Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/29
CHAP. II.
Of the Road from Constantinople to Ispahan, which the Author kept in his first Travels into Persia.
It is seldom that any Caravans go from Constantinople into Persia; but from Bursa they go every two Months: Bursa is the Capital City of Bithynia, not above three days journey from Constantinople, or a little more. These two Roads meet at Chabangi, where you may be from Bursa in two Days: and so I will only speak of the Roads from Constantinople to Ispahan. This Journey is to be undertaken either with the Caravan of Camels, or else ten or twelve Men in a Company, well mounted and well arm'd.
From Constantinople, you cross over to Scutari, upon the Coast of Asia.
Setting out from Scutari, the first days journey is very pleasant, over Fields gayly painted with Flowers in their season. At first for some time together, on both sides the way, you see nothing but fair Sepulchers with their Pyramids, and you may easily discern the Womens Monuments from the Mens. For there is a Turbant upon the Pyramid of the Mens Sepulcher, but the Pyramids of the Womens Monuments are trimm'd with the Head-Attire which is worn by the Women of the Country. That Evening you must lye at Cartali, a Village of Bithynia, the next Day at Gebisa, anciently Lybissa, famous for the Tomb of Hannibal. In that place there are two good Inns, and two fair Fountains.
The third Day you come to Isnich, which is thought to be the ancient Nicea; one part of the City is built upon the descent of a Hill, the other part upon a Plain that reaches to the Sea, and makes the Golf of Isnich. The Haven consists of two Moles made of Free-stone, and three great Enclosures encompass'd with Walls, which serve instead of so many Arsenals, wherein there are Store-houses full of large Timber, for building Houses and Galleys. The Country round about being an excellent place for Hunting, and the Soil bearing rare Fruits, and rich in Wine, caus'd Sultan Amuratt to build a Seraglio in the highest part of the Town, from whence there is a prospect at the same time both over the Sea and the Country. The Jews inhabit the greatest part of the Town, dealing chiefly in Timber and Corn. When the Wind serves, you may go from Constantinople to Isnich in seven or eight Hours, there being no danger in the passage.
The fourth Day you stay at Chabangi, a small Town built upon the side of a Lake, call'd Chaban-Gigul, where there are two Inns. From the beginning of the Lake for two Leagues together you travel partly over Mountains, partly by the Lakeside, where in some places the Horse will be up to the Belly. This Lake is not above ten Leagues in compass, but it yields great store of large Fish, insomuch that I have bought a Pike two Foot and a half long for three Sous. Many Emperours have had a design to make a Cutt out of this Lake into the Sea, for the more easie transporting to Constantinople the Timber which grows upon the Mountains near the Lake. And if the Grand Visier, who by a Miracle dy'd in his Bed, and left his Son successor to his Employment, had liv'd some few Years longer, he had no question added this to the rest of those famous Works that eterniz'd his Memory.
Departing from Chabangi, you come to lye at Night upon the Bank of a River call'd Zacarat, which runs Northward and falls into the Black Sea. It is a River plentiful in Fish, and you cross over it with a wooden Bridge. There is neither Town, nor Inn in that place; but a League from the River is a great Town call'd Ada, the chiefest part of the Inhabitants whereof are Armenians. Thither we sent for excellent good Wine, and other necessary refreshments.
From that River to Cancoly, where you lye the next Night, and have your choice of four Inns; you travel all the day in the Mershes, over wooden Bridges and Causeys.
Tuskebasar is the next place, a small Village with two Inns. From thence to Cargueslar, a great Town, with one Inn; built upon a River, where there is great store of Fish taken, which the Inhabitants call Bourma-balouky, that is to say, theFish