till about Ten of -the Clock before Noon, when they take -the gravelly Stuff they have washed, and -spread it on a Place made plain and smooth -(like a Bowling-Alley) for the purpose, -near the Cistern, which being soon dried -by the heat of the Sun at that time of -the Day, they very curiously look it over, -that the smallest bit of a Stone can hardly -escape them. They never examin the -Stuff they have wash'd but between the -Hours of Ten and Three, least any -Cloud by interposing, intercept the brisk -Beams of the Sun, which they hold very -necessary to assist them in their search; -the Diamonds, not forbearing to reflect -them when they touch therein, rendring -themselves thereby the more conspicuous.</p> - -<p>Some of the expertest Labourers are employed -in searching; he that sets them at -Work usually sitting by, and overlooking; -but it's hardly possible, especially where -many are employed, to watch them so narrowly, -but that they may steal part of what -they find, as many times some of them do, -and, selling it privately, convert to their own -use. If they find a large Stone, they carry -it not presently to their Employer, but keep -on looking, having an Eye on him till -they observe he takes notice of it, when -with a turn of their Hand they give him -a glimpse of it, but deliver it not till<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span> -they have done Work, and then very privately, -it being the general Endeavour to -conceal what they find, least it should -come to the Knowledge of the Governour -of the Place, and he require a share, which -in the Kingdom of <em>Golconda</em> is usually practiced, -without respect to any agreement -made with them.</p> - -<p>The Miners, those that employ them, -and the Merchants that buy the Stones -of them, are generally <em>Ethnicks</em>; not a -<em>Musselman</em>, that ever I heard of, followed the -Employment. These Labourers and their -Employers are <em>Tellinga</em>'s, commonly Natives -of or near the Place. The Merchants -are the <em>Banians</em> of <em>Guzzarat</em>, who for -some Generations have forsaken their own -Country to take up the Trade, in which -they have had such Success, that 'tis now -solely engross'd by them; who corresponding -with their Country-men in <em>Surrat</em>, <em>Goa</em>, -<em>Golconda</em>, <em>Visiapore</em>, <em>Agra</em> and <em>Dillee</em>, and -other Places in <em>India</em>, furnish them all with -Diamonds.</p> - -<p>The Governors of the Mines are also -Idolaters: In the King of <em>Golconda</em>'s Dominions -a <em>Tellinga Brammee</em> Rents most of -them, whose agreement with the Adventurer -is, that, all the Stones -they find under a<a name="FNanchor_19_19" id="FNanchor_19_19"></a><a href="#Footnote_19_19" class="fnanchor">[19]</a><em>Pagoda</em> -Weight, are to be their own; -all of that Weight and above -it to be his, for the King's -Use: But although this Agreement be signed -and sealed unto, he minds not at all -the Performance thereof, but endeavours -<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>to engross all the Profit to himself, by -Tyrannical squeezing both Merchants and -Miners, whom he not only Taxes very -high, but maintaining Spies among them -of their own People, on the least Inkling -that they have been any ways Fortunate, -he immediately makes a Demand on them, -and raises their Tax; else, on a false Pretence -they have found a great Stone, drubs -them till they Surrender what they have, -to redeem their Bodies from Torment. -Besides, the Excise is so high on all sorts -of Provisions, <em>Beetle</em>, and <em>Tobacco</em>, which to -them is as absolutely necessary as Meat, -or at least in their Esteem, that it is -thereby raised to double that Price they -bear without the Government; and it is -furnish'd only by some Licens'd Persons; if -any other should endeavour to bring in the -least quantity by stealth, he is Fin'd (even -for one Leaf of <em>Tobacco</em>) if it be a Person -of any Repute, or worth any thing, -else very severely drubb'd for it; by which -Course there is hardly a Man worth five -Hundred Pound to be found among them, -most of them dealing by Monies taken -up at Interest of Usurers, who reside -there purposely to furnish them, who, with -the Governor eat up their Gains: So that -one would wonder any of them should -stay, and not betake themselves to Places -where they might have better Usage; -as there are several in other Governments, -and some few that have the Sense -to remove; but many their Debts, others -hopes of a great hit, detains. Both Mer<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>chant -and Miner go generally naked, only -a poor Clout about their middle, and -their Shash on their Heads; they dare not -wear a Coat, lest the Governor should -say they have thriven much, are Rich, -and so enlarge his Demands on them. -The Wisest, when they find a great Stone, -conceal it till they have an opportunity, -and then with Wife and Children run all -away into the <em>Visiapore</em> Country, where they -are secure.</p> - -<p>The Government in the <em>Visiapore</em> Country -is better, their Agreement observ'd, -Taxes easier, and no such Impositions on -Provisions; the Merchants go handsomly -Clad, among whom are several Persons -of considerable Estates, which they are -permitted to enjoy peaceably, by reason -whereof their Mines are much more Populous -and better employed than those of -<em>Golconda</em>.</p> - -<p>It is observable, that notwithstanding -the Agreement with the Adventurers of -the Mines, that all Stones above a certain -Weight shall be for the King's Use; yet -in the Metropolis of either Kingdoms, as -the Cities of <em>Golconda</em> and <em>Visiapore</em> are, -there is no seizure, all Stones are free, and -the late deceased King, <em>Abdull Cutopshaw</em> -of the former, and <em>Edelshaw</em> of the latter, -would not only give very great Prices -for large Stones, but richly Vest, -and present the Merchant that Sold them -with Horses or something else of Value, -thereby encouraging others to bring the -like. But the present King of <em>Visiapore</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span> -is a Child, and the King of <em>Golconda</em>'s -Delights solely pleased on light Women-Dancers, -and Trick-Showers, that he neither -minds <em>Diamonds</em>, nor many things -more necessary, committing the Government -of his Kingdom to a <em>Tellinga Braminee</em>, -which the <em>Musselmen</em> not well resenting, -does in some measure threaten the -stability of his State.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_18_18" id="Footnote_18_18"></a><a href="#FNanchor_18_18"><span class="label">[18]</span></a> <em>A <strong>Mangelin</strong> -is 4 grains -in weight, -saith <strong>Linschoten</strong>.</em></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_19_19" id="Footnote_19_19"></a><a href="#FNanchor_19_19"><span class="label">[19]</span></a> <em>A <strong>Pagoda</strong> -weight is <strong>9 -Mangelleens</strong>.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span></p></div></div> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Letter from the <strong>East Indies</strong>, -of Mr. <strong>John Marshal</strong> to Dr. -<strong>Coga</strong>, giving an Account of -the Religion, Rites, Notions, -Customs, Manners of the Heathen -Priests commonly called -<strong>Bramines</strong>. Communicated by -the Reverend Mr. <strong>Abraham de -la Pryme</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p> -<em>Worthy Sir</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>The last time that I had the happiness -to be in your good Company, and -to partake of those Favours and Blessings -that your Goodness was pleased liberally to -bestow upon me and our Companions, at -our departure, and as it were Exile from our -Native Land, does so loudly call out for some -recompence or other at our Hands, that I -cannot without the greatest Ingratitude imaginable, -let slip this (tho' sudden) opportunity -of Writing unto you, and presenting of -you at this time with what I understand you -more value than all the Riches of the East; -to wit, a few Specimens of the Knowledge of -those People whom we stile Barbarians, Heathens -and Idolaters, which I have read in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span> -their own Books, and gather'd from the -mouths of those that have been the greatest -Speakers and Preachers among them. I have -always had a profound Veneration for the -Dictates of Nature, and the universal Traditions -of Nations, for hereby are Infinite -Things to be learned, for the establishing of -our Glorious Religion against Atheists, and -the more easie propagation of the same among -Infidels and Heathens.</p> - -<p>Upon what account or grounds it is that -some Travellers have stiled these People Polytheists, -or Atheists, I cannot tell; or -whether there be any such People at all in -the World, except some of the base common -sort in all Nations, I much question? It is -very observable here, that their Priests, or -<em>Bramines</em>, and Holy Men, whom they call -<em>Jagees</em>, when they have occasion to Write -any thing they always put a figure of one in -the first place, to shew, as they say, that -they acknowledge but one God, whom they -say is <em>Burme</em>, that is, Immaterial. When -they preach to the People, and Instruct them, -which is commonly every Feast-day, full -Moon, or the time of an Eclipse of either -Luminary, they tell the common People much -of God, Heaven and Hell, but very Imperfectly, -Obscurely and Mystically. They -say that when God thought of making the -World, he made it in a minute.</p> - -<p>They account this World the Body of -God, for all that they say he's Immaterial; -and say that the Highest Heavens are his -Head, the Fire his Mouth, the Air his Breath -and Breast, the Water his Seed, and the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span> -Earth and the foundations thereof his Legs -and Feet. But assert in general that God -is the Life of every thing, yet is the thing -neither greater nor less for him.</p> - -<p>They hold that God dwelt in a Vacuity -before that he created the World, and that -as he dwelt in that Vacuity he created several -Beings out of himself, the first were -Angels, the second Souls, the third Spirits, -all differing in degrees of Purity, the first -being more pure than the second, and the -second than the third. The Angels, they -say, neither act Good nor Evil, the Souls -either Good or Evil, but the Spirits, or -<em>Dewta's</em>, as they call them, act scarce any -thing but Evil.</p> - -<p>They have a good Opinion of the Angels, -and think their State mighty happy, -hoping that when they dye they shall -be made partakers of the same Bliss and -Pleasure.</p> - -<p>They believe that every thing that hath -Life hath a Soul, but especially Man; and -they accordingly affirm, that as these Souls -behaved themselves in their pre-existent -State, so are their Actions in this World -either good or bad, by a sort of fatal Necessity, -which is very hard to conquer, or -to overcome. Hence it is, say they, that -there are so many different Humours and -Dispositions of Men, for their Souls, before -their entrance into their Bodies, being -tainted with different Affections, causes the -like differences in the Parties, whose Bodies -are their Vehicles. So that if a Man happen -to have a suddain or unfortunate Death,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_259" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</a></span> -they immediately ascribe the same to the -Party's own Wickedness, or the bad Life -that his Soul led before that it enter'd into -his Body. For, say they, the afore-acted -Evil that his Soul did in its other Life, -brought these accidents upon him, by getting -the upper hand of him, and by being too -powerful and strong. And those that dye -thus, they believe that their Souls turn immediately -into Devils. They maintain <em>Pythagoras</em>'s -Transmigration, or <em>Metempsycosis</em>, -but in a grosser sense than he did. For they -believe that Mens Souls, that have not lived -so well as they ought, go as soon as the -Body dyes not only into Birds and Beasts, -but even into the basest Reptiles, Insects -and Plants, where they suffer a strong sort -of purgation, to expiate their former Crimes: -But as for the Souls of the <em>Jogees</em>, or <em>Fuche's</em>, -that is, of Religious Men and Saints, -they fancy that they go and inhabit with -the good <em>Dewta</em>'s, or Angels, among the -Stars.</p> - -<p>As for the Spirits, or Inferiour Angels, -they believe that they are very evil, and -have a hand in all Wickednesses, Murders, -Wars, Storms, and Tempests; so that when -they solemnize the Funerals of those that -are dead, they always present Dishes of -Meat, as Offerings unto those Spirits, and -sometimes Sacrifice unto them, that they -may not hurt the Souls of the Dead.</p> - -<p>As they acknowledge the being of a mighty -God, so they hold that he created the -World, and every thing therein. They believe -that there are almost infinite num<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_260" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</a></span>ber -of Worlds, and that God has oftentimes -Annihilated and Re-Created the same. But -how he came first to Create the World and -Mankind, they relate to have been thus—Once -on a time (say they) as he was set -in Eternity, it came into his mind to make -something, and immediately no sooner had -he thought the same, but that the same -Minute was a perfect Beautiful Woman -present immediately before him, which he -called <em>Adea Suktee</em>, that is, the first Woman: -Then this figure put into his mind -the figure of a Man; which he had no -sooner conceived in his mind, but that -he also started up, and represented himself -before him; this he called <em>Manapuise</em>, -that is, the first Man; then upon a reflection -of these things, he resolv'd further -to create several places for them to abide -in, and accordingly assuming a subtil body, -he Breath'd in a Minute the whole Universe, -and every thing therein, from the -least to the greatest.</p> - -<p>They constantly believe that the Universe -cannot possibly last longer than 71 -<em>Joog's</em>, which is a measure of time with them, -and is ... years. Which when it is come, -God does not only annihilate the whole -Universe, but even every thing else, as well -Angels, Souls, and Spirits, as Inferiour -Creatures; and then he remains in the same -State that he was in before the Creation; -But say, that after he has a while respired -thus he Breaths again, and every thing is -Created afresh, as well Angels and Souls, -as all other things; but as for the Spirits,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_261" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</a></span> -they are no more thought of. Yet for all -this, after 71 <em>Joogs</em> more all is Annihilated -again. How many <em>Joogs</em> are past since the -World was last Created they cannot certainly -tell; only 'tis observable that in an Almanack -of theirs, written in the <em>Sanscript</em> -Language in 1670, they make the World -then 3892771 years old from its last Creation.</p> - -<p>The <em>Bramines</em> of <em>Persia</em> tell certain long -Stories of a great Giant that was led into -a most delicate Garden, which upon certain -conditions should be his own for ever. -But one evening in a cool shade, one of the -Wicked <em>Dewta's</em>, or Spirits, came to him, -and tempted him with vast sums of Gold, -and all the most precious Jewels that can be -imagined; but he courageously withstood -that temptation, as not knowing what value -or use they were of: But at length this -wicked <em>Dewta</em> brought to him a fair Woman, -who so charm'd him, that for her sake -he most willingly broke all his Conditions, -and thereupon was turned out.</p> - -<p>They tell a great many Stories Absurd and -Ridiculous enough, of the first Ages of this -present World, which would be too tedious -here to take notice of; only I shall here -give you out of one of their own Books -what they tell us of a great Flood that formerly -happened. They say, that about -21000 Years ago the Sea overwhelm'd and -drowned the whole Earth, except one great -Hill, far to the Northwards, called <em>Bindd</em>, -and that there fled thither only one Woman -and seven Men, the names of whom<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_262" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</a></span> -were <em>Dehoolah</em>, <em>Sunnuk</em>, <em>Sunnaud</em>, <em>Trilleek</em>, <em>Sannotah</em>, -<em>Cuppyloshaw</em>, <em>Suraschah</em> and <em>Burroopung</em>; these -understanding out of their Books that such -a Flood would come, and was then actually -coming, prepared against the same, and repaired -thither; to which place also went -two of all sorts of Creatures, Herbs, Trees, -and Grasses, and of every thing that had -Life, to the number in all of 1800000 living -Souls. This Flood (say they) lasted 120 -Years, 5 Months and 5 days: After which -time all those Creatures that were thus preserved, -descended down again and replenished -the Earth: But as for the 7 Men and -Women, only one of them came down with -her, and dwelt at the Foot of the Mountain, -the other six turned <em>Fuchee's</em>, or Holy -Men, and spent there the remainder of their -days.</p> - -<p>They hold in general the <em>Ptolomaic</em> System -of the Universe, and say that there are 8 or 9 -Heavens, counting the Air and Earth, every -one exceeding another in Beauty and Glory.</p> - -<p>Their Religion consists of nothing that I -could ever see or learn, but the leading of -a Pure Life, the Washing away of their Sins -in the River <em>Ganges</em>, their muttering over -of divers Prayers, and their doing of strange -and incredible Penances.</p> - -<p>They say, that God is such a one, that -whosoever seeks him, let it be after what -manner he pleases, whether by thinking that -the Sun is he, or the Moon, or the like, -if they do it but sincerely and honestly, with -a right affected heart, they shall be received -of him.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_263" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</a></span></p> - -<p>They report, that on a time a <em>Mussulman</em> -seeing a <em>Hindoo</em>, or Pagan Priest, in Heaven, -he ask'd God how that Infidel came to have -admittance thither, whom <em>Mahomet</em> so often -calls by the name of Bitter Roots? To -whom God answered, What if a Bitter Root -bring forth sweeter Fruit than any of you, -why should I not receive it? Upon which -the <em>Mussulman</em> had no more to say.</p> - -<p>They hold, that such as suffer not their -minds to wander after the lusts of the World -are perfect <em>Jogees</em>, or Saints, and hold that -God is always present with them in all their -actions.</p> - -<p>It is to be found in many of their Books, -that there was a time, a good while ago, in -which God took upon him the shape of a -Man, and spent many Years in reforming -the world, and giving better rules to walk -by than had been before: but at length having -left them, they soon forgot him and his -Rules, and returned to their former courses; -upon which he told them that he would -leave them to their ways, and never undertake -any such thing again.</p> - -<p>The Religious at some certain Seasons of -the Year come unto the River <em>Ganges</em> (which -they call the Holy River) in vast multitudes, -even from many parts of <em>Tartary</em>, to wash -away their sins, and make expiation for their -faults.</p> - -<p>This <em>Ganges</em> is a delicate fine River chiefly -for the sake of its most sweet, pure and clear -Waters, which have got it the greatest -esteem of any River in the East. I have -oftentimes sail'd many Miles up it, and have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_264" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</a></span> -found it in some places not to be above a -Mile broad, in others not half so much, and -in one or two places not above one eighth -of a Mile. In <em>April</em>, when the Water is at -the lowest, it is almost dry in many places; -but when it is at the highest, which is commonly -about the middle of <em>September</em>, it is -very deep, and many Miles broad.</p> - -<p>When the People are here gather'd together, -they have a great many strange -Customs and Ceremonies, and pay a kind of -Divine Honour and Worship to the River, -too long and tedious here to mention. The -<em>Hindoos</em> and <em>Bramines</em> preach then every day -to the people, teaching them their Duties, -and ordering them to say such and such -Prayers; but above all things to be Charitable -to the poor and needy.</p> - -<p>It is reported, that upon the Hills by -<em>Casmere</em> there are men that live some hundreds -of Years, and can hold their Breaths, -and lye in Trances for several Years together, -if they be but kept warm; and that every year -some of them come down unto the People -at <em>Ganges</em>, and do many great Cures; for -whom they have such a Veneration, that they -frequently drink the Water they wash their -Sweaty Feet in.</p> - -<p>The Penances and Austerities that they -undergo are almost incredible; most of them, -through their continual Fastings, and lying -upon the parching hot Sand in the Heat of -the Sun, are so Lean, Dry'd and Wither'd, -that they look like Skeletons or Shadows, -and one can scarce perceive them to breath, -or feel their Pulse beat.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_265" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</a></span></p> - -<p>When any great Man dyes among them, -but especially any of their <em>Jogees</em> or Saints, -they make great preparations for their Funeral; -the Corpse is laid on its Belly, and -Salt and Rice laid round about it at every -corner of the Ground. Then the nearest -Relations to the Party deceased carry a Pot -of Water on their Shoulders several times -about the Funeral Pile, when they burn them, -then breaking it in pieces, spills the Water. -Which Ceremony being ended, the Pile is -fired, and then all the Relations begin to -howl, and embrace one another, then washing -themselves in some Neighbouring River, -they depart every one to his Home; and as -for the remaining Ashes, if he be Rich they -gather them up, and cast them into the -<em>Ganges</em> or the Sea.</p> - -<p>Sometimes it happens that the Wife of the -deceased Party, if she have no Children, and -be old, or ill to live in the World, will burn -her self with the dead Body; but this happens -very seldom. It is said, that in such -cases the <em>Bramines</em> give the Woman a stupefying -Liquor, which by the time that they -are in the Fire makes them senseless of any -Pain.</p> - -<p>To know into what Body the Soul of the -deceased is transmigrated they do thus; they -strew the Ashes of the Dead upon the Place -where he was first laid after his Death, and -handfuls of odoriferous Flowers about the -same, and returning again in 44 Hours, they -judge by some pretended Impression or other -in the Ashes, into what Body it is gone: If -the Foot of an Horse, or Dog, or Ox, or<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_266" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</a></span> -such like appear, then they certainly give -out that it is gone into such like Creatures; -but if nothing appear, then they think it is -certainly gone to the Starry Regions.</p> - -<p>As for their Learning and Knowledge it is -but little; they have indeed several Books -writ in divers Languages, but they contain -nothing but a great deal of Stuff and Cant about -their Worship, Rites and Ceremonies.</p> - -<p>They are ignorant of all parts of the World -but their own; they wonder much at us, that -will take so much Care and Pains, and run -thro' so many Dangers both by Sea and Land, -only, as they say, to uphold and nourish Pride -and Luxury. For, say they, every Country -in the whole World is sufficiently endow'd -by Nature with every thing that is necessary -for the Life of Man, and that therefore -it is madness to seek for, or desire, that -which is needless and unnecessary.</p> - -<p>The last time that I was at <em>Modufferpore</em> in -<em>Indostan</em>, I had a great deal of talk with a -<em>Bramine</em> somewhat more Learned than any -of the rest, his Name was <em>Ramnaunt</em>; he told -me a great many Secrets in Physick, and -told me many Traditions and Stories. He -says, that if you bury a piece of Mony for -some considerable time in the Mouth of a live -Frog, and then dig it up again at Midnight, -that this piece of Money, to whomsoever -you give or pay it, will always return to you -again.</p> - -<p>He says, that if the little Worm in the -Wood <em>Lukerakera</em> be cut in two, and the one -part stirs and the other not, if the stirring -part be bruised, and given with half a Beetle<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_267" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</a></span> -to a Man, the other half to a Woman, this -Charm will keep them from ever lying absent -one from the other.</p> - -<p>They have Books full of the like absurdities, -and Cabalistick complication of Figures; -as for Example, if you write these following -Numbers, 28, 35, 2, 7. —— 6, 3, 32, 31—34, -29, 8, 1, —4, 5, 30, 33. in the squares of a -square Figure, and your Enemies Name under -it, and wear it always about you, your -Enemy shall never be able to hurt you.</p> - -<p>So if you write the following Figures in the -like manner upon the left Hand, 2, 9, 2, 7, —6, -3, 6, 5, —8, 3, 8, 1—4, 5, 4, 7—with Turmerick, -and wash the same off with fair Water -of <em>Ganges</em>, and drink it, it will cure all -manner of Venomous Bitings.</p> - -<p>Multitudes of such like ridiculous Fancies -they have; all which they seem to have borrowed -from the <em>Cabala</em> of the <em>Saracens</em>, which -is full of such like.</p> - -<p>I lately heard a <em>Bramine</em> say, that if some -of the pieces or knots of the Cloath (in which -a Woman hath been burned with her Husband) -be saved, and made up in the form of -a Wick, and fitted for a Lamp, and lighted, -and set in a dead Womans Skull, that it would -make the dead Party appear. This he said he -had done, but I did not believe him.</p> - -<p>When they have any mad Men among them, -they take them and put them into a close -Room, just big enough to hold them, and almost -Smoke them to Death with Musk and -cold Smells, which soon brings their Brains -into their right temperature, and so recover -them, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_268" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</a></span></p> - -<p>There happen'd two things in our Voyage -hither which I thought very observable tho' -perhaps they may not be unknown to you—The -first was, that all our Tornadoes brought -much Rain with a stink; and if the Seamen -did but lay their Cloaths by for 24 Hours, -they became all full of little Maggots. The -second is, When we came out of <em>Europe</em> we -took in some Water at St. <em>Jago</em>'s, and when -we were almost at our Journeys end, our -Cooper going with a Candle to open one of -the Casks, he had no sooner done it, but the -Water immediatly took Fire, and burnt his -Face, Hands and Fingers; but he suddenly -turning about quench'd the same, by setting -his Britch on it. It stunk pretty much also -at the same time, but afterwards came to its -native Sweetness, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_269" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right"><em>I am yours</em>, &c.</p> - -<p>Jo. Marshal.</p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Part of two Letters to the Publisher -from Mr. <strong>James Cunningham</strong>, -F.R.S. and Physician to -the <strong>English</strong> at <strong>Chusan</strong> in <strong>China</strong>, -giving an account of his Voyage -thither, of the Island of <strong>Chusan</strong>, -of the several sorts of Tea, -of the Fishing, Agriculture of -the <strong>Chinese</strong>, <strong>&c.</strong> with several -Observations not hitherto taken -notice of.</em></h2> - - -<p> -<em>SIR</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>My last to you was from the Island of -<em>Borneo</em>, in which I gave you an account -of our arrival there the 17th of <em>July</em>, where -we staid but two Days, the Season of the -Year being so far past, and from thence made -the best of our way through the Streights -of <em>Banca</em> with favourable Winds and Weather, -till we came on the Coast of <em>China</em> the -13th of <em>August</em>, then we had variable Winds -which carried us abreast of <em>Emuy</em> the 19th -following, at which time the North East -Winds setting in fresh, put us in great fears -of losing our passage; whereupon we were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_270" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</a></span> -forced to turn it up against Wind and Current -all the Way, the Weather so favouring -us, that we were never but by our Top-sails, -else we should have lost more Ground -in one Day, than we could have gain'd in -eight. The last of <em>August</em> we came to an -Anchor under the <em>Crocodile</em> Islands, both to -shelter us from the bad Weather, (which -is generally expected on this Coast at new -and full Moon, and has been fatal to a -great many Ships) and also to look for fresh -Water, which was now grown scarce with -us, not having recruited since we came from -the Cape of <em>Good Hope</em>: These are three -small Islands lying in the Latitude of 26 -Degrees, about six Leagues from the River -of <em>Hocksieu</em>; on <em>two</em> whereof we found very -good fresh Water, with a convenient Watering-place -on the South West side of the -innermost of the <em>three</em>; and by the assistance -of a few <em>Chinese</em> Fishermen we procured -some fresh Provisions from the main-land, -because we did not reckon it safe to -adventure our selves thither, lest we should -have been brought into Trouble by the -Government there. While we lay here, on -the fifth of <em>September</em> we had a suddain short -shift of the Moonsoon to S. W. the fury -whereof others felt, in coming upon the -Coast of <em>China</em> at the same time. The 8th -of <em>September</em> we put to Sea again, turning -to Windward Night and Day without all -the Islands, which are very numerous along -this Coast, to which we were altogether -strangers beyond <em>Emuy</em>, and the Hydrography -thereof is hitherto so imperfect, that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_271" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</a></span> -there was no trusting to our Drafts, which -made our Navigation somewhat more dangerous: -However, on the first of <em>October</em> we got into -the Latitude of 30 Degrees, where we came to -an Anchor near the Land, until we found -the way by Boat to <em>Chusan</em>, about 12 Leagues -within the Islands; from whence we had a -Pilot, who carried us safely thither on the -11th of <em>October</em>. Upon this Island the <em>Chineses</em> -have granted us a Settlement and Liberty -of Trade, but not to <em>Ning-po</em>, which -is 6 or 8 hours sail to the Westward, all the -way among Islands; this being the largest, -is 8 or 9 Leagues in length from East to West, -and 4 or 5 Leagues in breadth; about 3 -Leagues from that point of the Main-Land -called Cape <em>Liampo</em> by the <em>Portugueze</em>, but -<em>Khi-tu</em> by the <em>Chinese</em>: At the West End of -this Island is the Harbour very safe and convenient, -where the Ships ride within call of -the Factory, which is built close by the shore -on a low plain Valley, with near 200 Houses -about it for the Benefit of Trade; inhabited -by Men, whose Jealousie has not as yet -permitted them to let their Wives dwell -here; for the Town where they are, is ¾ of a -Mile further from the Shore, enviorn'd with -a fine Stone Wall, about 3 Miles in Circumference, -mounted with 22 square Bastions -placed at irregular distances, besides 4 great -Gates, on which are planted a few old Iron -Guns, seldom or never used: The Houses -within are very meanly built: Here the -<em>Chumpeen</em> or Governour of the Island lives, -and betwixt three and four thousand beggarly -Inhabitants, most part Souldiers and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_272" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</a></span> -Fishermen; for the Trade of this place being -newly granted, has not as yet brought -any considerable Merchants hither. The -Island in general abounds with all sorts of -Provisions, such as Cows, Buffalo's, Goats, -Deer, Hogs wild and tame, Geese, Ducks -and Hens; Rice, Wheat, Calavances, Cole-worts, -Turnips, Potatoes, Carrots, Beetes -and Spinach; But for Merchandize there's -none but what comes from <em>Ning-po</em>, <em>Hang-cheu</em>, -<em>Nankin</em> and the Inland Towns, some -of which I hope to see, when I have acquir'd -a little of the <em>Chinese</em> Language. Here also -the Tea grows in great plenty on the tops -of the Hills, but it is not in that esteem -with what grows on more Mountainous Islands. -Altho this Island is pretty well stor'd with -People, yet its far from what it was in <em>F. -Martinius</em>'s time, when he describes <em>Cheuxan</em>: -and this puts me in mind, that the Superstitious -Pilgrimages thereto, mention'd by -him, must be meant of the Island <em>Pou-to</em>, -which lies 9 Leagues from hence, and 3 Miles -to the Eastward of this Island, whither (they -say) the Emperour designs in the Month of -<em>May</em> next (being his Birth-day, and the 40th -Year of his Age) to come to worship in an -Ancient Pagoda there, famous for Sanctity; -having sent one of his <em>Bonzes</em> already thither -to get all things in order.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_273" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</a></span></p> - - -<p class="right"><em>Chusan</em>, <em>Novemb. 22. 1701.</em></p> - -<p> -<em>SIR</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p>I formerly told you, that the Emperor design'd -to have come to the Island of <em>Pou-to</em> -(a place of great Devotion) to worship -in the Month of <em>May</em> last, being the 40th -Year of his Age, I should have said of his -Reign; but all things being prepared there -for his Reception, he was dissuaded from his -purpose by some of his <em>Mandarines</em>, who -made him believe that the terrible Thunder -there was very dangerous. This <em>Pou-to</em> is -a small Island about 5 Leagues round at the -East end of this Island, famous for the Superstitious -Pilgrimages made thither for the -space of eleven hundred Years: It's inhabited -only by <em>Bonzes</em>, to the number of 3000, -all of the Sect call'd <em>Hoshang</em>, or unmarried -<em>Bonzes</em>, who live a <em>Pythagorean</em> Life; and -there they have built 400 Pagodes, two -whereof are considerable for their greatness -and finery, being lately covered with green -and yellow Tiles brought from the Emperor's -Palace at <em>Nankin</em>, and inwardly adorn'd -with stately Idols finely grav'd and gilded, -the chief whereof is the Idol <em>Quon-em</em>. To -these two great Pagodes belong two chief -Priests, who govern all the rest. They have -several Ways and Avenues cut through the -Island, some whereof are pav'd with Flag-stones, -and over-shaded with Trees planted -on each side: Their dwellings are the best -I have yet seen in these Parts. All which are<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_274" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</a></span> -maintain'd by Charitable Devotions; and -the Junks which go from <em>Ning-po</em> and this -place to <em>Japan</em>, touch there both going and -coming, to make their Offerings for their -good Success. There is another Island call'd -<em>Kim-tong</em> 5 Leagues hence in the way to <em>Ning-po</em>, -whither, they say, do retire a great many -<em>Mandarins</em> to live a quiet Life after they -have given over their Employments; on -that Island also are said to be Silver Mines, -but prohibited to be open'd. The rest of -the circumjacent Islands are either desert, or -meanly inhabited by a few fishing People, -but all of them stor'd with abundance of -Deer. For it is not long since this Island of -<em>Chusan</em> began to be Peopled; it's true, in -<em>Martini</em>'s Days, about 50 Years ago, it -was very Populous for the space of three or -four Years, at which time the fury of the -<em>Tartarian</em> Conquest was so great, that they left -it desolate, not sparing so much as the Mulberry -Trees (for then they made a great deal -of raw Silk here) and in this condition it -continued till about 18 Years ago, that the -Walls of the Fort or Town, which now is, -were built by the Governor of <em>Ting-hai</em>, for a -Garrison to expel some Pyrats, who had taken -shelter here. About 14 Years ago, the Island -beginning to be peopled, there was a <em>Chumpeen</em> -or General sent to govern it for three -Years, to whom succeeded the late <em>Chumpeen</em> -(who procur'd the opening of this Port to -Strangers) whose Government continued till -<em>April</em> last, being translated to be <em>Chumpeen</em> of -<em>Tien-cing Wei</em> near to <em>Pekin</em>, and was succeeded -by the present <em>Chumpeen</em>, who is Son to the -Old <em>Chunkoon</em> of <em>Emuy</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_275" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</a></span></p> - -<p>They have got no Arts or Manufactories -here, but making of lacker'd Ware, a particular -Account whereof I cannot as yet send -you. They begin to Plant Mulberry-Trees, -to breed up Worms for the Production of -raw Silk; and they make some Tea, but -chiefly for their own use.</p> - -<p>Altho' the following Particulars contain -nothing of extraordinary matters in them, -yet such as they are, you may take, till I can -procure you better.</p> - -<p>The three sorts of Tea commonly carry'd -to <em>England</em> are all from the same Plant, only -the Season of the Year, and the Soil, makes -the difference. The <em>Bohee</em> (or <em>Voiii</em>, so call'd -of some Mountains in the Province of <em>Fo-kien</em>, -where it is chiefly made) is the very -first bud gather'd, in the beginning of -<em>March</em>, and dry'd in the Shade. The <em>Bing</em> -Tea is the second growth in <em>April</em>: and <em>Singlo</em> -the last in <em>May</em> and <em>June</em>, both dry'd a little -in <em>Tatches</em> or Pans over the Fire. The Tea -Shrub being an ever-green, is in Flower from -<em>October</em> to <em>January</em>, and the Seed is ripe in -<em>September</em> and <em>October</em> following, so that one -may gather both Flowers and Seed at the -same time; but for one fresh and full Seed, -there are a hundred nought; these make up -the two sorts of <em>Fruit</em> in <em>Le Compte</em>'s description -of Tea: As for his other sort, which -he calls slymic Pease, they were nothing but -the young Buds of the Flowers not yet open. -Its Seed-Vessels are really <em>Tricapsular</em>, each -<em>Capsula</em> containing one Nut or Seed, and altho' -two or one <em>Capsula</em> only comes to Perfection, -yet the Vestiges of the rest may be dis<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_276" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</a></span>cerned. -It grows in a dry gravelly Soil, on -the sides of Hills in several places of this -Island, without any Cultivation.</p> - -<p><em>Le Compte</em> is mistaken in saying (<em>pag. 96.</em>) -that the <em>Chineses</em> are wholly Strangers to the -Art of Grafting, for I have seen a great many -of his Paradoxical Tallow-Trees ingrafted -here, besides some other Trees. When they -Ingraft, they do not slit the Stock as we do, -but cut a small slice off the outside of the -Stock, to which they apply the Graft (being -cut sloping on one side, agreeable to the slice -cut from the Stock) bringing up the Bark of -the slice upon the outside of the Graft, they -tie altogether, covering with Straw and Mud -as we do.</p> - -<p>The Commentator on <em>Magalhen</em> seems -doubtful in the length of the <em>Chinese Che</em> or -Cubit. Here they have two sorts, one of 13<sup>7</sup>⁄<sub>10</sub> -<em>English</em> Inches, which the Merchants commonly -use: The other is of eleven Inches, -us'd by Carpenters, and also in Geographical -Measures.</p> - -<p>Albeit <em>F. Martini</em> is censur'd by <em>F. Magalhen</em> -for spelling a great many <em>Chinese</em> Words -with <em>ng</em>, which the <em>Portuguese</em> and others have -done with <em>m</em>, yet his way is more agreeable to -the <em>English</em> Pronunciation, only in some Words -the <em>g</em> may be left out, as in <em>Pekin</em>, <em>Nankin</em>, &c.</p> - -<p>Having made enquiry about <em>Martini</em>'s Account -of Sowing their Fields at <em>Ven-cheu</em> -with Oyster-shells, to make new ones grow; -I was told that after they have taken out the -Oysters, they sprinkle the Shells with Urine, -then putting them into the Water again, there -grows new Oysters on the foresaid Shells.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_277" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>Martini</em> says he could never find a <em>Latin</em> -Name for the <em>Fula Mogorin</em> of the <em>Portuguese</em>, -I'm sure it's the same with the <em>Syringa Arabica -flore pleno albo in Parkinsone</em>. He says also, -that the <em>Kieu-yeu</em> or Tallow-tree bears a -white Flower like a Cherry-tree; but all that -I have seen here bears a spike of small yellow -Flowers like the <em>julus</em> of a <em>Salix</em>.</p> - -<p>The Bean, or <em>Mandarin</em> Broth, so frequently -mentioned in the <em>Dutch</em> Embassy and other -Authors, is only an Emulsion made of the -Seed of <em>Sesamum</em> and hot Water.</p> - -<p>Their chief Employments here are Fishing -and Agriculture.</p> - -<p>In Fishing, they use several sorts of Nets -and Lines as we do; but because they have -large Banks of Mud in some Places, the Fisherman, -to go more easily thereon, has contriv'd -a small frame about 3 or 4 Foot long, -not much larger than a Hen-trough, elevated -a little at each end, in which he rests upon -one Knee, leaning his Arms on a cross Stick, -rais'd so high as his Breast, and putting out -the other Foot often upon the Mud, he -pushes forward his Frame thereon, and so -carries himself along in it.</p> - -<p>As to their Agriculture, all their Fields (where -any thing is planted) whether high or low, -are made into such Plots as may retain the -Water on them when they please. They -Plow up their Ground with one Buffalo or one -Cow. Where they are to Sow Rice, they prepare -the Fields very well, by clearing it of all -manner of Weeds, moistening to a Pulp, and -smoothing it with a Frame drawn across; on -which they Sow the Rice very thick and co<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_278" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</a></span>ver -it only with Water for two or three Inches -high, and when it has grown 6 or 8 Inches -long, they pull it up by the Roots, and transplant -it (by Tufts in a straight line) to -Fields overflown with Water; and where a -Field is subject to Weeds, when the Water -drys up, they prevent their growth in over-turning -the Mud with their Hands in the interstices -where the Rice is planted. When -they Sow Wheat, Barley, Pulse, and other -Grains, they grub up some superficial Earth, -Grass and Roots, and with some Straw they -burn all together; this Earth being sifted -fine, they mix with the Seed, which they -Sow in holes made in a strait Line, and so -grows up in Tufts as the Rice does; the Field -being divided into Beds and harrowed over, -both before and after the Seed is Sown: This -makes them somewhat resemble Gardens. Altho' -they meliorate their Fields, where they -Sow Rice, only by letting the Water on them, -yet for other Grains, where Ground requires it, -they make use of Dung, Human Excrements, -Ashes, <em>&c.</em> In watering their Fields here they -use the same Instrument mention'd by <em>Martini</em> -in the Preface to his Atlas, being all of -Wood, and the contrivance the same with -that of a Chain-Pump.</p> - -<p>Their method in making of Salt is this: All -the Shores here being Mud, instead of Sand, -in the Summer Season they pare off the superficial -Earth, which has been overflown with -the Salt Water, and lay it up in heaps for use; -when they are to use it they dry it in the -Sun, rubbing it small; then digging a Pit, -they cover the bottom thereof with Straw, at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_279" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</a></span> -which thro' the side of the Pit they pass a hollow -Cane, that leads into a Jar, which stands below -the level of the Pits bottom; they fill -the Pit almost full with the foresaid Earth, -and pour Salt Water thereon, till it be covered -two or three Inches with Water, which -drains through, into the foresaid Jar, and is -afterwards boil'd into Salt.</p> - -<p>Had I not found the Printed News Papers -last Year take notice of a singular Root -brought from <em>China</em> by <em>F. Fontaney</em>, I should -not have told you, that I have seen one since -I came here call'd <em>Hu-chu-u</em> (which I take to -be the same) whereto they ascribe wonderful -Properties of prolonging Life, and turning -grey Hairs into black, by drinking its Infusion -for some time, insomuch that they say it's -to be had in value from 10 <em>Tael</em> to 1000 or -2000 a single Root; for the larger it is, the -more is its value and efficacy: Which is too -much Money here to try the Experiment. -You have it mention'd in <em>Cleyer</em>'s <em>Medicina Sinica</em> -No. 84. under the Name of <em>Ho-xcu-u</em>, -according to the <em>Portugal</em> Spelling: It's likewise -painted in the 27th Table of those -Plants Mr. <em>Petiver</em> had of me. If you'll have -the Story of its Discovery, which I will not -warrant for Gospel, it runs thus. Upon a -time a certain Person going a Simpling among -the Mountains, fell by accident into such a -steep Valley that he could by no means get -out of it again; whereupon looking about for -something to sustain his Life; in this melancholy -condition, he espy'd this Root, of which -he made Tryal; and found that in eating -thereof, it serv'd him both for Provisions and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_280" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</a></span> -Clothing, by keeping his Body in such a -temperature, that the Injuries of the Weather -had no influence upon him during his -stay there, which was some hundreds of Years; -till at last an Earthquake happen'd in that -place, whereby the Mountains were rent, -and he found a passage out to his House, from -whence he had been so long absent: But the -many alterations that came to pass there in -such a space of time, would not permit them -to give Credit to his Story; till consulting -the Annals of their Family, which gave an -Account of one of them lost at that time, -they were confirm'd in the truth of his Relation. -And so much for this.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_281" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Letter from Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong> -Rector of <strong>Crofton</strong> at <strong>Wakefield</strong> -in <strong>Yorkshire</strong>, to the Royal -Society, <strong>May 12. 1688.</strong> giving -an Account of several Observables -in <strong>Virginia</strong>, and in -his Voyage thither, more particularly -concerning the Air.</em></h2> - - -<p>Having oftentimes been urged to give an -Account of <em>Virginia</em>, by several of the -Worthy Members of the Royal Society, I -cannot but, as far forth as I am able, obey -Commands whereby I'm so much honour'd, -and show my Respect by my ready Compliance; -tho' I am so sensible of my own Weakness -and Incapacity to answer your Expectations, -that before-hand I must Apologize for -my self. And indeed by Sea I lost all my -Books, Chymical Instruments, Glasses and -Microscopes, which rendred me uncapable -of making those Remarks and Observations -I had designed, they were all cast away in -Captain <em>Win</em>'s Ship, as they were to follow -me; and <em>Virginia</em> being a Country where one -cannot furnish ones self again with such -things, I was discourag'd from making so diligent -a Scrutiny as otherwise I might have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_282" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</a></span> -done, so that I took very few Minutes down -in Writing; and therefore, since I have only -my Memory to rely on, which too has the -Disadvantage of it's own Weakness, and of -the distance of two Years since now I left the -Country, if future Relations shall in some -small Points make out my Mistake, I thought -this requisite to justifie my Candor; for I -ever judg'd it villanous to impose in matters -of Fact; but Descriptions of things that depend -on Memory may be liable to Mistakes, -and yet the sincerity of the Person that delivers -them intire. But hereof I shall be as -cautious as possible, and shall rather wave -some things whereof I have some Doubts, and -am uncapable now of satisfying my self, than -in any sort presume too far. The method I -design is, First, to give an Account of the -Air, and all such Observations as refer thereto; -then of the Water, the Earth and Soil; -the Birds, the Beasts, the Fishes, the Plants, -the Insects; and lastly, the present state of -the Inhabitants: But at present I shall neither -trouble you nor my self with any more -than an Account of what refers to the Air -alone, being conscious the Honourable Society -may receive such a Glut with the Imperfection -of this, as to excuse me from a -farther Relation.</p> - -<p>But before I begin, perhaps it may not be -impertinent to acquaint you with some things -that happen'd in our Voyage. We sail'd in -the Ship <em>Judith</em>, Captain <em>Trim</em> Commander, -'twas Fly-boat built, about 200 or 250 Tuns; -she sprung a considerable Leak. When the -Captain had made long and diligent Search,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_283" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</a></span> -had tried all methods that Seamen use upon -such occasions, or he could think of, all in -vain, and that the Leak encreased, he came -pensively to consult me. Discoursing with -him about it, and understanding that the Ship -was Cieled within, so that though the Leak -might possibly be in the fore-part, it would -fill the whole Cavity betwixt the Cieling and -the Planks, and so run into the Hold at all the -Crevices of the Cieling up and down: I thereupon -conceive, that where it burst in betwixt the -Cieling and the Planks, it must needs make some -Noise. He told me, they had endeavoured to find -it out that way, and according to custom had -clapt Cans to their Ears to hear with; but -the working of the Ship, the Tackle and the -Sea made such a Noise, that they could discover -nothing thereby. I happily bethought -my self of the Speaking Trumpet; and having -one which I had contrived for some -other Conveniences, of a differing shape from -the common sorts, I bid him take it and apply -the broad end to the side of the Ship, -the narrow end to his Ear, and it would encrease -his Hearing as much as it augmented -the Voice the other way, and would ward -the Ear too from the confusion of foreign -Noise. Upon the first application, accordingly -they heard it, tho' it happened to be -at a considerable distance; and when they -removed the Trumpet nigher, they heard -it as if it had been the Current of a mighty -River, even so distinctly, as to have Apprehensions -of the bigness and figure of the -Hole that the Water came in at; so that -cutting there the Sealing of the Ship, they -immediately stopt the Leak.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_284" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</a></span></p> - -<p>In the Sea I saw many little things which -the Seamen call Carvels; they are like a -Jelly or Starch that is made with a cast -of Blue in it; they Swim like a small Sheep's -Bladder above the Water, downwards there -are long Fibrous Strings, some whereof I -have found near half a yard long. This -I take to be a sort of Sea-Plant, and the -strings its Roots growing in the Sea, as -Duck-weed does in Ponds. It may be reckon'd -among the Potential Cauteries; for -when we were one day becalm'd, getting -some to make Observations thereof, the -sportful People rub'd it on one anothers -Hands and Faces, and where it touch'd it -would make it look very Red, and make -it smart worse than a Nettle. In my return -for <em>England</em> we struck a Hauksbill Turtle, -in whose Guts I found many of these -Carvels; so that it's manifest they feed -thereon. 'Tis commonly asserted by the Seamen, -that they can smell the Pines at <em>Virginia</em> -several Leagues at Sea before they -see Land, but I could receive no Satisfaction -as to this Point; I could not discern -any such thing when at a moderate distance, -I fear much of this may be attributed -to Fancy; for one Day there came three -or four full scent to tell me they were certain -they smelt the Pines; but it afterwards -prov'd that we were at that time 200 -Leagues from the Shoar, so that I was satisfied -that was therefore meer Fancy. Indeed -we thought, by the general Accounts -of the Ship, that we had been just on the -Coast, but all were deceived by a Current<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_285" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</a></span> -we met with, that at that time set about South-East, -or East South-East, which when once -becalmed we tried thus: We hoised out a -Boat, and took one of the Scuttles that cover'd -one of the Hatches of the Ship, tying -thereto a great Weight, and a strong long -Rope, we let it sink a considerable depth, -and then fastening it to the Boat, it serv'd as -an Anchor, that the Boat could not drive; -then with the Glass and log Line we found -the Current set, as I say, Eastward, at the -rate of a Mile and a half an Hour. This -Current is of mischievous Consequence, it -does not always run one way, but as it sets -sometimes as we proved Easterly, so does it, -as they say, set at other times Westerly, -whereby many Ships have been lost; for then -the Ships being before their Accounts, they -fall in with the Land before they are aware. -Thus one Year many Ships were lost on Cape -<em>Hattarasse</em>, and thereabouts.</p> - - -<h3><em>Of the AIR.</em></h3> - -<p>The Cape called <em>Cape Henry</em>, lies in 36½ -of the Northern Latitude. The Air -and Temperature of the Seasons is much govern'd -by Winds in <em>Virginia</em>, both as to Heat -and Cold, Dryness and Moisture, whose Variations -being very notable, I the more lamented -the loss of my Barometers and Thermometers, -for considerable Observations -might be made thereby, there being often -great and suddain Changes. The Nore and -Nore-West are very nitrous and piercing,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_286" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</a></span> -cold and clear, or else stormy. The South-East -and South hazy and sultry hot: Their -Winter is a fine clear Air, and dry, which -renders it very pleasant: Their Frosts are -short, but sometimes very sharp, that it will -freeze the Rivers over three Miles broad; -nay, the Secretary of State assured me, it -had frozen clever over <em>Potomack</em> River, over -against his House, where it is near nine -Miles over: I have observed it freezes there -the hardest, when from a moist South East, -on a sudden the Wind passing by the Nore, -a nitrous sharp Nore-West blows; not with -high Gusts, but with a cutting brisk Air; -and those Vails then that seem to be shelter'd -from the Wind, and lie warm, where -the Air is most stagnant and moist, are frozen -the hardest, and seized the soonest, and -there the Fruits are more subject to blast -than where the Air has a free Motion. Snow -falls sometimes in pretty quantity, but rarely -continues there above a Day or two: -Their Spring is about a Month earlier than in -<em>England</em>; in <em>April</em> they have frequent Rains, -sometimes several short and suddain Gusts. <em>May</em> -and <em>June</em> the Heat encreases, and it is much -like our Summer, being mitigated with gentle -Breezes that rise about 9 of the Clock, and decrease -and incline as the Sun rises and falls. -<em>July</em> and <em>August</em> those Breezes cease, and the -Air becomes stagnant, that the Heat is violent -and troublesome. In <em>September</em> the -Weather usually breaks suddenly, and there -falls generally very considerable Rains. When -the Weather breaks many fall Sick, this being -the time of an Endemical Sickness, for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_287" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</a></span> -Seasonings, Cachexes, Fluxes, Scorbutical -Dropsies, Gripes, or the like, which I have -attributed to this Reason. That by the extraordinary -Heat the ferment of the Blood -being raised too high, and the Tone of the -Stomach relaxed, when the Weather breaks -the Blood palls, and like over-fermented -Liquors is depauperated, or turns eager and -sharp, and there's a crude Digestion, whence -the named Distempers may be supposed to -ensue. And for confirmation, I have observed -the Carminative Seeds, such as warm, -and whose Oil sheaths the acid Humors that -ever result from crude Digestions. But Decoctions -that retain the Tone of the Stomach, -as I suppose, by making the little -Glands in the Tunicles of the Stomach, -squeeze out their Juice, (for what is bitter -may be as well offensive to the Stomach, as -to the Palate) and then Chalibiates that raise -the decayed Ferment, are no bad Practice; -after which, I conceive, Armoniack Spirits -might be very beneficial. But their Doctors -are so Learned, that I never met with any -of them that understood what Armoniack -Spirits were: Two or three of them one -time ran me clear down by consent, that -they were Vomitive, and that they never -used any thing for that purpose but Crocus -Metallorum, which indeed every House -keeps; and if their Finger, as the Saying is, -ake but, they immediatly give three or four -Spoonfuls thereof; if this fail, they give -him a second Dose, then perhaps Purge them -with 15 or 20 Grains of the Rosin of Jalap, -afterwards Sweat them with <em>Venice</em> Treacle, -Powder of Snake-Root, or <em>Gascoin</em>'s Powder;<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_288" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</a></span> -and when these fail <em>conclamatum est</em>. But to -return, 'Tis wonderful what influence the -Air has over Mens Bodies, whereof I had -my self sad assurances; for tho' I was in a -very close warm Room, where was a Fire -constantly kept, yet there was not the least -Alteration or Change, whereof I was not -sensible when I was sick of the Gripes, of -which Distemper I may give a farther account -in its proper place. When a very Ingenious -Gentlewoman was visited with the -same Distemper, I had the opportunity of -making very considerable Observations. I -stood at the Window, and could view the -Clouds arise: For there small black fleeting -Clouds will arise, and be swiftly carry'd cross -the whole Element; and as these Clouds -arose, and came nigher, her Torments were -encreased, which were grievous as a labouring -Womans; there was not the least Cloud -but lamentably affected her, and that at a -considerable distance; but by her Shrieks it -seemed more or less, according to the bigness -and nearness of the Clouds. The Thunder -there is attended often with fatal Circumstances: -I was with my Lord <em>Howard</em> of -<em>Effingham</em> the Governour, when they brought -Word that one Dr. <em>A.</em> was killed therewith, -after this manner: He was Smoaking a Pipe -of Tobacco, and looking out at his Window -when he was struck dead, and immediately -became so stiff, that he did not fall, -but stood leaning in the Window, with -the Pipe in his Mouth, in the same posture he -was in when struck: But this I only deliver -as Report, tho' I heard the same Account -from several, without any contradicting it.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_289" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</a></span> -These things are remarkable, that it generally -breaks in at the Gable end of the Houses, -and often kills Persons in, or near the -Chimneys range, darting most fiercely down -the Funnel of the Chimney, more especially -if there be a Fire, (I speak here confusedly -of Thunder and Lightning) for when they -do any Mischief, the Crash and Lightning -are at the same Instant, which must be from -the nearness of the Cloud. One time when -the Thunder split the Mast of a Boat at -<em>James</em> Town, I saw it break from the Cloud, -which it divided in two, and seem'd as if it -had shot them immediatly a Mile asunder, to -the Eye: It is dangerous when it Thunders -standing in a narrow Passage, where there's -a thorough Passage, or in a Room betwixt -two Windows; tho' several have been kill'd -in the open Fields. 'Tis incredible to tell -how it will strike large Oaks, shatter and shiver -them, sometimes twisting round a Tree, -sometimes as if it struck the Tree backwards -and forwards. I had noted a fine spreading -Oak in <em>James Town</em> Island, in the Morning I -saw it fair and flourishing, in the Evening I -observed all the Bark of the Body of the -Tree, as if it had been artificially peel'd off; -was orderly spread round the Tree, in a Ring, -whose Semidiameter was four Yards, the -Tree in the Center; all the Body of the -Tree was shaken and split, but its Boughs -had all their Bark on; few Leaves were fallen, -and those on the Boughs as fresh as in -the Morning, but gradually afterwards withered, -as on a Tree that is fallen. I have -seen several vast Oaks and other Timber<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_290" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</a></span> -Trees twisted, as if it had been a small Willow -that a Man had twisted with his Hand, -which I could suppose had been done by nothing -but the Thunder. I have been told by -very serious Planters, that 30 or 40 Years -since, when the Country was not so open, -the Thunder was more fierce, and that sometimes -after violent Thunder and Rain, the -Roads would seem to have perfect casts of -Brimstone; and 'tis frequent after much -Thunder and Lightning for the Air to have -a perfect Sulphurious Smell. Durst I offer -my weak Reasons when I write to so great -Masters thereof, I should here consider the -nature of Thunder, and compare it with -some Sulphurious Spirits which I have drawn -from Coals, that I could no way condense, -yet were inflamable; nay, would burn after -they pass'd through Water, and that seemingly -fiercer, if they were not over-power'd -therewith. I have kept of this Spirit a considerable -time in Bladders; and tho' it appeared -as if they were only blown with Air, -yet if I let it forth, and fired it with a Match -or Candle, it would continue burning till all -were spent. It might be worthy Consideration -likewise, whether those frequent Thunders -proceeded from the Air's being more -stagnant, the motion of the Winds being impeded -by the Trees, or whether the motion -of the Winds being obstructed by them below, -the motion might not be more violent -aloft; and how far that may promote inflammability, -for Stacks of Hay or Corn that ferment -with moisture, never burn, unless when -brisk Winds blow, that agitate and fan the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_291" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</a></span> -little fermenting Sparks, and often kindle -them into an actual Fire. And Observance -of the Meteors there might perhaps not be -Impertinent, as both what are more rare, -and what are more frequent, as of <em>Gosimore</em> -in great abundance, and of those small Cob-webs -in a Morning, which some have supposed -to be Meteors. <em>Ignes fatui</em>, tho' there -be many boggy Swamps and Marshes, are -seldom, if any are seen there. There be frequent -little sorts of Whirl-winds, whose Diameter -may be sometimes not past two or -three Yards, sometimes forty, which whisking -round in a Circle, pass along the Earth, -according to the motion of the Cloud, from -whence they issue; and as they pass along -with their gyrous or circular motion, they -carry aloft the dry Leaves into the Air, which -fall again often in places far remote. I have -seen them descend in a calm Sun-shine Day, -as if they had come from the Heavens in -great Showers thereof, so that all the Elements -seem'd filled therewith. And I could -perceive them to descend from on high as far -as I could possibly discern a Leaf. I remember -a roguish Expression of a Seaman, otherwise -silly enough, who wondering thereat, -cry'd out, <em>Sure now 'tis manifest there is a -World above!</em> and now with them 'tis the Fall -of the Leaf. But to proceed, I thought this -made it manifest, whence many preternatural -Showers have happen'd. I remember at -Sir <em>Richard Atherton</em>'s in <em>Lancashire</em>, some few -Years ago, there fell a great number of the -Seeds of Ivy-berries; at first we admir'd what -they were, for they were cover'd with a thin<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_292" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</a></span> -Skin that was red, and resembled the Figure -of a small Wheat Corn; but afterwards they -fully manifested what they were; for many -sprouted and took Root. I suppose they -were carry'd aloft by some such Whirl-wind, -and let fall there. I have purposely gone into -the place where I perceived this Gust, -which is notorious enough by the Noise it -makes, with rattling the Leaves as it carries -them aloft, and have found a fine sharp -Breeze of Wind.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_293" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right"><em>Yours</em>, &c.</p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2>Mr. <strong>Clayton</strong>'s second Letter, containing -his farther Observations -on <strong>Virginia</strong>.</h2> - - -<p>Being honour'd with the Thanks of the -Society for my last, and receiving by -my worthy Friend Dr. <em>Moulin</em> their Commands -to proceed, I have added here my -Observations of the Waters, and part -of the Earth and Soil. I shall wave both -Complements and Apologies, since I have -greater Respect and Honour for the Society -than I can possibly express, and have -no reason to suspect their Favour, whose -Candidness I so signally proved in my -last.</p> - - -<h3><em>Of the WATER.</em></h3> - -<p>'Twixt the two Capes, the Southern, call'd -the <em>Cape Henry</em>, the more Northerly -call'd <em>Cape Charles</em>, there runs up a great Bay, -call'd the Bay of <em>Cheesepeak</em>; nine Leagues -over in some places, in most Seven, lying -much West, Nore and South, dividing <em>Virginia</em> -into two unequal Parts. On the East -side of this Bay there lies a narrow neck of -Land, which makes the Counties of <em>Northamp<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_294" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</a></span>ton</em> -and <em>Accomack</em>. On the West side of the -Bay there branches forth four great Rivers, -<em>James River</em>, <em>York River</em>, <em>Rapahanack</em> and <em>Potomack</em>, -that rise from a ridge of Mountains, -whereof more in the Sequel. These Rivers -plentifully water all the other parts of <em>Virginia</em>, -emptying themselves into the great -Bay. The Mouth of <em>James River</em>, which is -the most Southerly of them, the Mouth of -<em>Potomack</em>, which is the most Northerly, may -be a hundred Miles distance: But as I have -been credibly inform'd that the Falls of -<em>James River</em> are not past thirty Miles from -<em>Potomack</em>, which is a vast large River nine -Miles over in many places. I have been told -it was Navigable nigh two hundred Miles, -much higher than any of the other Rivers: -Whence I conclude in future times, it will -be the most considerable for Trade when the -Country comes to be inhabited further up -into the main Land. The other Rivers are -much about three Miles over a piece. And -<em>James River</em> is Navigable at least eighty -Miles. Within four or five Miles of <em>James -Town</em>, <em>James River</em> and <em>York River</em> are not past -four or five Miles asunder. Yea, Sloops of -considerable Carriage may Sail up the Branches -of the two Rivers, till they come within -a Mile the one of the other; for I take it to -be no more from Col. <em>Bollards</em> to Major <em>Troop</em>'s -Landing, and I believe they may come much -what as near again as Col. <em>Coles</em>, and several -other places. <em>York</em> River is distant from <em>Rapahanack</em> -in some places not past ten or -twelve Miles, <em>Rapahanack</em> from <em>Potomack</em> not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_295" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</a></span> -past seven Miles in one place, tho' it may -be sixty in others. The Heads of the Branches -of the Rivers interfere and lock one -within another, which I think is best expressed -after the manner that an <em>Indian</em> explained -himself once to me, when I enquired -how nigh the Rivers of <em>Carolina</em>, <em>Virginia</em> and -<em>Maryland</em> arose out of the Mountains? from -those that ran Westerly on the other side of -the Mountains, he clapt the Fingers of one -Hand 'twixt those of the other, crying, they -meet thus; the Branches of different Rivers -rising not past a hundred Paces distant one -from another: So that no Country in the -World can be more curiously watered. But -this conveniency, that in future times may -make her like the <em>Netherlands</em>, the richest -place in all <em>America</em>, at the present I look -on the greatest Impediment to the advance -of the Country, as it is the greatest Obstacle -to Trade and Commerce. For the great -number of Rivers and the thinness of the -Inhabitants distract and disperse a Trade. -So that all Ships in general gather each their -Loading up and down an hundred Miles distant; -and the best of Trade that can be -driven is only a sort of <em>Scotch</em> Peddling; for -they must carry all sort of Truck that trade -thither, having one Commodity to pass off -another. This (<em>i. e.</em>) the number of Rivers, -is one of the chief Reasons why they have no -Towns; for every one being more sollicitous -for a private Interest and Conveniency, -than for a publick, they will either be for -making forty Towns at once, that is, two<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_296" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</a></span> -in every Country, or none at all, which is -the Countries Ruin. But to return, The -Tides in these Rivers regularly ebb and flow -about two Foot perpendicular at <em>James Town</em>; -there is there, as they call it, a Tide and -half Tide, that is, it flows near two hours -along by the Shoar, after that it is ebb in -the Channel, and again it ebbs near two -Hours by the Shoar, after that it is Flood -in the Channel. This is great advantage to -the Boats passing up and down the River. I -suppose this is caused by many Creeks and -Branches of the Rivers, which being considerable -many, tho' only three or four Miles -long, yet as broad as the <em>Thames</em> at <em>London</em>; -others ten Miles long, some above twenty, -that have little fresh Water which they carry -of their own, but their Current primarily -depending upon the Flux and Re-flux of -the Sea. So that after the Tide is made in -the Channel, it flows by the Shoar a considerable -time afterwards, being that those -Creeks are still to fill, and therefore as it -were draws up a Source upwards by the Shoar; -and likewise when the Tide returns in the -Channel, the Creeks that could not so readily -disburse their Water, being still to -empty themselves, they make an ebbing by -the Shoar a considerable time after that it is -Flood, as I say, in the Channel. So far as -the Salt Waters reach the Country is deemed -less healthy. In the Freshes they more rarely -are troubled with the Seasonings, and -those Endemical Distempers about <em>September</em> -and <em>October</em>. This being very remarkable,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_297" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</a></span> -I refer the Reason to the more piercing Genius -of those most judicious Members of the -Society: And it might perhaps be worthy the -Disquisition of the most Learned to give an -Account of the various alterations and fatal -effects that the Air has on humane Bodies, -especially when impregnated with a Marine -Salt; more peculiarly when such an Air becomes -stagnant: This might perhaps make -several beneficial Discoveries, not only in -relation to those Distempers in <em>America</em>, but -perhaps take in your <em>Kentish</em> Agues, and many -others remarkable enough in our own -Nation. I lately was making some Observations -of this nature, on a Lady of a delicate -Constitution, who living in a clear Air, and -removing towards the Sea-Coast, was lamentably -afflicted therewith, which both my -self and others attributed to this Cause, she -having formerly upon her going to the same, -been seized in the same manner. But to return: -There is one thing more in reference -to this very thing very remarkable in <em>Virginia</em>, -generally twice in the Year, Spring and -Fall, at certain Spring-Tides, the most of -the Cattle will set on gadding, and run, tho' -it be twenty or thirty Miles, to the River -to drink the Salt Water, at which time -there's scarce any stopping of them; which -the People know so well, that if about those -times their Herds are stray'd from their -Plantations, without more sollicitation they -go directly to the Rivers to fetch them home -again. As for the Waters in the Springs in -general, they are, I think, somewhat more<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_298" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</a></span> -eager than those in <em>England</em>. In that I have -observed, they require some quantity more -of Malt to make strong Beer than our <em>English</em> -Waters, and will not bear Soap. I have -try'd several by infusing of Galls, and found -little difference in the Colours, turning much -what the Colour of common Sack in Taverns. -I tried two Wells at Col. <em>Birds</em>, -by the Falls of <em>James River</em>, several Wells -near <em>James Town</em>, some Springs in the <em>Isle -of Wight County</em>: There's a Spring in the -<em>Isle of Wight</em>, or <em>Nanzamond County</em>, vents the -greatest Source of Water I ever saw, excepting -<em>Holy-well in Wales</em>, but I had not opportunity -to make Experiments thereof. -I tried likewise some Springs on the Banks -of <em>York River</em>, in <em>New Kent</em> and <em>Gloucester -County</em>, but found them vary very little as -to Colour. I could not try any thing as -to their specifick Gravity, having neither -Aquapoise, nor those other Glasses I had -contrived peculiarly for making such Experiments, -they being all lost with my other -things. I had Glasses blown would hold -about five Ounces, others about ten Ounces, -with Necks so small, that a Drop -would make a considerable Variation; with -these I could make much more critical and -satisfactory Observations as to the specifical -Gravity of Liquors, having critical Scales, -than by any other way yet by me tried. I -used this method to weigh Urines, which -Practice I would recommend to the Inquisitive -and critical Physicians. I had made many -Observations hereof, but all Notes were<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_299" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</a></span> -likewise lost with my other things. Yet I -have begun afresh; for there are more signal -Variations in the Weights of Urines -than one would at first imagin; and when -the Eye can discover little, but judge two -Urines to be alike, they may be found to -differ very much as to Weight. By Weight -I find Observations may be made of Affections -in the Head, which rarely make any -visible Alterations in the Urine. I -have found two Urines not much unlike -differ two and twenty Grains in the quantity -of about four or five Ounces: But -let them that make these Essays weigh -all their Urines when cold, lest they be -thereby deceiv'd. But to return to the -Spring Waters in <em>Virginia</em>. There's a Spring -at my Lady <em>Berkley's</em>, called <em>Green-Spring</em>, -whereof I have been often told, so very -Cold, that 'tis dangerous drinking thereof -in Summer-time, it having proved of -fatal Consequence to several. I never -tried any thing of what Nature it is -of.</p> - -<p>There be many petrifying Waters; and -indeed I believe few of the Waters but -participate of a petrifying Quality, tho' -there be few Pebbles or paving Stones to -be found in all the Country. But I have -found many Sticks with crusty Congelations -round them in the Ruins of -Springs, and Stones figured like Honey-Combs, -with many little Stars as it were -shot in the Holes. And nothing is more -common than petrefy'd Shells, unless you<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_300" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</a></span> -would determine that they are parts of -natural Rock shot in those Figures, which -indeed I rather think; but thereof hereafter. -Mr. Secretary <em>Spencer</em> has told me -of some Waters participating much of -<em>Alome</em> or <em>Vitriol</em> towards <em>Potomack</em>. Up -beyond the Falls of <em>Rapahanack</em> I have heard -of Poisonous Waters. But these I only -mention as a hint to further Enquiry of -some others, for I can say nothing of them -my self.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_301" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Continuation of Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong>'s -Account of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<h3><em>Of the Earth and Soil.</em></h3> - -<p>When you make the Capes of <em>Virginia</em>, -you may observe it low Land, so that -at some distance the Trees appear as if they -grew in the Water; and as you approach -nigher to emerge thence. For a hundred -Miles up into the Country, there are few -Stones to be found, only in some places, Rocks -of Iron Oar appear, which made me expect -to have found many Waters turn Purple -with Galls, but never met with any. Providence -has supplied the common use of -Stones, by making the Roads very good: so -that they ride their Horses without shooing -them; which yet are more rarely beaten on -their Feet, than ours are in <em>England</em>, the -Country and Clime being dry, their Hoofs -are much harder; For I observed, that take -a Horse out of the wet Marshes, and Swamps, -as they there call them, and ride him immediatly, -and he'll quickly be tender-footed. -In some places, for several Miles together, -the Earth is so intermix'd with Oyster-shells, -that there may seem as many Shells -as Earth; and how deep they lie thus inter-mingled, -I think, is not yet known: for at<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_302" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</a></span> -broken Banks they discover themselves to be -continued many Yards perpendicular. In several -places these Shells are much closer, and being -petrefied, seem to make a Vein of a -Rock. I have seen in several places, Veins -of these Rocky Shells, three or four Yards -thick, at the foot of a Hill, whose Precipice -might be twenty Yards perpendicular, whose -Delf, I suppose, shot under the Hill, pieces -of these Rocks broken off, lie there, which, -I suppose, may weigh twenty or thirty Tuns a -piece, and are as difficult to be broken as our -Free-stone. Of these Rocks of Oyster-shells that -are not so much petrified, they burn and -make all their Lime; whereof they have -that store, that no Generation will consume. -Whether these were formerly Oysters, which -left by the subsiding Seas, (as some suppose, -that all that Tract of Land, now high -Ground, was once overflowed by the Sea) -were since petrefied, or truly Stones, <em>sui Generis</em>, -I leave to the Honourable Society to -determin. But when I consider the constant -and distinct shooting of several Salts, Nature's -Curiosity, in every thing, so far exceeding -that of Art, that the most Ingenious, -when referr'd thereto, seem only endued -with an Apish fondness, I cannot think -any thing too difficult or wonderful for Nature; -and indeed I do not apprehend, why -it may not be as feasible to suppose them to -have been Rocks, at first shot into those Figures, -as to conceive the Sea to have amass'd -such a vast number of Oyster-shells one upon -another, and afterwards subsiding, should -leave them cover'd with such Mountains of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_303" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</a></span> -Earth, under which they should petrify: But -not to launch forth too far into those Disputes, -since I must modestly remember to -whom I write. Often, in the looser Banks -of Shells and Earth, are found perfect Teeth -petrefied, some whereof I have seen, could -not be less than two or three Inches long, -and above an Inch broad: Tho' they were -not Maxillary Teeth, the part that one might -suppose grew out of the Jaw, was polish'd, -and black, almost as Jet; the part which -had been fasten'd in the Jaw and Gums, was -brown, and not so shiningly polish'd, or -smooth; if they were, as they seemed to be, -really Teeth, I suppose, they must have been -of Fishes. The back-Bone of a Whale, and -as I remember, they told me of some of the -Ribs, were digg'd out of the side of a Hill, -several Yards deep in the Ground, about -four Miles distant from <em>James Town</em>, and the -River. Mr. <em>Banister</em>, a Gentleman pretty -curious in those things, shew'd me likewise -the Joint of a Whale's back-Bone, and several -Teeth, some whereof, he said, were -found in Hills beyond the Falls of <em>James</em> River, -at least, a hundred and fifty Miles up -into the Country. The Soil in general is -Sandy: I had designed, and I think it might -be worth a critical Remark, to observe, the -difference of Soils seem appropriated to the -several sorts of Tobacco: For there is not -only the two distinct sorts of a sweet-scented, -and Aranoko Tobacco, but of each of -these be several sorts much different, the -Seeds whereof are known by distinct Names, -they having given them the Names of those<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_304" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</a></span> -Gentlemen most famed for such sort of Tobacco, -as of <em>Prior</em>-seed, <em>&c.</em> Nay, the same -sort of Seed in different Earths, will produce -Tobacco much different, as to goodness. -The richer the Ground, the better it -is for Aranoko Tobacco, whose Scent is not -much minded, their only aim being to have -it specious, large, and to procure it a bright -Kite's Foot colour. Had not my Microscopes, -<em>&c.</em> Tools to grind Glasses, been cast -away, with my other things, I had made -some critical Enquiries into their several Natures, -I would have examin'd what proportions -of Salts, all the sorts of Earths had -afforded, and how Water impregnated with -their Salts, would have changed with infusing -Galls, how with the Syrup of Violets, -and how they would have precipitated Mercury, -or the like, and so far forth as I had -been able, examined them by the several -Tryals of Fire. I conceive Tobacco to be -a Plant abounding with Nitro-Sulphurious -Particles; for the Planters try the goodness -of their Seed, by casting a little thereof into -the Fire; if it be good, it will sparkle -after the manner of Gun-powder: so will the -Stalks of Tobacco-leaves, and perhaps has -something analogous to the Narcotick Sulphur -of <em>Venus</em>, which the Chymists so industriously -labour after. The World knows little of -the efficacy of its Oyl, which has wonderful -Effects in the curing of old inveterate Sores, -and Scrophulous Swellings, and some, otherwise -applied and qualified. The goodness -of Tobacco I look on primarily consists in -the volatility of its Nitre: And hence the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_305" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</a></span> -sandy Grounds that are most impregnated -therewith, and whose Nitrous Salt is most -Volatile, for such Grounds are quickliest -spent, yield Tobacco's that have the richest -Scent, and that shortly becomes a pleasant -Smoak; whereas, in Tobacco that grows -on stiff Ground, the Salts seem more fix'd, -and lock'd up in the Oyl, so that whilst new, -'tis very heady and strong, and requires some -time for its Salts to free themselves, and -become Volatile; which it manifests, by its -having an Urinous Smell. The same Reason -satisfies, why Tobacco that grows on low -Lands as far as the Salts, tho' the Plant be -never overflowed with Salt Water, yet the -Ground that feeds the Plant being impregnated -with Salt Water, that Tobacco Smoaks -not pleasantly, and will scarcely keep Fire, -but do all that a Man can, will oft go out, -and gives much trouble in frequent lighting -the Pipe, 'till after it has been kept some -considerable time: Which may be assign'd to -the fixeder Saline Particles of the Marine -Salt in these Plants, which require more -time e'er they be render'd Volatile. Here -it might be worthy an Enquiry into the Nature -of Filtration of Plants, since we may -hence gather, Particles of the Marine Salt -are carried along with the <em>Succus Nutritius</em> -of the Plant; concerning which, if it were -not too much to deviate from the Matter in -hand, I should offer some Reflections of my -own, which the Learned Society might perhaps -improve: For I think thence might -be made many happy Conjectures as to the -Virtues of Plants. So where we see Plants,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_306" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</a></span> -or Trees, of an open Pore growing low, -we shall find their Juice has subtile Parts: -So have all Vines, whether the Grape Vine, -or Briony, or a Smilax, or the like. If a -Gummous Plant or Tree, that grows low, -and close Pored, it abounds with acid Spirits, -as <em>Lignum Vitæ</em>, &c. if it grow tall, and -be open Pored, it abounds with a subtile -Volatile Spirit, as your Firs, and the Turpentine -Tree. But to insist no further herein, -than as this may be applicable to the -present Discourse: For I have observed, that -that which is called Pine-wood Land, tho' -it be a sandy Soil, even the Sweet-scented -Tobacco that grows thereon, being large -and porous, agreeable to Aranoko Tobacco; -it smoaks as coarsely as Aranoko: Wherefore -'tis, that I believe the Microscope might -make notable Discoveries towards the knowledge -of good Tobacco: For the closer the Composition -of the Leaf, the better the Tobacco; -and therefore the Planters and Merchants -brag of the Substance of their Tobacco; -which word, did they always take it in a -true Sence, for the Solidness, and not mistake -it for the Thickness, it would be more consonant -to a true Observation: for as I said -of the Pine-wood Tobacco, some of it is -thick and not Solid, and differs from the -best Tobacco, as Buff does from Tann'd -Leather; so that if the Tobacco be sound -and not Rotten, you may give a great guess -at the goodness of Tobacco, when you weigh -the Hogsheads, before you see them: For if -an equal care be taken in the packing of them -the best Tobacco will weigh the heaviest,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_307" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</a></span> -and Pack the closest. Now I said, that the -Sweet-scented Tobacco most in vogue, which -was most fam'd for its Scent, was that that -grew on sandy Land; which is true, if you -would Smoak it whilst new, or whilst only -two or three Years Old; but if you keep -the stiff Land Tobacco, which is generally a -Tobacco of great Substance five or six Years, -it will much excel: For tho' the sandy Land -Tobacco abound with a Volatile Nitre at -first, yet the stiff Land Tobacco abounds -with a greater quantity of Nitre, only that -it is lock'd up in its Oyl at first, and requires -more time to extricate it self, and become -Volatile; but the Pine-wood Land having -little of the Nitro-Sulphurious Particles, -neither is, nor ever will make any thing of -a rich Smoak. Discoursing hereof some days -since, to a Gentleman of good Observation, -that has been versed with Malting, he assured -me, to back this my Supposition, or -Hypothesis, he had observed, that Barly that -grew on stiff Ground, requir'd more time -considerably to Mellow, and come to perfection, -than that that grew on light Land. -Having proceeded thus far to speak of Tobacco, -I shall add one or two things more. -The Planters differ in their Judgments about -the Time of Planting, or Pitching their -Crops: Some are for Pitching their Crops -very early, others late, without any distinction -of the Nature of the Soils; and 'tis from -the different Effects that they find, in that, -sometimes early, sometimes the late Planting -succeeds: But they have not the Reason to -judge of the Cause, to consider the Accidents<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_308" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</a></span> -of the Year, and the Difference of the Soils. -In sandy Grounds they need not strive so -much for early Planting, the Looseness of -the Earth, and the kind natur'd Soil, yielding -all that it can, easily and speedily, and -Sand retaining the Heat, makes the Plants -grow faster. But in stiff Soils, if the Crops -be not early pitch'd, so that during the -Season of Rains it have got considerable -Roots, and shot them some depth, if early -Droughts come, it so binds the Land, that -the Roots never spread or shoot deeper, or -further than the Hill that they are planted -in: For they plant them as we do Cabbages, -raising Hills to set every Plant in, about the -bigness of a common Mole-hill: observing -this on the Plantation where I lived, that -it was stiff Ground, I advised them to Plant -their Crops as early as possible; and in order -thereunto, I tried several ways to further -the Plants; but not to trouble you with -the several Experiments that I made, in reference -thereto: What I found most advantageous -was, by taking an infusion of Horse-dung, -and putting thereon Soot, and then -my Seeds; this I kept Forty eight Hours in -an ordinary digestive heat, I had two Beds -left me to Sow, in the midst of those the -People sow'd, and the quantity of Seed -that they generally allotted to the same quantity -of Ground; when I sow'd, I mix'd Ashes -with the Seed, having decanted the Liquor, -that the Seed might sow the evener: The -effect was, that my Plants came up much -sooner, grew swifter, and I had five Plants -for one more than any of the other Beds<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_309" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</a></span> -bore; I left the Country shortly after, and so -no certainty of the final Result. There be had -various Accidents and Distempers, whereunto -Tobacco is liable, as the Worm, the Fly, -Firing to Turn, as they call them, French-men, -and the like. I propos'd several ways -to kill the Worm and Fly, as by Sulphur -and the like; but had no opportunity to -experiment it: I shall set down that I had -most hopes of, which perhaps may give a -hint to others to try or improve. Tobacco-seed -is very small, and by consequence so is -the young Plant at first, that if gleamy Weather -happen at that time, it breeds a small -Fly, which consumes the Plume of the Plant; -now it being early in the Year when they -Sow the Seed, <em>viz.</em> about the fourteenth of -<em>January</em>, they cover the Ground, to secure, -as well as they can, their tender Plants, from -the nipping Frosts, that may happen in the -Nights; they cover them only with a few -Oak-leaves, or the like; for Straw they find -apt to Harbour and Breed this Fly: I therefore -would advise them to smoak Straw with -Brimstone, once in two or three Nights, and -so they might cover them securely, with that -which would preserve them infinitely beyond -the Covering with Oak-boughs; indeed, I -would advise them to keep peculiarly so much -of their <em>Indian</em> Corn-blades, which they gather -for their Fodder, for this very purpose, -being as I conceive, much the best, there being -no Chaff to foul their Beds, and prejudice -them when they should weed them. -What they call Firing is this: When Plants -are of small Substance, as when there has<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_310" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</a></span> -been a very Wet and Cold Season, and very -hot Weather suddainly ensues, the Leaves -turn Brown, and dry to dust: the cause I -conceive to be hence: The Plant being feeble, -and having a small quantity of Oyl, -which makes the more solid part of the -Plant, the Earth being suddainly heated by the -Sun's fiercer Beams, the Roots are rather -scorch'd and dried up in the Earth, than -nourish'd; so that the Plant consisting only -of watry parts, is consumed, as it were, by -Fire: sometimes hopeful Plants, when by a -sudden Gust some Master Veins are broken, -if suddain heat ensues, they likewise Fire: -For being not come to maturity, and being -deprived of the Supports of Life and Vegetation, -they likewise perish, are dried up, -and fall to dust. <em>French-men</em> they call those -Plants, whose leaves do not spread and grow -large, but rather spire upwards, and grow -tall; these Plants they do not tend, being -not worthy their Labour. Were they so -Critical, I believe, they might have great -Guess what Plants were most likely to turn -<em>French-men</em>, by observing whether the Roots -of the Plants run downwards, as those whose -Branches are aptest to spire upwards: For -tho' I have not made positive proof thereof, -I have something more than bare fancy for -my conjecture; I have pull'd up some of -these <em>French-men</em>, and compar'd them with -the Roots of some other Plants, and found -them much longer than others; and 'tis -observable, loose Soils, and sandy Ground, -are more subject thereto than the stiff Land. -The Country of it self is one entire Wood,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_311" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</a></span> -consisting of large Timber Trees of several -sorts, free from Thickets or under Wood, -the small Shrubs growing only on Lands, -that have been clear'd, or in Swamps; -and thus it is for several Hundreds of -Miles, even as far as has yet been discover'd. -But that shall be reserv'd 'till another opportunity.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_312" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right"><em>I am</em>, &c.</p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Mr. <strong>John Clayton</strong>, Rector of -<strong>Crofton</strong> at <strong>Wakefield</strong>, his Letter -to the <strong>Royal Society</strong>, giving -a farther Account of the Soil, -and other Observables of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>I shall here present you with a continuation -of my Remarks on the River, Soil, -and Plants of <em>Virginia</em>. And first, as to -the River on the other side the Mountains, -said to Ebb and Flow. I have been assured -by Col. <em>Bird</em>, who is one of the Intelligentest -Gentlemen in all <em>Virginia</em>, and knows -more of <em>Indian</em> Affairs than any Man in -the Country, that it was a Mistake; for -that it must run into a Lake, now called -<em>Lake Petite</em>, which is fresh Water; for since -that time a Colony of the <em>French</em> are come -down from <em>Canada</em>, and have seated themselves -on the back of <em>Virginia</em>, where <em>Fallam</em> -and the rest suppos'd there might be -a Bay, but is a Lake, to which they -have given the Name of <em>Lake Petite</em>, there -being several larger Lakes 'twixt that and -<em>Canada</em>. The <em>French</em> possessing themselves of -these Lakes, no doubt will in short time be -absolute Masters of the Beaver Trade, the -greatest number of Beavers being catch'd<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_313" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</a></span> -there. The Colonel told me likewise, that -the common Notion of the Lake of <em>Canada</em>, -he was assured was a Mistake, for the River -supposed to come out of it, had no Communication -with any of the Lakes, nor the -Lakes one with another, but were distinct. -But not to ramble after hear-say, and other -matters; but to return to the Parts of -<em>Virginia</em> inhabited by the <em>English</em>, which in -general is a very Fertile Soil, far surpassing -<em>England</em>, for there <em>English</em> Wheat (as they -call it, to distinguish it from <em>Maze</em>, commonly -called <em>Virginia</em> Wheat) yields generally -'twixt Fifteen and Thirty fold, the -Ground only once plow'd; whereas 'tis a -good Crop in <em>England</em> that yields above -Eight fold, after all their Toil and Labour. -And yet in truth 'tis only the barrennest -Parts that they have cultivated, Tilling -and Planting only the High-Lands, -leaving the Richer Vales unstirr'd, because -they understand not any thing of Draining. -So that the Richest Meadow-Lands, which -is one third of the Country, is Boggy, -Marsh, and Swamp, whereof they make -little Advantage, but loose in them abundance -of their Cattle, especially at the first -of the Spring, when the Cattle are weak, -and venture too far after young Grass. -Whereas vast Improvements might be made -thereof; for the generality of <em>Virginia</em> is a -Sandy Land with a shallow Soil. So that after -they have cleared a fresh piece of Ground -out of the Woods, it will not bear Tobacco -past two or three Years, unless Cow-pen'd; -for they Manure their Ground by keeping<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_314" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</a></span> -their Cattle, as in the South you do your -Sheep, every Night confining them within -Hurdles, which they remove when they have -sufficiently dung'd one spot of Ground; but -alas! they cannot Improve much thus, besides -it produces a strong sort of Tobacco, -in which the Smoakers say they can plainly -taste the fulsomeness of the Dung. Therefore -every three or four Years they must be -for clearing a new piece of Ground out of -Woods, which requires much Labour and -Toil, it being so thick grown all over with -Massy Timber. Thus their Plantations run -over vast Tracts of Ground, each ambitioning -to engross as much as they can, that -they may be sure to have enough to Plant, -and for their Stocks and Herds of Cattel -to Range and Feed in, that Plantations of -1000, 2000, or 3000 Acres are common, -whereby the Country is thinly inhabited; -their Living solitary and unsociable; Trading -confused and dispersed; besides other Inconveniences: -Whereas they might Improve 200 -or 300 Acres to more Advantage, and would -make the Country much more Healthy; for -those that have 3000 Acres, have scarce -cleared 600 Acres thereof, which is peculiarly -term'd the Plantation, being surrounded -with the 2400 Acres of Woods: so that there -can be no free or even motion of the Air, -but the Air is kept either stagnant, or the -lofty Sulphurous Particles of the Air, that -are higher than the tops of the Trees, which -are above as high again as the generality of -the Woods in <em>England</em>, descending when -they pass over the cleared spots of Ground,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_315" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</a></span> -must needs in the violent heat of Summer, -raise a preternatural Ferment, and produce -bad Effects. Nor is it any advantage to -their Stocks, or Crops; for did they but -drain their Swamps, and Low-Lands, they -have a very deep Soil, that would endure -Planting twenty or thirty Years, and some -would scarce ever be worn out, but be ever -longer better, for they might lay them all -Winter, or when they Pleased in Water, -and the product of their Labour would be -double or treble, whether Corn or Tobacco; -and that this is no fond Projection, (though -when I have discoursed the same to several, -and in part shewn them how their particular -Grounds might be drained at a very -easie rate) they have either been so conceited -of their old way, so sottish as not to apprehend, -or so negligent as not to apply themselves -thereto. But on the Plantation where -I lived, I drained a good large Swamp, which -fully answered expectation. The Gentlewoman -where I lived, was a very Acute Ingenious -Lady; who one day Discoursing the -Overseer of her Servants, about pitching -the ensuing Year's Crop. The Overseer was -naming one place where he designed to Plant -30000 Plants, another place for 15000, another -for 10000, and so forth the whole Crop, -designed to be about 100000 Plants: Having -observed the Year before he had done the -like, and scattered his Crop up and down -the Plantation, at Places a Mile, or a Mile -and a half asunder, which was very Inconvenient, -and whereby they lost much time. -I interposed, and asked, why they did not<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_316" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</a></span> -Plant all their Crop together? The Fellow -smiled as it were at my Ignorance, and said, -there was very good Reason for it. I replied, -that was it I enquir'd after. He returned, -the Plantation had been an old planted Plantation, -and being but a small Plot of Ground, -was almost worn out, so that they had not -Ground altogether that would bring forth -Tobacco. I told him then they had better -Ground than ever yet they had planted, and -more than their Hands could manage. He -smil'd again, and asked me, where? I then -named such a Swamp. He then said scornfully, -he thought what a Planter I was; that -I understood better how to make a Sermon, -then managing Tobacco. I replied with -some warmness, tho' I hoped so, that was -Impertinence, and no Answer. He then said, -that the Tobacco there would drown, and -the Roots rot. I replied, that the whole -Country would drown if the Rivers were -stopt, but it might be laid as dry as any -Land on the Plantation. In short, we discoursed -it very warmly, till he told me, he -understood his own Business well enough, -and did not desire to learn of me. But the -Gentlewoman attended somewhat better to -my Reasoning, and got me one day to go -and shew her how I projected the draining -of the Swamp, and thought it so feasible, -that she was resolved to have it done; and -therefore desir'd me I would again Discourse -her Overseer, which I did several times, but -he would by no means hearken thereto, and -was so positive, that she was forc'd to turn -him away, to have her Servants set about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_317" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</a></span> -the Work; and with three Men in thirteen -Days I drained the whole Swamp, it being -Sandy Land, soaks and drains admirably well, -and what I little expected, laid a Well dry -at a considerable distance. The Gentlewoman -was in <em>England</em> last Year, and I think -Dr. <em>Moulin</em> was by when she asked me. Now -to teach her how she might make her Tobacco -that grew in the Swamp less, for it produced -so very large, that it was suspected to -be of the <em>Aranoko</em> kind: I told her, though -the complaint was rare, yet there was an -Excellent Remedy for that, in letting every -Plant bear eight or nine Leaves instead of -four or five, and she would have more Tobacco, -and less Leaves. Now you must know -they top their Tobacco, that is, take away -the little top-bud, when the Plant has put -forth as many Leaves as they think the -Richness of the Ground will bring to a Substance; -but generally when it has shot forth -four or six Leaves. And when the top-bud -is gone, it puts forth no more Leaves, but -Side-branches, which they call Suckers, which -they are careful ever to take away, that -they may not empoverish the Leaves. I -have been more tedious in the Particulars, -the fullier to evince how resolute they are -and conceitedly bent to follow their old -Practice and Custom, rather than to receive -Directions from others, tho' plain, easie, -and advantageous. There are many other -Places as easie to drain as this, tho' of -larger extent, and richer Soil, for some of -which I have given directions, and have only -had the return perhaps of a flout after<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_318" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</a></span>wards: -Even in <em>James Town Island</em>, which is -much what of an Oval Figure, there's a Swamp -runs Diagonal-wise over the Island, whereby -is lost at least 150 Acres of Land, which would -be Meadow, which would turn to as good Account -as if it were in <em>England</em>: Besides it is the -great annoyance of the Town, and no doubt but -makes it much more unhealthy. If therefore they -but scour'd the Channel, and made a pretty -ordinary Trench all along the middle of the -Swamp, plac'd a Sluice at the Mouth, where -it opens into the back Creek; for the Mouth -of the Channel there is narrow, has a good -hard bottom, and is not past two Yards deep -when the Flood is out; as if Nature had designed -it before hand: They might thus drain -all the Swamp absolutely dry, or lay it under -Water at their Pleasure. I have talked several -times hereof to Mr. <em>Sherwood</em>, the owner -of the Swamp, yet nothing is essayed in Order -thereto. And now since we are speaking -of <em>James Town</em> give me leave to adjoin some -Reflections as to the Situation and Fortifications -of the Place. The Natural Situation -of the place is such, as perhaps the World -has not a more commodious Place for a Town, -where all things conspire for Advantage thereof.</p> - -<p><em>James Town Island</em> is rather a <em>Peninsula</em>, being -joined to the Continent by a small Neck -of Land, not past Twenty or Thirty Yards -over, and which at Spring-Tides is overflow'd, -and is then an absolute Island. Now they -have built a silly sort of a Fort, that is, a -Brick Wall in the shape of a Half-Moon, at -the beginning of the Swamp, because the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_319" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</a></span> -Channel of the River lies very nigh the -Shoar; but it is the same as if a Fort were -built at <em>Chelsey</em> to secure <em>London</em> from being -taken by Shipping. Besides Ships passing up -the River are secured from the Guns of the -Fort, till they come directly over-against the -Fort, by reason the Fort stands in a Vale, -and all the Guns directed down the River, -that should play on the Ships, as they are -coming up the River, will lodge their Shot -within Ten, Twenty, or Forty Yards in the -rising Bank, which is much above the Level -of the Fort; so that if a Ship gave but a -good Broad-side, just when she comes to bear -upon the Fort, she might put the Fort into -that confusion, as to have free Passage enough. -There was indeed an old Fort of Earth in -the Town, being a sort of <em>Tetragone</em>, with -something like Bastions at the four Corners, -as I remember; but the Channel lying further -off to the middle of the River there, -they let it be demolished, and built that -new one spoke of, of Brick, which seems little -better than a blind Wall, to shoot Wild -Ducks or Geese.</p> - -<p>If they would build a Fort for the Security -of the Town and Country, I conceive it should -be on <em>Archer</em>'s <em>Hope Point</em>, for that would stop -the Ships from passing up the River, before -they came to the Town, and would secure -the Town from being block'd up by Sea. -The Channel at <em>Archer</em>'s <em>Hope Point</em> lies close -by the Shoar, and makes such an Angle there -by reason of <em>Hog Island</em>, that going up or -down the River, let the Wind be where it -will, they must there bring the contrary Tack<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_320" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</a></span> -on Board, and generally when they About -the Ship as they call it, they are so near -the Shoar, that a Man may almost fling a -Finger-stone on Board. How much this -hinders the motion of a Ship, and what -Confusion it must be to them to bring a contrary -Tack on Board, whilst they have all -the Guns of a Fort playing so nigh upon -them, may readily be conceived. <em>Archer</em>'s -<em>Hope</em> is a Neck of Land, that runs down -three Miles long, not much past half a Mile -broad betwixt the Main River and <em>Archer</em>'s -<em>Hope Creek</em>, which has large Marshes and -Swamps; so that a Citadel built upon the -Point, would almost be Impregnable, being -it could be attack'd no way but one, which -is so narrow a slender Neck of Land, that -it would be difficult to take it that way: -And it would secure <em>James Town</em> from being -block'd, being it would not be past a Mile -by Water, to the Point of <em>James Town Island</em>. -The Island is so surrounded with Water and -Marshy Land, that the Town could never -be Bomb'd by Land. But now to return to -the Reflections of Improving, and Manuring -of Land in <em>Virginia</em>; hitherto, as I have -said, they have used none but that of Cow-penning; -yet I suppose they might find very -good Marle in many places, I have seen both -the red and blew Marle at some breaks of -Hills: This would be the properest Manure -for their Sandy Land, if they spread it not -too thick, theirs being, as I have said, a -shallow, Sandy Soil, which was the Reason -I never advised any to use Lime, tho' they -have very good Lime of Oyster-shells; but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_321" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</a></span> -that's the properest Manure for cold Clay -Land, and not for a Sandy Soil. But as most -Lands have one Swamp or another bordering -on them, they may certainly get admirable -Slitch, wherewith to Manure all their uplands. -But this, say they, will not improve -Ground, but clods and grows hard; 'tis -true, it will do so for some time, a Year or -two at the first; but did they cast it in heaps, -and let it lie for two or three Years after a -Frost or two had seized it, and it had been -well pierced therewith, I doubt not it would -turn to good Account: And for this too I -have something more than bare conjecture; -for Discoursing it once with a good notable -Planter, we went to view a heap thereof, -that casually he had cast up 'twixt three and -four Years before, and we found it not very -binding, but rather a fine Natural Mold, -whereupon he did confess, he then remembred -that out of a ridge of the like Mold -he had very large Plants, which must have -been of the like Slime or Slitch cast up before: -But said, that himself and others despaired -of this Manure, because they had -taken of this Slitch fresh and moist out of -the Swamp, and fill'd Tobacco Hills with it, -and in the midst of it planted their Plants, -which so bound the Roots of their Plants, -that they never came to any thing. But he -said, he then saw his Error, yet I have not -heard he has remembred to Correct it. But -'tis strange in how many things besides they -are remiss, which one would think <em>English</em> -Men should not be guilty of. They neither -House nor Milk any of their Cows in Win<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_322" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</a></span>ter, -having a Notion that it would kill them; -yet I perswaded the afore-mentioned Lady -where I lived, to Milk four Cows the last -Winter that I staid in the Country, whereof -she found so good Effect, that she assured -me she would keep to my Advice for the future; -and also as I had further urged, House -them too, for which they have mighty Conveniencies, -their Tobacco Houses being empty -ever at that time of the Year, and may -easily be fitted in two or three days time -without any Prejudice; whereby their Cattle -would be much sheltered from those Pinching -sharp Frosts that some Nights on a sudden -become very severe. I had another Project -for the Preservation of their Cattle -proved very successful; I urged the Lady to -sow her Wheat as early as possibly she could, -so that before Winter it might be well rooted, -to be early and flourishing at the first -of the Spring: So that she might turn thereon -her weak Cattle, and such as should at -any time be swamp'd, whereby they might -be recruited and saved, and it would do the -Wheat good also. I advised her likewise to -save, and carefully gather her <em>Indian</em> Corn-tops, -and blades, and all her Straw, whatever -could be made Fodder, for her Cattle; -for they get no Hay, tho' I was urging her -to that too, and to sow <em>Saintfoin</em>; for being -a Sandy Soil, I am confident it would -turn to very good Account. They have little -or no Grass in Winter, so that their -Cattle are pined and starved, and many -that are brought low and weak, when the -Spring begins, venture too far into the Swamps<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_323" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</a></span> -after the fresh Grass, where they perish; so -that several Persons lose ten, twenty or thirty -Head of Cattle in a Year: I observed this -was much owing to their Inadvertency and -Error in their way of Managing and Feeding -them; for they get little Fodder, but as they -think Corn being more Nourishing, feed them -with their <em>Indian</em> Corn, which they give them -Morning and Evening; they spend thus a -great quantity of Corn, and when all's done, -what signifies two or three Heads of Corn -to a Beast in a Morning? It makes them -only linger about the Houses for more? and -after that sweet Food they are not so prompt -to browse on the Trees, and the course Grass -which the Country affords. So that thus -their Guts shrink up, and they become Belly-shot -as they call it. I advised therefore never -to give them any thing in a Morning, -whereby as soon as they were set forth of -the Cow-pens, they would fall a feeding, and -tho' they filled their Bellies only with such -course stuff as had little Nourishment in it, -yet it would keep out their Bellies, and they -would have a better Digestion; and then -when they were come home at Nights, to -Fodder them, beginning with Straw and -their coarsest Fodder, which they would learn -to eat by degrees, before they tasted that -that was more delicate, and whilst their digestion -was strong, would yield them Nourishment -to keep them still so; afterwards -when the Winter pinched, their fine Fodder -then would stand them in stead; and -hereby they might preserve their weakest -Cattle. By these Methods, and the help of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_324" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</a></span> -the Wheat-patch, she, the Gentlewoman -where I lived, saved all her Cattle, and lost -not one in Two Winters after, that I staid -there; besides she saved above Twenty Barrels -of Corn, as I remember that she told -me she used to spend upon her Stock; and -a Barrel of Corn is commonly worth Ten -Shillings. Nay further, The last Spring she -fed Two Beasts, a Bullock and a Cow, Fat, -upon her Wheat, with the addition only of -a little boil'd Corn, and yet the Wheat was -scarce eat down enough. But to return again -to the Nature of the Earth, which may be -pretty well gather'd from what I have already -said. I have observed, that at Five -or Six yards deep, at the breaks of some -banks, I have found veins of Clay, admirable -good to make Pots, Pipes, or the like -of, and whereof I suppose the <em>Indians</em> make -their Pipes, and Pots, to boil their Meat in, -which they make very handsomly, and will -endure the Fire better than most Crucibles: -I took of this Clay, dryed, powder'd, and -sifted it; powdered and sifted Potsherds, -and Glass; Three parts, Two parts and One -part as I remember, and therewith made a -large Crucible, which was the best I yet ever -tried in my Life; I took it once red hot out -of the Fire, and clapt it immediately into -Water, and it started not at all. The Country -abounds mightily with Iron Oar, that as -I have been assured by some upon tryal, -has been found very good. There are Rocks -thereof appear at the precipice of Hills, at -the foot whereof there runs a River fit for a -Forge, and there's Wood enough to supply<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_325" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</a></span> -it with Charcoal; as I have heard there was -formerly some Persons undertook the Work, -and when they had made but a small quantity -of Iron, which proved very good, the -<em>Indian</em> Massacre happened, and they being -higher seated than the then Inhabited part -of the Country, were all cut off, and the -Works demolished; so that it has frighted -others I think from the like attempt; besides, -such a work requires a greater Fund, -and Bank of Mony to carry it on, than any there -are able to lay out; and for Persons in <em>England</em> -to meddle therewith, is certainly to be -cheated at such a distance; some <em>Indians</em> -brought Col. <em>Bird</em> some Black Lead, whereof -he told me there was great store. There's -very curious Chalk towards the falls of <em>Rapahanock</em> -River, which they burn and make -a delicate white Wash of it. The Secretary -of State Col. <em>Spencer</em>, has assured me, there were -Vitriolick or Alluminous Earth on the Banks -of <em>Potomack</em>. And thus far of what my Memory -supplies me, referring to the Earth; -in the next place I shall give a short account -of the Birds.</p> - - -<h3><em>Of the BIRDS</em></h3> - -<p>I had indeed begun once whilst I was in -that Country to have made a Collection -of the Birds, but falling sick of the Griping -of the Guts, some of them for want of care -corrupted, which made them fling others -away that I had thoroughly cured; for I was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_326" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</a></span> -past taking care of them my self, there remaining -but small hopes of my Life.</p> - -<p>There are Three sorts of Eagles, the largest -I take to be that they call the Grey Eagle, -being much of the colour of our Kite or -Glead.</p> - -<p>The Second is the Bald Eagle, for the Body -and part of the Neck being of a dark -brown, the upper part of the Neck and -Head is covered with a white sort of Down, -whereby it looks very bald, whence it is so -named.</p> - -<p>The Third is the Black Eagle, resembling -most the <em>English</em> Eagle; they build their Nests -much after the manner that Dr. <em>Willoughby</em> -describes, and generally at the top of some -tall old Tree, naked of Bows and nigh the -River side, and the People fall the Tree generally -when they take the young; they are -most frequently sitting on some tall Tree by -the River side, whence they may have a prospect -up and down the River, as I suppose -to observe the Fishing Hauks; for when they -see the Fishing Hauk has struck a Fish, immediately -they take Wing, and 'tis sometimes -very pleasant to behold the Flight, -for when the Fishing Hauk perceives her self -pursued, she will scream and make a terrible -noise, till at length she lets fall the Fish -to make her own escape, which the Eagle -frequently catches before it reach the Earth -or Water. These Eagles kill young Lambs, -Pigs, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p>The Fishing Hauk is an absolute Species -of a Kings-fisher, but full as large, or larger -than our Jay, much of the Colour and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_327" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</a></span> -Shape of a Kings-fisher, tho' not altogether -so curiously Feather'd; it has a large Crop, -as I remember, there is a little Kings-fisher -much the same in every respect with ours.</p> - -<p>If I much mistake not, I have seen both -Goss Hauk and Falcon; besides there are -several sorts of the lesser Kind of Stannels.</p> - -<p>There is likewise the Kite and the Ringtail.</p> - -<p>I never heard the Cuckow there to my remembrance.</p> - -<p>There's both a brown Owl and white Owl, -much what as large as a Goose, which often -kills their Hens and Poultry in the Night; -the white Owl is a very delicate Feather'd -Bird, all the Feathers upon her Breast and -Back being Snow-white, and tipp'd with a -Punctal of Jet-black: besides there is a Barn -Owl much like ours; and a little sort of -Scritch Owl.</p> - -<p>There's both the Raven, and the Carrion-Crow; -I do not remember I ever saw any -Rooks there. Dr. <em>Moulin</em> and my self, when -we made our Anatomies together, when I -was at <em>London</em>, we shew'd to the <em>Royal Society</em>, -that all Flat-bill'd Birds that groped for their -Meat, had three Pair of Nerves, that came -down into their Bills; whereby as we conceived -they had that accuracy to distinguish -what was proper for Food, and what to be -rejected by their Taste when they did not -see it; and as this was most evident in a -Duck's Bill and Head, I draw'd a Cut thereof, -and left it in your Custody: A Duck -has larger Nerves that come into their Bills -than Geese or any other Bird that I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_328" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</a></span> -seen and therefore quaffer and grope out -their Meat the most: But I had then discover'd -none of these Nerves in Round-bill'd -Birds: But since in my Anatomies in the -Country, in a Rook I first observed two -Nerves came down betwixt the Eyes into -the upper Bill, but considerably smaller than -any or the three Pair of Nerves in the Bills -of Ducks, but larger than the Nerves in any -other Round-bill'd Birds; and 'tis remarkable -these Birds more than any other Round-bill'd -Birds seem to grope for their Meat in -Cow-dung and the like: Since I have found -in several Round-bill'd Birds the like Nerves -coming down betwixt the Eyes, but so very -small that had I not seen them first in a -Rook I should scarce have made the discovery; -in the lower Bill there are Nerves have -much the same situation with the Flat-bill'd -Birds, but very small, and scarce discernable, -unless to the Cautious and Curious.</p> - -<p>The Night Raven, which some call the -<em>Virginia</em> Bat, is about the bigness of a Cuckow, -feather'd like them but very short, -and short Leg'd, not discernable when it flies, -which is only in the Evening scudding like -our Night Raven.</p> - -<p>There's a great sort of ravenous Bird that -feeds upon Carrion, as big very nigh as an -Eagle, which they call a Turky Bustard, its -Feathers are of a Duskish black, it has red -Gills, resembling those of a Turky, whence -it has its Name; it is nothing of the same -sort of Bird with our <em>English</em> Turky Bustard, -but is rather a Species of the Kites, for it -will hover on the Wing something like<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_329" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</a></span> -them, and is carnivorous; the Fat thereof -dissolved into an Oil, is recommended mightily -against old Aches and Sciatica Pains.</p> - -<p>I think there are no Jackdaws, nor any -Magpys; they there prize a Magpye as much -as we do their Red Bird.</p> - -<p>The <em>Pica Glandaria</em>, or Jay, is much less -than our <em>English</em> Jay, and of another colour, -for it is all blue where ours is brown, the -Wings marbled as curiously as ours are, it -has both the same Cry, and sudden jetting -Motion.</p> - -<p>There are great Variety and Curiosity in -the Wood-peckers, there's one as big as our -Magpye, with blackish brown Feathers, and -a large Scarlet Tuft on the top of the Head: -There are four or five sorts of Wood-peckers -more, variegated with Green, Yellow -and Red Heads, others spotted black -and white, most lovely to behold. There's -a Tradition amongst them, that the Tongue -of one of these Wood-peckers dryed will -make the Teeth drop out if pick'd therewith, -and cure the Tooth-ach (tho' I believe little -of it, but look on it as ridiculous) yet I thought -fit to hint as much that others may try; for -sometimes such old Stories refer to some -peculiar Virtues, tho' not to all that is said -of them.</p> - -<p>There be wild Turkies extream large; they -talk of Turkies that have been kill'd, that have -weigh'd betwixt 50 and 60 Pound weight; -the largest that ever I saw, weigh'd something -better than 38 Pound; they have very -long Legs, and will run prodigiously fast. I remember -not that ever I saw any of them on the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_330" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</a></span> -Wing, except it were once: Their Feathers -are of a blackish shining Colour, that in -the Sun shine like a Dove's Neck, very -specious.</p> - -<p>Hens and Cocks are for the most part without -Tails and Rumps; and as some have assured -me our <em>English</em> Hens after some time -being kept there have their Rumps Rot off; -which I'm the apter to believe, being all -their Hens are certainly of <em>English</em> breed. -I'm sorry I made no Anatomical Observations -thereof, and Remarks about the Use of -the Rumps in Birds, which at present I take -to be a couple of Glands, containing a sort -of Juice for the Varnishing the Feathers; -having observed all Birds have much recourse -with their Bills to the Rumps when they -dress their Plumes, whereby they scud thro' -the Air more nimbly in their Flight.</p> - -<p>Partridges there are much smaller than ours, -and resort in Covies as ours do; their Flesh -is very white, and much excels ours in my -mind, <em>Sed de gustibus non est disputandum</em>.</p> - -<p>Their Turtle-Doves are of a duskish blue -colour, much less than our common Pidgeon, -the whole Train is longer much than the -Tails of our Pidgeons, the middle Feather -being the longest. There's the strangest -Story of a vast number of these Pidgeons -that came in a Flock a few Years before I -came thither; they say they came thro' <em>New -England</em>, <em>New York</em> and <em>Virginia</em>, and were so -prodigious in number as to darken the Sky -for several Hours in the place over which -they flew, and brake massie Bows where they -light; and many like things which I have had as<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_331" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</a></span>serted -to me by many Eye-witnesses of Credit, -that to me it was without doubt, the -Relaters being very sober Persons, and all agreeing -in a Story: nothing of the like ever -happen'd since, nor did I ever see past Ten -in a Flock together that I remember. I am -not fond of such Stories, and had suppressed the -relating of it, but that I have heard the -same from very many.</p> - -<p>The Thrush and Feldefire are much like -ours, and are only seen in Winter there, accordingly -as they are here.</p> - -<p>Their Mocking Birds may be compared to -our Singing Thrushes, being much of the -same bigness; there are two sorts, the Gray -and the Red, the gray has Feathers much of -the colour of our gray Plovers with white -in the Wings like a Magpye; this has the -much softer Note, and will imitate, in its -singing, the Notes of all Birds that it hears, -and is accounted much the finest Singing Bird -in the World. Dr. <em>Moulin</em> and I made in -our Anatomy many Observations of Singing -Birds to this effect: The Ears of Birds differ -much from those of Men or Beasts, there's -almost a direct passage from one Ear to the -other of Birds, so that prick but the small -Membrane call'd the Drum on either Ear, -and Water poured in at one Ear will run out -at the other: But this is not all, but what -is much more remarkable, they have no Coclea, -but instead thereof there's a small Cocleous -or twisting Passage that opens into a -large Cavity, that runs betwixt two Sculls, -and passes all round the Head, the upper -Scull is supported by many hundreds of small<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_332" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</a></span> -Thred-like Pillars or Fibers, which as we -supposed had another use also, to break the -Sound from making any confused Echo, and -to make it one and distinct; this passage we -observed betwixt the two Skulls was much -larger in Singing Birds than in others that -do not sing, so very remarkable that any -Person that has been but show'd this may easily -judge by the Head what Bird is a Singing -Bird, or has aptitude thereto, tho' he never -saw the Bird before, nor knew what Bird it -were: This has often made me reflect how -much the Modification of Voices depends -upon the accuracy of the Ear, and how deaf -Persons become Dumb: And since I have observed -that many Children that have an -acute Wit enough that are slow of Speech, -that is long before they speak are much longer -before they can pronounce those Letters -that are sharps, as <em>g.</em> <em>h.</em> <em>r.</em> and never have an -aptitude to learn to sing. Hence I judge -that Songs that have many Sharps in them -are the difficultest to sing well, and discover any -Persons skill upon the trial of Musick most. This -I suppose only, having no Skill in Musick my -self, nor having ever discoursed any Person -about it. As I remember we show'd some of -these things to the <em>Royal Society</em>, and I drew -some Cuts thereof, and gave the Doctor upon -promise that he would put these and many -other our joint Observations in Print, but I -hear he is since dead. I have Anatomized -most sorts of Creatures, and never found any -Four-footed Creature with an Ear like a -Bird, unless a Mole; and a Mole has an -Ear much like them, with a very thin double -Scull, and great Cavity like a Bird, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_333" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</a></span> -is very acute of hearing, the Scull by reason -of the large Cavity is very slender and -easily crush'd, so that a Mole is quickly kill'd -with a bruise on the Scull like a Lark, and -upon the bruise the Membranes of the Scull -turn black; whence <em>Segerus</em> mistake <em>Membranæ -Cerebri in superficie exteriori omnino nigræ visæ</em>. -But when I have taken care not to bruise -the Skull the Membranes were not black at -all, both <em>Segerus</em> and <em>Severinus</em> I think had -some perceptions of the different Structure of -a Mole's Ear, but not any thing of its Analogy -to a Bird's Ear; they speak of a Bone -<em>Egregie pumicosum</em>: And <em>Segerus</em> says there's a -<em>Ductus ad ossis usque petrosi cavitatem protensus, -plurimis fibrillis Membraneis annectabatur</em>. But -to return, this Mocking Bird having its -Name from <em>Mimicking</em>, all other Birds in -singing is a wonderful mettled Bird, bold -and brisk, and yet seems to be of a very tender -Constitution, neither singing in Winter, -nor in the midst of Summer, and with much -difficulty are any of them brought to live in -<em>England</em>.</p> - -<p>The Red Mocking is of a duskish red, or -rather brown; it sings very well, but has not -so soft a Note as the gray Mocking Bird.</p> - -<p>Of <em>Virginia</em> Nightingale, or red Bird, -there are two sorts, the Cocks of both sorts -are of a pure Scarlet, the Hens of a Duskish -red; I distinguish them into two sorts, for -the one has a tufted Cops on the Head, the -other is smooth-feather'd. I never saw a -tufted Cock with a smooth-headed Hen, or -on the contrary; they generally resorting a -Cock and Hen together, and play in a Thick<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_334" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</a></span>et -of Thorns or Bryars in the Winter, nigh -to which the Boys set their Traps, and so -catch them and sell them to the Merchants -for about Six Pence apiece; by whom they -are brought for <em>England</em>; they are something -less than a Thrush.</p> - -<p>There's a Bird very injurious to Corn, they -call a Blackbird; I look on it a sort of Starling, -for they cry something like them but -do not sing, are much what of the same bigness, -have Flesh blackish like theirs; they -resort in great Flocks together, they are as -black as a Crow all over their Bills and all, -only some of them have scarlet Feathers in -the Pinions of their Wings. <em>Quæry</em>, Whether -a distinct Species?</p> - -<p>They have a Lark nothing differing from -our common Lark; they have another Bird -which they call a Lark that is much larger, -as big as a Starling, it has a soft Note, -feeds on the Ground; and as I remember has -the Specifical Character of a long Heel, it -is more inclined to yellow, and has a large -half Moon on its Breast of yellow; if it have -not a long Heel, <em>Quære</em>, Whether a Species -of the Yellow-hammer?</p> - -<p>They have a Martin very like, only larger -than ours, that builds after the same manner. -The honourable Col. <em>Bacon</em> has remarked -for several Years, that they constantly come -thither upon the Tenth of <em>March</em> one or two -of them appearing before, being seen hovering -in the Air for a Day or two then go away, -and as he supposed return'd with the -great Flock. The Colonel delighted much -in this Bird, and made like Pidgeon-holes<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_335" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</a></span> -at the end of his House with Boards purposely -for them.</p> - -<p>Their Swallow differs but little from ours.</p> - -<p>They have a Bird they call a Blue-bird, -of a curious azure colour about the bigness -of a Chaffinch.</p> - -<p>There be other sorts of Goldfinches variegated -with Orange and Yellow Feathers, very -specious and beautiful.</p> - -<p>Sparrows not much different from the <em>English</em>, -but build not in the Eaves of Houses -that ever I saw.</p> - -<p>The Snow-bird which I take to be much -the same with our Hedge-Sparrow; this is so -called because it seldom appears about Houses -but against Snow or very cold Weather.</p> - -<p>The Humming Bird that feeds upon the -Honey of Flowers: I have been told by some -Persons, that they have kept of these Humming -Birds alive, and fed them with Water -and Sugar: they are much the smallest of all -Birds, have long Bills and curious coloured -Feathers, but differ much in colour.</p> - -<p>Herons three or four several sorts, one -larger than the <em>English</em>, feather'd much like -a <em>Spanish</em> Goose.</p> - -<p>Another sort that only comes in Summer -Milk white, with red Legs very lovely to -behold.</p> - -<p>The Bittern is there less than in <em>England</em>, -and does not make that sounding Noise that -ever I heard.</p> - -<p>Curlews something less than our <em>English</em>, -tho' bigger than a Wimbrel.</p> - -<p>The Sandpiper much resembling the <em>English</em>.</p> - -<p>The Snipe, two sorts, one resembling ours, -the other much less.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_336" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</a></span></p> - -<p>The Tewits are smaller than the <em>English</em>, -and have no long Toppins, but just like a -young one that begins to fly.</p> - -<p>There are a great number of wild Swans.</p> - -<p>Wild-geese and Brent-geese all Winter in -mighty Flocks, Wild-ducks innumerable, -Teal, Wigeon, Sheldrakes, Virginia-didapers, -the Black-diver, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p>In my return home for <em>England</em>, <em>May 1686.</em>, -off of the Banks of <em>Newfoundland</em>, when we -were, according to account, a hundred -Leagues from the Shoar, we saw several prodigious -floating Islands of the Ice, no less to -our Wonder than Terror, for they were very -dangerous: I got the Master to sail one day -as nigh one of them as we securely durst, -which we judged to be full a League in length, -and was higher above Water than the top -of our Main-mast; the Snow drove to and -fro upon it as upon a large Plane. There -was a great Flock of small Black-divers, that -were not much bigger than a Fieldfare, came -to us a little before, but all of them then left -and betook themselves to this Island of Ice. -They dived the constantly'st, and the longest -at a time of any Bird that I ever saw. We -saw, as I remember, nigh Thirty of these -Islands of Ice. Captain <em>Rider</em> being some -fews days later in his Passage, and bearing -more to the <em>Nore</em>, told me, he saw many -more of these Islands of Ice, and some much -larger.</p> - -<p>There are in <em>Virginia</em> a great many Cormorants; -several sorts of Gulls, and in about -the Bay many Bannets. Thus much for the -Birds.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_337" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right"><em>Yours</em>, &c.</p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Continuation of Mr. <strong>Clayton</strong>'s -Account of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<h3><em>Of the Beasts of <strong>Virginia</strong>.</em></h3> - -<p>There were neither Horses, Bulls, -Cows, Sheep, or Swine, in all the -Country, before the coming of the <em>English</em>, -as I have heard, and have much reason to -believe. But now among the <em>English</em> Inhabitants -there are good store of Horses, though -they are very negligent and careless about -the Breed: It is true, there is a Law, that -no Horse shall be kept stoned under a certain -size, but it is not put in execution. Such as -they are, there are good store, and as cheap -or cheaper than in <em>England</em>, worth about -Five Pounds apiece. They never Shoe them, -nor Stable them in general; some few Gentlemen -may be something more Curious, but -it is very rare; yet they Ride pretty sharply, -a Planter's Pace is a Proverb, which is a -good sharp Hand-Gallop. The <em>Indians</em> have -not yet learned to Ride, only the King of -<em>Pomonkie</em> had got three or four Horses for his -own Saddle, and an Attendant, which I think -should in no wise be indulged, for I look on -the allowing them Horses much more dangerous -than even Guns and Powder.</p> - -<p><em>Wild Bulls</em> and <em>Cows</em> there are now in the -uninhabited Parts, but such only as have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_338" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</a></span> -been bred from some that have strayed, and -become Wild, and have propagated their -kind, and are difficult to be shot, having a -great Acuteness of Smelling. The common -rate of a Cow and Calf is 50<em>s.</em> sight unseen, -be she big or little, they are never very curious -to examine that Point.</p> - -<p>Their <em>Sheep</em> are of a middling size, pretty -fine fleeced in general, and most Persons of -Estate begin to keep Flocks, which hitherto -has not been much regarded, because of the -Wolves that destroy them; so that a piece of -Mutton is a finer Treat, than either Venison, -Wild-Goose, Duck, Wigeon, or Teal.</p> - -<p><em>Elke</em>, I have heard of them beyond the -Inhabitants, and that there was one presented -to Sir <em>William Berkley</em>, which he sometime -kept.</p> - -<p><em>Deer</em>, there are abundance of brave Red -Deer, so that a good Woodsman, as they -call them, will keep a House with Venison; -the <em>Indians</em>, they say, make Artificial sorts of -Heads of Boughs of Trees, which they Consecrate -to their Gods, and these they put on -to deceive the Deer when they go a Shooting, -or Hunting, as they call it, and by mimicking -the Feeding of the Deer, they by degrees -get within Shot.</p> - -<p><em>Swine</em>, they have now in great abundance, -Shoats or Porkrels are their general Food; -and I believe as good as any <em>Westphalia</em>, certainly -far exceeding our <em>English</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Rackoone</em>, I take it to be a Species of a -Monkey, something less than a Fox gray-hair'd, -its Feet formed like a Hand, and the Face -too has likewise the resemblance of a <span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_339" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</a></span>Monkeys, -besides being kept tame they are very -Apish: They are very prejudicial to their -Poultry, as I remember.</p> - -<p>An <em>Opossum</em>, as big, and something shaped -like our Badgers, but of a lighter Dun colour, -with a long Tail something like a Rat, -but as thick as a Man's Thumb; the Skin -of its Belly is very large, and folded so as to -meet like a Purse, wherein they secure their -Young whilst little and tender, which will as -naturally run thither, as Chickens to a Hen; -in these False Bellies they will carry their -Young; these also feed on, and devour Corn.</p> - -<p><em>Hares</em>, many will have them to be a Hedge-Rabbet, -but I know not what they mean -thereby. I take them to be a perfect Species -of Hares, because I have seen Leverets there -with the white spot in the Head which the -Old ones have not, so it is in <em>England</em>; and -the Down is perfectly of the colour of our -Hares, they sit as our Hares do, and make -no Holes and Burrows in the Earth; true, -they are but about the bigness of an <em>English</em> -Rabbet, and run no faster; they generally -take into some hollow Tree within a little -space, which then the People catch by gathering -the withered Leaves, and setting them on -fire within the hollow of the Tree, and -smoaking of them so till they fall down. -Sometimes they take long Bryars, and twist -them in the Down and Skin, and so pull -them forth.</p> - -<p><em>Squirrels</em>, there are three sorts. The first -is the great Fox Squirrel, much larger than -the <em>English</em>, and gray, almost as a common -Rabbet. These are very common, I have<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_340" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</a></span> -eaten of them at the best Gentlemen's Tables, -and they are as good as a Rabbet. The Second -is the Flying Squirrel, of a lighter Dun -colour, and much less than the <em>English</em> Squirrel; -the Skin on either side the Belly extended -is very large betwixt the fore-leg and -hind-leg, which helps them much in their -skipping from one Bough to another, that -they will leap farther than the Fox-Squirrel, -though much less, yet this is still rather skipping -than flying, though the distinction be -well enough. The Third is the Ground-Squirrel, -I never saw any of this sort, only -I have been told of them, and have had them -thus described to me, to be little bigger than -a Mouse, finely spotted like a young Fawn; -by what I further apprehended, they are an -absolute sort of Dor-Mouse, only different -in colour.</p> - -<p><em>Musk-Rats</em>, in all things shaped like our -Water-Rats, only something larger, and is -an absolute Species of Water-Rats, only having -a curious Musky scent: I kept one for a -certain time in a wooden Chest; two days -before it died it was extraordinary Odoriferous, -and scented the Room very much; but -the day that it died, and a day after the scent -was very small, yet afterwards the Skin was -very fragrant; the Stones also smelt very -well. They build Houses as Beavers do, in -the Marshes and Swamps (as they there call -them) by the Water-sides, with two or three -ways into them, and they are finely daubed -within. I pulled one in pieces purposely to -see the contrivance: There were three different -Lodging-Rooms, very neat, one high<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_341" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</a></span>er -than another, as I conceive purposely -made for Retirement, when the Water rises -higher than ordinary; they are considerably -large, having much Trash and Lumber to -make their Houses withal; I suppose they -live mostly on Fish.</p> - -<p><em>Batts</em>, as I remember at least two sorts; -one a large sort with long Ears, and particularly -long straggling Hairs. The other -much like the <em>English</em>, something larger I -think, very common.</p> - -<p>I never heard of any <em>Lions</em>; they told me -of a Creature killed whilst I was there, in -<em>Glocester</em> County, which I conceived to be a -sort of Pard, or Tyger.</p> - -<p><em>Bears</em> there are, and yet but few in the -Inhabited part of <em>Virginia</em>; towards <em>Carolina</em> -there are many more. There was a small -Bear killed within three Miles of <em>James City</em> -the Year that I left the Country, but it was -supposed to have strayed, and swam over -<em>James River</em>. They are not very fierce, their -Flesh is commended for a very rich sort of -Pork; but the lying side of the Bear, as I -remember, is but half the value of the other, -weight for weight.</p> - -<p>There are several sorts of <em>Wild-Cats</em> and -<em>Poll-Cats</em>.</p> - -<p><em>Beavers</em> build their Houses in like manner -as the Musk-Rats do, only much larger, -and with pieces of Timber make Dams over -Rivers; as I suppose either to preserve their -Furs dry in their passage over the Rivers, -otherwise to catch Fish by standing to watch -them thereon, and jumping upon them on a -sudden; they are very subtil Creatures, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_342" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</a></span> -if half the Stories be true that I have been -told, they have a very orderly Government -among them; in their Works each knows -his proper Work and Station, and the Overseers -beat those Young Ones that loiter in -their Business, and will make them cry, and -work stoutly.</p> - -<p><em>Wolves</em> there are great store; you may hear -a Company Hunting in an Evening, and -yelping like a pack of Beagles; but they are -very cowardly, and dare scarce venture on -any thing that faces them; yet if Hungry, -will pull down a good large Sheep that flies -from them. I never heard that any of them -adventured to set on Man or Child.</p> - -<p><em>Foxes</em>, they are very much like ours, only -their Fur is much more grisled, or gray; -neither do I remember ever to have seen any -Fox-holes, but of this I am not positive.</p> - -<p>Every House keeps three or four Mungrel -<em>Dogs</em> to destroy Vermin, such as <em>Wolves</em>, <em>Foxes</em>, -<em>Rackoons</em>, <em>Opossums</em>, &c. But they never -Hunt with Hounds, I suppose, because there -are so many Branches of Rivers, that they -cannot follow them. Neither do they keep -Grey-Hounds, because they say, that they are -subject to break their Necks by running against -Trees, and any Cur will serve to run -their Hares into a hollow Tree, where after -the aforesaid manner they catch them.</p> - -<p>They have great store both of Land and -Water <em>Tortoises</em>, but they are very small, I -think I never saw any in that Country to exceed -a Foot in length; there is also another -sort of Land-Tortoise, different from the -common sort, with a higher ridged Back, and -speckled with red sort of Spots.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_343" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</a></span></p> - -<p><em>Frogs</em> they have of several sorts, one of a -prodigious largeness, eight or ten times as -big as any in <em>England</em>, and it makes a strange -noise, something like the Bellowing of a -Bull, or betwixt that and the hollow sounding -noise that the English Bittern makes.</p> - -<p>Another very common sort, which they -call <em>Toads</em>, because black, but I think differs -nothing from our black Frog. They have -Toads also like ours in <em>England</em>; and another -small sort of Frog, which makes a noise like -Pack-horse Bells all the Spring long. Another -little green Frog, that will leap -prodigiously, which they therefore call -the Flying Frog. There is frequently -heard in the Woods a shrill sort of noise, -much like that which our Shrew-Mouse -makes, but much sharper; I could never -learn the certainty what it was that made -this noise, it is generally in a Tree, and some -have asserted to me, that it was made by the -green Frog, yet I scarcely believe it. Mr. -<em>Banister</em> assured me it was made by a sort of -<em>Scarabeus</em> Beetle, that is I think full as big as -the Humming-Bird; but neither do I believe -that, and for this Reason, for I never saw -that Beetle so low as the Salts, but always as -high up in the Country as the Freshes, -and that noise is frequent all over the -Country.</p> - -<p><em>Lizards</em>, that are gray, and very common, -the Snakes feed much on them, for I have -taken several of them out of the Bellies of -Snakes.</p> - -<p><em>Snakes</em>, about seven several sorts. The -Rattle-Snake, so called from certain Rattles<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_344" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</a></span> -at the end of the Tail: These Rattles seem -like so many perished Joints, being a dry -Husk over certain Joints, and the common -Opinion is, that there are as many Rattles -or Joints, as the Snake is years old. I kill'd -four or five, and they had each eleven, -twelve, or thirteen Joints each; but the -young Ones have no Rattles of a year or -two, but they may be known notwithstanding, -being very regularly diced or checker'd, -black and gray on the backs. The Old -shake and shiver these Rattles with wonderful -nimbleness when they are any ways disturbed; -their bite is very deadly, yet not -always of the same force, but more or less -Mortal, accordingly as the Snake is in force -or vigour, and therefore in <em>June</em> or <em>July</em> much -worse, and more Mortal, than in <em>March</em> and -<em>April</em>. This Snake is a very Majestick sort -of Creature, and will scarce meddle with -any thing unless provok'd, but if any thing -offend it, it makes directly at them. I was -told a pleasant Story of an Old Gentlemen, -Col. <em>Cleyborn</em> as I remember was his Name, -the same that sent the Rattle-Snakes to the -<em>Royal Society</em> some Years since. He had an -odd Fancy of keeping some of these Snakes -always in Barrels in the House, and one time -an <em>Indian</em> pretending to Charm them so as to -take them by the Neck in his Hand without -biting of him; the Old Gentleman caused a -Rattle-Snake to be brought forth, the <em>Indian</em> -began his Charm with a little Wand, whisking -it round and round the Rattle-Snake's -Head, bringing it by degrees nigher and -nigher, and at length flung the Switch away,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_345" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</a></span> -and whisked his Hand about in like manner, -bringing his Hand nigher still and nigher, -by taking less Circles, when the old -Gentleman immediately hit the Snake with -his Crutch, and the Snake snap'd the <em>Indian</em> -by the Hand, and bit him very sharply betwixt -the Fingers, which put his Charm to -an end, and he roared out; but stretch'd his -Arm out as high as he could, calling for a -string, wherewith he bound his Arm as hard -as possibly he could, and clapt a hot burning -Coal thereon, and singed it stoutly, whereby -he was cured, but looked pale a long while -after. And I believe this truly one of the -best ways in the World of Curing the Bite -either of Viper or Mad Dog. I was with -the Honourable Esquire <em>Boyle</em>, when he made -certain Experiments of Curing the Bite of -Vipers with certain <em>East-India</em> Snake-stones, -that were sent him by King <em>James</em> the Second, -the Queen, and some of the Nobility, -purposely to have him try their Vertue and -Efficacy: For that end he got some brisk -Vipers, and made them bite the Thighs of -certain Pullets, and the Breasts of others: -He applied nothing to one of the Pullets, -and it died within three Minutes and a half, -as I remember; but I think they all recovered -to which he applied the Snake-stones, tho' -they turned wonderful pale, their Combs, -<em>&c.</em> immediately, and they became extream -sick, and purged within half an hour, and -the next morning all their Flesh was turned -green to a wonder, nevertheless they recovered -by degrees. The manner of the Application -was only by laying on the Stone,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_346" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</a></span> -and by two cross-bits of a very sticking <em>Diaculum</em> -Plaister binding it on, which he let not -lie on past an hour or two, but I think not -so long, took the Stone off, and put it into -Milk for some time; some Stones were of -much stronger Vertue than others. I proposed -a piece of unquench'd Lime-stone to be -apply'd to see whether it might not prove as -powerful, but know not whether ever it was -tried. But here one telling Mr. <em>Boyle</em> the -Story of this <em>Indian</em>, he approved the method -of Cure, and said, an actual Cautery was -the most certain Cure. The Poison, both of -Viper and Mad-Dog (as I conceive) kill by -thickning of the Blood, after the manner -that Runnet congeals Milk when they make -Cheese. Vipers, and all the Viperous Brood, -as Rattle-Snakes, <em>&c.</em> that are deadly, have -I believe their Poisonous Teeth Fistulous, for -so I have observed that Vipers Teeth are, -and the Rattle-Snakes very remarkable, and -therefore they kill so very speedily by injecting -the Poison through those Fistulous Teeth -into the very Mass of Blood; but the bite of -Mad-Dogs is oft of long continuance before -it get into and corrupt the Mass of Blood, -being it sticks only to the out-sides of the -Teeth, and therefore when they bite thro' -any thickness of Cloaths, it rarely proves -Mortal, the Cloaths wiping the Poison off -before it come to the Flesh. A Girl that -was bit about <em>New-Years Day</em>, continued well -till <em>Whitsontide</em>, when coming to see certain -Friends in our Parts, she fell very ill, and -being a Poor Girl, they came to me; it -pleased God I recovered her. Sometime<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_347" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</a></span> -after she returned to give me thanks for -saving her Life, being two Persons that were -bit with the same Dog, were dead, whilst -she remained under Cure, and therefore she -was the fullier convinc'd she owed her life to -me; but of this I shall give a more particular -Instance by and by. But the Poisons of -Vipers seems to be like the injecting of Liquors -into the Veins of Creatures; Dr. <em>Moulin</em> -and I made many Experiments of this -Nature together, and I have made many more -by my self. We once, I remember, injected half -a Dram of Allom into the Jugalar-Vein of -a Dog before the <em>Royal Society</em>, (the Allom -being only dissolved in a little Water) which -within something less than one Minutes time -was so absolutely dead, as not to have the -least Convulsive Motion; and I have done -the like with many other things besides Allom, -but with some things it is more curdled and -broken, than with others; and will differ -much both as to colour and consistence. -Salt-Petre kills much as quickly as Allom, -but then the Blood in the Heart looks very -florid, smooth, and even. I wish some Person -of Observation and Leisure would prosecute -these sort of Experiments, and make -Injections of the several things most used in -Physick into the Veins of Creatures, both in -quantities, and into different Veins, as into -the Thigh-veins of some Dogs, and Jugalars -of some others, and in much lesser quantities -of such things as kill suddenly; for in the -little time I have spent in these sort of Experiments, -I easily perceive notable discoveries -might be made thereby: One Dog that<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_348" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</a></span> -lived became Lame and Gouty; another with -Quick-Silver died in about Sixteen Weeks -time, Consumptive, and I discovered Quick-Silver -in the Impostumated parts of his Lungs. -<em>Query</em>, Whether some Persons that have been -Flux'd, or used Quick-silver Oyntments, and -the like, and afterwards become consumptive, -owe not their Distemper to the abusive -use of a most excellent Remedy? Much -after the same manner, the subtile Quick-Silver -getting into the Mass of Blood by -degrees, through its ponderosity settles in -the Lobes of the Lungs, and causes Ulcers -there. But to return: The Poison of Vipers -and Mad Dogs I suppose kill by thickning -of the Blood, as many Malignant Fevers, -also do; in all which Cases, I look on -Volatil Salts to be the properest Physick, as -keeping the Blood from congealing. I had a -singular Instance hereof in a Gentleman of -<em>Yorkshire</em>, bit with a Grey-Hound on the -<em>Thursday</em>, not three Minutes before the Dog -died Mad; he bit him in several places of -the Hands, as he was giving him a Remedy: -The <em>Monday</em> following the Gentleman was -very ill, and came to our Town to an Apothecary -his Acquaintance, who knowing not -what to do, desired my Assistance. When I -came, the Gentleman could talk, but every -two or three Minutes he had violent Fits, -and would tell us when they were over, that -his Brains worked like Birm in an Ale-Fat, -and seemed to Froth up at every Fit. The -Apothecary had no Volatile Salt of Vipers; -so I took the Volatile Salt of Amber, and -ordered him Ten Grains in Treacle-Water<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_349" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</a></span> -every half hour: He told me every Dose -seemed to clear his Brain, and cool it as perfectly, -as if a Bason of Cold Water were -poured on his Head, but it returned by degrees -again: Having then a Volatile Salt by -me that Vomits very well, I gave him a Dose -thereof, it worked very well, and he was very -much better after it: I then ordered him to -continue the Volatile Salt of Amber once -every four hours, and at each two hours end, -that is betwixt, <em>Spec. Pleres Archonticon and -Rue pouder'd ana gr.</em> 15. whereby he was so -well recovered, that within two days he would -needs go home, to look after some urgent Affairs, -and afterwards found himself so well, -that he forgot to return, and perfect the -course; and I heard no more of him for half -a Year, when I was fetch'd one Morning to -him in great hast. He had been abroad, -play'd the Good-Fellow, and in his return -home, having rode a great days Journey, being -weary, and I suppose finding himself indisposed, -he staid all Night in our Town, it -being fortunately in his way. In the Morning -when he should have got up, he could not -stand, whereupon the Apothecary was sent -for, and a Surgeon to Blood him, which was -accordingly done, but he grew worse; for in -this Case I look upon Bleeding to be very -prejudicial, as well as in most Malignant Fevers, -for thereby the Spirits are diminished, -and the Blood congeal'd the sooner. When -they had done all they could, and the Symptoms -still increased, they at length sent for -me. I never saw Man or Creature in that -Agony in all my life, that I found him in,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_350" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</a></span> -Senseless, and Mad, when at best, but every -Minute the fiercest shiverings ran through -him, his Eyes would first roll and then set, -as if ready to start out of his Head, but above -all, the Swelling and Luctation at his -Breast, was as if he would burst, which went -off with a prodigious sigh: All this I judge -the Effects of the Heart labouring to discharge -it self of the stagnating Blood, and the Nervous -Convulsions as consequences thereof. -And I am the more confirm'd in this, from -what I saw in a Woman that was bit also -with a Mad-Dog in the Leg, and fell ill the -very day that she had paid the Chirurgeon -for her Cure; and notwithstanding all that -could be done, growing worse, they sent for -me; I went, and found her with what is called -a <em>Hydrophobia</em>: She would look earnestly after -Drink or Water, and seem to desire it, but -as soon as she began to drink, away it went, -be it what it would, with the greatest Violence -she could possibly fling it. I gave her the -Vomit hereafter and also before mentioned, -but she got but little of it down, and I had -no more with me; nevertheless it so brought -her to her self, that she could answer Questions, -and I asked her, whether she was afraid -of the Drink and Water, when she flung the -Cups in that violent manner from her? She said -No; but when she offered to drink, her Breast -and Heart would not let her. I asked, whether -through any Aversion or Fear? She said, -No, she was very Thirsty; but when she offered -to drink, it struck to her Heart, and -stopped her Breath. That is, as I apprehend, -the cold Drink passing down the Throat<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_351" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</a></span> -struck a chillness in the Blood, and made it -readier to stagnate: Besides the very act of -Drinking, hindering the free breathing, conduced -also much thereto; and therefore the -Heart was so suddenly oppress'd, that she -could not forbear flinging away whatever she -had in her Hand. She complained also of a -great rigour and stiffness or straitness of the -Muscles of her Breast, so that possibly the -Spiritous Liquor that flows in the <em>Genus Nervosum</em> -may be congeal'd as well as the Blood; -or the same Effects may be supposed notwithstanding -to be the result of the condensed -Blood clogging both the Heart and Lungs, -so that the Breast may seem to be straitened -therewith. The same I judge to be the cause -of all the violent Luxations in this Gentleman, -whose Fingers I looked on, and found -the places where he had formerly been bit, -turned blackish, and much inflamed about -them, which confirmed me in my sentiment, -that it was a relapse of his former Distemper, -that is, of the Bite of the Mad-Dog. I told -them, if any thing in the World would save -his Life, I judged it must be the former Vomit -of Volatile Salts; they could not tell -what to do, nevertheless such is the Malignancy -of the World, that as soon as it was -given, they ran away and left me, saying, -he was now certainly a dead Man, to have -a Vomit given in that condition. Nevertheless -it pleased God that he shortly after cried, -<em>This Fellow in the Black has done me good</em>, -and after the first Vomit, came so to himself, -as to know us all. I vomited him every other -day with this Vomit for three times,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_352" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</a></span> -and made him in the Interim to take Volatile -Salt of Amber, and the aforesaid Powders, -and to wash his Hands, and Sores in a strong -Salt Brine: to drink Posset-drink with Sage -and Rue, and by this course, and the Blessing -of God, his Life was saved, and he perfectly -cured, for it is now four Years since, -and he had had no Relapse. I have cured -several others by the same Method. Coll. -<em>Spencer</em>, the Secretary of State in <em>Virginia</em>, a -very Serious and Ingenious Gentleman, told -me, that his Servant brought him word once -that a Sow having farrow'd, a Rattle-Snake -was got into the Den, and had kill'd the Piggs. -The Colonel went to see the Snake, which -they said was still coyl'd in the Den; there -followed them two or three Mungrel Curs, -and they sat one of the Dogs at the Snake, -which was too quick for the Dog, and snapt -him by the Nose, whereupon he set a howling, -and run immediately into the adjacent -River, and died very shortly after. Another -of the Dogs upon the like attempt was bit by -the Snake also, and fell a howling, and frothing, -and tumbling; but being he died not -so soon as the other Dog did, they fetched -some of the Herb which they call Dittany, as -having a great Traditionary Vertue for the -Cure of Poisons; they pounded it, and adding -a little Water, express'd the Juice, and -gave the Dog frequently thereof, nevertheless -he died within a day or two. The howling -of the Dogs he supposed gave notice to -the Sow, and made her come furiously bristling, -and run immediately into her Den; but -being likewise bit by the Snake, she set up a<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_353" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</a></span> -terrible Squeak, and ran also into the River, -and there died.</p> - -<p>A Gentlewoman, that was a notable Female -Doctress, told me, that a Neighbour -being bit by a Rattle-Snake, swelled excessively; -some days afterwards she was sent for, -who found him swell'd beyond what she -thought it had been possible for the Skin to -contain, and very Thirsty. She gave him -<em>Oriental Bezoar</em> shaved, with a strong Decoction -of the aforesaid Dittany, whereby she -recovered the Person: To the best of my Remembrance, -it was he that told me, asking -him afterwards, what he felt when the Snake -first bit him? He said, it seemed as if a flash -of Fire had ran through his Veins.</p> - -<p>Besides the Rattle-Snake, there is the Blowing-Snake, -an absolute Species of a Viper, -but larger than any that I have seen in <em>Europe</em>; -it is so called, because it seems to blow, -and spread its Head, and swell very much before -it bite, which is very deadly. It is Remarkable -there is none of their Snakes there, -make any of that hissing noise that ours in -<em>England</em> make, but only shoot out their -Tongues, shaking them as ours do, without -any noise at all; this is a short thick sort of -Snake. There is another sort of deadly Snake, -called the <em>Red-Snake</em>; I once narrowly escaped -treading on the back of one of them: They -are of an ugly dark brown colour, inclining -to red; their Bellies are of a more dusky -white, with a large streak of Vermillion Red -on either side; this too is of the Viper kind, -but is not so short, but its Tail is more taper -and small. The <em>Horn-Snake</em> is, as they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_354" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</a></span> -say, another sort of deadly Snake; I never -saw any of them, unless once, shortly after -my Arrival in that Country, which I cannot -attest to be the Horn-Snake, for I could not -distinctly view it, being in a Thicket of <em>Sumach</em>, -it was perch'd up about two Foot high -in a <em>Sumach</em> Branch, its Tail twisted about -the Shrub, and about a quarter of a Yard -stood bolt forward, leaning over the forked -branch thereof: I could not see the Horn, -which they say it has in its front, wherewith -it strikes, and if it wounds, is as deadly as -the Rattle-Snake's bite. The Gentleman -that was with me, told me it was a Horn-Snake, -but being in hast, and on Horse-back, -and the Snake in a Thicket, I could not see -the Horn; but had I thought I should never -have seen more of them, I should have took -a little pains to have been better satisfied. -This I think may not improperly be referr'd -to the <em>Dart-Snakes</em>.</p> - -<p>The <em>Black-Snake</em>, is the largest I think of -all others, but I am sure the most common; -I have kill'd several of them full six Foot long, -their Bite is not deemed Mortal, but it swells, -and turns to a Running Sore; they feed upon -Lizards, Mice, Rats, Frogs, and Toads, -which I have taken out of their Bellies. I -was once a Simpling in the woods, on a fair -Sun-shine day, when I saw a Snake crawling -on a Tree that was fallen, and licking with -its forked Tongue as it moved; I stood still -to observe it, and saw it lick up small Insects -and Flies with wonderful nimbleness, catching -them betwixt the Forks of its Tongue.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_355" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</a></span></p> - -<p>The <em>Corn-Snake</em>, most like the Rattle-Snake -of all others in colour, but the Checkers are -not so regular, neither has it any Rattles: -They are most frequent in the Corn-Fields, -and thence I suppose so called; the Bite is -not so venomous as the Black-Snakes.</p> - -<p>The <em>Water-Snake</em>, a small Snake, I never -saw any of them above a Yard long, though -I have sometimes seen Forty or Fifty at once; -they are of an ugly dark blackish colour: -They say, they are the least Venomous of -any.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_356" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Part of Two Letters from Mr. <strong>J. -Hillier</strong>, dated <strong>Cape Corse</strong>, <strong>Jan. -3. 1687/8.</strong> and <strong>Apr. 25. 1688.</strong> -Wrote to the Reverend Dr. <strong>Bathurst</strong>, -President of <strong>Trinity -Colledge, Oxon</strong>; giving an -Account of the Customs of the -Inhabitants, the Air, <strong>&c.</strong> of -that Place, together with an Account -of the Weather there from -<strong>Nov. 24. 1686.</strong> to the same -Day 1687.</em></h2> - - -<p class="right"><em>Cape Corse, Jan. 3. 1687/8.</em></p> - -<p>I Thought the Custom of destroying Slaves -at the Death of great People had been -abolish'd, and I was so inform'd; but we have -seen that it is not; for <em>Oct. 3.</em> this Year, died -<em>Ahen Penin Ashrive</em>, King of <em>Feton</em>, here at -<em>Cape Corse</em>, where he had been long sick; the -Fetishers had done all they could to save his -Life, which was nothing at all to purpose; -their Physick scarce extends to any thing but -the Flux, and what we call the French Disease; -his was a Consumption and an Asthma<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_357" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</a></span> -(if I mistake not the Word) of a great continuance: -so they fled to the Aid of their -Religion, and according it seems to the Rules -of that, they made several Pellets of Clay, -which they set in his Room, in Rank and -File, all sprinkled with blood; besides the several -Muttons which they eat to his good -Health. But that was of too little Force; -so the Man died, having delivered his Sword -to the Dy, who in the <em>Interregnum</em> was to be -the principal Man, for the Kingdom is Elective, -contrary to what we wrote before, and -commanding him to be constant to the <em>English</em>, -of whom himself had been a great Favourer, -with a Threat, if he was not, of -haunting him after his Death; he also appointed -one of his Wives, whom he thought -worthy of that unlucky Honour, to accompany -him to the other World; the next Day -he was carried to <em>Feton</em>, and buried there, -<em>Nov. 2.</em> with the poor Woman we spoke of. -Presently after, they that were considerable, -or had a mind to seem so, sent in them that -they had a mind to Murder in Honour of the -King: how many there were 'tis hard to say, -the highest Account gives 90, the lowest 50, -the middle 70; the Blacks do not understand -Arithmetick, so the Numbers they give in -all Cases are very uncertain. I think there -were about Eight from this Town, which -will not hold Proportion to the highest rate; -but 'tis like near <em>Feton</em> there might be more. -They say also, that many more will follow at -half a Years distance from his Death. The -manner of the Execution of these poor Creatures -I have not yet learnt, only that they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_358" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</a></span> -make them drink and dance, with a great deal -of Bravery all the begining of the Day, and -towards Night cut off their Heads, but whether -by that they mean the common way of -their Executions I am yet to seek.</p> - -<p>After the Kings Funeral, the next thing -was to chuse a Successor; so the People was -called together at <em>Feton</em>, (I suppose by the -Authority of the Dy) without inquiring any -thing of their Freehold; they pitched upon -Mr. <em>Dy</em>, though he was not of the Blood-Royal; -the Reason was, as they said, because -he had Power enough to do what he -pleas'd, and they could do nothing against -him; but he refused the Honour because of -the Charge 'twould put him to, and propos'd -the Brother of the deceased King: So the -Business stuck some time, but at last 'twas -accorded, and he [King <em>Ashrive</em>'s Brother] -declared King, <em>Nov. 18.</em> his Name is <em>Ahenaco</em>.</p> - -<p>'Tis Wonder how they could dispatch such -a Business, with so little Disturbance; but I -suppose there was no considerable Number -that dissented; otherwise it would scarce -have been determined without Blood-shed; -for it would scarce have been possible for them -to have taken any Pole.</p> - -<p>I said it was doubt whether these Sacrifices -died after the rate of their ordinary Executions; -if you would know that, thus it is, -the Creature that is condemn'd, is made to -drink abundance of Palm-Wine, and to dance, -every Body that will, in the mean time striking -or pushing him, when that is over, as is -said, he is thrown down, his Face into the -Sand, which whether it stifle him or not, I<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_359" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</a></span> -can't tell, then his Legs are cut off below the -Knees, and his Arms below the Elbow, afterward -his Thigh and his Arms below the Shoulder, -lastly his Head.</p> - -<p>A Man would not expect any thing more -barbarous than this; yet there is a Custom -which has something worse; when any one has -new Drums or Trumpets, 'tis necessary that -they be consecrated with Humane Blood: I -have known but one happen of this Kind, -that was <em>Jan. 7. 1686/7.</em> when after the Man -had been executed after the former rate, about -Eight in the Morning; at one in the -Afternoon, they drank Palm-Wine out of the -upper part of his Skull, and this in the sight -of all the Factors at <em>Cape Corse</em>.</p> - -<p>I remember for the Unhealthiness of the -Place, you proposed to inquire if it were -Woody, and if any good might be done to -it by cutting down the Woods, as has happen'd -in many <em>American</em> Plantations; of that -Matter this is what I can say.</p> - -<p>The Shore lies almost East and West, expos'd -to the Sea wholly upon the South, the -Country is Hilly, the Hills not very high, -but thick, clustering together, the Valleys -between extream narrow, the whole in a -manner cover'd with certain Shrubs, low, but -very thick; what the People Till, comes not -to above a Tenth part of their Ground; and -where they do Till, it hinders not that within -half a Year the Ground is over-grown as -before, for they do not root up the Shrubs, -but only cut, or sometimes burn them somewhat -close to the Earth, so they spring again -in a very little time; this is sufficient for<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_360" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</a></span> -their planting the Corn, which they do by -making little Holes in the Earth at a competent -Distance, and putting Seeds into -them.</p> - -<p>It may be that if those Shrubs were destroyed, -the Matter might be mended, which -yet is not to be hop'd for, but by bringing -the People to some kind of Industry, and -that will not be easie; they are so wholly -given to Laziness, and so intirely bred up in -it, that there must be the greatest Change -imaginable, before they become any whit tolerable; -a Man may see their Temper by this, -that though their Tillage be very easie, and -the Earth yields many Hundreds for One, yet -so little is the use they make of it, that One -scarce Year brings them to danger of Starving, -and though there be People enough, and -every Man has Power of choosing what he -will, that is not already Till'd by some other, -yet not the Tenth Part, as we have said, is -employed: So that a Man would wonder what -came in the French Man's Head to fancy them -Industrious; but subtile they are, and diligent -to Cheat any Man that is not cautious enough -to avoid it.</p> - -<p>So that the Fault of the Wood is (by the -Laziness of the People) without any Remedy. -But there may be something in the Earth it -self; the Water which they have here in Pits -(Rain-Water for the most part, but yet strain'd -through the Earth) has a kind of Taste mixt -of Sweet and Subacid, if I understand what -I say, I am told 'tis of Vitriol, whether -that be mischievous, you know better than -I do.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_361" id="Page_361">[Pg 361]</a></span> -But I take this for certain, since I have had -it from good Hands, that at <em>Widdah</em>, which -is one of the most unhealthy Places in <em>Guiney</em>, -but 'tis not upon the Gold-coast, he that -opens the Ground, though it be but to dig a -Grave, runs the Hazard of his Life: So mischievous -are the Steams from thence arising. -It's possible there may be some such Steams -here, only not so violent; though in <em>England</em> -I think, a Gravel or a Sand (which here are -always uppermost for as much as I have seen) -are esteem'd very wholesom Soils; under -them is a kind of whitish Marle almost like -Fullers-Earth.</p> - -<p>For the Air, except what I have said before, -I do not know what Fault it has; 'tis -extream hot, 'tis also subtile and piercing, -and I believe enters a Man's Body easier than -that in <em>England</em>. It has been clearer than that -uses to be one day with another, even this -last Year, which has been the wettest and most -cloudy which has happen'd a long time; I -think to give you an Account of the Weather -in it as soon as I have time to transcribe.</p> - -<p>For the Age of the Inhabitants, 'tis very -uncertain, because none of them keep an Account -of it; there are some of them very -Grey, but if the Country be to them unhealthy, -Grey Hairs may come early: I think -there be many more Funerals here than at -<em>Oxford</em>, though that be a much larger Place, -especially in the Rain-times, which to us are -always healthful.</p> - -<p>I think that much of the Mortality (not -all) that happens among Strangers, is the -Effect of their ill Diet, and ill Government<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_362" id="Page_362">[Pg 362]</a></span> -of themselves; for they eat but little, having -neither Stomach nor Mony to buy what -they want; but they drink excessively, being -for that more readily trusted, and of Liquors -very hot and Spirituous; and if any -chuse the cold rather, his Stomach is chil'd, -and he is in danger of a Flux or an extream -Looseness, and that immediately.</p> - -<p>There is another thing, Men guard themselves -less from the Air than in any other -Places trusting to the Heat of the Climate, -and receive the cool of the Evening with only -a Shirt. Now I think that the Air, tho' -not so cold, is much more subtle and piercing -here, than in our Country, it corrodes Iron -much more, not by the Moisture, for it is -not so moist, and besides it does it in the dry -Weather too. Perhaps there are some other -Effects to evidence the same thing; besides -that, the Diet which most Men procure, is -not extraordinary, and the passing by Canoes -from one Place to another has a Danger in -it beside that of the Sea.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="right"><em>Cape Corse, Apr. 25. 1688.</em></p> - -<p>I Promised in my last to give you an Account -of the Weather at <em>Cape Corse</em> for -the last Year, which Account I have inclosed -in this; it is as exact as I could give; 'tis a -thing which has been very little observed, -whether it deserves to be more, I do not -know. That Year has had the most Rain of -any that can be here remember'd; yet the -Mortality was much less than the Years before; -so that perhaps Wet is not that which -makes the Country unhealthy; though we<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_363" id="Page_363">[Pg 363]</a></span> -had very many Sick, especially in <em>June</em> and -<em>July</em>, whose Diseases were not Mortal.</p> - -<p>If you give your self the Trouble to read -the inclosed, you will find often mention of a -Tornada, which is a violent Storm of Wind, -followed commonly by Rain, but not always; -the Wind ceases not presently upon the Rain, -but after sometimes it does: In this Place it -comes (as does an Hermitan) most frequently -from the North, taking in the next Points, -whether to the East or West, but chiefly the -East, though I have seen both that and an -Hermitan from other Points; so the Account -is not without Exception; there are in it short, -uncertain Blasts from all Quarters, which I -believe reach not many Yards, but the general -Wind (for ought that I see) is not so -unconstant; Vessels that go to Windward -are help'd by them, when they are not over -strong, for they are opposite to the Sea Breze, -and they can steer by them a regular Course; -which sure they could not do, if they were -very irregular. They never fail to give warning -before hand, though sometimes after that -warning they do not follow; there is a very -black Cloud appears afar, in which if there -be a kind of white Spot, the Wind will be -moist, if not the Rain; this the Sailors say. -Sometimes there is that Mark, sometimes not, -though I doubt the Prediction from it is not -very certain; as neither are any perhaps of -that kind.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_364" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</a></span></p> - - -<h3><em>An Account of the Weather at <strong>Cape Corse</strong> -in <strong>Guiney</strong>, from Nov. 24. 1686. to the -same Day, 1687.</em></h3> - - -<h4>Lat. N. 4<em>d.</em> 49<em>m.</em> <em>Nov. 1686.</em></h4> - -<p>24. And 25. Clear and Hot.</p> - -<p>26. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> a Storm of Rain -with Thunder for ½ Hour.</p> - -<p>27. At the same Hour, Rain which lasted -somewhat longer.</p> - -<p>28. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> Some Rain, afterward -Misty, about 10. extream hot.</p> - -<p>29. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> a great storm of Rain, -slacking often but renewing again, it lasted -about an Hour; the Day after clear.</p> - - -<h4><em>December, 1686.</em></h4> - -<p>Thence to <em>Dec. 7.</em> clear; then cloudy in -the Morning; between 12. and 1. <em>p. m.</em> a -Shower lasting about ½ Hour. Thence clear -and hot.</p> - -<p>10. A little Mist in the Morning, otherwise -very clear and hot; so till 15.</p> - -<p>15. And some Days after somewhat thick, -especially in the Morning.</p> - -<p>19, And 20. We had a dry North, and -North-Easterly Wind, call'd an Hermitan, -and it overcame the Sea-Breeze; found very -ill for the Eyes, and most Men complained -of a Feverish Temper; it was parching, but -rather colder than ordinary.</p> - -<p>21. It ceased; a clear Air and very hot.</p> - -<p>23. We had the Hermitan again; but the -Morrow it ceased; then and</p> - -<p>25. Some Clouds, but no Rain.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_365" id="Page_365">[Pg 365]</a></span></p> - -<p>Thence to 29. clear and hot; 29. the Hermitan -returned, but did not continue.</p> - -<p>Thence Clouds sometimes, but no Rain -till <em>Jan. 2.</em></p> - -<p>This Month we had Three Funerals, one -being Sick of the Flux laid violent Hands -upon himself, through impatience of the Pain, -the 3d Day.</p> - -<p>The Second upon the 25th died convulsively, -not having been Sick above one Day.</p> - -<p>The Third, <em>Dec. 27.</em> died of a Dropsy, -which had succeeded a tedious Flux.</p> - - -<h4><em>January, 1686/7.</em></h4> - -<p>2. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for ½ Hour between -7. and 9. an Hour; from ½ Hour past 9. to -1. <em>p. m.</em> the rest cloudy.</p> - -<p>5. At 2. <em>a. m.</em> about ½ Hour.</p> - -<p>8. At 1. in the Morning about an Hour, -the Days between somewhat cloudy. Thence -to 12. extream hot.</p> - -<p>12, And 14. somewhat cloudy otherwise -the Heat continued.</p> - -<p>17. At 7. <em>p. m.</em> a Tornada for above ½ Hour, -and about 12. at Night another; but the -Heat very little abated.</p> - -<p>22. Between 5. and 6. <em>p. m.</em> began a Tornada, -which lasted above an Hour very violent, -with great Claps of Thunder and Lightning. -Tank fill'd 1 Foot.</p> - -<p>23. In the Morning a great Mist, after 8. -clear and extream hot.</p> - -<p>The latter end of <em>January</em>, and the begining -of <em>February</em> commonly Misty in the -Morning; after extream hot.</p> - -<p>I find no Funeral this Month.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_366" id="Page_366">[Pg 366]</a></span></p> - - -<h4><em>February, 1686/7.</em></h4> - -<p>Beginning of <em>February</em>, as before.</p> - -<p>10. Somewhat Cloudy and cool, till then -we were troubled with Coughs, for the most -part; about this time they ceased.</p> - -<p>So the 11th, toward Night, Thunder afar -off, and expectation of a Tornada: but it -fail'd.</p> - -<p>12. Extream hot.</p> - -<p>13. A stronger Wind than ordinary from -Seaward.</p> - -<p>14. Something like an Hermitan, but not -from its usual Quarter. Clear and hot till -about 2. <em>p. m.</em> then cloudy but no Rain.</p> - -<p>Thence to 22. extream hot and clear.</p> - -<p>From 22. to <em>March 1.</em> some flying clouds -without Rain; sultry hot and unwholesom.</p> - -<p>24. Some shew of a Tornada, but it past -away.</p> - -<p>This Month we had two Funerals, but -their Diseases I find not.</p> - - -<h4><em>March, 1686/7.</em></h4> - -<p>The beginning of <em>March</em> as the latter end -of <em>February</em>.</p> - -<p>5. From 6. <em>a. m.</em> for an Hour and ½. a violent -Tornada; the Day after cloudy. 6. -Clear.</p> - -<p>7. At Night Lightning and Clouds afar -off; but nothing followed.</p> - -<p>Thence to 11. clear and hot.</p> - -<p>11. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> a violent Rain for almost -½ Hour.</p> - -<p>12, And 13. cloudy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_367" id="Page_367">[Pg 367]</a></span></p> - -<p>14. About 4. <em>a. m.</em> a gentle Shower but lasted -not long.</p> - -<p>15. Between 6. and 7. <em>a. m.</em> a few Drops, -and likelyhood of more, but nothing followed; -both Days cloudy.</p> - -<p>16. Extream hot.</p> - -<p>17. Somewhat cloudy.</p> - -<p>Thence to 20. extream hot.</p> - -<p>20. Cloudy; about 10. <em>a. m.</em> some few -Drops.</p> - -<p>21. Very hot.</p> - -<p>22. In the Morning hot; about 12. a violent -Rain for a Quarter of an Hour.</p> - -<p>23. Clear.</p> - -<p>24. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for about ½ Hour; -the Day after clear.</p> - -<p>Thence to <em>April 3.</em> clear and extream hot.</p> - -<p>No Funeral.</p> - - -<h4><em>April, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>3. At 3. <em>p. m.</em> a violent Tornada, but only -some few Drops of Rain; at 5. <em>p. m.</em> a little -more Rain.</p> - -<p>4. Cloudy by Fits, otherwise very hot.</p> - -<p>5. Hot and clear.</p> - -<p>6. In the Morning hot, about 2. <em>p. m.</em> cloudy; -about 3. some Drops of Rain, in the -Evening the Clouds dispersed.</p> - -<p>7. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p>8. Between 12. and 1. in the Morning, a -violent Rain for near an Hour; after 2. one -somewhat longer; the Day after there appeared -to have been much Rain; Tank fill'd Two -Foot and somewhat more.</p> - -<p>9. About 7. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops; cloudy all -Day.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_368" id="Page_368">[Pg 368]</a></span></p> - -<p>10. Cloudy about 11. <em>a. m.</em> a small Mist.</p> - -<p>11. Presently after Midnight it began to -Rain and lasted till 6. <em>a. m.</em> a great part of -the time very violently, it began with a strong -Tornada; Tank above Three Feet. The Day -after some Clouds; otherwise extream hot.</p> - -<p>So also 12, and 13.</p> - -<p>14. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> a Shower for ½ Hour, -between 6. and 7. <em>p. m.</em> another of the same -continuance, the Day between extream hot.</p> - -<p>So 15. 16. A Shower for ½ Hour, it began -with a violent Tornada, the Rain not much, -afterward cloudy.</p> - -<p>17, And 18. Clear.</p> - -<p>19. Clear also, about 7. <em>p. m.</em> a considerable -Wind and some Drops of Rain.</p> - -<p>20. Clear but Windy.</p> - -<p>21. Between 12. and 2. moderate Rain for -near an Hour.</p> - -<p>22. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> moderate Rain almost -an Hour; at 11. <em>p. m.</em> a short Shower and -gentle; the Day between extream hot.</p> - -<p>23. Cloudy about 10. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops.</p> - -<p>24. Extream hot.</p> - -<p>25. About 1. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for near an Hour; -the Morning after hot; Afternoon cloudy; -most part of the Night, Thunder and Lightning, -but no Rain.</p> - -<p>26. At 7. <em>a. m.</em> strong Rain for ½ Hour, -after that a little Mist; Afternoon, from 12. -to 15. it rain'd unequally, but the most part -moderate.</p> - -<p>27. Extream hot.</p> - -<p>28. About 12. Somewhat Cloudy, at 3. <em>p. -m.</em> it began to Rain, and lasted about an -Hour and ½; after cloudy and some Drops; -in the Night a Shower or two.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_369" id="Page_369">[Pg 369]</a></span></p> - -<p>29. Cloudy. Thence to <em>May 6.</em> sometimes -cloudy; but for the most part violent hot.</p> - -<p>This Month we had Three Funerals; one -the 3d of a Fever, another on the 19th of I -know not what Pains in the Guts, another 24. -of the Flux.</p> - -<p>The 15. and some Days following, there -settled upon the Castle Walls, certain Swarms -of wing'd Ants, a little bigger than Bees; -they would bite very severely, and were blown -up with Powder.</p> - - -<h4><em>May, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>Till the 6. as before.</p> - -<p>6. In the Morning cloudy, a little after -Noon some Wind, followed by gentle Rain, -which lasted till 3. <em>p. m.</em> after cloudy.</p> - -<p>7. Hot. 8. Cloudy about 10. <em>a. m.</em> a gentle -Shower for ¾ Hour; about 8. <em>p. m.</em> a very -violent Storm of Wind and Rain, but it quickly -grew moderate, and lasted in all not above -½ Hour. 9. Clear.</p> - -<p>10. About Noon a violent Shower for ¼ of -an Hour; after 8. <em>p. m.</em> another as long, but -not so violent; past 9. another shorter.</p> - -<p>11. Clear. 12. Clear, past 9. <em>p. m.</em> a very -Violent Tornada with Rain, which lasted somewhat -more than 2 Hours.</p> - -<p>13. Between 12. and 1. in the Night, a -short Shower; about 9. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops; -so also in the Afternoon but nothing considerable; -cloudy all Day.</p> - -<p>14. Cloudy; at 9. <em>a. m.</em> a violent Rain for -¼; after gentle for above an Hour; about 3. -<em>p. m.</em> some Drops.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_370" id="Page_370">[Pg 370]</a></span></p> - -<p>15. About 3. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for ½ Hour; between -4. and 5. another; after foggy and -cloudy, with some few Drops; about 7. <em>p. m.</em> -a violent Tornada with Rain for near an -Hour.</p> - -<p>16. About 4. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for an Hour; after -8. for ¼ Hour; after 6. <em>p. m.</em> Rain and -Wind, but both moderate, for ½ Hour; past -8. about as much.</p> - -<p>17. About 4. <em>a. m.</em> a short Shower, after -clear; 18. clear.</p> - -<p>19. Cloudy, about 10. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops.</p> - -<p>20. Cloudy between 8. and 10. <em>a. m.</em> a -Shower; first violent, after more moderate, -till it ended in a kind of Mist; it lasted in -all about 1½ Hour; the Day after clear, 21, -and 22. clear.</p> - -<p>23. In the Afternoon cloudy; about 6. <em>p. -m.</em> some Drops; the Night after, a Shower, -not considerable.</p> - -<p>24. Hot, about 10. <em>p. m.</em> a little Shower.</p> - -<p>25. Clear; 26. in the Night some little -Rain.</p> - -<p>27. Held up; 28. at 9. <em>p. m.</em> a short Shower.</p> - -<p>29. At 5. <em>a. m.</em> Rain till near 7. a little past -7. till 9. after cloudy.</p> - -<p>30. Cloudy; the Night after some Rain.</p> - -<p>31. About 8. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for ½ Hour; from -9. till 12. it rained for the most part very -violently; before 1. another Shower for ½ -Hour; from a little after 2. till 5. with very -great Thunder.</p> - -<p>One Funeral on the 25th after but Three -Days Sickness, of which I can give no account.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_371" id="Page_371">[Pg 371]</a></span></p> - -<p>The beginning of this Month, we had an -extraordinary Number of Toads, which after -some time were not to be seen.</p> - -<p>The 14th we had wing'd Ants, as before.</p> - -<p>24. Was the first Corn, the Seed-time having -been the middle of <em>March</em>.</p> - - -<h4><em>June, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>1. About 4. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for an Hour; past -1. <em>p. m.</em> for ½ Hour; the rest cloudy and -misty.</p> - -<p>2. From 2. <em>a. m.</em> till 5. continual Rain, 'tis -said there was some before; from 9. <em>a. m.</em> till -½ Hour past 6. <em>p. m.</em> continual Rain, sometimes -very fierce; from ½ Hour past 9 at -Night, Rain till past 10.</p> - -<p>3. From 6. to a little past 7. <em>a. m.</em> a very -gentle Rain, from thence till 1. <em>p. m.</em> most -commonly very fierce; thence for a little -while more moderate; but it rain'd hard again -till 6. <em>p. m.</em> then it drop'd but slowly, -and so continued till about 7. in the Night -some little Rain.</p> - -<p>4. About 8. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops, thence clear.</p> - -<p>6, And 7. clear, except some few flying -Clouds.</p> - -<p>8. After 3. <em>a. m.</em> gentle Rain for near an -Hour; then cloudy and some Drops, after -10. <em>p. m.</em> a Shower.</p> - -<p>9. At 5. <em>a. m.</em> a gentle Shower, lasted till -past 7. thence a very violent Rain till almost -9. some Drops after that; about 3. <em>p. m.</em> it -began and rain'd till past 10. somewhat moderately.</p> - -<p>10. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_372" id="Page_372">[Pg 372]</a></span></p> - -<p>11. Cloudy; about 8. <em>p. m.</em> a few Drops.</p> - -<p>12. From about 2. <em>a. m.</em> till near 5. Rain, -but not violent; a little before 6. a furious -Storm of Rain, but little Wind; it lasted -till ½ Hour past 7. about 3. <em>p. m.</em> a moderate -Rain, till a little past 4. and from thence to -6. somewhat more than a Mist; the Night -after it rained a little.</p> - -<p>13. Cloudy; in the Afternoon it drop'd a -little.</p> - -<p>14. About 8. <em>a. m.</em> a few Drops.</p> - -<p>15. Somewhat cloudy.</p> - -<p>16. Extream hot; toward Night cloudy; -about 5. <em>p. m.</em> a violent Shower for ½ Hour; -from a little before 8. till past 10. it rained -continually.</p> - -<p>17. From 4. <em>a. m.</em> till almost 6. gentle Rain; -so from a little past 6. till past 7. thence till -past 3. <em>p. m.</em> cloudy, and now and then some -Drops; then a violent Shower for 1/8th of an -Hour; half an Hour after 4. it rain'd again -and continued till past 10. for the most part -very furiously; with some little Intermission -it rain'd all Night.</p> - -<p>18. At 3. <em>a. m.</em> it rained very fiercely; about -½ Hour after 6. it held up, but cloudy -still; from 8. <em>a. m.</em> till past 3. <em>p. m.</em> it rained, -but moderately; then it held up a little, but -rained after till past 6. all Day cloudy, and at -Night a great Fog.</p> - -<p>19. About 9. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops; from 1. -till past 3. <em>p. m.</em> very gentle Rain.</p> - -<p>Thence to the First of <em>July</em>, foggy, Morning, -sometimes hot, but for the most cloudy, -and more temperate than could be expected -from the Climate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_373" id="Page_373">[Pg 373]</a></span></p> - -<p>Two Funerals, one the 9th of an Asthma; -the other 21. of a Fever.</p> - -<p>We saw some Sorts of Insects not usual -here, whether monstrous or not, I cannot tell. -The most notable, a kind of Spider, about -the Bigness of a Beetle, the Form nearest of -a Crab-fish, with an odd kind of Orifice visible -in the Belly, whence the Web proceeded.</p> - - -<h4><em>July, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>1. Extream hot.</p> - -<p>2. Foggy in the Morning; about 9. <em>a. m.</em> -a few Drops; after clear.</p> - -<p>3. In the Morning a great Fog; about 9. -<em>a. m.</em> it rained small Rain for near an Hour; -toward night more foggy than ever before; -about 6. <em>p. m.</em> small Rain for a little time; -from 8. till past 9. somewhat more brisk Rain, -after that it cleared up.</p> - -<p>4. From 9. <em>a. m.</em> to 3. <em>p. m.</em> small Rain, the -rest foggy; between 10. and 11. <em>p. m.</em> some -Rain.</p> - -<p>5. From 2. <em>a. m.</em> till past 8. constant Rain, -sometimes very fierce, sometimes moderate; -about 10. <em>a. m.</em> some Rain; between 2. and 3. -<em>p. m.</em> it began to Rain, but continued not long; -from 8. <em>p. m.</em> to 10. Rain.</p> - -<p>6. From about 2. <em>a. m.</em> to 6. Rain, after -fair.</p> - -<p>7. Foggy and cloudy; between 7. and 8. -<em>a. m.</em> some Drops.</p> - -<p>8. Foggy in the Morning, otherwise clear -and hot.</p> - -<p>9. About 1. <em>a. m.</em> a smart Shower, between -3. and 5. some more Rain, the time of which<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_374" id="Page_374">[Pg 374]</a></span> -we know not exactly. The Day after foggy.</p> - -<p>10. Very dull and cloudy; from 3. <em>p. m.</em> -till Night a very great Mist.</p> - -<p>11. Tolerably clear, and very hot, yet -somewhat foggy Morning and Evening.</p> - -<p>12. Cloudy; thence to 15. in the Morning -and Evening foggy; else very hot.</p> - -<p>15. Cloudy; about 10. <em>a. m.</em> some Drops; -from half an Hour past 2. till 4. moderate -Rain; about 7. some Drops.</p> - -<p>16. Cloudy, several times it drop'd a little -but nothing considerable.</p> - -<p>17. A little before Day, a short Shower; after -cloudy; thence to 20. foggy Morning and -Evening, and the most part cloudy.</p> - -<p>20. Very clear all Day, and extream hot.</p> - -<p>21. Not foggy at all; yet somewhat cloudy, -but about Mid-day it cleared up.</p> - -<p>22, And 23. very clear and extream hot.</p> - -<p>24. Cloudy in the Morning; after as the -Two last.</p> - -<p>25. Cloudy but not misty nor foggy, sultry -hot.</p> - -<p>26. In the Morning cloudy, after extream -hot.</p> - -<p>27. Hot and clear.</p> - -<p>28. Thin Clouds, through which the Sun -shone very hot.</p> - -<p>29. And 30. cloudy.</p> - -<p>31. About 3. <em>a. m.</em> Two short Storms of -Rain, the Day after clear and hot.</p> - -<p>Two Funerals, one the 17th drowned; the -other 21. of a Fever.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_375" id="Page_375">[Pg 375]</a></span></p> - - -<h4><em>August, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>To 5. clear, for the most part in the Mornings -cloudy; but without Fogs; sometimes -very hot.</p> - -<p>5. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> a Shower near an Hour -long, about 7. another for ½ Hour, till 10. -some small Rain; thence cloudy till 1. about -7. <em>p. m.</em> a few Drops.</p> - -<p>6. Cloudy all Day, sometimes it drop'd a -little.</p> - -<p>7. about 2. <em>a. m.</em> violent Rain, with Wind -for above ½ Hour. The Day after cloudy.</p> - -<p>8. And 9. cloudy and foggy.</p> - -<p>10. More foggy than ordinary; about 10. -<em>a. m.</em> a great Mist, or small Rain for most -part of the Day after.</p> - -<p>11. Foggy as the former and Misty; between -8. and 9. <em>a. m.</em> a Shower of small Rain; -after Noon clear.</p> - -<p>12. Small Rain in the Morning; after as 11.</p> - -<p>13. Clear and hot, the Land Breze very -strong.</p> - -<p>14. Cloudy all Day, the Land Breze turn'd -to a kind of Hermitan, but not troublesome, -nor continued beyond this Day.</p> - -<p>15. Cloudy, several times very misty, and -some small Rain.</p> - -<p>16. Cloudy, but no Mist; after Noon clear.</p> - -<p>Thence to 22. clear and hot, but the Nights -colder than at other times.</p> - -<p>22. At 6. <em>p. m.</em> cloudy, a Wind Tornada -but moderate, with some few Drops of Rain -very large.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_376" id="Page_376">[Pg 376]</a></span></p> - -<p>23. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p>24. Cloudy and misty at first; about 10. <em>a. -m.</em> clear and hot.</p> - -<p>25. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p>26. Very foggy, Morning and Evening; -for the rest hot.</p> - -<p>27. From 5. to 10. <em>a. m.</em> it rain'd smartly; -thence cloudy, about 2. <em>p. m.</em> it clear'd up -for a while; about 9. <em>p. m.</em> a sharp Rain for -½ Hour.</p> - -<p>28. Between 12. and 3. <em>a. m.</em> it rained about -Two Hours; about 7. some few Drops, -after Cloudy, in the middle of the Day, it -clear'd a little, but quickly overcast again.</p> - -<p>29. In the Night some Rain; at 7. <em>a. m.</em> -Rain for ½ Hour; till past 12. a very thick -Mist; about 3. <em>p. m.</em> clear; at Night a very -thick Mist.</p> - -<p>To the end cloudy and Misty.</p> - -<p>Three Funerals, 6. one of a Fever, 7. another -of a Consumption, 29. a third of a Fever.</p> - - -<h4><em>September, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>1. And 2. as the last.</p> - -<p>3. Some few Drops.</p> - -<p>Thence to 8. cloudy also and misty.</p> - -<p>8. About 6. <em>p. m.</em> some small Rain; between -8. and 10. <em>p. m.</em> for an Hour pretty brisk -Rain.</p> - -<p>9. In the Morning cloudy and misty.</p> - -<p>10. About 10. <em>p. m.</em> a little Rain.</p> - -<p>11. Extream hot and clear; in the Night, -considerable Rain for several Hours.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_377" id="Page_377">[Pg 377]</a></span></p> - -<p>12. About 10. <em>a. m.</em> some small Rain, the -Morning very foggy, Afternoon clear.</p> - -<p>13. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p>14. And 15. In the Morning extream cloudy, -and some Drops of Rain.</p> - -<p>16. Clear and extream Hot.</p> - -<p>17. Moderate, about 7. <em>p. m.</em> some Drops; -at Night also some Rain, not considerable.</p> - -<p>18. Cloudy; in the Morning about 12. -some Drops; all this Week, Morning and -Evening Foggy and thick.</p> - -<p>19, 20, 21. Extream hot, the Fogs ceased.</p> - -<p>22. About 1. <em>a. m.</em> some Rain, the Day after -cloudy.</p> - -<p>23, 24, 25. In the Morning cloudy after -very hot.</p> - -<p>26. At Night also somewhat Misty, with -many Flashes of Lightning, but no Thunder.</p> - -<p>The like Flashes most Nights to the end of -the Month, also often cloudy; at other times -extream hot.</p> - -<p>Two Funerals, one the 19th of a Fever, -the other the 26th, whose Disease I do not -know.</p> - - -<h4><em>October, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>1. About 3. <em>a. m.</em> a very fierce Rain for -near an Hour, but milder toward the end; the -Day after some flying Clouds.</p> - -<p>2. About 4. <em>a. m.</em> a little Rain, the Day -after as before; from 8. <em>p. m.</em> till 10. moderate -Rain.</p> - -<p>3. Cloudy; about 10. <em>a. m.</em> Rain for somewhat -more than an Hour.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_378" id="Page_378">[Pg 378]</a></span></p> - -<p>4. Cloudy between 8, and 10. <em>p. m.</em> a very -smart Rain for above an Hour.</p> - -<p>5. About 9. <em>a. m.</em> a little Shower.</p> - -<p>6. About 5. <em>a. m.</em> a little Shower; another -past 6. the Day after, and 7 extream hot.</p> - -<p>8. Hot in the Morning; after Noon a shew -of a Tornada, with Thunder, and a considerable -Wind, but no Rain.</p> - -<p>Thence to 16. some flying Clouds, but generally -hot.</p> - -<p>16. About 4. <em>p. m.</em> a little Rain, the Sun -shining then, and the whole Day very hot; -about 8. <em>p. m.</em> a very strong Tornada, Wind -and Rain for about ½ Hour, afterward the -Rain continued, but more moderate, for near -Two Hours.</p> - -<p>17. Clear and hot. 18. So too, except -that about 3. <em>p. m.</em> there was a very short -Shower.</p> - -<p>19. And 20. somewhat cloudy.</p> - -<p>21. About 7. <em>a. m.</em> a few Drops, after clear -and extream hot, but quickly cloudy again; -at 11. <em>a. m.</em> a violent Tornada, with very -strong Rain and Thunder for near an Hour; -thence all the time till Night, thick and misty; -till 2. <em>p. m.</em> Rain.</p> - -<p>22. Cloudy. 23. Clear and hot.</p> - -<p>24. Somewhat cloudy; at 7. <em>p. m.</em> a little -Rain.</p> - -<p>25. Cloudy; about 11. <em>a. m.</em> Expectation -of a Tornada, with some Thunder, but it -ended in a few Drops of Rain about 1. <em>p. m.</em></p> - -<p>26. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> a very violent Tornada, -and after the Wind, Rain not very fierce, -which lasted till 8. <em>a. m.</em> the Day after cloudy.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_379" id="Page_379">[Pg 379]</a></span></p> - -<p>27. About 10. <em>p. m.</em> a violent Wind with -Rain, but it lasted not long.</p> - -<p>28. About 3. <em>a. m.</em> a strong Rain for near -an Hour the Day after extream hot.</p> - -<p>29. And 30. hot, yet with some Clouds.</p> - -<p>30. Half an Hour after 11. <em>p. m.</em> began a -very furious Tornada, the Wind was quickly -over, but the Rain lasted with extream violence -about Two Hours.</p> - -<p>31. In the Morning very hot; about 2. <em>p. m.</em> -a violent Tornada, with Rain and Thunder -very near; it ceased sometimes, but beginning -again, lasted till near 4. <em>p. m.</em> afterward cloudy.</p> - -<p>Three Funerals, all upon the 6th Day, Two -of Fevers, the other I know not.</p> - - -<h4><em>November, 1687.</em></h4> - -<p>Clear and extream hot till the 6th.</p> - -<p>6. About half an Hour past 1. in the -Morning a very violent Rain for more than -an Hour.</p> - -<p>Thence to 14. except that the 11th at -Night there were some few Drops, very -hot.</p> - -<p>14. Extream hot, about 9. <em>p. m.</em> a little -Shower; the same Night about 1. a smart -Rain for an Hour and half.</p> - -<p>15. Hot; toward Night Cloudy and Foggy.</p> - -<p>Thence to 19. very hot.</p> - -<p>19. Some likelihood of a Tornada, but nothing -followed.</p> - -<p>20. About 1. <em>p. m.</em> a short Shower; about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_380" id="Page_380">[Pg 380]</a></span> -a quarter past 2. another not much longer; -till Night Cloudy.</p> - -<p>Thence to 26. no Rain, but cloudy and -somewhat cooler; yet some Days extream -hot.</p> - -<p>26. About 10. <em>p. m.</em> a short Shower.</p> - -<p>27. About 2. another; the rest clear.</p> - -<p>30. About 2. <em>a. m.</em> fierce Rain for about -½ Hour.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_381" id="Page_381">[Pg 381]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>An Account of the <strong>Moorish</strong> Way -of Dressing their Meat (with -other Remarks) in <strong>West-Barbary</strong>, -from Cape <strong>Spartel</strong> to Cape -<strong>de Geer</strong>. <strong>By Mr.</strong> Jezreel Jones.</em></h2> - - -<p>The <em>Mauritanian</em> or <em>Barbarian Moor</em>, -when he rises in the Morning, washes -himself all over, and dresses, then goes to -their <em>Jiama</em>, or Church, says his Prayers, -and returns home, where his Wife, Concubine, -or Slave, hath his Breakfast provided -for him, which is sometimes made of Barly -or Wheat-Gruel; for I have known both. -It is made somewhat thicker than ours, till it -be ropy; they put Origan, and other Herbs, -powder'd, into it, which for such uses they -keep dry'd all the Year; some will put a little -Pepper, and other Spice. I have often -been treated with warm Bread, fresh Butter, -and Honey, in a Morning, which is not seldom -used among themselves, an Hour or two -after they have had Gruel; as also Hasty-Pudding, -with Butter, and sometimes Butter -and Honey, (as the Guests are, and according -to the Ability of the Entertainers.) Some -again give <em>Cuscusoo</em>, with Milk, others with -Flesh, a third with Roots. It is to be observed, -when any one hath a Guest or Guests in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_382" id="Page_382">[Pg 382]</a></span> -his House, the Neighbours bring their Dish -to welcome him or them, on account of the -Respect and Love they bear to their Neighbour, -as well as to shew their Readiness to -entertain the Stranger. This Practice is -found constantly used throughout the whole -Country among the <em>Moors</em>, one towards another, -reciprocally. And I have as often found -the like Civility, as I had occasion to take up -my Lodging at any Place, where I was acquainted -with any of the Inhabitants. The -<em>Jews</em> likewise shew great Civility to any <em>Christian</em>, -and treat him with what they have, as -stew'd or bak'd Hens, Capons, hard Eggs, -boil'd or roasted, which they press flat with -Pepper, and Salt, Wine, Brandy, <em>&c.</em> They -have generally the best Bread, and every thing -else of the kind that they can get. They put -Annis, and two or three other sorts of Seeds, -in their Bread; one is black and angled, tastes -almost like Carrot-seeds, and I think I have -seen these sometimes used in Bread in <em>Spain</em>; -I know not the Names of the other Seeds in -<em>English</em>, nor any Language but <em>Arabick</em>. They -esteem Honey as a wholsome Breakfast, and -the most delicious that which is in the Comb, -with the young Bees in it, before they come -out of their Cases, whilst they still look Milk-white, -and resemble (being taken out) Gentles, -such as Fishers use: These I have often -eat of, but they seem'd insipid to my Palate, -and sometimes I found they gave me the -Heart-burn.</p> - -<p>In <em>Suse</em> I had a Bag of Honey brought by -a Friend who made a Present of it, as being -of great Esteem, and such as they present to<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_383" id="Page_383">[Pg 383]</a></span> -Men of greatest Note among them. This, -he told me, I was to eat a little of every -Morning, to the quantity of a Walnut; it -was thick as <em>Venice</em> Treacle, and full of small -Seeds. I used to breakfast on it for several -Days together, taking the said quantity at a -time; it always made me sleepy, but I found -my self well, and in very good temper of Body -after it. The Seeds were about the bigness -of Mustard, and, according to the Description -of them to me, and the Effects I -found by eating the Honey and them, they -must be a large sort of Poppy-seed. The -Honey was of that sort they call in <em>Suse</em>, <em>Izucanee</em>, -or <em>Origanum</em>, which (the Bees feed on) -and these Seeds were mixed with.</p> - -<p><em>Cuscus</em>, or <em>Cusksoo</em>, is the principal Dish among -them, as the <em>Olla</em> is in <em>Spain</em>: This is -made of Flower of Wheat, and when that is -scarce, of Barley, Millet, <em>Indian</em> Corn, <em>&c.</em> -They shake some Flower into an earthen Pan, -made on Purpose, which is not glazed, sprinkling -a little Water on the bottom of the Pan -first, and then working it with both their -open Hands flat, turning them backwards and -forwards to grain it, 'till they make it much resembling -<em>Sago</em>, which comes from the <em>East-Indies</em>. -They stew their Flesh keeping their -Pots close covered, which are made of Earth, -put the <em>Cusksoo</em> into an earthen Cullender, -which they call <em>Caskass</em>, B. <em>vid.</em> Fig. and this -Cullender into the Mouth of the Pot, C. that -so all the Steam which arises from the Meat -may be imbibed by the <em>Cusksoo</em>, which causes -it to swell, and make it fit to be eaten: When -it is enough, for they love every thing tho<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_384" id="Page_384">[Pg 384]</a></span>roughly -done, they put this <em>Cusksoo</em> out into -the Dish they serve it up in, which is somewhat -like D. and the <em>Cusksoo</em> being heaped up, -they make (as it were) a Bed or Place for -the Meat to lie in, then they put good store -of Spice, as Ginger, Pepper, Saffron, <em>&c.</em> -This Dish is set upon a Mat on the Ground, -and four Men may easily sit about it, tho' I -have seen six and more at one Dish; they sit -with their Buttocks upon the Calves of their -Legs, with the bottom of their Feet on the -Ground. If there are many to eat at this -Meal, there are more Dishes. This Dish they -have in use sometimes at Breakfast, as well as -Dinner and Supper, but it is commonly used -for the two last Meals. They cover it with -a thing made on purpose, somewhat like E. -and it will keep hot enough two Hours. At -a stately Entertainment they will have a Sheep -roasted whole, sometimes a half, or a quarter, -on a wooden Spit, or the most convenient -thing they can find. They do not continually -keep turning it, as we do, but leisurely -let one side be almost roasted before they -turn the other. The Fire is commonly of -Wood burnt to clear Coal, and made so, that -the Heat ascends to the Meat. They baste -it with Oil, and a little Water and Salt incorporated. -They let it be thoroughly roasted; -then they say, <em>Bismiillah</em>, <em>In the Name of God</em>, -after they have washed their Right Hands, -and pulling the Meat in pieces, they fall to -eating. It is to be noted, that they never -use but their Right Hand in eating, and one -holds whilst the other pulls it asunder, distributing -the pieces to the rest, as he pulls it<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_385" id="Page_385">[Pg 385]</a></span> -off. They seldom use a Knife, and a Fork -is a strange thing among them. They are -dextrous at this way of carving, and never -flinch at the Heat or warmth, for that would -look mean, and might occasion one more bold -to take his Office upon him to perform. -When they have done, they lick their Fingers, -and as often as they have a hot Dish, -they wash their Hands afresh. Then they -have <em>Alfdoush</em>, or <em>Virmizzelli</em>, with some Meat -on it, stew'd Meat, well spiced, with savoury -Broth; which after they have eat the -Meat, they dip their Bread in the Sauce, or -Broth, and eat it. They are cleanly in their -Cookery, and if a Hair be found it is a capital -Crime, but a Fly not, because it has -Wings, and may get in after it passes from -the Cook's Charge or Management; to be -well and strongly season'd is no great Fault; -and if one should say it is too high of Pepper, -they'll reply, it is better to be <em>Ah</em> than <em>Faugh</em>; -alluding to the Differences between a strong, -high, or hot, and savoury Taste, and an insipid, -watry, or unpleasant. <em>Cubbob</em> is small -pieces of Mutton, with the Caul of a Sheep -wrapped on them. Some make good <em>Cubbob</em> -of the Liver, Lights, and Heart. They Pepper -and Salt them, and put Sweet Herbs and -Saffron into them, and then roast them, and -when they dish them up, squeeze an Orange -or two on them. Thus they use commonly -in their stew'd Meats, Lemon and Orange -for Roast or Fish.</p> - -<p><em>Elmorosia</em> is another: This is pieces of Beef, -of Cow or Camel, stew'd with Butter, Honey, -and Water; some will put <em>Rob</em> of Wine among<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_386" id="Page_386">[Pg 386]</a></span> -it; they add Saffron, Garlick, or Onions, a -little Salt, and when 'tis enough, serve it -up. They esteem this a delicious Dish, used -mostly in the Winter, and say it is good against -Colds, notwithstanding they say Beef -is cooler than Mutton. They have a piece -of good Housewifery for a ready Dish, which -is likewise appropriated to the Winter Season; -and this I will give an Account of before -I have done. Then they will treat you -with Hare stew'd, stew'd and roasted Hens -and Partridges: These they disjoint, and let -stew in Water, and Oil, or Butter, if they -are not fat enough of themselves. When -they are almost enough, they beat a couple -of Eggs, mix them with the Liquor, with -Juice of Lemon or Vinegar, which they usually -have very good, and serve it up.</p> - -<p>Then you may have more baked and roast, -and another Dish of stew'd Meat, which for -its Goodness would be esteem'd among us: -They take a Leg of Mutton, cut off the -fleshy part, leave out the Skin and Sinews. -This Flesh they mince very fine (with two -Knives, one in each Hand) by holding them -across, which they manage with great Dexterity; -they also mince some Suet, Parsly, -Thime, Mint, <em>&c.</em> Then they take Pepper, -Salt, and Saffron beaten together, and some -Nutmeg; all these they add to the rest, with -about half a handful of Rice; they cut an -Onion, of the best sort, half through, and -take off the first Lay, as not so fit for use, -unless it be thick. (They that are curious -take out the inner Skin, saying it is not -wholsome, and bad for the Eyes, it being<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_387" id="Page_387">[Pg 387]</a></span> -the worst thing in an Onion, which otherwise -would be the best of Roots.) This Lay -they fill with forc'd Meat, then the next, and -so on, which makes them look like so many -Onions; some they put up in Vine-leaves of -the best they can find for their purpose. -Whilst this is doing, the Bones and Residue -of the Leg of Mutton, being in moderate -pieces, are stewing, with as much Water -as will just cover them; then they put on -their forc'd Meat-Balls a top of the Meat, -and a green Bunch of Grapes upon them, -cover it, and let it boil till thoroughly enough. -This I think, is one of their best -Dishes, which they often use in <em>Fess</em> and other -Cities. <em>Pillowe</em>, or <em>Piloe</em>, is a Dish very well -known, made with Rice boil'd, with a good -Hen, Mutton, and Spice, the Flesh and -Fowl being put on the Rice in a Dish as <em>Cusksoo</em>, -and so served up.</p> - -<p>A Bustard, which they roast and stew, and -make an excellent Dish of its Guts, I eat -of it once; to me it seemed very pleasant -and savoury, and very grateful to the Stomach. -This Bird is fit for their King's Table, -as likewise the Hedgehog, of which I will -give an Account anon. Then they have -<em>Ragous</em>, made with Sparrows, Pidgeons, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p>Their Drink is plain Water, or Milk, and -sometimes <em>Rob</em> of Wine mixed with Water. -I was once treated with this by the Bashaw of -<em>Suse</em>, <em>Abdolmeleck ben Alchotib</em>, and there was -brought to me a great Bowl which held above -three Quarts; he told me there was not above -half a Pint of this <em>Rob</em> in it, and the rest was -filled up with Water. It was very generous<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_388" id="Page_388">[Pg 388]</a></span> -and pleasant, and tho' I did not drink a quarter -of it, yet I found the Strength in half an -Hour. This they say is a Remedy against -Cold likewise, and pretend to take it medicinally; -tho' <em>Rob</em> of Grapes is lawful -according to their<a name="FNanchor_20_20" id="FNanchor_20_20"></a><a href="#Footnote_20_20" class="fnanchor">[20]</a>Law. Under -this Pretext, many <em>Fessee</em> Merchants, -to make <em>Rob</em>, or Vinegar, press all the Grapes -in their Vineyards, put it up in great Jars, -under Ground, and keep it long, so that it -proves excellent Wine. When four or five -merry Companions, with every one his Mistress, -appoint to be merry, they go out to -their Vineyard or Garden, have Musick, and -all or most of these Dishes, and there sit and -carouse over a great earthen Bowl full of Wine, -of about four or five Gallons, and so drink -round in a Cup that will hold almost a Pint, -like a large Tea Dish, till there is none left; -it often happens that they do not part till -they have made an end of the whole Jar, -which seldom is less than a Weeks time. I -have known some that have been nine Days -successively drunk; those that are known to -drink Wine or Piss standing, their Testimony -will not be valid in Law.</p> - -<p>In a Morning, during this time of Merriment, -they are for some savoury Bit, <em>Pickled -Fish</em>, or <em>Escaveche</em>, or <em>Elcholle</em>. They are -great Lovers of Fish, and have as great Variety -and very good, which they fry in <em>Organ -Oil</em>, stew, roast, and bake, with good store -of Spice, Onions, Garlick, Cummin, Parsly, -and Coriander. The <em>Escaveche</em>, or fry'd Fish, -is cut in thin slices, and put into Vinegar, -with the aforesaid Spices, adding Saffron,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_389" id="Page_389">[Pg 389]</a></span> -and Pepper, <em>&c.</em> It will keep above a Month, -and this they have commonly, as also pickled -Limes, Olives, Capers, <em>&c.</em> They eat parched -<em>Garavancas</em>, parched Almonds, and Beans, -which they parch in a Pan with Water and -Salt. These, and other things, they have -to relish their Glass of Wine, or give them -a fresh Appetite to drink. They say, to cure -the ill Effects of a drunken Bout, is, to take -a swinging Cup of the same Liquor, which -invites them to more, and so on.</p> - -<p>But I have left some Dishes, by this Digression, -to give an Account of their extravagant -Mirth.</p> - -<p>The Hedgehog is a princely Dish among -them, and before they kill him rub his Back -against the Ground, by holding its Feet betwixt -two, as Men do a Saw that saws Stones, -till it has done Squeaking; then they cut its -Throat, and with a Knife cut off all its Spines -and singe it. They take out its Guts, stuff -the Body with some Rice, sweet Herbs, Garavancas, -Spice, and Onions; they put some -Butter and Garavancas into the Water they -stew it in, and let it stew in a little Pot, -close stopped, till it is enough, and it proves -an excellent Dish. The <em>Moors</em> do not care -to kill Lamb, Veal, nor Kid, saying it is a -Pity to part the Suckling from its Dam. -They eat with their boil'd Meat, many times -Carrots, Turnips of two or three sorts, Cabbage, -Beans, and Pease, <em>&c.</em> which they have -plenty, and very good. I have eat of Porcupine -stewed, which much resembled Camels -Flesh in Tast, and that is the nearest to Beef -of any thing I know.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_390" id="Page_390">[Pg 390]</a></span></p> - -<p>I come now to give an Account of the -<em>Alcholea</em>: It is made of Beef, Mutton, or -Camel's Flesh, but chiefly Beef, which they -cut all in long slices, salt it well, and let it -lie twenty four Hours in the Pickle. Then -they remove out of those Tubs, or Jars, into -others with Water, and when it has lain -a Night, they take it out, and put it on -Ropes in the Sun and Air to dry; when it -is thoroughly dri'd, and hard, they cut it into -pieces of two or three Inches long, and -throw it into a Pan, or Chauldron, which is -ready, with boiling Oil and Suet sufficient -to hold it, where it boils till it be very clear -and red, if one cuts it, which, taken out, -they set to drain: When all is thus done, it -stands till cool, and Jars are prepared to pot -it up in, pouring the Liquor they fried it in -upon it, and as soon as it is thoroughly cold -they stop it up close. It will keep two Years, -it will be hard, and the hardest they look on -to be best done. This they dish up cold, -sometimes fry'd with Eggs and Garlick, sometimes -stew'd, and Lemon squeezed on it. -It is very good any way, either hot or -cold.</p> - -<p>Before I conclude, I willingly give an Account -of their Travelling-Provision, <em>viz.</em> -Bread, Almonds, Raisons, Figs, hard Eggs, -cold Fowl, <em>&c.</em> But what is most used by -Travellers, is <em>Zumeet</em>, <em>Tumeet</em>, or Flower of -parched Barley for <em>Limereece</em>. These are not -<em>Arabian</em> but <em>Shilha</em> Names, so I believe it is -of a longer standing than the <em>Mahometans</em> in -that Part of <em>Africk</em>. They are all three -made of parched Barley Flower, which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_391" id="Page_391">[Pg 391]</a></span> -carry in a Leather Satchel. <em>Zumeet</em> is the -Flower mixed with Honey, Butter, and Spice; -<em>Tumeet</em> is the same Flower done up with <em>Organ -Oil</em>; and <em>Limereece</em> is only mixed with -Water, and so drank: This quenches Thirst -much better than Water alone, satisfies a -hungry Appetite, cools and refreshes tired -and weary'd Spirits, overcoming those ill Effects -a hot Sun and fatiguing Journey might -occasion. This among the Mountaineers of -<em>Suse</em> is used for their Diet as well at home as -on their Journey. All things taken in Game, -as Hawking, Hunting, and Fowling, are -lawful for them to eat, if they take it before -it be dead, so that they can have time to cut -its Throat, and say, <em>Bismiillahe</em>; or if he is -known to be an expert Man at the Game, -and says those Words before he lets the Hawk -take its Flight, lets slip the Grey-hound, or -fires his Gun, it is lawful; all (I say, but -Swine's Flesh, and what dies of its self) they -have Liberty to eat, and may sell it. They -tell us there is but one Part about the Hog -or Swine that is unlawful, which they do -not know, and are obliged to abstain from -the whole; but if they knew it, they would -let us have but little to our share. They -eat Snails boil'd with Salt, and praise their -Wholesomeness. Fish of all sorts, are lawful. -In <em>Taffilet</em> and <em>Dra</em> most of their Food -is Dates, there are ten or a dozen sorts. -They have good Capons all the Country over; -no Turkeys, Ducks, nor Geese but wild, and -those they have of two sorts; Duck, Teal, -and Mallard, Curlews, Plovers, Snipes, Ox-birds, -Pipers, a sort of a black Crow, with<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_392" id="Page_392">[Pg 392]</a></span> -a bald Pate, and long crooked Bill, is good -Meat, and a hundred other sort of Fowl. I -have eat Antelope, which we have kill'd in -hunting, and are very good Food. They -are as large as a Goat, of a Chestnut Colour, -and white under the Belly; their Horns are -almost quite streight from their Head up, -tapering gradually, with Rings at a distance -from one another, till within an Inch and a -half of the top; fine large black Eyes, long -and slender Neck, Feet, Legs, and Body, -shaped somewhat like a Deer; they have two -Cavities between their Legs, I think the Male -as well as the Female. I have sent of these -Antelopes alive to <em>England</em>. There are many -in a Herd, when at the same time they have -Scouts, or those who by running give 'em -notice of an approaching Foe. When two -lie down together, they lay themselves so, -that their Backs are towards each other, and -the Head of one towards the Tail of the -other, that they may see every way. Their -Dung is sweet and pleasant enough. They -are taken sometimes by the Hawk, sometimes -by the Shot; for they are too swift -for a Grey-hound. Partridges in <em>Sus</em> commonly -roost on Trees; there are so many -Foxes which would otherwise destroy them.</p> - -<p>And here I should make mention of another -Dish: The <em>Moors</em> will eat Fox, if it -be Fat, either stewed or roasted, but they -do not care for it lean, which has occasioned -a Proverb among them on that Account, -to wit, <em>Hellel deeb, harom deeb</em>; alluding -to the Scruple might be made of its -lawfulness. Those Words signifie, a Fox -is lawful, and a Fox is unlawful; <em>i. e.</em> Fat, -Lawful; Lean, Unlawful.</p> - -<div class="figcenter" style="width: 501px;"> -<img src="images/plate6_page393.jpg" width="501" height="700" alt="" /> -</div> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_393" id="Page_393">[Pg 393]</a></span></p> - -<div class="sidenote">Lat. 30, or -thereabouts.</div> - -<p>Fruits and Sweat-Meats they have of many -kinds, as of three or four sorts of Pumpkins, -Macaroons, Almonds prepared many -ways, Raisins, Dates, Figs dry and green, -excellent Melons of two or three sorts, and -Water-Melons, Pomegranates of several -kinds, Apples, Pears, Apricocks, -Peaches, Mulberries white -and black, Plumbs, and Damascens, -Cherries,<a name="FNanchor_21_21" id="FNanchor_21_21"></a><a href="#Footnote_21_21" class="fnanchor">[21]</a>Grapes of many kinds, -and very good, and if they would -assist Nature, they might have every -thing in Perfection.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Their Salating is Lettuce, Endive, Carduus, -Parsley, Apium, and other sweet Herbs, -Onions, Cucumbers of several kinds, some -about a Yard in length, and two or three -Inches thick, and hairy, (this is esteemed the -wholesomest) Radishes, <em>Fumatas</em>, or Apples -of Love, all which they will cut, and put -Oil, Vinegar, and Salt, with some red -Pepper: This Salate they eat with Bread. -They have a Fruit called <em>Baraneen</em>, in <em>Spain</em>, -<em>Baragenas</em>; these they stew with their Victuals, -and sometimes cut them in thin slices, and -fry them; it makes a pretty Dish. When the -<em>Moors</em> have feasted, every one washes his -Hands and Mouth, thanks God, and blesses -the Hosts and Entertainers from whom -they had it; they talk a little, or tell some -Story, and then lie down to rest, where -I shall leave them at present, and do beg -your Pardon for so tiresome and frivolous a -Discourse.</p> - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_20_20" id="Footnote_20_20"></a><a href="#FNanchor_20_20"><span class="label">[20]</span></a> <em>Alcoran.</em></p></div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a name="Footnote_21_21" id="Footnote_21_21"></a><a href="#FNanchor_21_21"><span class="label">[21]</span></a> Grapes in -<em>Messina</em> I have -known as big -as a Pigeon's -Egg; but -they do not -make Wine.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_394" id="Page_394">[Pg 394]</a></span></p></div></div> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A Letter from Mr. <strong>John Monro</strong> -to the Publisher, concerning the -Catacombs of <strong>Rome</strong> and <strong>Naples</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p> -<em>SIR,</em><br /> -</p> - -<p>The Catacombs are an obscure Argument. -I have seen those of <em>Rome</em>, I -have seen those of <em>Naples</em>, and as they say -there are Catacombs in the Neighbourhood -of all the great Towns of that part of <em>Italy</em>, -I had been glad to have seen them where-ever -they are. They are an obscure argument -indeed; but perhaps the greatest obscurity -about them is, that a Matter that -has so much exercis'd the Pens of the Moderns, -shou'd be totally neglected by the Ancients: -Neither the name nor the thing is found in -the latter, whereas among the former, Antiquaries -and Travellers are full of them. All -they into whose way they come, think they -do nothing if they do not exhaust them before -they leave them; they take all their dimensions, -and measure their height, their -breadth and their length; they survey all the -little Rooms, search every hole and corner, -Criticize nicely on the quality, and calculate -the Age of the poor Painting and Inscriptions, -and make excursions into other Arguments, -to find out the end for which they<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_395" id="Page_395">[Pg 395]</a></span> -were made. The Catacombs are a narrow -Gallery dug and carried a vast way under -Ground, with an infinite number of others -going off it on all hands, and an infinite -number of little Rooms going off the Principal, -and them too. Those commonly -shew'd Strangers are those of <em>San Sebastiano</em>, -those of <em>San Lorenzo</em>, those of <em>San Agnese</em>, -and the others in the Fields a little off of -<em>Sant Agnese</em>. They take their Names from -the Churches in their Neighbourhood, and -seem to divide the circumference of the City -without the Walls between them, extending -their Galleries every where under, and a vast -way from it, so that all the Ground under, -and for many Miles about it, is said to be -hollow. Now there are two sorts of Authors -that run into extravagance on this subject; -the one will have them made by the -Primitive Christians, adding, that in the -times of Persecution they liv'd, held their -Assemblies, and laid up the Bodies of their -Martyrs and Confessors in them. This is -the Account that prevails at <em>Rome</em>, and consequent -to it there are Men kept constantly -at Work in them. As soon as these Labourers -discover a Repository, with any of the -marks of a Saint about it, Intimation is given -to the Cardinal Treasurer, who immediately -sends Men of Probity and Reputation -to the place, where they find a Palm -painted or ingraven, or the Cypher XP, -which is commonly read <em>pro Christo</em>, or a -small round projection in the side of the Gallery, -a little below the Repository; what is -within it is carried to the Palace. Many of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_396" id="Page_396">[Pg 396]</a></span> -these Projections we have seen open, with -pieces of the Vials in them; the Glass indeed -was tinctur'd, and 'tis pretended that -in these Vials was conserved the Blood of -the Martyrs, which was thus laid up nigh -their Bodies, towards the Head, to distinguish -them from those of the others that -were not called to the Honour of laying -down their Lives for the Faith of the Gospel. -After the Labourers have survey'd a -Gallery, they do up the entry that leads into -it; thus most of them are shut; nor are -more left open than what is necessary to keep -up the Trade of shewing them to Strangers, -which they say is done to prevent what has -often happen'd, I mean Peoples losing themselves -in these subterraneous Labyrinths; by -this conduct depriving us of the means of -knowing whither and how far they were carried. -To this it may be justly excepted, -that allowing the Catacombs to be proper -for the end for which they are presum'd to -be made, and that the Christians of that -Age were in a capacity of making that convenience, -for themselves to live and assemble -in below Ground, at a time when 'twas so -very unsafe to appear above it; yet to suppose -that a work of that Vastness and -Importance cou'd be carried on without the -knowledge of the Government, is to suppose -the Government asleep, and that that was -actually done under its Nose, that must necessarily -have alarm'd it, had it been attempted -on the frontiers of the Empire.</p> - -<p>The other sort of Authors give indeed a -mighty Idea of the Catacombs, represent<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_397" id="Page_397">[Pg 397]</a></span> -them as a work of that Vastness, that the -Christians in the persecuting times had not -number enough to carry it on; but then -most unadvisedly with the same breath they -confound them with the <em>Puticuli in Festus Pompeius</em>, -where, at the same time that the Ancient -<em>Romans</em> us'd to burn the Bodies of their -dead, the custom was, to avoid expence, to -throw those of the Slaves to rot.</p> - -<p>This is not all, the <em>Roman</em> Christians, say -they, observing at length the great veneration -that certain Places gain'd by the presence -of Relicts, resolv'd to provide a stock for -themselves; entring therefore the Catacombs, -they made in some of them what Cyphers, -what Inscriptions, what Painting they -thought fit, and then shut them up; intending -to open them again upon a Dream, or some -other important incident. The few that -were in the secret of this Artifice either dying, -or as the Monks, who were the only -Men that seem to have had Heads adapted -to a thought of this quality, were subject to -so many removes, being transported to other -Places, the contrivance came to be forgot, -and those Galleries continu'd shut, till Chance, -the Parent often of great discoveries, open'd -them at last. Thus they conclude, the -Remains of the vilest part of Mankind are -trump'd up in the Church for the Bodies of -the most eminent Confessors and Martyrs.</p> - -<p>To leave the latter part of this Tale to -shift for it self as well as it can, either the -Catacombs are not that great work they are -represented to be, nor to be found every where -about the City, or 'twas very improper in<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_398" id="Page_398">[Pg 398]</a></span> -<em>Festus Pompeius</em> to call them by the little name -of <em>Puticuli</em>, and so confine them to one place -only, that I mean unknown now without the -<em>Esquilin</em>-Gate. Indeed the Characters of the -Places are so very unlike, that one wou'd -wonder how a common Burying place, where -in holes Bodies were thrown together to rot, -came to be confounded with Repositories -cut in the face of a long Gallery, one over -another, sometimes to the number of seven, -in which Bodies were singly laid, and handsomly -done up again, so that nothing cou'd -offend the view of those that went in, especially -with the little Rooms of the fashion of -Chappels, that have all the Appearances of -being the Sepulchers of People of distinction.</p> - -<p>The Remark, <em>Puticulos Antiquissimum sepulturæ -genus appellatos, quod ibi in puteis sepirentur -homines</em>, is that of an Etymologist, -that would be now thought to speak against -all the property of Language, if he apply'd -the name to our Graves or Vaults, to which -it may with more Justice and Reason be apply'd, -than to the Galleries of the Catacombs, and -the Rooms that go off them. What the particulars -were is not difficult to define, after -what we have seen so often. When the Persecutors -spilt the Blood of so many Martyrs, -they us'd to dig holes perpendicularly in the -Ground, and to throw their Bodies promiscuously -in them; of this the Memory is still -conserv'd, Churches being built in the Places -where the holes were made, and little Monuments -erected over the holes themselves, -to which the name of <em>Putei</em> is continued to -this day.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_399" id="Page_399">[Pg 399]</a></span></p> - -<p>This is the true notion of the <em>Puticuli</em>, -holes dug perpendicularly in the Ground to -throw Bodies indifferently and without any -decency in; and according to the Argument -this ought to be the conduct of the Ancient -<em>Romans</em>, with Respect to their Slaves, -as implying simplicity and the care to avoid -a greater expence; but then what's all this -to the Galleries and Chambers of the Catacombs, -where decency and distinction of -quality is nicely observ'd; and that, if they -were look'd after, and kept in better repair, -would be without dispute the noblest Burying-place -this Day in the World? As often as -they fall under my consideration, I cannot -forbear thinking they were made for this end -by the Ancient <em>Romans</em>, and made in consequence -of these two Ancient opinions, that -the shadows hate the light, and love to hover -about the place where the Bodies are laid, they -appear so easie and decent a resting-place for -the one, without the least fear of being ever -disturb'd, and at the same time there is provided -a noble and a vast convenience full of -variety for the others, to space themselves -freely and with pleasure in.</p> - -<p>I think 'twill not be denied, that laying up the -Bodies in Caves was the original way of disposing -of the dead; this was that of the -<em>Phænicians</em>, and as they were the Men that -with their Colonies peopled the Western parts -of the World, 'tis more than probable they -carried it along with them whither soever -they went. Afterwards, as Men grew great -and powerful, they erected noble and magnificent -Monuments for themselves above<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_400" id="Page_400">[Pg 400]</a></span> -ground; at length others of inferior degree -imitated them, all leaving room enough and -excluding the light: But then interring as -we do now in the open Air, or in Temples, -was never the manner till Christianity brought -it in. Of the whole we have many Instances, -and <em>Il Signior Abbate Bencini</em>, Bibliothecary -of the <em>Propaganda</em>, a Gentleman of good Ancient -Learning, assured me in the conversation -I had with him on this Argument, that -on the great Roads in most parts of <em>Italy</em> little -Catacombs have been and are still found -under ground, and that 'twas the Custom to -build little Houses over them. This, and -the testimony of the Labourers whom I consulted -on the matter, made me abandon an -opinion of which I was once fond, that the -Catacombs are of the Nature of our Gravel-pits, -as old as the City itself, and yet out -of them was taken the <em>Puzzolana</em>, the famous -Ingredient in the <em>Roman</em> Mortar. The same -learned Gentleman added, relating to the -marks of a Martyr, that they don't conclude -much; that the so fam'd Cypher XP was in -use among the Ancients long before Christianity -begun: And when I ask'd him what -the meaning of it might be among them? -return'd, that 'twas compos'd of the two -<em>Greek</em> Letters Χ Ρ, under which something -mystical was comprehended, but that he met -with no Author that gave account what the -mystery was.</p> - -<p>Thus, after a multitude of thoughts about -the Catacombs, I'm forced to take up with -this; so natural it is, arising from the sole Theory -of the Place, and falls in so oppositely<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_401" id="Page_401">[Pg 401]</a></span> -with the Religion and Practice of the Ancients, -among whom the <em>Dii Manes</em> were the -Tutelary Gods of the Country, and <em>D. M.</em> -at the head of an Inscription, argues the -Moles, the Sepulchre, the Monument, <em>&c.</em> -was in the primary intention made for and -dedicated to the Soul. Upon the same Maxims, -in Foreign expeditions, when a Hero -died or was kill'd, as the Body was liable to -a quick corruption, and for that Reason unfit -to be transported entire, they fell on the -expedient of Burning, in order to bring home -the Ashes, to oblige the <em>Manes</em> to follow, -that so the Country might not be deprived -of the Benefit of its tutelage. This I humbly -conceive was the Original of Burning, -which by Degrees became more and more -universal, till at last the Pomp and Magnificence -of it reconcil'd it to all that were able -to go to the length of the expence.</p> - -<p>As for the prejudice of the Silence of the -Ancient Authors in this matter, 'tis easily -removed, and to be regretted at the same time -that the Authors of all Ages, too much neglect -the customs of their own time. Writing -for the satisfaction of their Cotemporaries, -they think it impertinent to Trouble them -with the Account of what they see Transacted -every Day. By this means the Ancient -Customs, with the Time, and Reasons of their -disuse, are lost with Respect to us, and ours -with the same Circumstances may come to be -so with relation to Posterity. As the Authors -are pleas'd to adopt them for their -Children, one wou'd wonder greater care is -not taken not to entail visible occasions of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_402" id="Page_402">[Pg 402]</a></span> -complaint on them; nay, one wou'd wonder -more, to see these Gentlemen so little ambitious -of a future reputation, when they may -infallibly assure it themselves, without resigning -the present, by transmitting the knowledge -of things, the knowledge of which -may in a small series of Years become otherwise -irretrievable; they cannot but observe -every Day what esteem is placed on those -Authors, to whom we are forced to go, to -find in them what cannot be found elsewhere, -to compare with the others, in whom nothing -is to be found, but what Men of Reason -are able to find at home.</p> - -<p>Upon the whole, the Catacombs I humbly -conceive were the Burying-places of the Ancient -<em>Romans</em>; at length the manner of Burning, -which they received from the <em>Græcians</em>, -coming by degrees to prevail universally, -they fell under a total neglect. This is the -State in which the Primitive Christians must -be suppos'd to have found them; 'tis not to -be imagin'd they could have made any use -of them, at a time when 'twas the daily practice -to lay up even the depositions of the -Slaves in them; so that either the Christians -made no use of them at all, or they never -were the burying Place of the Slaves. Now -as these are Suppositions that naturally destroy -one another, one would count it more safe to -follow the faint light of a glimmering tradition, -than abandon ones self to the Conduct -of an <em>Ignis fatuus</em>, that for ought a Man knows -is actually misleading him, so I beg leave to -call the Testimony of <em>Festus Pompeius</em>, that -may rather be apply'd to any other thing<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_403" id="Page_403">[Pg 403]</a></span> -than to the Galleries of the Catacombs, -carry'd under ground, they say 20 Miles -from the City in some places, and no Body -knows how far in others, and to that vast -number of Chambers that go off them. Thus -therefore the Christians finding them in a -state of neglect laid up the Bodies of their -Dead in them; and perhaps when the Persecution -was hot, conceal'd themselves and -kept little separate Assemblies in their Chambers. -At last the Empire turning Christians, -they fell again in the old state of neglect, in -which they continu'd till upon the reading of -I have forgot what Author that makes mention -of them, they came to be look'd into -and search'd. What I have writ relates to -the Catacombs of <em>Rome</em>, those of <em>Naples</em> are -a quite other thing, of which <em>per</em> next. I am,</p> - -<p> -<em>Sir</em>,<br /> -</p> - -<p class="center"><em>Your most humble Servant</em>, -</p> - -<p> -Marseilles, Aug. 22.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 4em;">1700.</span><br /> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_404" id="Page_404">[Pg 404]</a></span></p> - -<p class="right">J. Monro.</p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>An accurate Description of the <strong>Lake -of Geneva</strong>, not long since made -by a Person that had visited it -divers times in the pleasantest -season of the Year; and communicated -to the Publisher by -one of his Parisian Correspondents: -English'd as followeth.</em></h2> - - -<p>You have reason, <em>Sir</em>, to demand of -me an Account of the <em>Lake of Geneva</em>, -which, in my opinion, about this Season of -the Year (in <em>June</em>) is one of the most pleasant -Places of the World. This is the Third -time I have visited it, and I am, if I may say -so, more charmed with it than the first.</p> - -<p>I shall say nothing of the <em>Alpes</em>, nor of -mount <em>Jura</em>, which do environ it, which by -this Lake as by a large Ditch, are separated -from one another: For that would not give -you a sufficiently fair <em>Idea</em> of the Country. -Be pleased therefore to represent unto your -self a Croissant of Water, one extremity -whereof is Eighteen Leagues distant from the -other, and the Banks of which are gently -raised to some heights, then to collines, and -at length to stupendous Mountains; which -yet are not so linked to one another but<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_405" id="Page_405">[Pg 405]</a></span> -that they leave betwixt them interstices of -Fifteen or Twenty Leagues prospects, checkered -by Meadows, Corn-Fields, Orchards, -Vines, Forrests of Fir-Trees, Snow lying on -the sides of the Rocks. All these Objects, -which at a distance are confounded, and -seem to make but one, have near hand their -several Beauties: So well is the Country intersected -by Rivulets, which, after they have -served to make Iron, Paper, &c.; run into -the Lake, carrying with them very many -Fountains.</p> - -<p>But leaving these Things, I shall now content -my self to entertain your Curiosity by -giving you a candid Relation of what I have -there observed in the space of Four Months.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p>Although I have told you, that this Lake -hath the figure of a <em>Croissant</em>, yet that point, -where is <em>Geneva</em>, is somewhat longer and -more extended than the other. This Croissant -where 'tis largest, which is from <em>Morges</em> -to <em>Thonon</em>, is about Five good Leagues -over. That which hinders from making an -exact estimate of its Largeness in other places, -is, that the Winds by driving the Water -toward the Banks have made certain points, -which advance far into the Lake, in such -sort that when one happens to be opposite to -the other, the Lake seems to be narrow: -As may be observed in going from <em>Geneva</em> to -<em>Nion</em>, where it seems as if the <em>Pharus</em> or -watch Tower of <em>Prangin</em>, which is in <em>Suisse</em>, -did almost touch <em>Savoy</em>; whereas yet one is -a League distant from the other. And, what -is remarkable, is, that at the coming out of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_406" id="Page_406">[Pg 406]</a></span> -this Streight, the Lake hath there almost its -greatest breadth and depth.</p> - -<p>The Water of this Lake is very good to -drink, and ever so limpid, that even in the -rolling of the Waves, which sometimes go -high enough, the Water is not troubled but -along the Banks. And if one do attentively -look down from the Castle of <em>Chilon</em> or from -any of the neighbouring heights into the -bottom of the Lake, he may see high Mountains -under the Water. And the Water is -so Deep before <em>Veuvay</em>, that the sounding -Line at the end of four hundred Fathoms -seems, because it will not stay, to Touch -upon something slippery. 'Tis held to be -500 Fathoms deep before <em>Roole</em>; and 'tis affirm'd, -that near this great Depth there may -be seen a kind of <em>Isle</em> under Water.</p> - -<p>The <em>Rhone</em> enters at one of the Points of -the Croissant into the Lake, and issueth out -at the other; but with this Difference, that -whereas he comes in Dirty and Miry, he ever -goes out so Pure and Clear, that under the -Bridge of <em>Geneva</em>, where the Water is deep -twenty five Feet in Summer, you may well -discern the smallest Stones at the bottom. -And the same Water, which in this Place appears -of a Saphyring Blew in the shade of the -Houses, appears altogether Green, nor is so -Transparent, when the Sun shines on it.</p> - -<p>There is a great diversity of Opinions as -to the <em>Current</em> of the <em>Rhone</em> in the Lake; some -maintaining, that it may be discerned, others -denying it. Having heard the Sentiments -of the Curious of <em>Lausanne</em> and <em>Geneva</em>, and -the Opinions of the most knowing Fisher<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_407" id="Page_407">[Pg 407]</a></span>men -that are there in great Number, and especially -at <em>Coupet</em>, I believe with the latter; -that, although the <em>Rhone</em> entring into the -Lake loseth its Violence, yet doth he still -keep some sensible Motion in some places, -and every were observable, and that no Trouts -are taken any were in this Lake, but in this -Current of the <em>Rhone</em>; which is what these -Fishermen call, to go and Fish <em>sur le mont</em>.</p> - -<p>Others there are, that go further and say, -that one may every where distinguish the -Water of the Lake from that of the <em>Rhone</em>: -But the Fishermen will not allow this, but -assert, that there is no other Mark than those -lately alledged, <em>viz.</em> of the Trouts, and the -Current; and that the latter of these is -alone sufficient, in calm Weather, to observe -the Current of the <em>Rhone</em> from the place of -his entring the Lake unto that of his going -out.</p> - -<p>The Water of this Lake commonly begins -to Increase about the end of <em>January</em>, or the -beginning of <em>February</em>, and continues to do -so unto the twentieth of <em>July</em>, and often unto -the very Month of <em>August</em>; and then it -insensibly decreaseth, so that the Water is -less high in Winter than Summer by twelve -or fifteen Feet; the Frosts draining the -Springs, or rather Freezing the Waters that -issue out of them.</p> - -<p>About this Increase of the Water there -are also different Opinions. 'Tis true, they -all believe in general, that the principal -cause of the Increase of the Water is the -melting of the Snow, and of the Mountainous -Ice, that is in the Winter form'd of<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_408" id="Page_408">[Pg 408]</a></span> -the Waters of the Springs and Torrents, -which the Frost fixeth. This is so true, that -when there is much Snow in Winter, the -Waters are very high the ensuing Summer. -But when great Rains chance to fall in <em>January</em>, -then the Snow, not yet being well hardened, -melteth on a sudden altogether. And -when this melting is not so violent, all the -Snow that will melt, melts at the end of -<em>May</em> or at the beginning of <em>June</em>; so that, -there remaining but the stock of Ice for entertaining -the Increase of the Water unto -the Month of <em>August</em>, some have thence -been induced to say, that this Increase, which -amounts, as has been said, to 15 Feet Water -generally all over the Lake, is caused by -the Herbs, growing, as they pretend, at its -bottom in great abundance; and that these -Herbs, whilst growing, do force the Water -upwards, and dying in Autumn make the -Water to sink lower. Which is not satisfactory -to me, because there are no Herbs seen -upon the Lake, and very little within it, and -the Banks being very dry.</p> - -<p>Others there are, that will have this Water -rarified by the Heat of the Sun, and -thereupon swell'd on the Borders, hot Water -not being so high in the middle as cold.</p> - -<p>This is certain, that all the Rivers and -Torrents, that fall into this Lake, carry -with them store of Stones and Earth, which -may indeed enlarge and raise it: But such an -augmentation or rise cannot be sensible but -from Age to Age; not to mention, that in -Winter, whilst the Water is low, the Stones -of the Lakes are carried away for building or -fortifying at <em>Geneva</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_409" id="Page_409">[Pg 409]</a></span></p> - -<p>At the issuing out of the Barres, that form -<em>Geneva</em>, on the side of the Lake, are seen in -the Water two or three huge Flints, standing -out of the Water; the chief of which they -call <em>Niton</em>: And the Tradition is, that it -formerly was an Altar consecrated to <em>Neptune</em>; -there being also a place cut out in the -middle, which they take to have been the -place for the Sacrifice. On this Flint seven -or eight Persons can sit; and sometimes, -when the Waters are very low, there are -found about it Knives, and Needles as thick -as Bodkins of tweeses, and much longer; -both of Brass, well enough made, and esteemed -to have served for the Sacrifices.</p> - -<p>This Lake in serene and calm Weather -appears sometimes, and that even before Sun-rising, -as if it were made of divers pieces, -differently coloured; part of it being Browner -than the rest, which seems to be caused by -a Breath of Wind passing thorough the Water, -coming either from the bottom of the -Lake, or from above; tho' others think this -gentle agitation to proceed from some Springs -that are at the bottom, making the Water -shiver above. But that part of the Water, -that is not moved, appears as even and smooth -as a Looking-Glass, or like Water traced by -a Ship. And as for the Colours, they are, -in my Opinion, an effect of the neighbouring -Mountains, the different Images of which, -being confounded in the Water, make an appearance -of very pale Colours.</p> - -<p>After that the <em>Rhone</em> is entred into the -Lake, he retakes not his impetuous course -before a quarter of a Mile's distance from its<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_410" id="Page_410">[Pg 410]</a></span> -coming forth again, that is, above <em>Geneva</em>. -And the nearer he comes to that Town, the -more his Bed becomes narrow, and consequently -his course more Rapid. Yet this -Rapidness hath been in our times once surmounted -by Wind, and once by Water. To -understand which, you may imagine, that in -<em>Geneva</em> there is a streak of Land about an -hundred Fathoms long, which divides the -<em>Rhone</em> into two parts, passing under four -Bridges, then covered with Houses. From -the Point of this Isle unto several ranks of -Stakes on that side of the Town, there are -about a Thousand common Paces. This -whole space of Water, which makes the figure -of an V (whereof the Isle is the Point, -and the Town forms the sides, and the Stakes -the empty place of the end) hath been once -laid dry by a violent Wind, after this manner. -One Day in the Winter of the Year -1645. there arose in the Morning about 9 -a clock so furious a Wind, that not only it -uncovered the Houses, but also laid dry the -Bed of the <em>Rhone</em> above the Bridges, so that -many, in the view of all the Town crossed -quite over it dry-foot, and one of the Sons -of M. <em>D. Aubigny</em> took up some Medals, -which he found in his way. This passage was -free during an Hours time; at the end of -which the River retook its course. At that -Season the Water being very low, and a -West-Wind, to arrive at <em>Geneva</em>, being pressed -by the high Mountains that bring it upon -the Town as by the nose of a pair of Bellows; -it came to pass, that that Wind did -violently bear upon the Water near the said<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_411" id="Page_411">[Pg 411]</a></span> -Bars keeping suspended the Water that was -beyond, and those Waters, that were beneath, -running away downwards by a declivity, and -under the shelter of the Houses. Whilst I -was scrupling at this Relation, they brought -me <em>Gallasius</em> his Commentary upon <em>Exodus</em>, -Printed 1560. where 'tis recorded, that the -like accident had fallen out at <em>Geneva</em> at the -time when that Minister lived there, a South -West Wind having made the <em>Rhone</em> to recoil -into the Lake, and many People having -thereupon passed over dry for an Hours -time.</p> - -<p>Concerning the other Accident; you may -remember, that the River <em>Arve</em>, which is a -kind of Torrent falls into the <em>Rhone</em>, about -a 1000 Paces beneath <em>Geneva</em>. In the Month -of <em>December</em> in the Year 1652. the said <em>Arve</em> -did so extraordinarily swell, that not only it -over-run its Banks with impetuosity, but also -interrupted the course of the <em>Rhone</em>, and -forc'd it to re-enter into the Lake for the -space of fourteen hours; though some do -esteem, that the <em>Arve</em> dis-gorged it self for -that time into the Lake, by passing <em>over</em> the -Water of the <em>Rhone</em>, which, in their Opinion, -continued his course under the Water of -the <em>Arve</em>. However the Water was seen at -<em>Geneva</em> to re-enter into the Lake.</p> - -<p>But to conclude, this Lake doth very much -abound in Fish; but that which is observable -is, that those Fishes have as 'twere cantonized -themselves, and divided the Lake among -them. The <em>Trouts</em> are not to be found there, -but, as hath been already mentioned, in the -Current of the <em>Rhone</em>: The <em>Carps</em> have ta<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_412" id="Page_412">[Pg 412]</a></span>ken -up their quarter towards <em>Veuvay</em>: The -<em>Pikes</em> and <em>Pearches</em> have also their Habitations -apart. But some other Fish, that are but Passengers, -not living constantly in the Lake, -spread themselves almost every where indifferently.</p> - -<p>The great Trouts pass out of the Lake for -four Months of the Summer, and are taken -in Autumn when they are returning thither. -The Fishing is farmed out at <em>Geneva</em>; and -there are Conservatories where many of those -big Trouts are kept, among which there are -some that weigh fifty pounds. Sometimes -they catch Pikes there of eighty pounds -weight; and a pound weight at <em>Geneva</em> you -know to be eighteen Ounces.</p> - -<p>In the Months of <em>July</em> and <em>August</em> they -fish there for the Fry of Pearches, at a time -when they are no bigger than the smallest -Taggs. These are a very delicious Dish, there -called <em>Mille Cantons</em>.</p> - -<p>I shall add no more than put you in mind of -that Duke of <em>Savoy</em>, who renounced his Crown -and the Pontificat it self, to pass deliciously -the rest of his Days at <em>Ripialles</em>, where he -made so good cheer to all that visited him, -that to express a very merry Entertainment, -they say still, <em>faire Ripialles</em>.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_413" id="Page_413">[Pg 413]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Part of a Journal kept from <strong>Scotland</strong> -to <strong>New Caledonia</strong> in <strong>Darien</strong>, -with a short Account of -that Country. Communicated by -Dr. <strong>Wallace</strong>, F. R. S.</em></h2> - - -<p><em>September 2.</em> we weighed at <em>Maderas</em>, and -were under the Tropic of <em>Cancer</em> by the -10th of the Month, at which time the usual -Ceremony of Ducking from the Yards-arm -was performed on those that could not pay -their Tropick Bottle. All this time we had -a brisk and constant Trade-wind, which lasted -three days more, but afterwards we had -it more variable than is usual in that place -of the Sea.</p> - -<p>The 28th we made <em>Deseada</em>, a small high -Island, about a league in length and as much -in breadth; it is full of Trees, but whether -it affords Water or not I know not. It is -uninhabited. Next morning we were betwixt -<em>Antego</em> and <em>Montserat</em>, belonging to -the <em>English</em>, both pretty large and mountainous. -<em>Antego</em> is Peopled with <em>English</em> for the -most part, and <em>Montserat</em> by a mixture of -<em>English</em> and <em>Irish</em>. Their Product is Sugar -and Tobacco. We were in the afternoon -close by <em>Redonda</em>, a small Rock about a mile -long, inhabited only by Noddies and Boobies. -When we were some leagues from <em>Redonda</em>,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_414" id="Page_414">[Pg 414]</a></span> -we saw at the same time <em>Antego</em>, <em>Montserat</em>, -<em>Redonda</em>, <em>Nevis</em>, <em>St. Christophers</em>, and <em>Statia</em>. -We sailed close by <em>Nevis</em>, it bearing North -of us; it is a small well Peopled Island, its -Product is Sugar. They twisted the Flag at -the Harbour, and we shew'd them the Company's -Colours. <em>St. Christophers</em> is a large -Island, ill Peopled, belongs half to the <em>English</em>, -half to the <em>French</em>. Night parted us -from these Islands, and next day, which was -the 30th, we came in sight of <em>Santa Cruz</em>, -belonging to the <em>Spaniards</em>. When we were -within four leagues they held a Council. The -<em>Unicorn</em> and <em>Snow</em> were sent to St. <em>Thomas</em>, a -small Island belonging to the <em>Danes</em>; it is a -free Port, and they say is well fortified. We -went on to the Southward of the Island, and -next Day, being <em>October 1.</em> we were about -12 a clock past the S. W. corner. It is very -level towards the South. That Night we -got a sight of <em>Crab Island</em>, and next Day</p> - -<p><em>October 2.</em> we came into it, and sent some -of our People ashore, and took possession of -it in the Companies name. <em>October</em> the 4th -we stood to the Leeward, hearing there was -a Harbour there; when we came we saw the -<em>Danes</em> Colours flying on the Shore, for the -Governour of St. <em>Thomas</em> had sent 14 Men -and a Captain to take possession of it in the -King of <em>Denmark</em>'s name. Our Councellors -sent to know his Business there, and he told -them this, but we found that we had taken -possession of the Place before they came from -St. <em>Thomas</em>. They gave in their Protest, yet -seem'd to be glad enough of our Neighbourhood. -We had notwithstanding our Flag<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_415" id="Page_415">[Pg 415]</a></span> -upon the Shore all the while we stay'd, with -100 Men, and Captain <em>Melean</em> Governour; -they stayed till we were gone, but would -certainly March next Day, otherwise the -<em>Spaniards</em> of <em>Porto Rico</em> would not miss to take -them off.</p> - -<p>The 6th, Captain <em>Pinkerton</em> and the <em>Snow</em> -came in from St. <em>Thomas</em>, with old Captain -<em>Alison</em> along with them for a Pilot. On the -8th we left this place, and on the 17th made -<em>Nostra Signiora della Popa</em>, we lay aside there -along the Coast, until the 3d Day of <em>November</em>, -generally losing by Night what we had -gain'd all Day.</p> - -<p><em>Crab Island</em> is about 6 Leagues long, and in -some places 5 broad, the Soil is very good. -It's all full of Trees; all the South side is -full of Bays, very fit for anchoring in, but -the best of all is to the Leeward, where the -<em>Dane</em> hoised his Colours. It would have been -worth our while to possess it, had we not -been a coming to a better Country. It has -this Inconvenience, that nothing but strength -of Men, or Peace with every Body, can render -it secure. It is called <em>Crab Island</em>, from -the multitude of Land-Crabs there.</p> - -<p><em>November 3.</em> We anchored before <em>Golden -Island</em>, and sent in our Pinnace to the Bay. -The Natives had hoised a White Flag in -sign of Peace, and told us a great many Stories -of Captain <em>Swan</em>, Captain <em>Davies</em>, and -others, for they took us for <em>English</em>, by reason -of our red Fly; but we took no notice -of the Men they nam'd. At last they ask'd -us our Business? we told them we designed to -settle among them, and to be their Friends.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_416" id="Page_416">[Pg 416]</a></span> -They told us we were very welcome, and -that by prediction they had expected us these -two Years; for they say that two Years ago -it was foretold them that a People should come -and live among them, that would treat them -civilly, and teach them good manners. We -conversed some time with them, and after -viewing the Harbour came aboard.</p> - -<p>The 4th we came into the great Harbour -of <em>Caledonia</em>: It is a most excellent one, for -it is about a League in length from N. W. to -S. E. It is about half a Mile broad at the -Mouth, and in some places a Mile and more -farther in. It is large enough to contain 500 -sail of Ships. The greatest part of it is -Land-lock'd, so that it is safe, and cannot -be toucht by any Wind that can blow the -Harbour, and the Sea makes the Land that -lies betwixt them a Peninsula. There is a -Point of the Peninsula at the Mouth of the -Harbour, that may be fortified against -a Navy. This Point secures the Harbour, -so that no Ship can enter but must be within -reach of their Guns. It likewise defends -half of the Peninsula, for no Guns from the -other side of the Harbour can touch it, and -no Ship carrying Guns dare enter for the -Breast-work at the Point. The other side of -the Peninsula is either a Precipice, or defended -against Ships by Shoals and Breaches, -so that there remains only the narrow Neck -that is not naturally fortify'd; and if 30 -Leagues of a Wilderness will not do that, it -may be artificially fortified 20 ways. In short, -it may be made impregnable, and there is -Bounds enough within it, if it were all cultivated, -to afford 10000 Hogsheads of Sugar<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_417" id="Page_417">[Pg 417]</a></span> -every Year. The Soil is rich, the Air good -and temperate, the Water is sweet, and every -thing contributes to make it healthful -and convenient. The Product of this Place, -I mean in the Harbour and Creeks hereabouts, -is Turtle, Manatee, and a vast variety of -very good small Fish, from the bigness of a -Salmon to that of a Perch. The Land affords -Monkeys of different sorts, Wild-Deer, -<em>Indian</em> Rabbit, Wild Hog, Parrots of many -kinds, Parakites, Macaws, Pelicans, and -a hundred more Birds we have got no name -to. There are moreover Land-Crabs, Souldiers, -Land-Turtle, Lizards, Guanha's, Cock-Lizards, -and Scorpions: I had almost forgot -Partridges, Pheasants, and a kind of Turkey. -All the Birds in this Country are beautiful, -but none of them that I could observe have -any Notes. We have a Monkey aboard that -chirms like a Lark, it will never be bigger -than a Rat. This Place affords legions of -monstrous Plants, enough to confound all the -Methods of Botany ever hitherto thought -upon. However, I found a shift to make -some Specimens, and that is all I can do. I -say some Specimens, because if I should gather -all, 'twould be enough to load the St. -<em>Andrew</em>, for some of their Leaves exceed -three Ells in length, and are very broad; -besides these Monsters, reducible to no Tribe, -there are here a great many of the <em>European</em> -kindred, (but still something odd about them) -as <em>Lingua Cervina</em> of different kinds, <em>Filix</em> of -different kinds, <em>Polypodium</em>, several of the -<em>Plantæ Papilonaceæ</em>, <em>Musci</em>, <em>Fungi</em>, <em>Convolvuli</em>, -and a great many more I cannot now remember.<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_418" id="Page_418">[Pg 418]</a></span> -Now come we to their People. The Men -are generally very Civil and Sagacious, have -all of them good Faces, are of low stature, -but very well built; they are of a Copper -Colour, and have black Hair; they us'd to -go naked, but are now as well Cloath'd as -our selves; they wear a Plate of Gold in their -Nose, and a great many rows of Beads about -their Neck and Wrists. They cover their -Yard with a piece of Bark, or sometimes -Silver, of the very shape and bigness of that -Paper-case we use to put a dose of Pills in; -they seem to be very ill furnish'd, for I never -saw any of them have it half an Inch long, -yet no doubt it's longer, but I fancy they -sheath it up, as Dogs and Horses do. The -Women are generally the most pitiful like -things that ever Man saw; their Habit differs -from the Men, for they ordinarily wear -a Ring in their Nose; they have Petticoats -and a Veil over their Face. They are under -no formal Government, but every Captain -commands his own River, Bay or Island, -where he lives; the greatest of them all is -one Captain <em>Ambrosio</em>, he commands particularly -the Country about the <em>Samballoes</em> Point, -but when he pleases he can Levy all the -Men betwixt that and the Gulf about 20 -Leagues. There is another Captain <em>Pedro</em>, -that lives in the House with <em>Ambrosio</em>, and -is his Nephew and Son in Law; there is a 3d -Captain <em>Andreas</em> that commands the River -<em>Das armas</em>; a 4th Captain <em>Brandy</em>, that commands -about the <em>Golden Island</em>; a 5th Captain -<em>Andreas</em>, that commands the Country adjoining -to our Settlement; and a 6th Captain<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_419" id="Page_419">[Pg 419]</a></span> -<em>Pedro</em> his Consort; a 7th Captain <em>Pacigo</em>, -who commands at <em>Carret Bay</em>, and Captain -<em>Diego</em> that commands the Gulph. <em>Ambrosio</em> -seems to be the greatest, and <em>Diego</em> next, -both old Men; they are all very much our -Friends, and fond of us. All have been -frequently here except Captain <em>Diego</em> who is -Goutish. Some of these Captains wear the -<em>Scots</em> Flag in their Canoa's. There is no -such thing as a King or Emperor of <em>Darien</em>, -nor, so far as we can gather from all the -chief Men hereabout, has been these 40 or -50 Years: The old Men remember such a -Man, they say he was a Tyrant, would take -as many Wives as he pleased, and allow them -but one, and therefore they cut him off. -This derogates much from the reputation -of the <em>History of the Buccaneers</em>. If there -were such a Man, he has been an <em>Indian</em> made -Emperor by themselves, I mean by the <em>Buccaneers</em>. -This Country certainly affords Gold -enough, for besides that the Natives constantly -assure us, that they know several -Gold Mines on this side; besides that, I say, -the Plates they wear in their Noses, and the -quantity of Gold that is among them, is enough -to perswade any Man of the truth of -it. There was one Night aboard here some -<em>Indians</em> that had a hundred Ounces of Gold -about them. We are certainly much bound -to Providence in this affair; for as we were -searching for the place we were directed to, -we found this, and though the Privateers had -been so often at <em>Golden Island</em>, and though -<em>English</em>, <em>Dutch</em> and <em>French</em> had been all over -this Coast, from <em>Portobelo</em> to <em>Cartegena</em>, yet<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_420" id="Page_420">[Pg 420]</a></span> -never one of them made the discovery; -even the <em>Spaniards</em> themselves never knew of -this place. Besides, for as great a secret as -we thought the Project, it was known all -the <em>West Indies</em> over, and yet it was not in -their power to crush it. At <em>Madera</em> they -seem'd to know it, at St. <em>Thomas</em> I'm sure they -knew it; at <em>Portobelo</em> their Intelligence was -so good, that they knew the names of all our -Councellors and Captains of Ships before we -landed, and had that particular observation, -that there were four <em>Roberts</em> among them. -Our circumstances are in some Respects very -good, for we have advice by the way of <em>Portobelo</em>, -that there is a great Rebellion in -<em>Mexico</em>, and Captain <em>Diego</em> and all the <em>Indians</em> -about him are at present at War with the -<em>Spaniards</em>. Captain <em>Ambrosio</em> is going to his -assistance, and that will divert them on that -side; but which is better than all, that we -are now in a posture of defence against all the -<em>Spanish</em> force in <em>America</em>. I have seen already -<em>Dutch</em>, <em>French</em>, and <em>English</em> all at the same -time in our Harbour, and all of them wonder -what the rest of the World have been -thinking on, when we came hither to the best -Harbour of <em>America</em>, in the best place of it. -Captain <em>Long</em> came in eight days after, and I -believe we were a great Eye-sore to him, -tho' he said nothing. He commanded the -<em>Rupert Prize</em>, a small <em>English</em> Man of War, -fitted out by the King, upon what design we -know not, but he pretends it was to search -for a Silver Wreck; he was on this coast a -Month before sounding it; and conversing -with the Natives, he put ashore Men in some<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_421" id="Page_421">[Pg 421]</a></span> -places, to take possession for the King of -<em>Great Britain</em>, but none of them within 15 -Leagues of us. Hearing by the Natives that -we were here, he came in with his Long-Boat, -as he said to see us, but I believe it was only to -know the certainty of what he feared was -too true. He had told all the <em>Indian</em> Captains -that he came only to try their inclinations, -and that there was a great Fleet coming -with a great many People to settle among -them, and defend them against their enemies, -he meant <em>English</em> that were to come by his direction; -but our Fleet coming within a Month -after, they all lookt upon us to be the People -he spoke of; so that whatever Presents he -made them before that time, was as much -for our Advantage as if our selves had given -them. He pretends to be a Conjurer, and -to foretel things; but that was the truest -Prophecy ever he spoke, though he knew not -whom he spoke of.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_422" id="Page_422">[Pg 422]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>A DISCOURSE tending to -prove at what <strong>Time</strong> and <strong>Place</strong>, -<strong>Julius Cesar</strong> made his first Descent -upon <strong>Britain</strong>: Read before -the <strong>Royal Society</strong> by <strong>E. -Halley</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>Though <em>Chronological</em> and <em>Historical</em> Matters, -may not seem so properly the Subject -of these Tracts, yet there having, in one -of the late Meetings of the <em>Royal Society</em>, -been some Discourse about the Place where -<em>Julius Cesar</em> Landed in <em>Britain</em>, and it having -been required of me to shew the Reason why -I concluded it to have been in the <em>Downs</em>; in -doing thereof, I have had the good Fortune -so far to please those worthy Patrons of Learning -I have the Honour to serve, that they -thought fit to command it to be inserted in -the <em>Philosophical Transactions</em>, as an instance of -the great Use of <em>Astronomical Computation</em> for -fixing and ascertaining the Times of memorable -Actions, when omitted or not duly -delivered by the Historian.</p> - -<p>1. The Authors that mention this Expedition -with any Circumstances, are <em>Cæsar</em> in his -<em>Commentaries</em> <em>lib.</em> 4, and <em>Dion Cassius</em> in <em>lib.</em> 39; -<em>Livy</em>'s account being lost, in whose 105<em>th.</em> -Book might possibly have been found the<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_423" id="Page_423">[Pg 423]</a></span> -Story more at large. It is certain that this -Expedition of <em>Cæsars</em>, was in the Year of the -<em>Consulate</em> of <em>Pompey</em> and <em>Crassus</em>, which was in -the Year of <em>Rome</em> 699. or the 55<em>th</em> before -the usual Æra of Christ: And as to the time -of the Year, <em>Cæsar</em> says that <em>Exigua parte æstatis -reliqua</em>, he came over only with two Legions, -<em>viz.</em> the 7<em>th</em> and 10<em>th</em> and all Foot, in -about 80 Sail of Merchant Ships, 18 Sail -that were ordered to carry the Horse not -being able to get out at the same time from -another Port, where they lay Wind-bound. -He says that he arrived about the 4th hour of -the Day, <em>viz.</em> between Nine and Ten in the -Morning, on the Coast of <em>Britain</em>, where he -found the Enemy drawn up on the <em>Cliffs</em> ready -to repel him, which place he thus describes. -<em>Loci hæc erat natura, adeo montibus augustis mare -continebatur ut ex locis superioribus in littus -telum adjicit possit</em>, by which the <em>Cliffs</em> of <em>Dover</em> -and the <em>South Foreland</em> are justly described, -and could be no other Land, being he says in -the 5<em>th</em> Book of his Commentaries, <em>in Britanniam -trajectum esse cognoverit circitur millium -passum triginta à continenti</em>, the <em>Cliffs</em> of the -<em>North-Foreland</em> being at a much greater distance. -Here he says he came to an Anchor, -and staid till the 9<em>th</em> hour, or till about -between Three and Four in the Afternoon, -expecting till his whole Fleet was come up; -and in the mean time called a Council of -War, and advertised his Officers, after what -manner they were to make their Descent, -particularly in relation to the Stuff of the -Sea, whose motion he calls <em>celerem atq. instabilem</em>, -quick and uneven. Then, <em>viz.</em> about<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_424" id="Page_424">[Pg 424]</a></span> -Three in the Afternoon he weighed Anchor, -and having gotten the <em>Wind</em> and <em>Tide</em> with him, -he Sail'd about Eight Miles from the first -place, and Anchor'd against an open and plain -Shore.</p> - -<p>2. Here he made his Descent, and having -told us the opposition that was made, and the -means he used to get on Shore, he comes to -say, that after he had been <em>Four Days</em> in <em>Britain</em>, -the 18 Ships with his Horse put to Sea, -and were come in sight of his Camp, when -a suddain Tempest arose, with contrary -Wind, so that some of the Ships put back -again, others were driven to the Westwards, -not without great danger, and coming to -Anchor, they found they could not ride it -out: so when Night came on, they put off -to Sea and returned from whence they came. -<em>That same Night</em> it was <em>Full-Moon</em>, which -makes the greatest Tides in the Ocean, and -they being ignorant thereof, their Gallies, -which were drawn on Shore, were filled by -the Tide, <em>&c.</em></p> - -<p>3. Then he says that the Day of the Autumnal -Equinox being at hand, after some -Days stay, wherein there passed no Action -because he kept close in his Camp by the -shore; and not thinking it proper to stay till -the Winter came on, he returned into <em>Gallia</em>: -The next Year he made a further Expedition -with 5 Legions and a good Body of Horse, -but there is but little in the History thereof -serving to our purpose, excepting that he -says he set Sail from the <em>Portus Icius</em> about Sun -Set, with a gentle S. W. Wind, <em>leni Africo -profectus</em>; that about Midnight it fell Calm,<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_425" id="Page_425">[Pg 425]</a></span> -and being carried away with the Tide, by -the time it was Day, he found he had left -<em>Britain</em> on the left hand; but then the Tide -turning they fell to their Oars, and by Noon -reached that part of the Island where he -Landed before, and came on Shore without -opposition: and then March'd up into the -Country, leaving his Ships at Anchor <em>in littora -molli & aperto</em>.</p> - -<p>4. This is all in <em>Cæsar</em> that is any thing -pertinent, and I find no where else any thing -to guide us farther, except one passage in <em>Dion -Cassius</em>, who speaking of the first Landing -of <em>Cæsar</em>, says οὐ μέντοι καὶ ᾗ ἔδει προσέσχεν, that is, -as I Translate it. But he Landed not where -he intended, for that the <em>Britains</em> hearing of -his coming, had possest all usual Places of -Landing Ἄκραν οὖν τινὰ προέχουσαν περιπλεύσας ἑτέρωσε -παρεκομίσθη. Κἀνταῦθα τοὺς προσμίξαντάς οἱ ἐς τὰ τενάγη -ἀποβαίνοντι νικήσας, ἔφθη τῆς γῆς κρατήσας, in my -English. Wherefore doubling a certain head -Land, he made to the Shore on the other side, -where he overcame those that Skirmished -with him at the Waters edg, and so got well -on Land. Here I make bold to translate the -Words ἐς τὰ τενάγη, <em>at the water edge</em>, which -in <em>H. Stephens</em> Edition is interpreted <em>in paludibus</em>, -but I have the Authority of <em>Suidas</em>, -who says τέναγος, πελαγία ἰλὺς, or the Sea -Mud, and is therefore properly the Ouse on -the Sea Shore, and by an easie Figure may -be put for the Shore it self, where such Ouse -commonly is found.</p> - -<p>5. From these <em>data</em>, That it was in the -Year of the <em>Consulate</em> of <em>Pompey</em>, and <em>Crassus</em>; -That it was <em>Exigua parte æstatis reliqua</em>, and<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_426" id="Page_426">[Pg 426]</a></span> -Four Days before a Full-Moon, which fell -out in the Night time. The time of this Invasion -will be determined to a Day: For by -the Eclipse of the Moon, whereof <em>Drusus</em> -made so good use to quiet a Mutiny in the -<em>Pannonian</em> Army, upon the News of the Death -of <em>Augustus</em>, it follows that <em>Augustus</em> Died <em>Anno -Christi</em> 14. which was reckoned <em>Anno Vrbis -conditæ</em> 767. and that this Action was 68 -Years before, <em>viz.</em> in the 55<em>th</em> Year before -Christ Current. In which Year the Full Moon -fell out <em>August 30.</em> after Midnight, or 31 in -the Morning before Day; and the preceeding -Full-Moon, was <em>August 1.</em> soon after -Noon; so that this could not be the Full-Moon -mentioned, as falling in the Day time: -nor that in the beginning of <em>July</em>, it being -not 10 Days after the Summer solstice, when -it would not have been said <em>exigua parte æstatis -reliqua</em>. It follows therefore that the Full-Moon -spoken of, was on <em>August 30.</em> at Night, -and that the Landing on <em>Britain</em> was <em>August -26.</em> in the Afternoon, about a Month before -the Autumnal equinox; which agrees to all -the Circumstances of the Story in point of -Time.</p> - -<p>6. As to the Place, the high Land and -Cliffs described, could be no other than those -of <em>Dover</em>, and are allowed to have been so -by all, it remains only to examine whether -the Descent was made to the Northward or -Southward of the place where he first Anchored. -The <em>data</em> to determine this are first -that it was Four Days before the Full-Moon. -2. That that Day by Three of the Clock in -the Afternoon the Tide ran the same way he<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_427" id="Page_427">[Pg 427]</a></span> -Sail'd. 3<em>dly.</em> That a S. by E. Moon makes -High-Water on all that Coast, the Flood -coming from the Southward: hence it will -follow, that that Day it was High-Water -there about Eight in the Morning, and consequently -Low-Water about Two, wherefore -by Three the Tide of Flood was well made -up, and it is plain that <em>Cæsar</em> went with it, -and the Flood setting to the Northward -shews that the open plain Shore where he -Landed was to the Northward of the Cliffs, -and must be in the <em>Downs</em>; and this I take to -be little less than Demonstration. A second -Argument is drawn from the Wind wherewith -he set out on his second Expedition, <em>viz.</em> S. -W. as appears by the Words <em>leni Africo profectus</em>, -with which the Navigation of those -times would hardly permit a Ship to Sail nearer -the Wind than Eight Points, or a N. W. -Course; which would serve indeed to go -into the <em>Downs</em>, but would by no means fetch -the Low-land towards <em>Dengyness</em>, which is -much about West from <em>Calais</em>, and not more -than W. N. W. from <em>Boulogne</em>, if it shall be -said that that was the <em>Portus Icius</em> from which -<em>Cæsar</em> set out. Whence I take it to be evident -that if <em>Cæsar</em> was not bound more Northerly -than the <em>South-Foreland</em>, he could not have -thought the <em>Africus</em> or S. W. Wind proper for -his passage, which was then intended for the -place where he first Landed the year before.</p> - -<p>7. Justly to determine which the <em>Portus Icius</em> -was I find no where sufficient grounds; only -<em>Ptolemy</em> calls the Promontory of <em>Calais-Cliffs</em> -by the name of Ἴκιον ἄκρον, whence there is -reason to conjecture, that the <em>Portus Icius</em> was<span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_428" id="Page_428">[Pg 428]</a></span> -very near thereto, and that it was either <em>Ambletuse</em> -on one side, or <em>Calais</em> on the other. -The same <em>Ptolemy</em> places Γισοῤῥίακον ἐπίνειον in -the same Latitude with the ἴκιον ἄκρον, but -something more to the East, which seems to -refute those that have supposed the Ancient -Port of <em>Gessoriacum</em> to have been <em>Boulogne</em>, -whereas by <em>Ptolemy</em>'s position, it must be either -<em>Dunkirk</em> or <em>Graveling</em>, but the former most -likely, both by the distance from the Ἴκιον -ἄκρον, being about 20 Miles or half a degree -of Longitude to the East, or ⅔ of the whole -Coast of <em>Flanders</em>, which he makes but a degree -and quarter from the <em>Acron Icion</em> to the -mouth of the <em>Scheld</em> which he calls <em>Ostia Tabudæ</em>: -As also for that <em>Pliny</em> l. 4. c. 16. speaking -of <em>Gessoriacum</em>, says the <em>Proximus Trajectus</em> -into <em>Britain</em> from thence is 50 Miles, which -is too much unless <em>Gessoriacum</em> were something -more Easterly than <em>Calais</em>. <em>Dion Cassius</em> makes -the distance between <em>France</em> and <em>Britain</em> 450 -<em>stadia</em> or 56 Miles, and says likewise 'tis the -nearest, τὸ Συντομώτατον. But this is in part -amended by the explication given in the <em>Itinerary</em> -of <em>Antoninus</em>, where the space between -<em>Gessacorum</em> and <em>Rutupium</em> is said to be 450 <em>stadia</em> -(for this was the ordinary passage of the <em>Romans</em> -into <em>Britain</em>,) <em>Rutupium</em> being more -Northerly and <em>Gessoriacum</em> more Easterly than -the <em>termini</em> of <em>Cæsars</em> Voyage, and consequently -the distance greater than 30 Miles which <em>Cæsar</em> -had observ'd; and now lately an accurate Survey -has proved the distance between Land and -Land to be 26 <em>English Miles</em> or 28½ <em>Roman Miles</em>, -which shews how near <em>Cæsars</em> estimate was to -the Truth.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_429" id="Page_429">[Pg 429]</a></span></p> - -<p>A farther Argument (but not of equal force -with the former because of the modernness of -the Author, who writ above 250 Years after) -may be drawn from the words of <em>Dion Cassius</em>, -where he says ἄκραν τινὰ προέχουσαν περιπλεύσας ἑτέρωσε -παρεκομίσθη, that after his first Anchoring -he Sail'd about a Promontory to the place -where he Landed: Now there are no other -Promontories on all that Coast but the <em>South-Foreland</em> -and <em>Dengyness</em>; the latter of which -it could not be, because <em>Cæsar</em> says he Sail'd -but 8 Miles, and the <em>Ness</em> it self is about 10 -Miles from the South and nearest end of the -<em>Chalk-Cliffs</em> by the Town of <em>Hith</em>; and to -have gone round that Point to the other side, -the distance must have been much greater. -So that the Promontory spoken of by <em>Dion</em>, -must needs be the <em>South-Foreland</em>, and <em>Cæsar</em> -must Anchor near over against <em>Dover</em>, from -whence Sailing 8 Miles, he would double a -Head-land and come to the <em>Downs</em>; which -is such a Coast as he describes in one place -by <em>apertum ac planum littus</em>, and in his 5<em>th</em> -Book by <em>molle ac apertum littus</em>. As to <em>Dions</em> -word εἰς τὰ τενάγη, what I have already said -about it seems sufficient to prove that he -means no more than the Waters edg; and -the <em>Etymologists</em> derive it from τέγγω <em>madefacio</em>, -because the wash and breach of the Sea does -always keep it wet. And this word τὰ τενάγη -is used by <em>Polybius</em> for the Sea Ouse; -and in another place he speaks of the difficulty -of Landing at the mouth of a River, -Διὰ τὴν τεναγώδη πάροδον, <em>ob limosum accessum</em>, so -that it is not to be doubted that it ought to -be rendred in this place, <em>ad vadum maris</em><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_430" id="Page_430">[Pg 430]</a></span> -rather than <em>in paludibus</em>. And so this objection -against the assertion that <em>Cæsar</em> Landed -in the <em>Downs</em>, which is known to be a -firm Champain Country without Fenns and -Morasses, will be removed; and the whole -Argument will 'tis hoped be admitted by -the Curious.</p> - -<hr class="tb" /> - -<p class="center p6"><em>FINIS.</em> -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum"><a name="Page_431" id="Page_431">[Pg 431]</a></span></p> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2><em>Books Printed for, and Sold by <strong>Jeffery -Wale</strong>, at the <strong>Angel</strong>, in St. <strong>Paul's -Church-Yard</strong>.</em></h2> - - -<p>Miscellany Poems, as Saytyrs, Epistles, -Love Verses, Songs, Sonnets, <em>&c.</em> by -<em>William Wycherley</em>, Esq.; Fol.</p> - -<p>A Supplement to Dr. <em>Hammond</em>'s Paraphrase -and Annotations of the New Testament, by -Mr. <em>L'Clerk</em>. Quarto. 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Price 5 <em>s.</em></p> - -<p>A Pocket-Book, containing several choice -Collections in Arithmetick, Astronomy, Geometry, -Surveying, Dialing, Navigation, Astrology, -Geography, Measuring, Gauging, -<em>&c.</em> Price 5 <em>s.</em></p> - -<p>The Theory of the Handling or Working -of Ships at Sea, the like never before published.</p> - -<p>A New Pair of Globes, Twelve Inches Diameter. -The Terrestrial is laid down according -to the newest Discoveries, and from the -most exact Observations, with a general view -of the Trade Winds and <em>Moonsoon</em>'s. The -Cœlestial has the Stars Places, from the Correct -Tables of M. <em>Hevelii</em>, Capt. <em>Halley</em>, &c. the -like never before extant, Price 3 <em>l.</em></p> - -<p>A New System of Geography, design'd in -a most plain and easie Method for the better -understanding that Science: Accommodated -with new Maps of all the Empires, Kingdoms, -Principalities, Dukedoms, Provinces -and Countries in the whole World; with -Geographical Tables, explaining the Divisions -in each Map. The Third Edition. To -which is added, An Introduction to that Science. -Price 6 <em>s.</em></p> - -<div class="hangindent"> - -<p>Where may be had all Sorts of Mathematical -Books, Maps and Instruments, for -the Sea or Land.</p></div> - -<div id="transnote"> -<div class="chapter"></div> -<hr class="chap" /> - - - - -<h2>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES</h2> - - -<p>In the texts of Greek inscriptions, original letter forms have been -normalised as follows:</p> - -<ul><li>Lunate epsilon ϵ (the usual form in the inscriptions), curly epsilon Ɛ -(in the plate facing p. <a href="#Page_235">235</a>), and two reversed lunate epsilons ϶ (both -probable misprints) have been replaced by ordinary epsilon Ε.</li> - -<li>Lunate sigma Ϲ (the usual form in the inscriptions) and rectangular -sigma ⊏ (in the inscription on pp. <a href="#Page_118">118</a> and <a href="#Page_149">149</a>) have been replaced by Σ.</li> - -<li>ω-shaped omega (the usual form in the inscriptions) has been replaced -by Ω.</li> - -<li>Inverted mu ꟽ (throughout the inscription on p. <a href="#Page_130">130</a>) has been replaced -by upright mu Μ.</li> - -<li>ου-ligature ȣ (in the inscription on pp. <a href="#Page_118">118</a> and <a href="#Page_149">149</a>) has been replaced -by ΟΥ.</li> -</ul> - -<p>In the illustration facing p. <a href="#Page_232">232</a> the columns illustrating Chinese characters in the caption are ordered from top to bottom then from right to left across the columns.</p> - -<p>Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.</p> - -<p>Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.</p> - -</div> - - - - - - - - -<pre> - - - - - -End of Project Gutenberg's Miscellanea Curiosa. 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