TO RHODES. 175 
of the many founded by the Maltefe Knights from 
Gaza, quite to this country. 
The 2d of July, at fun-fet, we came in fight of 
Rhodes, after a voyage of fifteen days : we were 
yet twelve miles froin it, at which diftance the 
mountain St. Catherine appears firft. 
After a conflant calm which had occafioned a long 
and difagreeable voyage, we got on the 5th in the 
afternoon the wilhed-for gale, which in the night 
carried us paft this ifland: during the gale, we faw 
a number of Flying-fiffies, about two fathoms 
above water; and we had before feen a number of 
dolphins fwimming on the furface of the fea : thefe 
always are a fign of a change of weather. We 
viewed the town of Rhodes in the evening at fome 
dillance, with its fortifications, kept in good repair 
fince the Turks took them from the Knights of St. 
John of jerufalem. Rhodes has a good harbour, 
and always contains fome Turkilh men of war. 
Here are alfo veffels built for the Porte, for which 
purpofe this ifland is very proper, having plenty of 
timber. There are no Franks, only a French Con- 
ful, who is appointed by the French Ambaflador at 
the Porte, in the fame manner as other fmall Con- 
fulftiips. The ifland, which is fruitful, is governed 
hy a Balhaw; but the greateft part of its inhabitants 
are Turks, and fome Greeks, who carry on the trade 
of the ifland, which is not very important, and con- 
fifts in fome cotton, tar, and fmall {hip rigging. 
Himia is a little, and almofl: unknown ifland, di- 
rectly oppofite Rhodes : we faw it in the morning on 
°ur right hand ; it is worth notice, on account of the 
fnigular method the Greeks, inhabitants of the « 
jfland, have to get their living. In the bottom of 
ftie fea the common Spunge (Spongia officinalis) 
ls found in abundance, and more than in -any other 
place 
