48 NEAPOLIS. 
the number of the workmen, above six thousand 
of whom were employed m the works. Of 
course, those mines are not better conducted 
than other establishments in Turkey, where 
labour and skill are requisite ; but it were to 
be wished that some more detailed and scientific 
account could be obtained concerning them. 
The turbulent state of the country, at the 
time of our journey, rendered a visit to them 
impossible ; for all the Pashas were at war, 
not only with the Grand Signior, but with each 
other ; and they respected a Jirman no more 
than so much blank paper. Belon was two 
days in journeying from Siderocapsa to Cavallo ; 
but he observes that he might have gone by 
sea in half a day\ Leunclavius says that the 
original name of Siderocapsa, at the conquest 
of Macedonia by the Mohammedans, was Sidrus ; 
called Syrus by the Turks'^. The same author 
has alluded to a notion of Belo7is, which, 
although ingenious ', is without any foundation 
in history ; namely, that Cavallo was antiently 
(1) " De Siderocapsa allant par mer a la ville de la Cavalle, il n'y 
auroit que demie jouriiee de Chemin," &c. Belon. Premier Livre 
des Singular, c. 55. f.55. Paris, 1555. 
(2) " Aut Si/rus a Turcis dicta pro Sidrus, qua Sidrocapsa nunc," &c. 
Leundavii Pandect. Histor. Turcic. cap. 44. p. 417. Paris, 1650. 
(3) '« Qui anciennement aToit nom Boucepbala." Belon. 
