The Persian Travels 



Book I 



for tlvé Carai/ahs, that go for Perfia or the Indies, which never fet out but at certain 

 times , and from certain places. 



Thefe Caravans fet out from Conftantinople, Smyrna, and Aleppo. And it is from 

 one of thefe Cities that a Traveller mult fet out, that intends for Perfia, whether he 

 keeps company with the Caravan, or will hazard himfelf alorte with a Guide , as once 

 I did. 



I will begin with Conftantinople, from whence you may go either by Land or Sea : 

 and either by Land or Sea there are two ways to go. The firft of thefe by Land is 

 that which I took with Monfieur Chapes and Monfieur St. Liebau. By the way take 

 notice , that Vienna js the half-way near-upon between Paris and Conftantinople. The 

 fécond Road is lefs frequented , but is lefs inconvenient and Iefs dangerous : for there 

 are no need of the Emperour's Pafports, which he does not grant very freely : befides 

 that here is no fear of the Pirates of T mis or Argier , as when you embarque from 

 Marseilles or Ligorn. If you intend this way, you muft go to Venice ; from Venice 

 to Amona , from whence feveraî Barques are bound every Week for Ragnfa. From 

 Ragufa you fail along by the Shore to Dnraz.z.0 a Sea-Port of Albania ; from whence 

 you travel the reft of the way by Land. From Dnraz.z.0 to Albanopolis, diftant three 

 days journey, from thence to Moneftier, juft as far -, from Moneftier you may either 

 take the left hand through Sophia , and Philippopolis , or the right through In- 

 guifcher, three days journey from Moneftier, and ten from Adrianople, from whence 

 in five days you reach Conftantinople through Selivrea. 



This laft way is part by Sea and part by Land : but there are two other ways alto- 

 gether by Land , above and below Italy, according to the diftin&ion which Antiquity 

 made of the two Seas that almoft encompafs it. You may embark at Venice, and 

 fayling along the Gulf which is free from Pirates , you muft double the Cape of 

 Matapan, the moft Southern Point of all Europe, to enter into the Archipelago. The 

 other way is from Marseilles or Ligorn, from whence feveral VefTels are bound for 

 the Eaft. The fafeft way is to go along with the Englijh or Holland Fleets , that 

 ufually arrive at Ligorn either in the Spring or in Autumn , and part juft againft the 

 Morea , to the feveral parts whither they are bound. As the Wind ferves , thofe 

 Fleets fometimes make Sail between the Hand of Elba and Italy, and by the Tower 

 of Meffwa : fometimes below Sicily and Sardigna, within fight of Malta. Thus you 

 muft come within fight of Candy, whether you are bound for Conftantinople, Smyrna, 

 or Akxandretta, from whence it is but three days jonrney to Aleppo : from one of 

 which three Cities , you muft necefiarily begin your journey , if you intend for 

 Ft f fia. 



Some take "Egypt in their way , ufing through Alexandria , Cairo , and Damiata, 

 whence lèverai VefTels are bound for Joppa ■ or St. John's of Aera , which is not 

 far off: from thence to Jerusalem or Damafcvu, and from thence to Bagdat or Babylon. 



If you will venture in a fingle VefTel not flaying for the Fleets, you may hire a 

 Veffel from Ligorn to Naples, from Naples to Meffma, keeping along by the Shore, and 

 lying a-fhore every night. I took this way , and went from Meffma to Syracuse, 

 where are to be feen the moft remarkable footfteps of Antiquity. 'Tis like a City 

 under ground , and near to it is a great Rock which has been made hollow, at the 

 bottom whereof if a man whifper, they that are at the top may hear him. They 

 call this Rock Bionyfius the Tyrant's Ear : for being at the top, he eafily underftood 

 what the People faid of him below, and difcovered the Counfels of the chief Men 

 of Syracuse, whom he kept prifoners there. Syracuse has nothing of that fplendour 

 which renown'd it when it was the Miftrefs or all Sicily, and when Greece, jealous of 

 her p©wer,made War upon her. But the Soil is very plentiful,and the Gallies of Malta 

 very often take in their Provifions there. !Near the City is a fair Convent of Capucidn 

 Friers , going out of which you may walk for half an hour between two very high 

 Rocks, where there are feveral little Cells with every one a Garden, where the Friers 

 fometimes retire, and it is certainly one of the moft pleafing Solitudes in the World. 



From Syracufe \ went to Malta, where you muft wait for fomeShip that is bound 

 for the Eaft. 



CHAP, 



