Page:The Six Voyages of John Baptista Tavernier.djvu/67

The fourth day we travel'd six hours, and stop'd near to a small River. In the Morning we pass'd over the Ruines of the ancient Sardis, the Capital City of Lydia, and Seat of King Crœsus. There were still to be seen the Ruines of a large Palace and two fair Churches, with a great number of Pillars and Corniches of Marble. This City having held out six Years against the Army of Temur-leng, who besieg'd it; so soon as he had taken it, in revenge he utterly destroy'd it. There is a Village near Sardis of the same Name, where stood the City, which was one of the Seven Churches mention'd in the Revelation. The fifth day we rode for seven hours through a Country but ill manur'd, and took up our Stage in a Plain upon the side of a River.

The sixth day we pass'd by the Walls of the ancient Philadelphia, call'd at present Allachars, which was also one of the Seven Churches of Asia. There is something of Beauty still remaining in those Walls, and the City is very large, but ill peopl'd. It is situated upon four little Hills, at the foot of a high Mountain over-looking a fair Plain to the North, that produces excellent Fruit. To witness its Antiquity, there is yet the Ruines of an Amphitheater, with certain Sepulchers, from whence the Inhabitants report that the European Christians took out the Bodies that were buried there, and transported them into Europe, believing them to be the Bodies of Saints. It is now all destroy'd, but re-built of Earth by the Turks after their mode. It was formerly one of the principal Cities of Mysia, and in regard it was alway very subject to Earthquakes, the most part of her Inhabitants liv'd in the Country. The last time I travel'd that way, in the year 1664, the seventeenth of June, the Turks were feasting and rejoycing upon the News, as they said, which they had receiv'd, of the defeat of the Christians in Candy. But the News was false, and only contriv'd to encourage the People; for the Grand Signor was then making Levies in those Parts. We lodg'd that day, after seven hours travel, upon the Bank of a small River, a League and a half from Philadelphia.

The seventh day we travel'd eleven hours over a Mountain, where those Trees plentifully grow that bear Galls, and Valanede, which is the shell or rind of an Acorn, that Curriers make use of to dress their Leather. We lodg'd in a Meadow on the top of a Mountain which is call'd Ijagli-bogase, or, The Mountain of Robbers.

The eighth day we continu'd our Journey over the same Mountain, which is a very barren Country where there is no Provision to be had. We travel'd but six hours, and lodg'd near a River in a Plain call'd Sarroucabaqui.

The ninth day the Caravan travel'd thorough dry Lands, where there is not one Village to be seen, and lodg'd near a Bridge built over a River call'd Copli-sou, in the Plain of Inahi.

The tenth day, after we had travel'd eight hours over an uneven and barren Country, we stopt in a Valley near a River call'd Bana-sou, the Water whereof is not good. In the Night there arose a Tempest that put us all in a disorder, and the Rain that fell was as cold as if it had been in the depth of Winter. We were wet to the Skins, and were forc'd to throw Coverlets over the Bales to keep the Goods from being spoyl'd.

The eleventh day we travel'd through a pleasant Country, between Vales adorn'd with a most delightful Verdure; and we were in view as we pass'd along of certain hot Baths, though very little regarded. We lodg'd upon the Banks of a small River, by the side whereof we had travel'd for some hours.

The twelfth day we continu'd our Road for six hours between the same Vallies, and lodg'd by a River.

The thirteenth day we travel'd eight hours, and stop'd near to a Village in a Country call'd Donagasse.

The fourteenth, after a Journey of seven hours we pass'd by the Walls of Aphiom-Carassar, that is, The Black City of Aphiom or Opium; because it has a Prospect over a fair and large Country well cultivated, where they sow great store of Poppies, whence they draw their Opium or Aphiom, as the Turks call it.

Aphiom-Carassar is a great City, dirty and ill built, the ancient Name whereof I could never learn, for the Greeks and Armenians are very ignorant. But according to all probability and the situation of the place, it ought to be the ancient Hierapolis situated upon the Mæander, a famous River of the Lesser Asia, thatwinds