Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/30

Fish with the long Nose: It is speckl'd like a Trout; but of a better tast, and more esteem'd. Polia, or Polis, is a City seated at the foot of several Mountains, the Inhabitants whereof are for the most part Greeks. These Mountains are very high, and extend themselves along the Road for two days journey. They are full of several sorts of Trees, which are streight and tall like Firr-trees; and divided by so many Torrents, which it would be hard to pass over, were it not for the Bridges that the Grand Visier Kuprigli caus'd to be built. In regard the soil of these Mountains is very fat, there would be no drawing for the Horses after great Rains or the melting of the Snow, had not the same Visier caus'd all the Ways to be Pav'd and Pitch'd, even as far as Constantinople. A Work of great Charge, in regard there is not a Flint in any part of the Mountain, and for that the Stone is to be fetch'd a great way off. There are abundance of Pigeons as big as Hens, and of an excellent tast, which not only pleas'd our Appetites, but afforded us very good Pastime to shoot them. Between the City and the Mountain, there is a Plain about two Leagues in length; near to which, there glides a River that waters it, and very much contributes to its fertility. It is an excellent Soil, and produces all things necessary for Humane Life. Upon each side of the way I counted above twenty Churchyards. For it is the custom of the Turks to bury near the Highway, believing that the Travellers pray for the Souls of the deceas'd. Upon every Tomb, there is to be seen a Marble Pillar, half fix'd in the Earth: of which Pillars there are so great a number, of various Colours, that it is from thence conjectur'd, that there were a very great number of Christian Churches in Polia, and the parts thereabouts. They assur'd me likewise, that there were a vast quantity of these Pillars in the Villages up and down in the Mountains, which the Turks every day pull down to set upon their Tombs.

Bendourlour is a Village in the Mountains, where there is one Inn.

Gerradar is beyond the Mountains, where there are two Inns.

Cargeslar has two Inns, and lyes in a good Country.

Caragalar, is a Town where there are two Inns.

Cofizar is a Village with one Inn.

Tocia is a great City situated upon rising Hills, that joyn to very high Mountains. Upon the Winter West, there appears a fair Champain Country, water'd by a Stream that falls into a River of a greater bigness, call'd Guselarmac. Upon the highest of the smaller Hills toward the East, there is a Fortress, where a Basha resides; and in the Town is one of the fairest Inns upon the Road. The greatest part of the Inhabitants are Christian Greeks, who have the advantage to drink excellent Wine, with which the Country furnishes them in abundance.

Agisensalou stands upon a River, and there is an Inn and a fair Mosquee in it.

Ozeman is a little City, seated at the foot of a Hill upon which there stands a strong Castle, and below two very commodious Inns. The River Guselarmac, broad and deep, washes the South-side of the City, which you cross, over one of the fairest Bridges that ever was seen. It consists of fifteen Arches, all of Free-stone, and is a Work that shews the Grandeur of the Undertaker. Somewhat at a distance from the Bridge stand six Corn-Mills all together, with little wooden Bridges to go from one to another. This River falls into the Euxin Sea, about eight days journey from Ozeman.

Azilar is a great Town, where there are two Inns.

Delekiras is a great Village, with one Inn.

These Four Days Journeys are very dangerous, by reason that the Ways are narrow, and commodious for Robbers. They are very numerous in this Country and therefore understanding that we were way-laid, we sent and desir'd a Convoy of the Basha, who sent us fifty Horsemen.

Amasia is a great City, built upon an ascent in the hollow of a Mountain. It has no prospect, but only from the South over a fair Plain. The River that runs by it comes from Tocat, and throws it self into the Black Sea, four days journey from Amasia. You cross it over a wooden Bridge, so narrow that not above three persons can go a-brest. To bring fresh Water to the City, they have cut a League into Rocks as hard as Marble, which was a prodigious Labour. On the West-side, upon a high Mountain, stands a Fortress, where they can come by no other Water thanwhat