108 



ASIA MINOR. 



considerably above the plain, and is about twelve miles from Yenicher,. 

 and at least nine miles from the nearest point of the Hellespont. 

 We here took up our lodging at a Tchiflick or farm-house belonging 

 to Hadim Oglou. 



To the E. N. E. of this spot the ground rises during a distance of 

 a mile and a half ; we then reached the summit of a hill, the surface 

 of which is almost flat. It has been called the Acropolis of Troy. 

 On our road we did not discover the foundation or traces of any 

 ancient building, or even a hewn stone or fragment of pottery to 

 mark the site of former habitations. This high land or table-hill is 

 about a mile in circumference, is of an oblong form, in length 650 

 paces, its mean breadth about 250. We noticed three barrows or 

 conical mounds upon it ; these our guides called Balah Tepe. One 

 at the north-western boundary, now named Hector's tomb, is a heap 

 of rough stones thrown confusedly together, as if they had been dug 

 from the neighbouring quarry, and were placed in a heap to be ready 

 for use. Close to it are foundations of walls ; the masonry is rough, 

 and about seven feet thick ; the building, of which they mark the 

 ground-plan, has not been of regular figure, but accommodated to 

 the uneven surface of the rock. Its mean diameter is about forty 

 paces. On digging among these foundations we found both tiles and 

 mortar. About 120 paces from this heap or mound, is a second 

 called by recent topographers the Tumulus of Priam. Remains of 

 building appear on the top, as if an altar or some little chapel or 

 shrine had been placed there, the foundation being about eight feet 

 in diameter. 



Continuing in the same line, we came to a rocky hillock, which we 

 mounted, and found it flat or levelled at the summit ; on this the 

 keep or fortress of the citadel most probably was built. The position 

 is altogether very strong ; it is bounded by abrupt and nearly perpen- 

 dicular cliffs and precipices. On looking down to the distant plain, 

 we saw the river Mendere Sou, broad and rapid, nearly surrounding 

 the base of this acropolis or Pergamus, and almost making it an 

 island. The meanderings of the river as seen from this height ap- 



