Chap.VI. of Monfieur Tavernier. 119 



hended went directly to Conftaminopole , to beg their pardon. For you maft know, 

 that no'perfon but tne AmbafTador of the Commonwealth of Venice had the Pri~ 

 viledge to pardon Crimes committed in Candy. For example , when Signor T>er- 

 vifanowas AmbafTador for the Commonwealth of Venice at Con font ino fie , a Candiot 

 having a defire to lye with a Woman by force , ftie told him (he would fooner eat her 

 Child's Liver than yield to his Luft. Whereupon , the Villain enrag'd he could not 

 compafs his defign , took his opportunity, kill'd the Child , cut out the Liver, and 

 made the Mother eat it, and then flew the Mother alio. Upon this he fled toCon- 

 tiatttimft*, to beg pardon of the AmbafTador, and obtain'd it there: But the 

 AmbafTador at the Tune time wrote word to the Governour of Candy to put him to 

 death at his return j having only granted him his Pardon, to prcferve his Pi iviledge. 

 And indeed, to fpeak truth,the Candiots are the moft wretched people under Heaven, 



Of the ISLAND of C H I Q. 



TH E City of Chio y which gives the lfland its Name, contains about thirty thou- 

 fand Inhabitants - 7 where there are little lei's than fifteen thoufand Cjreeks, 

 eight thoufand Latins , and fix thoufand Turks. 



Among the feveral Greek, and Latin Churches , the laft of which hath continu'd 

 ever fince the time that the Gcnoefes pofTefs'd the lfland , there are fome indifferent 

 handfom Structures. The five principal Latin Churches are the Cathedral , and 

 the Churches belonging to the Efcolantines , the Dominicans , the Jefuites , and the 

 CapHchins. The Turks ^have alfo their Mofaitees , and the Jews their Synagogue. 



Four Miles from the City, near to the Sea-fide is to be feen a vaft 'Stone , which 

 was cut out of fome Rock*, it is almoft all round-, only the upper part, which is 

 flat, and fomewhat hollow:, round about the upper part, and in the middle, are 

 places like Seats , cut into the fame Stone*-, of which there is one higher than the reft, 

 like a School-matter's Chair ^ and Tradition reports that this was Horner^ School, 

 where he taught his Scholars. 



In this lfland there is fuch an infinite number of Partridges, th?t the like is not to 

 be found in any part of the World. But that which is a greater Rarity is this, that the 

 Natives breed them up , as we do our Poultry, but after a more pleaiant manner $ 

 for they let them go in the fields all the day long , and at night every Country-man 

 calls his own feverally home to Rooft by a particular Note , whither they return like 

 a Flock of fo many Geefe. 



There are great quantities of Damasks and Fuftians wrought in the lfland of Oae } 

 which are tranfported to Grand Cairo , and to all the Cities upon the Coaft of Rar. 

 bary, Natolia , and particularly to Constantinople. 



Three Leagues from the lfland of Chio , upon a Mountain to the South there grows 

 a peculiar fort of Trees*, the Leaves are fomewhat like a Myrtle, their Branches 

 fo long that they creep upon the ground •, but which is more wonderful , that when 

 they are down , they rife again of themfelves. From the beginning of May to 

 the end of June , the Inhabitants take great care to keep the Earth under the Tree 

 very clean •, for during thole two Months there iffues out a certain Gum from the 

 joynts of the Branches , which drops upon the ground •, this is that which we call 

 Maftick^, and the Turks, Sakes , according to the Name which they give the lfland. 

 The lfland produces great (lore of this Maftic^ which is ipent in the Scraalio of 

 Conjlantinople , where the Women continually chew it, to cleanle and keep their Teeth 

 white. When the MaftichJxxXorx draws near, the Grand Sionor every year fends 

 a certain number of Beflangis to take care that it be not exported , but be pre- 

 ferv'd for the ufe of the Seraglio. If it be a plentiful year for M.i(iit\xhc HcflangPs 

 that cull out the lefler fort to" fell, put it into little B;igs and leal it up :, which Bags 

 being fo feal'd , are never qucftion'd by the Cuftom-houfe Officers. 1 he lfland alio 

 yields very good Turpentine. 



of 



