732 
IS NIKMID, ANCIENT NICOMEDIA. 
was eminently striking. Its extent appeared to cover the united 
undulations of a double-bosomed hill, gradually sloping down to 
the shores of the Nicomedian Gulf; while its lofty multiplicity of 
houses, rising range above range, together with its numerous 
mosques and towering minarets, tinged by the golden rays of a 
most brilliant descending sun, seemed fair notice we were ap¬ 
proaching one of the most majestic cities of the East. We 
arrived at four o’clock. The distance from our last post being 
six hours, that is, about 18 miles. Our Tatars led the way into a 
respectable-looking coffee-house, the painted decorations on its 
walls showing our near neighbourhood to Constantinople. We 
were soon regaled with a feast of fine fish, a kind of mackarel, 
that abounds at this season in these seas. It resembles a good 
trout in size, and for flavour exceeds any fish of its sort on our 
shores. Grapes, and apples, and other fruit, were set before us 
in abundance. Indeed, the former are in such plenty the natives 
distil from them a white spirit, not unlike in taste to the vadky 
of the Russians, or the arrack of the Azerbijan Armenians. It 
was far from unpleasant, and neither my Tatars, nor the rest of 
our party were backward in pouring its libations after a most 
welcome dinner. 
The name, Is Nikmid, or Izmitt, is a corruption of Nicomedia; 
the city having been so called from its founder, Nicomedes 
the son of Prussias, one of the early Bithynian monarchs. Its 
noble situation made it a favourite residence of subsequent 
princes, whether native or conquerors; several of the Roman 
emperors having honoured it with their sojourn, and particularly 
Dioclesian, who, desirous that it should rival even Rome in 
splendour, adorned it with temples, palaces, and theatres. It 
cannot be doubted that foundations, at least, of such magnificent 
