RHODES. 287 
From tlie neighbouring Island of Symcy so 
famous for its divers, women come to Rhodes for 
employment. They are the porters and water- ^'Z7^nA 
carriers of the island ; and appear distinguished -^''•"i"'"*- 
by a peculiar mode of dress, wearing white 
turbans on their heads. Their features have, 
moreover, a singular character, resembling those 
of the Tziganhies, or gipsies, in Russia. In 
Syme-, and in the Isle of JSJisyms, now called 
Nizari, whose inhabitants are principally main- 
tained by the occupation of diving for sponges, 
the following singular custom is observed. 
When a man of any property intends to have 
his daughter married, he appoints a certain 
day, when all the young unmarried men repair 
to the sea-side, where they strip themselves in 
the presence of the father and his daughter, and 
begin diving. He who goes deepest into the 
sea, and remains longest under water, obtains 
the lady^ 
(2) SVME yet retains its antient appellation ; derived from Syme, a 
daughter of lalysus, according to Stephanas Byzantinus. 
(3) Egmont and Heyman, vol. I. p. 266. When the antiquities 
obtained by the English Ambassador in Athens were sunk, by the loss of 
a vessel in the Bay of Cerigo, together with the valuable Journals of his 
secretary, Mr. Hamilton, relating to his travels in Greece and Egypt, 
this gentleman, with great presence of mindj'^sent for some of these 
divers; who actually succeeded in penetrating to the ship's hold, and 
in driving large iron bolts into the cases containing Marbles, at the 
bottom of the sea, in ten fathoms water : to these they afterwards 
applied cords, and thus succeeded in raising a part of the ship's cargo. 
