TURKEY IN EUROPE. S9'3 



"about to invade Greece, and of Alexander in his expedition against 

 Asia. The former for the more easy transportation of his numerous 

 forces, laid a bridge of bo.its over it. It is also celebrated by the po- 

 ets m the story of two lovers, Hero and Leander, of whom, the latter 

 swam across it to his mistress, but one night was unhappily drowned* 

 The Bosphorus is about the same breadth, but has not been so much 

 celebrated by historians and poets. 



Mountains. ...The principal mountains of Turkey in Europe, are 

 the chain of the ancient Haemus, now called Emineh ; Mount Athos s 

 which stands on a peninsula, projecting into the Archipelago or 

 jEgean Sea ; Oiympus and Pindus, the latter now called Mezzo No- 

 vo, wnich separates Thessaly from Epirus, and Parnassus in Achaia, 

 so celebrated for being consecrated to the Muses, which still retains 

 its ancient denomination. 



Lakes. ...This country affords no lakes of considerable extent; bvLt 

 in Albania and the Morea, are found some small ones of classical ce* 

 lebrity. 



Rivers.. ..The chief rivers of European Turkey, are the Danube, 

 which enters the Black Sea by several channels, after having traver- 

 sed the Turkish territory the extent of 400 miles ; the Save ; the 

 Dncister ; the Maritz or ancient Hebrus ; the Vardarior ancient Ax- 

 ius ; the Aspro Potamo, or White River, anciently the Achelous ; 

 and, in the Morea, the Rophia, the ancient Alpheus. 



Metals, minerals.. ..Mines of iron, lead, and copper, are found in. 

 several parts of Turkey in Europe ; but they are entirely neglected, 

 from the ignorance and indolence of the Turks. Jn Macedonia were 

 anciently gold-mines, which produced to Philip, the father of Alex- 

 ander the Great, 1000 talents, or nearly three millions sterling annu- 

 ally. The ancient Phrygia, and the Troad, is likewise said to be abun- 

 dant in silver. Alum and sulphur, perfectly pure, are found in Greece; 

 where also are quarries of the most , beautiful marble. The island 

 of Paros has been in all ages celebrated for its marble of an exqui- 

 site whiteness. 



Climate, soil, agriculture. ...The climate of this part of Tur- 

 key is salubrious. The seasons are regular and pleasant, and have 

 been celebrated from the remotest times of antiquity. The sod, though 

 unimproved, is luxuriant beyond description ; and it is necessary that 

 it should be so for the subsistence of the inhabitants ; for of agriculture 

 very little is known or practised by the Turks. 



Vegetable productions... .These are exeellent all over the Euro- 

 pean Tu .key, especially when assisted by the smallest degree of indus- 

 try. Besides pot and garden herbs of almost every kind, this country 

 produces, in great abundance and perfection, oranges, lemons, citrons, 

 pomegranates, grapes of an uncommon sweetness, excellent figs, al- 

 monds, olives, and cotton. Besides these, many drugs, not common in 

 other parts of Europe, are produced here. 



Animals. ..The Thessalian or Turkish horses are excellent both 

 for their beauty and service. The black cattle are large, especially in 

 Greece. The goats are a most valuable part of the animal creation 

 to the inhabitants, for the nutrition they afford both of milk and flesh. 

 The large eagles which abound in the neighbourhood of Badadagi 

 furnish the best feathers for arrows for the Turkish archers, and they 

 sell at an uncommon price. Partridges are very plentiful in Greece ; 

 33 are all other kinds of fowls and quadrupeds all over Turkey in Eu- 



Vol. I. 4G 



