Egypt and Perjla. 345 



promifed. On this fubjec"t we had two interviews with the 

 Chelebi-Effendi ; and that minifter twice gave us reafon to 

 hope that the Porte would reward, in a manner worthy of 

 itielf, the important difcovery wc had communicated. 



In the mean time we were juft on the point of proceeding 

 on our journey to Perfia, The neceflary preparations were 

 already made, and we were looking out for a caravan going 

 to Diarbekir, when the Porte required that we iliould re- 

 pair to the iiles of Santorin, Milo, and Argentiera, and tranf- 

 mit to it fome bags of pozzolana, in order that previous ex- 

 periments might be made. For this purpofe it freighted s 

 French veffel, and fent a chiaous to accompany us and bring 

 back the fpecimens. We were obliged to touch at Metelin 

 to receive from the captain pacha, then lying at anchor be- 

 fore that ifland, the necetfary firmans. 



The inhabitants of Santorin, alarmed at this" difcovery, 

 and fearing that the Ottoman government would caufe the 

 earth to be dug up at their expence, and of courfe fend 

 Turkifli officers into the ifland, immediately affembled to 

 execute the Grand Signior's orders, and to devife means for 

 warding off the blow with which they were threatened. 

 They thought they could do nothing be ter than to fend the 

 primates to the Latin bifhop at whofe houfe we lodged, and 

 to offer us a prefent if we would inform the Porte that we 

 had difcovered none of the above fubftance in the ifland. We, 

 however, rejected the offer of thefe primates, and tranfmitted 

 to C'onftantinoplc feveral bags filled with pozzolana of an ex- 

 cellent quality, which was in great abundance, and exceed- 

 ingly eafy to be dug up. We depended on C. Verniac for 

 the promifed recompencc to which we thought ourfelves en-. 

 titled by the importance of the difcovery, by rejecting the 

 offers of the Arm tan , and the trouble, dangers, and delay 

 \ had experienced. 



I of Metelin, almoft entirely volcanic, is re- 

 markable on account of its great fertility, its immenfe ports, 

 mineral fprings. Argentiera, known formerly 



under 



