LYBISSA, HANNIBAL’S GRAVE. 
7 35 
fallen, and that seeing the glories of Istambool, as it is called by 
the Turks, lit up by a brilliant sun, I should finish my travels 
in Asia as I had begun them, under his cheering rays. Gay- 
baissa marks the site of Lybissa,. near which town Hannibal was 
buried ; and though the present place holds a considerable con¬ 
sequence, I could find nobody who knew any thing about the 
illustrious remains which had once given it celebrity. In vain 
I inquired whether there were not some traditionary accounts 
of the grave of some great unbeliever , which might lead me 
to his tumulus, or the marble relics of his tomb ; the second 
death of ignorance enveloped it entirely. I was shewn, indeed, 
three colossal sarcophagi, used as water-troughs, the largest of 
which was curiously marked on the sides with a figure resembling 
the cross-crosslet of heraldry. An extensive burying-ground lies 
to the southward of the town, which I traversed in every di¬ 
rection, but no trace of an antique funeral mound could be 
discovered. 
November 26th. — The dawn of this morning answered my 
expectations of yesterday. We started at six o’clock, and when 
the sun rose, it was without a cloud. Our road lay along a part 
of the shore which could not boast any trees of its own ; but 
beyond, that is, out into the gulf to the south-west, the view 
was rendered interesting by the islands which rose from its 
bosom, green, and variously studded with villages, old religious 
houses, or the ruins of ancient military works. These are at 
present styled the Princes Islands, but were formerly called those 
of Nisa and Demonessi. Amongst the mouldering edifices just 
named, were those of several nunneries dedicated to the prin¬ 
cesses of the imperial family, who had preferred a life of holy 
seclusion to the splendours of a royal marriage. Having pro- 
