Chap. I. of Monfieur Tavernier. 55 



Conlul of Aleppo , by a Note which is carr'yd in four or five hours , though it be 

 more than two or three days journey on Horfe-back. For they tye a Note under 

 the Wing of a Pigeon , who is taught what to do , and (he flies direftly to the place 

 whence (he was brought. For more furety, they ufually fend two , that if the 

 one (hould mifcarry l'the dark , which has many times happened , the other may 

 iupply the defect. . . 



Alexandres is nothing elfe but a confus'd heap of paltry Houles, inhabited by 

 the Greeks, who keep little Fudling-fchools , for the Mariners and others, the 

 meaner fort of the people : for the Merchants lye at the Vicc-Confuls of the Nation. 

 There were but two then, the EngUjh Vice-Con ful and the French; who had each 

 of them a very convenient dwelling. However they muft be Men who love Money 

 at a ftrange rate, that accept of thoie Employments. For the Air, like that of 

 Ormw, is generally fo bad, efpecially in the Summer, in fo much that they who do not 

 dye , cannot avoid very dangerous Diftempers. If there be any fo ftrong that they 

 can hold out for three or four Years, and can accuftom themfclves to bad Air, they 

 do well to flay there \ for for them to betake themfclves to a good Air , is to hazard 

 their Lives. Mr. Philips the Englifi Coniul has been the only Perfon that ever liv'd 

 two and twenty Years at Alexandretta : but you muft know he was a brisk merry 

 Man, and of an excellent temper of Body •, and yet for all that he had been fore'd 

 to be cauterized. That which renders the Air fo bad, is the great quantity of 

 (landing Pools and Plafhes in the neighbouring Plains, extending to the Eaft and 

 South ; but when the great Heats begin to approach , the mod part of the Inhabi- 

 tants retire to a Village call'd BeUn , upon the next Mountain to the City, where 

 there are very good Waters and excellent Fruits. They come alfo thither from 

 AUtoo , when there is any appearance of a Peftilence •, and yet there are few people 

 in this Village, who are not troubl'd with a fort of Fever , that makes their Eyes look 

 yellow and hollow •, which they never can remedy as long as they live. 



About half a League from Alexandria , on the right hand of the High-way, 

 jufl againft the Merfh on the other fide , is a Tower whereon are to be feen the 

 Arms of Godfrey of 'Bulloion. In all likelihood it was built for the defence of the 

 High-way, which is endoVd between thei'e two Merfhes , whofe Exhalations are 

 very noxious. 



It is but three little days journey from Alexandretta to Aleppo , and iome well 

 mounted have rid it in two. The Franks are not permitted to go thither on Foot. 

 For before that Prohibition , in regard the way was fhort, every Sea-maa that had 

 a hundred Crowns, more or lefs , went on Foot to Aleppo, and got eafily thither 

 in three days , with little expence. Now becaufe they, had but little Money to 

 fpend, and were willing to difpatch their bufinefs, theywould oot ftand to give Four 

 or Five in the Hundred extraordinary for what Goods they bought, which was o£ 

 dangerous confequence to the Merchants. For you muft obferve, that when the 

 Ships arrive, the firfl Man that either out of rafhnei'sor ignorance, gives two Sous 

 more for a Commodity that is not worth a Crown , fets the Price , and cauies all 

 the whole Commodity to be fold at that rate. So that the Merchants that lay out ten 

 or twelve thoufand Crowns together, are very careful left thoie Say lors (hould get 

 before them, and enhance the Price of the Market. 



To remedy which inconvenience, the Merchants obtain'd an Order, That no 

 Strangers fhould be permitted to go a-foot from Alexandretta to Aleppo , but that 

 they fhould be bound to hire Hories , and to give for every Horfe fix Piafters 

 thither, and fix back ', which expence would foon eat out the Profit of a poor Ma- 

 riner's fmall Sum. 



Ufually you (lay at Alexandrctta three or four days, as well to reft your felf, 

 as to make fome little Provifions for your Journey to Aleppo. For though you 

 meet with good Stages at Evening , yet the Janizaries will be very glad 'tor cat 

 by the way. 



Setting out from Alexandretta , we travel'd over a Plain to the foot of a Mountain 

 which is call'd Belan. There is a wide Gap in the midft of this Mountain, which 

 giving liberty to the North-Eaft Wind, when it blows hard, doth fo enrage the 

 Road of Alexandretta, which is otherwife very calm, that no Ship can ride there 

 at that time. In fo much that all Ships that happ'n to be there when the Wind 

 riles, prefently weigh, and get out toSea , frr fear of being caft away. Aknoft a* 



