Chap. VII. of Monfieur Tavernier. 33 



Gity that looks toward the Winter- Weft , near to the Sea , appear the Ruines of 

 a Mole , and certain ancient Magazins. 



The Englijh Merchants have dig'd among tbe Ruines of Smyrna , and have found 

 great ftore of fair Statues, which they traniported into their own Country. There 

 are ftiil found fomc or other everyday^ but when the Turks find any, they disfigure 

 them prefently. It may be conjettur'd , that there was one of a prodigious bigneis, 

 by a great Toe broken off of fome one, and for which I paid furficiently, out of the 

 defire I had to buy it. I fent it to Paris to a Perfon of Quality, w r ho look'd upon 

 it as a great Curiofity. This Toe was of a hard white Stone , and well fhap'd, 

 and by the proportion whereof, the Figure could not be judg'd to be Iefs than the 

 Colofftts of Rhodes. 



Upon that fide of the City where the Mole was, (lands an old Caftle of no defence, 

 at the foot whereof the Sea makes a fmall Creek , where fometimes the Gallies of the 

 Grand Signor lye. 



The City is well peopl'd , containing no lefs than fourfcore and ten thoufand Souls. 

 There are reckon'd no lefs than 60000 Turks , 1 5000 Greeks , 8000 Armenians , and 

 about fix or feven thoufand Jews. As far the European Chriftians that Trade there* 

 their number is very fmall. Every one of thefe Nations has the exercife of their 

 keligion free to thcmfelves. The Turks have in Smyrna fifteen Mofquees , the Jews 

 ieven Synagogues , the Armenians but one Church , the Greeks two , and the Latins 

 three. There are alfo French Jefuits , and Italian Obfervantins , or a fort of Grey 

 Franciscans. The Turks , the Greeks , the Armenians , and Jews live upoa the Hill j 

 but all the lower part toward the Sea is inhabited only by the European Chriftians, 

 Englijh, French, Hollanders, and Italians. The Greeks have alio in the fame Quar- 

 ter an old Church, and fome few fmall Houfes, where Sea-men make merry. 



All thefe different People of Europe are generally known in Smyrna by the Name 

 of Franks. Every Nation has its Conful : and the French Conful has two Vice-Confuls 

 tinder him j the one at Scalanova , the other at Chio. 



Scalanova , or the New Port , is two Leagues beyond Ephefus , and being a good 

 Haven, the Vcffels were wont to unlade there j but the Turks would, not permit 

 it any longer. For that Place being the Dowry of the Grand Signor\ Mother, the 

 Vice-Consul agreed with the Governour of Scalanova , who permitted the Transpor- 

 tation of Goods to Smyrna , which is not above three little days journey with the 

 Caravan: A thing that fpoil'd the Trade of the City, and injur'd the Officers of the 

 Cuftom-Houfe. Whereupon they Petition'd the Grand Signor that no more Goods 

 might be unladed at Scalanova : lb that now no more Veffels go thither , unlefs it 

 be to take in frefli Victuals. 



Chio is one of the greatcft Hands in the Archipelago , of which in another place.: 

 but the Ficc-Cinful that lives there has no more bufinefs there than the other at 

 Scalanova ; for the Veffels that touch there , neither unlade nor export any Goods 

 from thence. 



• The Quarter of the Franks is only a long Street , one fide whereof lyes upon the 

 Sea \ and as well for the Profpeft, as for the convenience of Unlading Goods, the 

 Houfes upon the Sea are much dearer than thofe that lye upon the Hill. 



The Soil about Smyrna is fertil , and abounds in all things necefTary for humane 

 fupport 1 but particularly in good Oyl and gcod Wine. There are Salt-Pits alfo half 

 a League from the City, toward the North. The Sea affords great ftore of good 

 Fifh ; Fowl is very cheap *, and in a word, Smyrna is a place of great plenty. There 

 is a lovely Walk all along the Sea to the Salt-Pits , where generally abundance of 

 People walk in the Summer-time to take the frefrt Air: and there, being more 

 liberty at Smyrna than in any other part oi Turkic , there is no rieccffity of taking 

 zjamfary along, when a man goes abroad. If a man loves Fowling, it is J)ut 

 taking a Boat, which lands him two or three Leagues from the City, toward tjhe 

 Mountains , where there is fo much Game that he can never return empty. For the 

 value of three Sous you may buy a red Partridge at Smyrna , and all other Fowl is 

 proportionably cheap. 



But if Smyrna have thefe great advantages , it has alfo its inconveniences : the 

 Heats are very exccffive in Summer, and indeed they would be infupportablc, were 

 it not for the Breezes that come off the Sea : thefe Breezes rife about ten in the 

 Morning, and continue till the Evenings but if they fail, tis very bad for the 



£ Inhu- 



