RIVER PYTHICUS.

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along by the ass that headed the caravan. The merchants and the horses had stopped opposite to us, on the other side of the river, and a Turkish woman was sitting by herself covered with her veil. We crossed the Pythicus, in our turn, below a wretched stone bridge, and at eleven o'clock we reached the kan, where we baited our horses.

At five in the evening we pursued our journey. The country lay high, and was tolerably well cultivated. We saw the sea on our left. I observed for the first time some tents belonging to Turcomans; they were composed of black sheep-skins, and reminded me of the Hebrews and the pastoral Arabs. We descended into the plain of Myrina, which extends to the gulf of Elea. An old castle, called Guzel Hissar, crowns one of the summits of the mountain which we had just left behind. At ten at night we encamped in the midst of the plain. A blanket which I had bought at Smyrna was spread upon the ground. I lay down upon it, and went to sleep. On waking, some hours afterwards, I beheld the stars glistening over my head, and heard the shouts of the camel-driver conducting a distant ca

ravan.

CHAPTER II..

Pergamus Somma - Altercation with the Guide — Kircagach Reception of the Author by the Governor and his Attendants-His complaint against the Guide - Decision of the Governor-Kelembé - Inn of Emir Capi-Souseverlé―The Granicus-Victory of Alexander- His Character-Mikalitza -Embarkation for Constantinople-Descent of the River-Scene at its Mouth-Arrival at Constantinople-Galata — Pera― Attentions of General Sebastiani - Reflections on Constantinople.

On the 5th we mounted our horses before it was light. Our road led over a cultivated plain; we crossed the Caicus, at the distance of a league from Pergamus, and at nine in the morning entered the town, seated at the foot of a mountain. While the guide led the horses to the kan, I went to examine the relics of the citadel. I found ruins of the walls of three edifices, the remains of a theatre and a temple, perhaps that of Minerva; and remarked some fine fragments of sculpture, among others a frieze adorned with garlands, supported by the heads of oxen and by eagles. Pergamus lay below me to the south; it resembled a camp composed of red barracks. To the west stretches a spacious plain bounded by the sea; to the eastward extends another plain, bordered in the distance by mountains; to the south, and at the foot of the town, first appeared

cemeteries planted with cypresses, then a tract cultivated with barley and cotton; next two large tumuli; after which came a border of trees; and lastly a long high hill, which intercepted the view. I perceived also to the north-west some of the windings of the Selinus and Cetius; and to the east, the amphitheatre, in the hollow of a valley. As I descended from the citadel, the town exhibited the remains of an aqueduct and the ruins of the Lyceum. The scholars of the country assert that the latter edifice contained the celebrated library.

But if ever description was superfluous, it is this which I am attempting. It is but a few months since M. de Choiseul published the continuation of his Travels. This second volume, which displays the maturity of talents, improved by exercise, time, and adversity, gives the most accurate and curious particulars relative to the edifices of Pergamus and the history of its princes. I shall therefore indulge in only one reflexion. The name of Attalus, dear to arts and letters, seems to have been fatal to kings. Attalus, the third of that name, died almost an idiot, and bequeathed his possessions to the Romans; on which these republicans, who probably considered the people as part of those possessions, seized his kingdom. We find another Attalus, the puppet of Alaric, whose name is become proverbial to express the shadow of royalty. He who knows not how to wear the purple ought not to accept it; better were it, in this case, that he clothed himself in goatskin.

We left Pergamus at six in the evening; and, proceeding northward, we halted for the night, at eleven, in the middle of a plain. On the 6th, at four in the morning, we resumed our route, and continued our progress over the plain, which, with

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DUPLICITY OF THE guide.

the exception of the trees, is very much like Lombardy. I was overtaken by such a fit of drowsiness that I could not possibly withstand it, and fell from my horse. It was a wonder I had not broken my neck; but I came off with a slight contusion. About seven o'clock we found ourselves upon an uneven tract of country, formed of small hills. We then descended into a charming dale, planted with mulberry and olive-trees, poplars, and pines in the shape of a parasol (pinus pinea). Asia in general appeared to me far superior in beauty to Greece. We arrived betimes at Somma, a wretched Turkish town, where we spent the day.

I was an utter stranger to the route which we were now pursuing. I had got out of the track of travellers, who, in going to Bursa, or returning from that city, keep much farther to the east, along the road to Constantinople. On the other hand, it seemed to me that, in order to come upon the back of Mount Ida, we ought to have proceeded from Pergamus to Adramytti, and then, keeping along the coast, or crossing the Gargarus, we should have descended into the plains of Troy. Instead of following this track, we had marched along a line precisely between the road to the Dardanelles and that to Constantinople. I began to suspect some shuffling on the part of the guide, especially as I had observed him frequently engaged in conversation with the janissary. I desired Julian to call the drogman, and asked how it happened that we had taken the road to Somma. The drogman appeared embarrassed he replied, that we were going to Kircagach; that it was impossible to cross the mountains, where we should infallibly be all murdered; that our company was not sufficiently numerous to venture upon such a journey, and that it was much more

advisable to make the best of our way into the road for Constantinople.

This answer threw me into a passion. I clearly perceived that the drogman and janissary, either from fear or other motives, had concerted a plot to lead me out of my way. I sent for the guide, and reproached him with his dishonesty. I told him that, since he considered the road to Troy as impracticable, he ought to have told me so at Smyrna; that, though a Turk, I should not hesitate to call him a scoundrel; that I would not relinquish my plans in compliance with his fears or his caprices; that my bargain was to be conducted to the Dardanelles, and to the Dardanelles I was determined to go.

At these words, which the drogman faithfully interpreted, the guide became furious. "Allah! allah!" exclaimed he, shaking his beard with rage; he declared, that in spite of all I could say or do, he would conduct me to Kircagach; and that we should see which of the two would have most weight with the aga, a Christian or a Turk. But for Julian I think I should have knocked the fellow down.

Kircagach being a large and opulent town, three leagues from Somma, I was in hopes of finding there some French agent who would bring this pestilent Turk to reason. I was too much agitated to sleep. On the 6th, our whole company was on horseback at four o'clock, according to the orders which I had given. In less than three hours we arrived at Kircagach, and alighted at the door of a very handsome kan. The drogman immediately inquired if there any French consul in the town, and was directed to the house of an Italian surgeon. To this reputed vice-consul I posted, and explained

was