Chap. VII. of Monfieur Tavernier. 



The fourth day we travel'd fix hours y and ftop'd near to a fmall Riven In the 

 Morning we pafs'd over the Ruines of the ancient Sardis, the Capital City of Lydm 

 and Seat of King Crmfitt. There were ftill to be feen the Ruines of a large Palace 

 and two fair Churches , with a great number of Pillars and Corniches of Marble* 

 This City having held out fix Years againft the Array of Tcmur-leng , who befieg'd 

 it ; fo foon as he had taken it, in revenge he utterly deftroy'd it. There is a 

 Village near Sardis of the fame Name, where flood the City, which was one of the 

 Seven Churches mention'd in the Revelation. The fifth day we rode for feven hours 

 through a Country but ill manur'd , and took up our Stage in a Plain upon the fide 

 of a River. 



The fixth day we pafs'd by the Walls of the ancient Philadelphia.) call'd at prefent 

 Allachars, which was alio one of the Seven Churches of AJia. There isfomething 

 of Beauty ftill remaining in thofe Walls, and the City is very large , but ill peopl'd. 

 It is fituated upon four little Hills , at the foot of a high Mountain over-looking 

 a fair Plain to the North , that produces excellent Fruit. To witnels its Antiquity, 

 there is yet the Ruines of an Amphitheater , with certain Sepulchers , from whence 

 the Inhabitants report that the European Chriftians took out the Bodies that were 

 buried there , and tranfported them into Europe , believing them to be the Bodies 

 of Saints. It is now all deftroy'd, but re-built of Earth by the Turks after their mode. 

 It was formerly one of the principal Cities of Myfia,anà in regard it was alway very 

 fubjeft to Earthquakes , the moft part of her Inhabitants liv'd in the Country. The 

 laft time I travel'd that way, in the year 1 664 , the feventeenth of June, the Turks 

 were feafting and rejoycing upon the News , as they faid , which they had receiv'd, 

 of the defeat of the Chriftians in Candy. But the News was falfe, and only con* 

 triv'd to encourage the People*, for the Grand Signor was then making Levies in 

 thole Parts. We Iodg'd that day , after feven hours travel , upon the Bank of a 

 fmall River , a League and a half from Philadelphia. 



The feventh day we travel'd eleven hours over a Mountain , where thofe Trees 

 plentifully grow that bear Galls , and Valanede , which is the fhell or rind of an 

 Acorn, that Curriers make ufe of to drefs their Leather. We Iodg'd in a 

 Meadow on the top of a Mountain which is call'd Ijagli-bogafe , or, The Mountain 

 of Robbers. 



The eighth day we continu'd our Journey over the fame Mountain , which is 

 a very barren Country where there is no Provifion to be had. We travel'd but fix 

 hours , and Iodg'd near a River in a Plain call'd Sarroucabaqui. 



The ninth day the Caravan travel'd thorough dry Lands, where there is not one 

 Village to be feen , and Iodg'd near a Bridge built over a River call'd Copli-jou, in the 

 Plain of Inahi. 



The tenth day , after w r e had travel'd eight hours over an uneven and tfarren 

 Country, we ftopt in a Valley near a River call'd Bana-fou , the Water whereof is 

 not good. In the Night there arofe a Tempeft that put us all in a diforder, and 

 the Rain that fell was as cold as if it had been in the depth of Winter. We were 

 wet to the Skins , and were fore'd to throw Coverlets over the Bales to keep the 

 Goods from being fpoyl'd. 



The eleventh day we travel'd through a pleafant Country, between Vales adorn'd 

 with a moft delightful Verdure -, and we were in view as we pafs'd along of certain 

 hot Baths, though very little regarded. We Iodg'd upon the Banks of a fmall River, 

 by the fide whereof we had travel'd for fome hours. 



The twelfth day we continu'd our Road for fix hours between the fameValiies, 

 and Iodg'd by a River. 



The thirteenth day we travel'd eight hours , and ftop'd near to a Village in a 

 Country call'd Doitagafe. 



The fourteenth, after a Journey of feven hours we pafs'd by the Walls of Aphiom- 

 Carafar , that is , The Blacky City of Aphiom or Opium ; becaufe it has a Profpecl: 

 over a fair and large Country well cultivated, where they fow great ftore of Pop- 

 pies, whence they draw their Opium or Aphiom , as the Turks call it. 



Aphiom-Carajfar is a great City, dirty and ill built, the ancient Name whereof 

 I could never learn , for the Cjreek* and Armenians are very ignorant. But ac- 

 cording to all probability and the fituation of the place , it ought to be the ancient 

 Hierapolis fituated upon the Maander , a famou? River of the LeflTer AJia , that 



winds 



