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enemy could easily establish batteries at 150 toises from 
the body of the place without any opposition; from 
whence they could batter the covered way, and approach 
even to the foot of the wall. To obviate this inconve- 
nience the Spaniards constructed a citadel or battery in 
the middle of the place. This fort (the fire from which 
sweeps the height) is still in good condition. But it 
would have been wiser to have destroyed the height, 
which does not appear to me to be very difficult, since 
without that, the batteries which an enemy might erect 
on it without interruption, would soon silence the guns 
in the citadel, and he might then establish himself upon 
the top of the covered way and make a breach. 
The whole area of the works is covered with an im- 
mense artillery of the calibre of all nations and of all 
ages; but the pieces are badly mounted, the greater 
part are without carriages, and placed only in perspec- 
tive. The town is inhabited by Turks. I believe it 
may contain a thousand families. Its garrison consists 
of 700 men, who are in the service of the grand seig- 
nior. Those whom I saw, appeared very fine, good- 
complexioned and well-made men; they were well 
equipt and well dressed. 
Their arms consist of a small carbine, pistols, and 
their kkanjear or knife. They carry their carbine sus- 
pended at their back. The few horses I saw were very 
indifferent. 
During my stay at Modon, all the armed men went 
in pursuit of a troop of brigands, who had a few days 
befort attacked a village, and strangled men, women, 
and children. These terrible scenes are unhappily too 
