Chap. I. of Monfieur Tavernier, 55 



Conful 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 fhe flies dire&ly to the place 

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

 one mould mifcarry i'the dark , which has many times happcn'd , the other may 

 lupply the defect. 



Alexandretta is nothing elfe but a confus'd heap of paltry FÎoufes , inhabited by 

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

 meaner fort of the people : for the Merchants lye at the Vice-Coniuls of the Nation. 

 There were but two then, the Englijh Vice-Conful 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 thole Employments. For the Air, like that Of 

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

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

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

 do well to flay there -, for for them to betake themfelves to a good Air , is to hazard 

 their Lives. Mr. Philip the Engli\h Conlul has been the only Perlbn that ever liv'd 

 two and twenty Years at Alexandretta t 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 cauteriz'd. That which renders the Air lb bad , is the great quantity of 

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

 South 'j but when the great Heats begin to approach , the mod part of the Inhabi 

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

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

 Aleppo , when there is any appearance of a Peftilence - , and yet there are few people 

 in this Village who afe 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 Alexandretta , on the right hand of the High-way, 

 juft againft the Merlfi on the other fide , is a Tower whereon are to be feen the 

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

 High-way, which is enclosed between thele two Merfhes , whofe Exhalations are 

 very noxious. 



It is but three little days journey from Alexandretta to Aleppo , and fomê 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-man 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 , they would not Hand to give Four 

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

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

 Ships arrive, the firft Man that either out of rafhnefsor ignorance, gives two Sous 

 more for a Commodity that is not worth a Crown, fers the Price, and caufes all 

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

 or twelve thoufand Crowns together, are very careful left thole Saviors fhould get 

 before them , and enhance the Price of the Market. 



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

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

 they thould be bound to hire Horfes, and to give for every Horle fix Piafters 

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

 riner's fmall Sum. 



Ufually you ftay at Alexandretta three or four days, as well to reft your felfj 

 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 to eat 

 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-Ëaft Wind, when it blows hard, doth fo enrage thé 

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

 at that time. In fo much that all Ships that happen to be there when the Wind 

 riles, prefently weigh, and get out to Sea , for fear of being caft away. Afmoft at 



