ï zzj. TrayeU into L e v a n t. Part II. 
Prefentforthe (he cuftomCaswe have already obferved) that all the Grandees make great Prefents 
Nea,rou\, or a jq King, the day of the N^^ro/fz or Spring, which is the two and twentieth of 
effï March i juH fo as New- Years C ifts are given in France on the firft of January. We 
refted in that place till Three in the Afternoon, when we parted to goe to Schiras 
two great Agatfch diftant. At firft we went up a great Hill, and then faw to out 
Left hand a Vome fomewhat ruinous, under which there are fonie Tombs i dofe by 
runs a very clear Brook thaded by fevtral great Planes, and nnany little Pomegranate- 
Trees, which render that place extraordinarily pkafanr. Having Travelled near 
two hours in very ftony way, and crolTed feveral lovely Brooks, about Five a 
Clock at night we came to a place from whence there is a very pleafant profpeâ: 
of the City i for two Hills there drawing near together at the end, make a narrow 
paflage, beyond which are Gardens full of lovely Cyprcfles i and then the Town, 
which lyes in a Plain from North to SemhSo that it yields a moft delightful profpeét : 
After we had a little advanced betwixt thofe two Hills, we faw a great Refova- 
rory of water, which is pretty ruinous » the water is ftopt by a thick Wall, almoft 
two Fathom broad, fupported by two fpurs of the fame thicknefs, which with the 
Wall from the bottom of the Ditch are almoft three Fathom high h the Refervatory 
was formally much of the fame depth, but is at prefent almoft filled up with the 
Earth that the water has brought into it : the Wall hath been made to ferve for a 
Bank to flop the waters that in Winter fall from the Hills, and running too vio- 
lently through that ftrcight, beat down all that ftood in their way, but it is dry 
Arrlral at in the Summer-time i at length we came to the City-Gate, which is fair and 
well built. 
CHAR IL 
. 0/ Schiras. 
*H E firft thing we found upon our entry into ^c^iw was a great broad Street, 
on each fide bordered by Gardens, with little pretty neat Houfes over the 
Gates of them : having advanced in that' Street about a quarter of an hour, we came 
to a large Stone-Bafon full of water, and of an Oblong Figure, being about twenty 
or twenty five Fathom in length, and more than fifteen in breadth. Continuing 
in the fame Street, you fte a lovely Mofque whofe Dome is covered with blew 
Varniftied Tiles. Joyning to this Mofque there is a burying-place Planted with fair 
Trees, with a round Stone-Bafon full of water, which renders the place very plea- 
fant : fo that there are always people taking the Air in it, with their Pipes of To- 
bacco: a little farther there is a Bridge of five Arches, under which runs a fmall 
River i and onward in the fame Street you come to a covered Bazar that puts an 
end to it : this Street is but as a Suburbs to the City, which at that place begins. 
We flruck off to the Left and alighted at the little Houfe of the Reverend Fa- 
thers Carmelites, where all the Franck f goe. 
The City of Schiras, heretofore Schirfaz, and which many will have to be 
Cyropolis, is properly the Metropolis of the Province of VerÇia it lyes in a moft 
pleaiantand fertile Plain, that yields the beft Wine in Verfia. On the Eaft it is at 
the Foot of a Hill covered with feveral forts of Fruit-Trees, amongft which are 
many Orange and Limon-Trees, intermingled with. CyprelTes : it is about two 
iThe Clrcum- hours walk in Circumference, and lyes from North to South \ it hath no Walls, but 
iehifu, ^ fcurvy Ditch, and that is all it needs, having no Enemies to be afraid of: 
it is watered by a River, which is but little, and yet fubjed to overflowings \ 
wh€n that happens, the Inhabitants hinder it from breaking into their Gardens, 
■ and carrying away their Walls, by cafting up Dykes to flop it : they make them 
Cohfftsi with Co«jfej-, that Is to fay, great Panniers made of bruifed Canes, like Palm-Tree- 
leaves, which they fill with Earth and Stone, and that hinders the paflage of the 
water very well. The Streets of Schiras are for the moft parr (omewhat narrow, 
though • 
