I 
Part II. Travels into the Levais T. 35 
fhining black, almoft tranfparent, and very light ; ir is brought to Aleppo 
from Dawafcus, and is called Kfr ; it is got out of the Earth iiear Dama(tus^ I'^fr. 
and is by others called Malhor/iar. Some of it was lent in my time, from Malbomar. 
Aleppo to Venice for the fame purpofe, it was fent for by a Merchant refiding 
in Venice^ who had formerly lived at Aleppo. I remember that I have read 
upon that Subjedl; in the Hiftory of Stones,written by Anfelmas Boetius de Boot^ 
in the Chapter of ÛïQ Lythanthrax or Pit-coal; that the Boors oï theCoUn- 
rrey of Liege make an Oyntment of Pit-coal, wherewith they anoint the Eyes 
of the Stocks of their Vines, leaft the infeds flYould gnaw them. Mixto oUo 
hie carbo ejnolliter^ eoque unguento Agricol^e 'vites ohlmunt^ ne earum oculi ah in- 
feBis erodiiiniir. I was told that in Cyprus and many other places of Turkey^ 
they ufe a little drug for the fame ends. 
At Aleppo when the Grapes are ripe, they bring them to the Town, in Gwpes. 
Sacks of Goats hair, without breaking, though fbmetimes they be brought i 
eight French Leagues from that City. Thefè Grapes have a very thick 
Skin, are all white, and make a very ftrong Wine, the beft time to gather 
them is in the Month of May. All buy as many as they ftand in need of 
for making of Wine ; for it is the Cuftom of the Inhabitants of Ahp)po^ that 
every one makes his own Wine in his own houfe after this manner. They The way of 
put the Grapes into a great fquare fat of wood, where they prefs them with making Wine 
mens feet ; and then the Wine runs into a Pale or a fhallow Tub through ^hp"- 
a hole and ftrainer at the bottom of the fat : When it is all run out, they put 
it with the Lees into very large Earthen Jarrs, where it works for thirty 
or forty Days; thefe Jarrs are covered onely with a Board and a Cloath over 
ir, without any fear of its taking vent. 
In this manner they leave it as long as they pleafe, nay fometimes a whole 
Year, carefully ftirring it every day : And when they have a mind to drink 
it they draw it olf, provided the time, at leaft wherein it was to work, be o- 
ver, and they put it v/ith the lees again into the fat, where they ftrain it a 
fécond time .- When it runs no more, they put the lees into a bag, and prefs 
them in the fame prefs with mens Feet, till no more come out, and what 
com.es out runs into the rell: : Then they fpread the Stalks of the Grapes 
that have been fb preft in the fat, and pour upon them âll the Wine again, 
and fb let it run through a third time : This being done it is clear, fit for 
drinking and hath no lees. They then barrel it up, and in that manner 
make Wine at Akppo all the months of the year ; but as I have already faid, 
it is onely White-wine ; for there are no red nor black Grapes in all thofè 
Quarters. The Chriftians in that City make very good Brandy; but they 
who fell it, are obliged to put about fix Drachms of Alum into a Bucket full \^ 
of Brandy to make it ftronger, for otherwife the Turks would not like it. 
They drink very good Water at Aleppo, obferving a great deal of circum- 
fpedion in the ufc of it It is indeed River-water, but it is diverted from the ' 
River about three Leagues above Aleppo, near a place called Ailan from 
whence it is brought into the City in open Aqueduéls, which coming near 
the Town, are conveyed under ground to Fountains whence they take the 
Water : Thefe Aqucdudls have been made for purifying the Water, which 
is very muddy, and alfb for fupplyingthe City ; for the River being low in 
the Summer-time, the Gardens drain all the Water almoft with their 
Poulferagaes. 
The Francks have Cifterns alfo which they fill with the Water of thefè 
Aqueducts, by opening a hole in the Ciftern through which the Water 
com.es, and then flopping it again afwell as the mouth of the Ciftern, which 
they open not but in Summer ; and thefè Cifterns are made not onely to 
keep the Water very cool, but alfo to make it pure and clear. They liave 
befides another excellent way of clarifying it ; that is, they put the Water 
into great Jarrs of unburnt Clay, through which it diftills, and falls into Vel- 
fels, put underneath to receive it. This River of Aleppo comes from Antab, 
two days Journey from thence, and lofes it félf under ground about 
half a league beyond Aleppo ; many think that it comes from Euphrates^ 
near to which it hides ic felf under ground, and appears again at 
Antab, 
F Though 
