708 
ROYAL SEPULCHRAL CAVES 
caverns, about half-way up its side. My impatience to visit 
them was almost as overbearing as our pace towards my point 
of view; and after a long, troublesome, and anxious discussion 
with the people about me, (for to apply to the authorities in the 
town would invite a positive prohibition,) I at last prevailed on 
a Saied, one of the holy race, through a stable satellite, to con¬ 
duct me to the hill. Sedak was to be my companion, and one 
of the Tatars also in attendance; some sort of Osmanlee pro¬ 
tection being necessary in this my rather adventurous enterprise. 
In our way we traversed several narrow stifling streets, which 
brought us to a bridge that crossed the river at a breadth of 
about 160 feet. The sides are parapeted, and also shew 
fragments of marble columns, one of which is delicately fluted ; 
indeed, the whole structure of the building, its fine hewn stone, 
and classic architecture, give proof sufficient to me that it is 
one of the bridges mentioned by Strabo; and in that case it 
must be nearly nineteen centuries old. We passed under a gate¬ 
way at its western extremity, which led directly on to the base 
of the fortress-hill; and immediately began ascending a steep 
paved road, occasionally interrupted by short flights of steps. 
Houses, and nuisances of various kinds tracked the narrow patft 
on each side. I was gazed at most scrutinizingly as I passed; 
but, to my surprise, none of those people followed me, to explore 
my intentions nearer; hence we gained a higher and more open 
part of the Acropolis without hindrance. On that spot I found 
the old walls of the ancient superstructure almost reduced to 
their foundations ; but I could clearly follow the line of the lower 
embattlements and towers of the fortress ; also trace the ground¬ 
work of several other buildings, and amongst them, one re¬ 
sembling the baths, or hummums; but these latter seemed of 
