340 
object of so great a number of descriptions, that almost 
all that can be said upon this subject will be pure re- 
petition. Being continually frequented by a crowd of 
Europeans and strangers from every nation, on account 
of its commerce, it is almost as well known as any Eu- 
ropean city. I shall only say that it contains several fine 
edifices, with a great abundance of marbles of all kinds; 
that the great mosque is handsome though not magnifi- 
cent; that the streets are well paved, and the bazars 
covered with sky -lights; but those of Damascus are 
much richer, and better furnished; that the heat is in- 
supportable during the first twenty days of September, 
until the eve of the equinox; and that there was at this 
period a great tempest upon the western mountains, 
after which the atmosphere became temperate. I per- 
ceived among the Christians and the Jews a curious 
combination of costume, that of a cocked hat, with a 
long eastern robe. 
I was ill during the whole time I staid at Aleppo, and 
almost incapable of attending to the slightest occupation. 
CHAPTER XXII. 
Journey to Constantinople. — Antioch. — Tarsus. — Hordes of Turcoman Shep* 
herds. — Manner of travelling in Turkey. — Town of Konia. — Assiom Kairas- 
sare. — Kutaieh.— »Chain of Mount Olympus. — Scutari. — Entry into Constan- 
tinople. 
On Saturday the 26th of September, at five o'clock 
in the morning, I quitted Aleppo, accompanied only by 
a slave, a Tartar, some muleteers, and an escort of five 
fusileers. 
