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- A collection of curious travels & voyages in two tomes ... / by John Ray ...
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- Ray, John, 1627-1705.
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- 1693.
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"A collection of curious travels & voyages in two tomes ... / by John Ray ..." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A58159.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 22, 2024.
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A COLLECTION Of Curious TRAVELS AND VOYAGES, &c. The Second Tome.
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A COLLECTION OF Curious Travels and Voyages.
The Second Tome.
CONTAINING Observations made by se∣veral Learned and Famous Men in their Journeys through the Le∣vant, viz. the Isle of Candy, Greece, Aegypt, Asia minor, &c. by Mon∣sieur Belon, Prosper Alpinus, Dr. Huntingdon, Mr. Vernon, Sir George Wheeler, Dr. Smith, Mr. Greaves, Father Vansleb, and others.
To which are added, Two Itineraries to Mecha, and into Aethiopio.
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Curious TRAVELS AND VOYAGES, &c. TOME II.
CHAP. I.
Mr. Belon's Remarks in the Island of Crete or Candy.
THE Roots of Mount Ida (called now by the Natives Psiloriti) extend to both the Shores of the Island: When I was at the top, I not only saw under me all Candy, but some adjacent-Islands, as Milo, Cerigo, &c. The Snow lies all the year long on this Hill, whilst the Plains underneath are extreamly scorch'd, and burnt up: 'Tis so cold, that the Shepherds cannot inhabit it in the Summer-time, but are forced every night to descend, and leave their Flocks of Goats and Sheep feeding. This Mountain, on one side,
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abounds with pleasant Springs, Woods, many sorts of Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs, as Maples, Ilices or Holme-Oaks, Arbutus and Adrachne, Ala∣terni, Cisti Labdaniferi, Firrs, Cypress, Chamaelea, Thymelea, Oxycedrus, Nerion or Oleander with a white Flower, Olive-trees, Vines, many Legumes, and Pulse.
Near and round this famous Mountain Ida are found Salvia Pomifera, which is carried to all the Markets, Caper Shrubs, Mandragora Mas & foemina, two kinds of Paeony with a white Flower, Tragium seu Androsaemum foetidum, Leon∣topetalum, Melilotus vera Odorata, Trifolium Moe∣nianthe (perhaps our Palustre) Heliocryson, which grows so thick as to cover and shelter the Hares; Staechas Citrina, two kinds of Tra∣gacanth, which yield no Gum in this Island; Staphis agria, common up and down; Coris (a sort of Hypericum, with Leaves like Heath or Tamarisk) grows plentifully, the Root hath an ungrateful taste, and vomited me. The Ana∣gyris stinks so upon the Roads, that it makes the Head ach, and scarce any Animal will touch it. Tithymalus Dendroides, Thapsia, Ferula, Libanotis, and Seseli abound. Agriomelea frutex (a sort of Sorbus or Cotonaster); a fourth Species of Aristo∣lochia different from those three describ'd by the Ancients; 'tis scandent like a Smilax. The Coccus Baphica or Kermes is found plentifully here upon an Ilex, the Shepherds and Boys gather it in June, separate the red Animalcules from the Vesicle or Excrescence by Sieves, and form them into Balls very gently for sale, for if they are squeez'd or press'd, they dissolve, and the co∣lour perishes. The Dictamnus grows only be∣tween the Fissures of the Rocks, but the Pseudo dictamnus in other places. Lotus Arbor,
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Zizyphus or Jujube, Scolymus Chrysanthemos, cal∣led commonly Ascolimbros, whose milky Root and young Leaves make a common Dish. Ti∣thymalus Myrsinites and Paralius in the mountai∣nous and maritine places, as also a Gnaphalium candicans littoreum, and a wild Brassica, Chamaesyce and Soldanella, a Dracunculus with an Ivy-leaf; the Halimus makes their common Hedges up and down the Island, the tops are edulous; Agnus Castus, Sedum fruticescens, Thymum legiti∣mum, which last serves them for common Fuel; the Thymbra or Satureia vulgaris all loaded with Epithymum or Dodder; the Tribulus Terrestris is very noxious to their Fields, and Pulse; Scammonea or Scammony in hilly places; Sesa∣mum and Xylon, or Cotton, are sown in April; Pitch is boyl'd out of the Pines on the Moun∣tains. There is none of our Asparagus, but in∣stead of it two prickly kinds, called Corruda and Polytricha. Ten varieties of wild Anemone's. There is a sort of Artichoke, called by the Shepherds Agriocinara, whose turbinated Root is sold by many Druggists for the Costus Indi∣cus, the tops are eaten, the Flower is white, sometimes purple. There is a sort of Carline Thistle, called Chamaelion Albus, whose odorate Root sweats out a Gum, which the Women in Candy chew, as they in Scio do Mastick, or they in Lemnos the Gum of a Condrilla. Two sorts of Acanthus, one soft, the other prickly. The In∣habitants have not left off the old manner of preserving the tops of an Anonis, as also the ten∣der shoots of an Eryngium. The Island affords three kinds of Origanum, a sort of Squill or Sea-Onion, Orobus, Securidaca, and many other Le∣gumes. It abounds with Terebinths and Mastick-Trees, Laurels, Styrax, an arborescent Rici∣nus,
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or Palma-Christi; Aspalathus, and a Genisto spartium, called Echinopoda.
The Ibex or Steinbock, a swift nimble Animal, whose Horns are heavy and long for the bulk of the Creature, frequents the Rocky Mountains: There is also the Strepsiceros, a sort of Gazella.
The Bird called Merops and Apiastrum, or Beeater (a sort of Woodpecker) is common in the Island, catches Bees, and feeds on them in the Air. The Attagen and Francolino, as also a white large Partridge, frequent the Mountains; Ea∣gles, Vultures, and Falcons build on the Rocks.
The Fish called Scarus, which I never ob∣serv'd in the Euxine, Propontis, or any other part of the Mediterranean Sea, is common on the Coasts of Candy, and is generally taken at the same Season that the Inhabitants rake and gather their sweet Labdanum or Lada∣num: The only Bait for this Fish is made of the Leaves of a Phaseolus, which they swallow very greedily.
I observ'd only three kinds of Serpents in this Island, the first is called by the Country People Ophis; the second Ochendra; the third Tephloti; but none of these is venomous: I saw one bite and draw Blood, but without any harm. Hence the Ancients might say, that Crete nourish'd no poysonous Animal.
The Phalangium is common up and down; it weaves Webbs like other Spiders, to catch its Prey, Butterflies and Flies, and other Insects. It lays about sixty Eggs, carries and hatches them under its Belly; it fights much with the Ichneumon Wasp.
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The Stone called Dactylus Idaeus, or Belemnites, erroneously taken and sold for the Lapis Lyncis, is plentiful on Mount Ida.
The Vinum malvaticum, or Pramnium, as also the Moschatell, are made here, and transported up and down.
For a full Catalogue of such Vegetables as grow in the Island of Candy, together with their synonymous Names and Places, the Reader may be pleas'd to consult Mr. Ray's Collection of Exotick Catalogues, publish'd this year at London, and annex'd to the end of this Second Tome, amongst which the Cretick Plants are all drawn together out of Bellonius, Honorio Belli, Alpinus, Pona, &c.
CHAP. II.
A Description of Mount Athos, commonly called Monte Santo, by Mr. Belon.
THIS famous Mountain, so celebrated by the Ancients, stands in a Peninsula or Promontory of Macedonia, stretching out into the Aegaean Sea; its Shadow reaches to Lemnos, or Stalamine; 'tis inhabited only by Monks, cal∣led Caloyers, who never marry, though other Priests of the Greek Church do. These Ca∣loyers abstain from all Flesh, and even from san∣guineous Fishes in Lent time; they live very hardly and severely; their ordinary Dish is pickled Olives, not green like ours, but black and ripe, dry'd without Pickle. There are
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about 6000 of these Monasticks, that inhabit several places of this Mountain, on which are seated 24 large old Monasteries, encompassed with high strong Walls, for defence against Pyrates and other Robbers, though they who spare no body are kind and indulgent to the Caloyers.
In these Monasteries the Ceremonies of the Greek Church are most diligently and strictly observ'd, and these Caloyers or Monks are the most reverenc'd of any belonging to that Com∣munion; the Turks themselves will often send them Alms, being taken with the Sanctity of their Lives; and the Monks who inhabit Mount Sinai, Mount Libanus, the Desarts of St. Anthony, Jerusalem, and other holy places, are always the more valued, and respected, if they have lived before on Mount Athos, which is in as great esteem and veneration amongst the Greeks as Rome amongst the Latines. This place is under the Jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Constantinople, who pays about 12000 Ducats per annum to the Grand Signior, upon the account of the Europaean Greek Church. The Patriarchs of Alexandria, Damascus, Antioch, &c. give also their particular Sums to the Turk, who gives liberty of Religion to all that pay Tribute.
Of these 6000 Religious, or Caloyers of Mount Athos, none lead idle Lives (as most of the Monks in other places do) but every one hath his daily Employment, some labour with the Ax, Spade, and Sickle, dress their Vine∣yards, cut Trees, build Fishing-Vessels; others carry Sacks full of Provision, Bread, and Oni∣ons; some spin and weave, their Distaff being made of the Arundo Donax, and their Spindle of the Herb called Attractilis; some are Tay∣lors,
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Bricklayers, and Carpenters; they are ge∣nerally clothed like Hermits.
This Mountain is about three days Journey long, and may be seen about 30 leagues off at Sea; the Monasteries are at some distance: They give such Provisions as they have gratis to all Travellers whatsoever, as pickled or dry∣ed Olives, raw Onions, salted Beans, Bisquet, Salted Fish, sometimes fresh, for they often go a fishing, their Vessels or Boats being cut with∣out great difficulty out of the thick Trunks of Plain Trees; their Nets, for want of Cork, are supported with Gourds, as they are in the Pro∣pontis with the Bark of Pines. The chief Mo∣nastery is called Ageas Laura, and fronts the Isle of Lemnos, it contains about 300 Caloyers or Greek Monks; those that look towards the Continent or Macedonia have all their peculiar Names, and contain some 200, others 150 Ca∣loyers. Formerly there were good Greek Ma∣nuscripts in these Monasteries, but now none at all, unless of Theology; no Poets, no Histo∣rians, no Philosophers, not one of the Monks learned, of 6000 scarce above two or three know how to write or read, so degenerated and depress'd is the Greek Nation at present: They use Wax-Candles and Lamps in their Churches, as also Statues, Pictures and Bells: They have no Poultry, Pigeons, or any other Birds; nor Sheep, nor Cows, nor Goats; because they ab∣stain from all Flesh: They hunt no Game (tho' there is great variety and plenty) only Fish near the Shore. I observ'd abundance of those Birds called Molliceps (a sort of Chaffinch) as also of the Torquilla or Wrynecks. No People have the Privilege of living on this Mountain but these Caloyers.
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Mount Athos abounds with many rare Plants, but because many of them are already mentio∣ned to grow near Mount Ida in Candia; I shall industriously omit to name such of them in this place. I observ'd here the Apion (a sort of knobbed Spurge) which the Caloyers themselves know to be purgative. Hippoglossum or Horse-Tongue, Veratrum nigrum, or Black Hellebore, common in the Valleys; Beech, Hornbeam, Ser∣vice, Oleaster, Myrtles, Oleander with a red flower, several Bindweeds running up to the high tops of the Plane Trees, which here vye in height with the Cedars of Libanus, or the Firrs of Olym∣pus.
There is a sort of Cantharides on this Hill called Buprestis, of a yellowish colour, very foe∣tid, feeding on Brambles, Succory, Nettle, Co∣nyza, and other Herbs: If any Beasts swallow this Insect, they swell and dye. There is a sort of Cray-fish in the fresh Rivolets, which the Ca∣loyers eat raw, and I my self found the taste of them very sweet and grateful: They do not crawl up from the Sea, but breed in the Streams above. There is a Plant in the Valleys called Elegia (perhaps a Species of Arundo) whose Branches serve instead of Writing-Pens, for nei∣ther the Turks nor the Greeks know the use of Quills.
The Caloyers brought us several things to eat, as Rocket, Roots of Smallage, the Bulbs of Leeks, Cucumbers, Onions, Garlick, which we eat without either Oyl or Vinegar; black Olives, course Bisket, and Wine; they also regal'd us with salted and dry'd Fish, Sepia's, Polypi, and Loligines, Crabbs, and other Crustaceous and Testaceous Animals. These Monks had rather dye than eat Flesh upon any occasion.
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We ascended to the very top of Mount Athos, where we could not long endure the Cold; we saw from thence many adjacent Provinces and Islands, as Cassandria, Scyton, Lemnos, Thasson, Samothracen, Imbron, &c. In our descent we observ'd Firrs, and Pitch-Trees, which differ'd a little from those of Mount Ida, for in these the Cones adher'd so close to the Branches, that they would not separate; besides, these were very smooth, whereas the others were sca∣brous.
There being no Haven under this Mountain, the Caloyers are forced to draw their Fishing-Vessels ashore, and place them behind Iron Gates, lest the Pyrates should set fire to them. They exchange their Grapes, Olives, Figgs, Onions, Garlick, Beans, and Legumes with the Mariners, who bring them some Wheat: They have Mills on the Streams of the Hill. They express an Oyl out of their Bayberries, which they send into Walachia, Bulgaria, and Servia, where 'tis sold. They take abundance of the Long Oyster or Langouste.
The multitude of Springs and Streams, the variety of Herbage and Evergreens, the Woods and pleasant Shoar, do all render Mount Athos one of the most charming places in the World.
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CHAP. III.
An Account of a Journey by Land from Mount Athos to Constantinople, wherein the Gold and Silver Mines of Macedonia, together with many Antiquities and Natural Rari∣ties, are describ'd.
LEaving Mount Athos, we travelled in two days to Saloniki, formerly called Thessalo∣nica, and in two days more we reach'd Sidero∣capsa, the Chrysites of the Ancients, where now the Turks, and many other Nations, work the rich Oars, which afford yearly a very conside∣rable Treasure, and make the place much fre∣quented and resorted to. 'Tis situated amongst the Valleys, at the foot of high Mountains, and yields monthly to the Grand Signior for his share only above 18000 Gold Ducats, and sometimes 30000 clear of all Disbursements. There are about Five or Six hundred Furnaces dispers'd up and down these Mountains, which abound with great varieties of Pyrites, Marchasites, and other Oars, which they work in a different manner from the Germans and Spaniards: Their Furna∣ces and Work-houses are all placed on the sides of Rivolets, for all their Bellows play with Wheels turn'd by Streams of Water. The white Soot of the Chimneys is called Spodus and Pom∣pholix, as it differs in colour, of which above ten pounds may be gathered every week. They separate the Lead from the Gold and Silver by
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particular fusions, then the Silver from the Gold by Aqua fortis: Out of the Gold they coyn their Ducats, which are very flexible, and esteem'd the purest Gold in the World, always clean and resplendent.
From these metallick Mountains we saw Mount Athos, and great part of Macedonia, which appear'd hilly. I observ'd here two Serpents never seen before by me; the Greeks called them Sapidi or Sapiti, which comes near to Seps or Sips. The Inhabitants of Syderocapsa gather abundance of the Rhus or Sumach, which they use in preparing their Skins, and tanning their Leather, which the Aegyptians do with the Pods of their Acacia, the Natolians with the Cups of the Acorns of a Dwarf-Oak called Esculus, the Illyrians with a black Myrtle (perhaps the Rhus Myrtifolia) the French with Oak bark, the Les∣bians and Phrygians with the bark of the Picea.
The Workmen use several Machines in wor∣king and drawing up the Oars, according as the Veins lye: These Works employ above 6000 men.
In a Lake near Syderocapsa I took notice of several Fishes, as one called Laros by the Natives, because the Gulls feed much upon it, by the Latines Gania, by the French Mouatte, by those of Diepe and Newport, Mauue. Another called Claria, by those of Lyons, Lotte; by the Parisians Barbotte. Also the Liparis, the Perch, young Mul∣lets, &c.
In the adjacent Country there are Fallow Deer, Buffalo's, Wild Boar, Goats, Red Deer, and our Roe Deer, Porcupines, Urchins, Wolfs, Foxes, Hares; the Chamois or Rupicapra; the Trage∣laphus different from the Hippelaphus.
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Leaving Syderocapsa, we spent two days in getting to Cavalla, anciently called Boucephala, whereas we might have gone by Sea in half a day: In this Journey we saw the River Strymon, and on it Swans, and other Birds like Pelecans: At the mouth of this River are seen the Remains of a place called by the Natives Chrysopolis, tho' Pliny puts it not far from Chalcedon. We saw Ceres the Cranon of the Ancients; afterwards Tricala, and so by the side of the Mountain De∣spota, through a great Plain to Philippi, near which are many Villages and several Mines. We ob∣serv'd hereabouts Misseltoe on the Oak, as also in many other places of Macedonia, where they make Bird-lime. The Ground is very much over-run with the Paliurus and Rhamnus.
The Ruins of Philippi are about two days Jour∣ney from Trica or Tricala, and Philippi scarce three more from Philippolis. These were great Roads in the time of the Roman Empire, now heaps of Rubbish, and Sepulchres of Marble with Inscriptions. The Isle of Tasso is but six hours distant, and from thence this great quantity of white Marble might have easily been fetch'd. The Magnificence of Philippi may be guess'd at from the number of these noble Monuments and Inscriptions, from the fair Amphitheatre still en∣tire with its Marble Seats: 'Tis not oval, as those at Otricholi and Rome, but spherical, as those at Verona and Nismes: There are also Dorick and Ionick Pillars, with many Statues belonging to the Temple of Divus Claudius. At Cavalla or Boucephala there are still great Cisterns of hard∣ned Cement (as at Baiae) and Aquaeducts.
Departing from Cavalla, we pass'd by Mount Haemus, over the River Nesus, and came to Bouron on the Salt-Lake of Bisto, near a moist
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Plain, full of Cytisus, Halimus, &c. as about Phi∣lippi. Here are taken great quantity of Dace or Dare, which they pickle as we do Herrings, as also smoak and dry them. The Fishing on this Lake is very considerable, for from hence they supply many distant places. About six hours from Bouron we came to Commercina, where they sell great variety of Provisions; from thence we went to Cypsella, where they make Alum by gently calcining the Stone, and letting it dissolve afterwards in the Air by the Dews and Rains, and then boyling and crystallizing the impreg∣nated Water. In this Journey we saw many old Roman Highways pav'd with great Stones.
We passed the Marisca (of old Hebrus) in a Ferry, and came to Vire; here they wash some Gold out of the Sand, but are often forced to use Quicksilver in the separation. The Water of Hebrus is very cold in the middle of Summer, and the Banks are set with Tamarisks; King's-fishers build their Nests in holes on the sides, they make them of the Bones and Scales of little Fishes. The Natives hereabouts often leave their Habitations to work in Harvest time: Their Sickles differ from ours, and their Corn is not thresh'd but trodden with Cattel. In this Jour∣ney we found great variety and plenty of Jaspars and Chalcedony.
The Thracians and Macedonians gather all the Galls or Excrescencies on the Turpentine Trees, which they sell at Prusa, for the dying of Silks. This Country abounds much with Tortoises, for the Greeks never eat nor destroy their, unless they catch them in their Gardens or Plantations of Cotton and Sesamum.
We left the Road of Gallipoli on the right, and came to Rodesto (the old Perinthus) from thence
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we left Heraclea on the left, and past Selibria, a days Journey distant from Constantinople. The Honey of Heraclea is said to be pernicious, per∣haps because the Country abounds with the Chamaeleon niger (a sort of Carlina) to whose Root adheres a very venomous Excrescence called Ixia, which may affect the Bees that feed on that Plant.
I found hereabouts a milky Plant (perhaps an Apocynum) with the leaves and flower of a Ne∣rion, or the purple Lysimachia.
Thrace is an open Country without Trees, like Picardy, the great Plains are divided here and there with Ridges and little Hills: About three miles before we came to Constantinople, we pass'd two long Wood-Bridges that run over the Salt-Marshes, upon which are many Boats and Mills with eight Wings or Arms: On these Lakes there is a great Fishery, as also on the Propontis, for the Oriental People (as other Nations of old) are more delighted with the Fish Diet than with that of Quadrupeds or Birds. This may be one reason why the Books of the Ancients treat more of Fish than of Fowl, or any other Ani∣mals.
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CHAP. IV.
The Ways of Fishing on the Propontis, the Bosphorus, and Hellespont; as also of the Fishes taken. By M. Belon.
THESE Seas abound extreamly with Fish, that pass between the Euxine and Mediter∣ranean, into which abundance of great fresh Ri∣vers empty themselves: The Streights and Shoars are full of little Wood-Cottages (wherein the Fishermen watch and observe the several Shoals) and great variety of Nets, both loose and faste∣ned to Poles, of several figures, for the taking both of great and small frys: There is also the Hook and Bait-fishing up and down with long Lines; the Train and Hand-Nets, &c.
Besides all these ways, they practise another manner of fishing by lighted Torches in dark calm nights, whereby they find the great Fishes asleep, and strike them very silently with sharp Tridents and hooked Engines: This they find the most convenient for taking the greater sorts of Fish, which often break their Nets and Lines.
The common Fishes of these Streights are, the Tunny and the Pelamis, Macrel, Scads, Giltheads, Mullets, Gurnards, Sheathfish, Swordfish, the Dolphin different from our Porpess, the Wolf-fish, Lampreys, the Muraena, Sphyrena, Melanurus, Salpa, Sargus, Moena, Atherina, Exocaetus which serve for Baits to catch Congers, Celerinus, Sardina, Polypus, Loligo, Erythrinus, &c.
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The Garus, so common in the Shops of Con∣stantinople, is prepared here only out of the Sa∣nies or Ichor of the salted Intestines of the Ma∣crel and Scads. The red Cavear is not made of the Eggs or Roe of the Sturgeon, but out of the Cyprinus. (Q. Whether the Author means the Bream or Carp.)
CHAP. V.
Of some Beasts and Mechanick Trades at Constantinople.
NEar the Hippodromus at Constantinople I ob∣serv'd some rare Animals, which the Tur∣kish Emperors are much delighted with, as the Onager, the Hystrix, the Lupus Cervarius, the Lynx, the Ponticus Mus, or Ermine, many rare Weasils, and odd Cats.
The Turks not using the Printing Trade, they levigate and polish their Writing Paper in Box Frames, by rubbing it with the Chalcedony and Jaspar-stones put at the end of Sticks. They damask their Cymeters with a blewish colour, by macerating Sal Armoniac and Verdigrease in Vine∣gar, and steeping the Blades in this Mixture, often pouring fresh upon them, this acts upon the Steel, and renders it of that colour upon po∣lishing. They granulate Leather for Scabbards. In the Cutlers Shops one sees great variety of Horns, Teeth, &c. as of Bufalo's, Gazels, Morse-Teeth, and other Tusks. They colour their Linnen with great variety, and with many Fi∣gures, which they cut in Wood and there paint,
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afterwards stamp and press it upon the Linnen or Silk, as in printing upon Paper, they first polish their Linnen or Cottons with Pastes of fine Flower. The Inhabitants on these Streights ga∣ther abundance of a broad-leav'd Alga, which they mix with a fat Earth, and so cover their Houses with it: The Current running so strong, casts out great variety of Marine Productions, as Alcyonium or Arkeilli, Antipathos (a sort of Co∣ralline.)
Mr. Francis Vernon's Letter, written to Mr. Ol∣denburg, Jan. 10. 1675/6, giving a short account of some of his Observations in his Travels from Venice through Istria, Dalmatia, Greece, and the Archipelago, to Smyrna, where this Letter was written.
SIR,
I Must beg your Excuse for not having writ∣ten to you in so long a space: The little rest I have had, and the great unsettledness of my Condition is the reason. Neither have I now any great Curiosities to impart to you; only some small Circumstances of my Journey I will run over.
From Venice I set out with those Gallies which carried their Ambassadour that went for the Port. We touch'd at most of the considerable Towns of Istria and Dalmatia by the way. In Istria we saw Pola, an ancient Republick. There remains yet an Amphitheatre entire; it is of two orders of Tuscan Pillars, placed one over another, and the lower Pillars stand on Pede∣stals, which is not ordinary; for, commonly they have nothing but their Bases to support
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them. There is, besides a Temple dedicated to Rome and Augustus, a Triumphal Arch, built by a Lady of the Family of the Sergii, in honour of some of her Kindred, which commanded in these Countries; besides several Inscriptions and ancient Monuments, which are in divers parts of the Town. In Dalmatia I saw Zahara, which is now the Metropolis of the Country. It was anciently called Jadera. It's now very well fortified, be∣ing encompass'd on three sides with the Sea, and that part which is toward the Land extreamly advantag'd by all the contrivances of Art, ha∣ving a Castle and a Rampart of very lofty Basti∣ons to guard it. I found here several ancient Inscriptions, by me copied, which will not find room in the compass of a Letter. We pass'd in sight of Zebenico, and saw three Forts, which be∣long to the Town, St. Nicolo, St. Gioanni, and la Fortezza Vecchia; but we went not ashore. That which is most worth seeing in Dalmatia, is Spalatro, where is Dioclesian's Palace, a vast and stupendious Fabrick, in which he made his resi∣dence when he retreated from the Empire: it is as big as the whole Town, for the whole Town indeed is patch'd up out of its Ruines, and is said by some to take its Name from it. The Building is massive; there is within it an entire Temple of Jupiter, eight-square, with no∣ble Porphyry Pillars, and Cornice, worth any bodies admiration. There is a Court before it, adorned with Aegyptian Pillars of that Stone cal∣led P••repeiciles, and a Temple under it, now de∣dicated to Sta Lucia; and up and down the Town several fragments of Antiquity, with In∣scriptions and other things, worth taking notice of.
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Four miles from Spalatro is Salona, which shews the ruines of a great Town. About as much farther from Salona stands Clissa, upon a rocky Hill, an eminent Fortress of the Venetians, which is here the Frontier against the Turk, from whence they repulsed him in their late Wars with great Honour. I was at Lesina, where is nothing very remarkable; but Biondi, that hath written our English History, was of it. Trau is ancient, and hath good marks of its being so. Here I spoke with Doctor Stasileo, who put out that Fragment of Pe••ronius Arbiter, and I saw his Manuscript. I was in the Harbour of Ragusi, but not in the Town, because we made no stay there. From hence we past the gulph of Budua, and saw the Mountains of Antivari, the Plain of Du∣razzo and Apollonia, and came to Sassino a small Island, from whence we could see the Town of Valona, and the Mountains Aeroceraunii, which are very near, and are now called Mountains of Chimaera.
I stay'd a fortnight in Carfu, and had time to view all that was considerable in the Island, par∣ticularly the Gardens of Alcinous, that is, the place where they are supposed to have been, now called Chrysida, a most delicious situation: The ancient Port, now called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and several foundations of ancient Fabricks. In Zante I was likewise a fortnight, where I saw but little of Antiquity: What is modern is very flourishing, and the Island rich and plentiful.
I went from Zante to Patras, a Town in Achaia, of good note among the Ancients. Near it is a great Mountain, mention'd by Ho∣mer, by the name of Petra Ol••nia. In the Town are several massive Ruines, which few there
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know how to give any account of. There are the Remains of a large Church, dedicated to St. Andrea, who, they say, was martyr'd there. This is the first Town I saw on the Continent of Greece. The Plain about it is very fruitful, full of Springs and Rivolets; finely wooded with Olive-trees, Cypresses, Orange and Lemon-trees. The Citrons here are counted among the best of the Turkish Empire, and are sent for Pre∣sents to Constantinople. So are all their Fruits in very good esteem. In Athens I have spent two months. Next to Rome I judge it most worthy to be seen for An∣tiquities of any I have yet been at. The Tem∣ple of Minerva is as entire as the Rotunda. I was three times in it, and took all the dimensions, with what exactness I could; but it is difficult, because the Castle of Athens, in which it stands, is a Garrison, and the Turks are jealous, and brutishly barbarous, if they take notice that any measures it. The length of the Cella or Body of the Temple without side, is—168 Feet English.* 2.1 The breadth—71 Feet English. The Portico of the Dorique Order, which runs round it, hath 8 Pillars in front, 17 on the sides; the length of the Porti∣co is 230 feet English. I have taken all the di∣mensions within, with those of the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Portico's; but they are too long for a Letter. The fuste or shaft of the Pillars is 19½ feet in circumference: The Intercolumnium 1¼ of the diameter of the Pillars.
The Temple of Theseus is likewise entire, but 'tis much less, though built after the same model. The length of its Cella is but 73 feet, the breadth 26. The whole length of the Portico, which
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goes round it, 123 feet. 'Tis a Dorique Building, as is that of the Minerva. Both of them are of white Marble. About the Cornice on the outside of the Tem∣ple of Minerva is a basso relievo of men on horseback, others in Chariots, and a whole procession of people going to a Sacrifice, of very curious sculpture. On the Front is the History of the Birth of Minerva.
In the temple of Theseus, on the Front within-side the Portico, at the West-end, is the Battel of the Centauri, and at the East-end seems to be a Continuation of that History: But there are se∣veral Figures of Women, which seem to be P••ri∣thous's Bride, and those other Ladies which were at the Wedding. On the outside the Portico, in the spaces between the Triglyphi, are several of the Prowesses of Theseus, most in Wrestling with several persons, in which he excelled: All his postures and locks are exprest with great art. Others are Monsters, which he is made encoun∣tring with, as the Bull of Marathon, the Bear of Calydon, &c.
There is a Temple of Hercules, a round Fa∣brick, only of six feet diameter, but neat Ar∣chitecture. The Pillars are of the Corinthian Order, which support an Architrave, and Frise, wherein are done in relievo the Labours of Her∣cules. The top is but one Stone, wrought like a Shield, with a Flower on the outside, which ri∣seth like a Plume of Feathers.
There is yet standing the Tower of Andronicus Cirrhestes, which is an Octogone, with the Fi∣gures of eight Winds, which are large, and of good workmanship; and the names of the Winds remain legible in fair Greek characters, (where a House, which is built against it on one
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side, does not hinder) as 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Each Wind placed against its quarter in the Heavens: And the Roof is made of little Planks of Marble, broad at bottom, and which meet all in a point at top, and make an obtuse Pyramid of some 32 or 36 sides. There is a delicate Temple of the Conique Order in the Castle, whether of Pandrosos, or whom, I cannot tell, but the Work was most fine, and all the Ornaments most accurately en∣graven:
The Length of this Temple was 67 Feet.
The Breadth — 38 Feet.
These Pillars which remain of a Portico of the Emperor Adrian, are very stately and noble: They are of the Corinthian Order, and above 52 feet in height, and 19½ in circumference: They are canellate, and there are now standing seven∣teen of them, with part of their Cornice on the top. The Building, to which they belonged, I measur'd the Area of, as near as I could conje∣cture, and found it near a thousand feet in length, and about six hundred and eighty in breadth.
Without the Town, the Bridge over the Elis∣sus hath three Arches, of solid Stone-work: the middlemost is near 20 feet broad. There is the stadium yet to be seen, whose length I measured, and found it 630 feet, near to what the precise measure of a stadium ought to be, viz. 625.
Towards the Southern Wall of the Castle there are the Remains of the Theatre of Bacchus, with the Portico of Eumenes, which is near it; the semi-diameter, which is the right Sine of the demi-circle which makes the Theatre, is about 150 feet, the whole Body of the Scene 256. Monsieur de la Guilliotiere, in that Book he hath
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written of Athens, hath made a Cut of a Theatre, which he calls that of Bacchus, which is a meer fancy and invention of his own, nothing like the Natural one, which by the Plan he has drawn of the Town, I judge he did not know. I give you this one hint, that you may not be deceived by that Book, which is wide from truth, as will appear to any body who sees the reality, though to one who hath not seen it, it seems plausibly written. I have dwelt long on Athens, but yet have said nothing. This town alone deserves a whole Book to discourse of it well, which now I have neither time nor room to do: but I have Memorials by me of all I saw, which one day, if it please God, I may shew you. Thebes is a large Town, but I found few An∣tiquities in it, excepting some Inscriptions and Fragments of the Old Wall, and one Gate, which, they say, was left by Alexander, when he demolish'd the rest. It is about some fifty miles distant from Athens, as I judge.
Corinth is two days Journey distant: the Castle or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 is standing, which is very large. The main of the Town is demolish'd, and the Houses, which now are scatter'd, and a great distance from one another. So is Argos, which to go round would be some four or five miles, as the Houses now stand; but if they stood toge∣ther, they would scarce exceed a good Village. Napolo della Rumilia is a large town, and full of Inhabitants, and the Bas••a of the Morea resides there: It is but very few leagues distant from Argos.
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Sparta is quite forsaken, and Mestra is the Town which is inhabited, four miles distant from it: But one sees great Ruines thereabout; almost all the Walls, several Towers and Foun∣dations of Temples with Pillars and Chapiters demolish'd: A Theatre pretty entire. It might have been anciently some five miles in compass, and about a quarter of a mile distant from the River Eurotus. The Plain of Sparta and of La∣conia is very fruitful, and long, and well wate∣red. It will be about eighty miles in length, as I judge. The Mountains on the West side of it very high, the highest I have yet seen in Greece; the Maniotes inhabit them. But the Plain of Calamatta, which anciently was that of Messene, seems rather richer. Corone is very abundant in Olives. Navarrino, which is estee∣med the ancient Pylos, hath a very strong Castle, fortified by the Turks, and is the best Port in all the Morea. Alpheus is much the best River, and the deepest, and with great reason extolled by all the ancient Poets, and chosen for the Seat of the Olympick Games, for it's very pleasant. The Plains of Elis are very good∣ly and large, fit to breathe Horses in, and for hunting, but not so fruitful as that of Argos and Messene, which are all Riches. The best Woods I saw in Peloponnesus are those of Achaia, aboun∣ding with Pines and wild Pear, the Ilex and Esculus-trees, and, where there runs Water, with Plane-trees. Arcadia is a very goodly Champain, and full of Cattel, but is all encompass'd with Hills, which are very rough and unhewn. Lepanto is very pleasantly seated on the Gulf, which runs up as far as Corinth; and without the Town is one of the finest Fountains I saw in Greece, very
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rich in Veins of Water, and shaded with huge Plane-trees, not inferiour in any thing to the Spring of Castalia on Mount Parnassus, which runs through Delphos, except in this, that one was chosen by the Muses, and the other not; and Poetical Fancies have given Immortality to the one, and never mentioned the other. Delphos it self is very strangely situated on a rugged Hill, to which you have an ascent of some two or three leagues, and yet that is not a quarter of the way to come up to the Pique of Parnassus, on the side of which Hill it stands: It seems very barren to the Eye, but the Fruits are very good, where there are any. The Wines are excellent, and the Plants and Simples, which are found there, very fragrant, and of great effi∣cacy.
About Lebadia, and all through Baeotia, the Plains are very fertile, and make amends for the barrenness of the Hills which encompass them: But in Winter they are apt to be over∣flown for that reason, and to be turn'd into Lakes, which renders the Baeotian Air very thick, and so were their Sculls too, if the Ancients may be believed concerning them; though Pindar, who was one that sublimated Poetry to its high∣est exaltation, and is much fancied and imitated in our Age, as he was admired in his own, was born there: And Amphion, who was said to be so divine in his Musick, that he ravish'd the very Stones, had skill enough to entice them to make up the Walls of Thebes: So that not every thing that is born in a dull Air is dull. These Vales I found much planted with Cotton, and Sesamum, and Cummin, of which they make great profit, and a great Trade at Thebes and Lebadia.
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I went from Thebes into the Island of Eubaea or Negropont, and saw the Euripus, which ebbs and flows much after the nature of our Tides, only the Moon, and sometimes Winds, make it irre∣gular. The Channel, which runs between the Town and a Castle which stands in an Island over against it, is some fifty feet broad; and there are three Mills on it, which shew all the changes and varieties that happen in the Cur∣rent. Near the Euripus, and opposite to the Town, they shew a Port, which they say was Aulis, and it is not improbable, for it must be thereabouts. Between Negropont and Athens is a high Hill, called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, formerly very dangerous, but now guarded by Albaneses. It is part of Mount Parnasse, and near it on the left hand lies Mount Pentelicus, from whence the Athenians anciently fetch'd their Stone, and now there is a Convent of Caloieri's there, one of the richest of all Greece. In going from Athens by Sea, I embarqued in a Port, which lies just by Munichia. That which they call Porto Pyraeo lies behind it a mile distant, which is a large Port able to contain 500 Vessels. There are the Ruins of the Town yet remaining, and of the Walls, which joyn'd it to the City of Athens. I sailed by Porto Phalero, the ancient Haven of Athens, which is rather a Road than a Port. I saw an Island called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, where the Athenians had anciently Mines. I went ashore on the Promontory of Sunium, to view the Re∣mains of the Temple of Minerve, which stood on it. Hence I sailed among the Isles of the Ar∣chipelago, Macronesia, Thermea, Serphanto, Siphanto, till I came to Melo. From Melo I sailed through the Cyclades to come hither. I pass'd by Andros, Tenos, Mycone, Delos: Nuxia and Paros I saw at a
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distance. We sailed near the Northern Cape of Scio, and the Southern of Mytilene or Lesbos, and so came into the Gulf of Smyrna. Within this Gulf stands Burla, near some small Islands, which is judged to be the ancient Clazomenae: Foja, which is the same with the ancient Phocaea. Near this the River Hermus discharges it self into this Gulf. In this my Journey I had some misadventures. My Companion Sir Giles Eastcourt died by the way. At Sea I was plunder'd by the Serphiotes, where I lost all my Letters, and yours among the rest, which you sent to my Lord Ambassa∣dor at Constantinople, and Consul Rycaut, whom I find here a very civil and knowing Gentleman, and am much obliged to him for his Favours.
I have been as curious as I could in taking the Latitudes of some remarkable places: As I find them, I shall give them you.
Gr. m. Athens 38. 5. Corinth 38. 14. Sparta 37. 10. Corone 37. 2. Gr. m. Patras 38. 40. Delphos 38. 50. Thebes 38. 22. Negropont or Chalcis 38. 31. I desire you to present my humble Services to the Gentlemen of the Royal Society.
I am, &c.
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Some Plants observ'd by Sir George Wheeler in his Voyage to Greece and Asia minor.
IN the Scoglio, or Island of St. Andre, on the Shore of Istria, Scorpioides Limonii foliis, floribus luteis. Limonium reticulatum. Syde∣ritis spinosa. Draba caerulea Cretica. Con∣volvulus rectus argenteis foliis. Polium Creti∣cum, &c.
On the Rocks near Pola in Istria: Cassia Poe∣tarum. Trifolium Saxatile hirsutissimum. Ge∣nista montana arborescens. Tordilium sive Se∣seli Creticum. Tragoriganum Creticum, vel potius Satureia hyberna nostras. Polium Roris∣marini foliis. Salvia fruticosa. Abundance of Samphire, and a curious bulbose Plant, crested with little Flowers striped with white and Cinna∣mon colour.
Near Mortaro, thirty miles from Zara: Plan∣ta lactescens Altheae foliis; 'twas not blown, (it might either be a Tithymal, an Apocinum, or Campanula major lactescens Lobel.) Eryngium luteum monspeliense, &c.
On the great Rock near Clissa: After verbasci foliis. Jacea incana seu argentea Alpin. in Exot. Lotus odoratus. Horminum creticum. Satureia citrii odore. Aster montanus folio odo∣rato, forsan Aster montanus luteus glabro Salicis folio Bauhin. Libanotis Ferulae facie. Linum flore luteo. Hieracium flore incarnato. Thlaspi Saxatile folio Poetarum. Caucalis platyphylla Colum. Caucalis magno flore & fructu. Planta
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Equiseti frutescentis facie, on the Steeple and hard Walls, (perhaps a Species of Tithymal) 'twas without leaves, but full of joints, with abundance of yellow scaly knobs by pairs, be∣tween which issue forth three or four little Te∣trapetalose Flowers. Of this I saw an Arbore∣scent one near Troy.
On the Mountain near Lesina, in the Island of Pharos: Aconitum Lycoctinum flore Del∣phinii, vel Napelli Species. Aloe in Flower. Asphodelus minor Junci folio, fistulosâ non bul∣bosâ radice. Malva Romana rubra. Juniperus major seu oxycedrus. Genista Spartium Septi∣mo Bauhini simile; the Root is hot of a Spicy taste. Pilosella major pilosissima, &c.
In the Island of Corfou: Thymus capitatus Dioscoridis. Lysimachia Hysopi folio. Scabio∣sa caule altissimo, flore nigrescente, fortè pere∣grina Bauhin. Cyperus gramineus miliaceus. Scammonea. Acarna flore patulo rubente. Cen∣taurium maj. album. Centaurium rubens Spica∣tum. Centaurium ramosum rubens. Centau∣rium ramosum album. Vitex flore caeruleo & albo. Consolida regalis foetida. Glicyrrhiza. Pulegii Species erecto caule, latifolia, incana, & hirsuta. With many others mentioned be∣fore.
In the Island of Zant: The Curran Grape. White and yellow Melons. A large thin-skin'd Lemon without either Seed or Stone, as also the Curran Grapes are. Genista seu spartium foliis argenteis. Convolvulus Sagittariae foliis. Pru∣nella spinosa. Coris Matthioli. Gossipium seu Xylon. Glaux Dioscoridis. Cistus plantaginis folio. Cicer Creticum, &c.
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In the Isle of Cerigo: Dictamnus falsus. Cha∣maedrys Alpina minima hirsuta. Thymi capi∣tari secunda species foliis minoribus densius Sti∣patis. Salvia pomifera seu gallifera. Staechas citrina. That Species of Thyme is in Dr. Pluke∣net's Phytographia, Tab. 116. F. 4.
In the Isle of Tenos or Tine: Limonium caule sinuato. Frutex Spinosus Jaceae albae capitulis. Stachys parva foliis argenteis. Genista spinosa floribus rubris.
Near the Ruins of Troy: Quercus glande ma∣jore. Gossipium. Sesamum. Anguria. Traga∣cantha. Tartonreira Massiliensium seu Thyme∣laea incana Sericea, longifolia & latifolia. Pasti∣naca echinifera Colum. Jacea lutea capite spi∣noso. Papaver corniculatum flore tricolore. Pancratium in flower. Verbascum marinum la∣ciniatis foliis.
Near Constantinople: Abrotanum humile flore Chamaemeli. Serpilli species foliis Satureiae. Androsaemum flore & thecâ omnium maximis. Guajacum Patavinum.
On Mount Olympus, near Bursa or Prusa: Abies conis sursum spectantibus, foliis subtùs ar∣genteis. Cistus laurinis foliis. Aster montanus, Linariae folio, flore flavo. Coris seu Hypericum foliis crispis. Hypericum foliis hirsutis, margine crinifero. Aster Conyzoides Gesn. Astragalus Matthiol. flore caeruleo. Pyrola frutescens Ar∣buti folio. Gentianella verna. Senecio incana pinguis. Cerinthe minor. Cistus argenteis fo∣liis. Cymbalaria Italica. Calamintha mon∣tana praestantior. Elichryson sive Gnaphalium comâ aureâ. Gramen junceum Echinatum. Millefolium nobile odoratum. Hypericum seu Ascyron magno flore. Panax Heracleum. Gna∣phalium repens. Herba Tuitia Auriculae Affinis.
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Tragacantha. Helleborus niger. Ephedra seu Polygonum Scandens bacciferum; climbing up to the tops of the vast Plane-trees, according to Bellonius.
In our Journey to Mandragorai, and Courou∣gouli: Scordium lanuginosum sive Creticum. Alsine Lotoides seu Anthylloides, sive spergulae facie C.B. Gingidum Hispanicum. Leucoium Alyssoides Clypeatum maj. C.B. Origanum Spicatum Mo••is Sipyli foliis giabris.
Near Thyatira: Spartium alterum Monosper∣mum, Pseudospartium Hispanicum Aphyllon. A Thapsus minor longifolia; or rather a Side∣ritis or Stachys foliis Salviae argenteis pilosis mol∣libus; which is the Panacea of the Country People. Scabiosa argentea min.
About Smyrna: Two kinds of Jujubes or Zi∣zyphus. Turpentine-trees, and Mastick-trees. Smyrnion Creticum. Origanum perenne lig∣nosum odoratissimum. Several sorts of Olive-trees. Tamarisk and Ricinus, or Palma Christi. Near the Gulf of Lepanto: Tithymalus Spinosus. The Fust or yellow Wood used to dye with, called by the Greeks Chrysoxulo. Cedrus Lyciae. Arisarum angustifolium. Lamium moschatum foliorum margine argentato.
About Mount Parnassus, Athens, and other places of Attica or Acbaja: Stachys viscoso flore luteo, odore Narcisii juncifolii. Petromarula Cretica or Rapunculus Pyramidalis altera. Sabi∣na. Crocus Albus & Luteus. Poterion Plinii, smaller than Tragacanth. Polium Gnapholoides. Ilex Chermifera. Acacia Secunda Matthioli. Anemones of all colours. Many Asters, and Arisarums. Aristolochia Clematitis. Two Aspho∣dils. Brassica frutescens. Borago variegata Cre∣tica. Cneoron Matth. & Clusii, sive Thymelaeae
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affinis facie externâ. Several Cisti. Jacea Mo∣schata, with other Knapweeds. Leontopetalum all over the Plain of Athens. Oleander. Scilla. Scotzonera Cretica Asphodeli fistulosi facie, Ga∣locorta Graecorum, 'tis the Womens Cosmetick, and Milk-plant. Siliqua Edulis or Carob. Two Thymelaea's, argentea & tomentosa. Tithy∣malus Spinosus. Equisetum frutescens Aphyllon (perhaps a sort of Tithymal) Lychnis frute∣scens: With many more, which we have either mentioned in other places, or else were doubtful of, as a kind of small Silver-leav'd Scabious, and a Dandelyon or Hieracium, with Pilewort or small Colts foot-leaves, with a Root▪ like so many Scorpions following one another. A sort of Me∣dica lunatâ siliqua, or Loto affinis siliquis hirsutis circinatis. Astragalus argenteus or Syriacus.
Near Corinth and the Isthmus: Pinùs Maritima with small Cones. Cedrus▪ Lycia vel Sabina baccifera. Ceratia or Siliqua Arbor. Lentiscus. Olea Sylv. Scabiosa argentea petraea. Aristolo∣chiae Clematitis species. Linaria latifolia valen∣tina Clusii, the flowers beautiful with three colours. Androsaemum umbelliferum. Scorzo∣nera bulbosa. Arbutus folio non serrato, Coma∣rea Dioscoridis Adrachne Theophrasti.
For these the Reader may consult Mr. Ray's Collection of Exotick Catalogues, especially the Oriental one, where the synonymous Names are ad∣ded.
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Historical Observations relating to Constan∣tinople. By the Reverend and Learned Tho. Smith, D.D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon, and of the Royal Society.
COnstantinople, formerly Byzantium, was (a) 2.2 by Constantine the Great called so after his own Name, who being mightily pleased with the beautiful and advantagious situation of the place between two Seas, and defended by nar∣row streights on both sides, removed the Seat of the Empire hither, and laid the foundation of its future splendor and greatness. It was also by a (b) 2.3 special Edict or Law of the same Em∣peror, which he caused to be engraven on a Marble Pillar, placed near his own Statue on Horseback, in one of the Piazza's of his new-built City called Strategium, where the Souldiers used to muster, as in the Campus Martius, called Second or New Rome, in emulation of old Rome, which he designed and endeavoured this should equal in all things. Accordingly he endowed it with the same Privileges and Immunities, and establish'd the same number of Magistrates, and Orders of People, and divided the whole extent of it into fourteen Precincts or (c) 2.4 Regions, ac∣cording to the division of Rome. And the Greek Writers were as elegant and extravagant in their
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commendations of it; but the usual Title in their ordinary Discourses and Writings, when they had occasion to mention it without any flourish, was 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, the Imperial City, to the same sense with that of (d) 2.5 Sidonius Apollinaris.
Salve sceptrorum columen, Regina orientis,Orbis Roma tui.
The Country about it was afterwards called Ro∣mania in a limited and restrained sense, (for that Romania was anciently the same with Orbis Romanus, seems clear from (e) 2.6 Epiphanius) and the People 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. But I suppose this was not done till about the middle times of the Empire, when it began to decline. The Greeks still re∣tain this name: For if you ask any of the Greeks born upon the Continent of Thrace what Coun∣tryman he is, he answers forthwith, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Romios, for so they pronounce it. The Turks in like manner call a Greek Christian Urum Gaour, or the Roman Infidel, as they will call some∣times the Emperour of Germany, Urumler Padisha, or Emperor of the Romans. Hence it was that the latter Graecian Emperors stiled themselves 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Kings of the Romans, that is, such as were born in Romania, and the other Countries, which made up the Eastern Division of the Empire. Though perchance by this flou∣rishing Title they pretended a right to the Go∣vernment of the West; upon which vain pre∣sumption they assumed also the Title of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Emperors of the World, as if they had been
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true Successors of Augustus, and the Western Emperors, Usurpers, whom they called by way of contempt and indignation, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Reges, as (f) 2.7 Luitprandus informs us in the accompt of his Ambassy to Nicephorus Phocas, and affor∣ded the People of Italy no other Title than that of (g) 2.8 Longobards or Lombards. The present Greeks call all the Western Christians 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Latins or Franks, the Turks only making use of the latter, when they speak civilly of us, and calling Christendom Phrenkistan, in the pre∣sent Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. The Turks now as proudly call Constantinople Alempena, or the Refuge of the World; where indeed seems to be a medly of all or most Nations of three parts of it, and of all Religions, which are allowed to be publickly profest and exercised every where throughout the Empire, except the Persian. For they look upon it as a corruption of, and deviation from the Rules and Doctrine of Mahomet, their great false Prophet, and therefore absolutely forbid it, as repugnant to, and destructive of the Do∣ctrine of Life and Salvation, as they speak. And accordingly they condemn with all imaginable fury the Professors of it, who pretend to follow Ali, as Sectaries and Apostates, and entertain worse Opinions of them, than of Christians, or Jews, or Infidels. The Persians are not behind-hand with them in their Hatred and Disrespect, deriding them as gross and stupid, and looking upon them as little less than barbarous: Inte∣rest and Zeal for their several Tenents heighte∣ning their Differences so much, that in time of War they destroy one anothers Moschs. I re∣member, that there was a great Discourse in Constantinople among the Turks, concerning an impudent hot-headed Persian, who publickly in
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the new Mosch, built by the Mother of the pre∣sent Emperor, asserted that Ali was equal to Mahomet. But it seems he very luckily made his escape out of their hands, at which the Priests and the more zealous Turks were very much scandalized.
The Greeks have twenty six Churches with∣in the walls of the City, besides six in Galata, of which I have given an account elsewhere. They have also two Churches at Scutari, one at Kadikui or Chalcedon. So at Staurosis, Chingilkui, and several other Villages upon the Asian shore of the Bosphorus, as at Beshictash, Ortakui, Cho∣rouch chesme, which Church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel, Jenikui or Neochorion, Therapia, Bujukdere, and other Villages on the Europaean side. They have also a Church at Haskui, where is their Burying-place, and ano∣ther near the Bagno, dedicated to St. Parasceve. And at Tatoula about a mile from Pera, upon a Hill, which from the Name of the Church is thence called by the Greeks and Franks, St. De∣metrius's Hill. Next to the holy Virgin, St. De∣metrius and St. George have most Churches dedi∣cated to them.
The Armenians have not, if I remember aright, above seven Churches, they being few in num∣ber in comparison of the Greeks.
The Jews may have in the City and places adjacent between twenty and thirty Synagogues, this being the greatest shelter of that accursed and contemptible People in the Grand Signior's Dominions, next to Caire and Saloniki; and I believe there may be about twenty or thirty thousand Families of them. They are of great use and service to the Turks, upon account of their Brocage and Merchandise, and Industry in se∣veral
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mechanical Trades. All these I look up∣on as Natives, or Slaves rather, each paying Money for his Head every year. The Jews in∣deed very wisely collect this tax among them∣selves, and according to an Agreement made with the Tefterdar or Treasurer, pay a certain sum in gross for their whole Nation residing there; by which piece of cunning they are great gainers, and spare the Poor among them less able to pay, by a contribution of the Rich to make up the sum. The English and Dutch Ambassadors have their Chappels in their Pala∣ces common to their respective Nations.
The Churches and Chappels of the Western Christians of the Roman Communion in Galata, are
St. Peter's, belonging to the Dominicans, where is the famous piece of Madonna di Constantinopoli, as the Italians call it, or of the blessed Virgin, holding the holy Child Jesus in her Arms; which they pretend to be drawn by the hand of St. Luke, celebrated by some of the latter Ec∣clesiastical Writers to have been a famous Pain∣ter. Out of respect to this idle Tradition, the credulous and superstitious Latines and Greeks of the Roman Communion shew great veneration to it, which otherwise hath little in it of Pro∣portion, Art, or Beauty to derive any Reputa∣tion upon the designer, or upon his Work.
St. Francis, belonging to the Conventuali, Fryars of the Order of St. Francis: the ground of this by the wise Conduct and Intercession of Cava∣liere Molino, the Venetian Bailo, after the surren∣dry of Candia, upon the Peace made by the Republick with the Grand Signior, was procu∣red to be restored, and a handsome Church re∣built,
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with the large Contributions of Money sent out of Christendome.
St. Benedict, belonging to the Jesuits, where is a rich Altar curiously adorn'd with several Fi∣gures in Mosaick. This Convent was purchased for them by their great Benefactor, Henry the Fourth of France.
St. Mary, belonging to the Observantines or Zoccolanti, a branch of the Order of St. Francis, so called from their going in Zoccoli or wooden Clogs.
The Capucines have a little Chappel dedicated to St. George, hard by the French Ambassador's Palace.
St. Ann, a Chappel frequented by the Pe∣rots.
St. Paul and St. Anthony were both taken away some years since from the Christians, and turned into Moschs. The former of which is now known by the name of Arab Giamesi, or the Mosch of the Arabians. Our Interpreters men∣tioned also to me the Church of St. John, which the Turks have seized upon for their use, St. George, which the Jews are possest of, and St. Sebastian, which was used to be visited chiefly on Holy-days.
The North Wind blows for the most part at Constantinople, which must be ascribed to its near∣ness to the Euxine Sea, which bears that point from it. So that for want of a Southwardly Wind, Ships have been forced to lye a month or two sometimes near the month of the Helle∣spont; this was taken notice of long since by Eunapia••, in the Life of Aedesius who ascribes the seldom blowing of the South Wind to the situa∣tion of the Mountains, whereas it is checked and
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overpowered by the exuberance of the Vapors continually sent forth from the black and great Sea, as the Greeks call it in comparison of the Mediterranean. Vide ad finem Codini de Origin. Constantinopol. Edit. Paris. pag. 80.
The Hellespont is about forty miles in length, and at the Castles of Sestos and Abydos the streight may be about three quarters of an English mile over, or less.
The length of the Propontis is about a hundred and fifty miles, both Shores may be seen in the middle of it. In it are
Cyzicus, an Island near the Asian Shore, to which it is joyned by two Bridges. It still re∣tains its ancient name 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and is the Seat of a Bishop, being inhabited by a considerable num∣ber of Greeks.
Proconnesus, not far from the former; now, as for some Centuries past, called Marmora, from the excellent Quarries of Marble there found, the Marmor Cyzenicum also being famous in the time of Pliny.
Besbycus, now called by the Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the Good Haven, not far from the entrance into the Bay of Montanea to the North-and-by-East; the Turks call it Imramle.
There are several Islands over against the Bay of Nicomedia; formerly called Sinus Astacenus, according to Strabo, about six or seven leagues from Constantinople (g) 2.9.
Prote, so called because they approach first to it, coming from Constantinople, to the South of this Prencipe and Pytis, which I take to be the same with Pyrgos, that lies inmost toward the Bay: Chalcitis, in modern Greek Chalce or Chal∣cis. Oxia and Platy to the North-west. I have expressed the Turkish names of the lesser and
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uninhabited Islands elsewhere, which perchance were fantastically imposed by some Franks.
The Seraglio is at the extream point of the North-east Angle of Constantinople, where for∣merly stood old Byzantium, within which, to∣wards the Haven is a stately Kiosk, or Summer-house, from whence the Grand Signior usually takes Barge, when he passes into Asia, or di∣verts himself upon the Bosphorus, at which time the Bostangi bashi, who hath the principal care of the Emperor's Palace, and hath the command of the Bosphorus, sits at the Helm and steers.
The seven Towers are at the South-east Ex∣tremity.
The only Suburbs are to the North-west, along the Haven-side; for above the Hill, where the three Walls begin, lies an open Champaign-country, except that here and there at considera∣ble distances Farm-houses are scattered.
The Haven runs in from the West, and so opens East.
At the East end of Galata is Tophana, where they cast their great Guns.
Pera and Galata have about six Gates to the Seaward. The whole tract of Ground was an∣ciently, before the times of the Emperor Va∣lentinian, who enclosed and fortified Galata with Walls and Towers, stiled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, on the other side of the City to the North; which is the reason of its Name, seated on higher Hills, and whose ascent is more steep and diffi∣cult.
Our modern Geographers, such as Mercator and Ortelius, who herein follow Ptolemy, place Constantinople in the Latitude of 43 degrees and 5 minutes: the Arabian and Persian Astronomers, as Abulfeda, Nassir Eddin, Vlugh Beigh, and so
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the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Chrysococcas, translated out of the Persian Tables, place it more Northerly in 45. But by latter and better observation it is found, that they have erred in assigning the Latitude of this City, as of several other places. To salve these differences, there is no just ground of pretence to say, that the Poles are moveable, and have changed their situation since their time; whereas it may better be imputed to their want of due Care, or to their taking things upon trust, from the Reports of Travellers and Seamen, not having been upon the places themselves; which certainly is to be said for Ptolemy, whose Observations, as to places more remote from Alexandria, are far from being ac∣curate and true. The learned Mr. John Greaves, as I find in a manuscript Discourse, very wor∣thy of being printed, which he presented to the most Reverend and Renowned Archbishop Usher, took the height of the Pole at Constantinople, with a brass Sextant of above 4 feet radius, and found it to be but 41 degrees 6′, but by the Observa∣tion we made in our Court-yard at Pera with a good Quadrant, we found but 40 degrees and 58 minutes of North Latitude.
There is no place between the Propontis and the Walls of the City, except just at the Seraglio point, which may be two hundred paces in length, where they have raised on a Platform a Battery for great Guns; but from the point to the end of the Haven West, the space to the Gates is unequal in some places about twenty paces broad, in others three or four times as many more.
The distance between Constantinople and Chal∣cedon, upon the opposite Bithynian shore, may be about three or four miles.
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In the Walls are engraven the Names of seve∣ral Emperors, who reigned toward the declension of the Graecian Empire, as Theophilus, Michael, Basilius, Constantinus Porphyrogenitus, by whose care, and at whose expence the several Breaches caused in them, by the Sea, or by Earth-quakes, were repaired.
Kumkapi, or the Sand-gate, lies toward the Propontis; this the Greeks call in their vulgar Language 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, Contoscalium, of the little Scale or Landing-place. Here formerly was an Arsenal for Gallies and other ••ll Vessels, it being a convenient passage over 〈◊〉〈◊〉. Over this Gate was anciently engraven a curious Inscri∣ption, still preserved in that excellent Collection published by (h) 2.10 Gruterus.
Jedicula Kapi, or the Gate of the seven towers, so called from its nearness to that Acropolis, is that, I guess, which the Greeks formerly called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the golden Gate, and by some late La∣tin Writers Chrysea, in Luitprandus, Carea, by a a mistake either of the Transcriber or Printer, for Aurea, for so certainly it must be mended. Over this Gate was this Inscription;
Haec loca Theudosius decorat post fata Tyranni,Aurea secla gerit, qui portam construit auro.
cited by Sirmond, in his Notes upon (i) 2.11 Sido∣nius. This Gate is in the twelfth Region, and was also called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, from its beautiful and cu∣rious Structure.
The Gun-gate, formerly called Roman-gate, not because it leads towards the Continent of Romania or Thrace, but from (k) 2.12 St. Romanus, where the last Christian Emperor was killed at the Assault, which the Turks made to force their way into the City by it.
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Near Adrianople-gate is a fair large Mosch cal∣led Ali-bassa, upon a hill accounted the highest in the City.
The distance between tower and tower in the upper wall to the landward, may be about nine∣ty of my paces; the space between that and the second wall about eighteen paces over.
The place, where the Lyons, Leopards, and such-like wild Creatures are kept, (where I saw also several Jackals) was formerly, as the Greeks told me, a Christian Church dedicated to 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or the Blessed Virgin, where this Verse is still legible:
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
There is no tide or running back of the Water on any side of the Bosphorus, into the black Sea, as (l) 2.13 some have imagined, whose mistake might possibly arise hence, that the Wind being at North, and blowing hard, the Current sets more violently at such times against the several Headlands jetting out into the Channel, which admits of several turnings, and so the Waters are forced back to some little distance: or else be∣cause when the South-wind freshens and grows boisterous, it makes a high rolling Sea in the Propontis and Bosphorus, and being contrary to the Current, gives a check to it, so that it be∣comes less sensible, and is easily stemmed. Where it is narrowest, the distance seems to the Eye to be scarce a mile over from one shore to another; where broadest, not much above a mile and a half, unless where it runs into the deep Bays, which by reason of their shallowness only harbour Boats.
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The Channel certainly is natural, and not cut by Art, as some have idly fancied, not conside∣ring how the Euxine Sea should discharge it self otherwise of those great quantities of Waters, poured into it by the Ister and Tanais, now cal∣led Don, and the other Rivers, whereby it be∣comes less Salt, even very sensibly to the taste, than several parts of the Mediterranean.
The Fish, by a strange kind of instinct, pass in vast shoales twice a year, Autumn and Spring, through the Bosphorus, that is, out of one Sea into another; of which the Greeks, who live several months of the year upon them, take great num∣bers, and supply the Markets at easie rates; the Cormorants and other ravenous Water-fowl, which the Turks will not suffer to be destroy'd, or otherwise molested, preying also upon them.
The Weather in some months is very incon∣stant, great Heats and Colds hapning the same day upon the change of the Wind.
The Winters at Constantinople are sometimes extraordinary severe. I have heard it related by several old Greeks, as a thing most certain, that the Bosphorus was frozen over in the time of Achmed, and that a Hare was coursed over it. It hapned thus; that upon a thaw huge Cakes of Ice came floating down the Danube, into the black Sea, and were driven by the current into the Bosphorus, where, upon the return of the Frost, they were fixed so hard, that it became passable. In the year 1669. there was Ice in the Haven, to the great amazement of the Turks; and some were so frighted at this unusual Accident, that they look'd upon it as a dismal Prodigy, and concluded that the World would be at an end that year. The Aguglia or Obelisk in the
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Hippodrome is betwixt fifty and sixty foot high.
The Historical Pillar in basso relievo, raised in honour of the Emperors Arcadius and Honorius, may be in height about an hundred seven and forty feet.
Alexus Comnenus lies buried in the Patriarchal Church against the Wall, and his Daughter Anna Comnena, the Historian, who lived about the year of Christ 1117. They pretend to shew there the Relicks of St. Anastasia, who suffered Martyrdom under the Emperor Valerianus, and of St. Euphemia, Virgin and Martyr, who lost her life most gloriously for Christ's holy Reli∣gion at Chalcedon under Dioclesian.
In Sancta Sophia there are Pillars so great, that a man can scarce fathom them at twice. At the end of the Gallery that joyns the other two, each about thirty of my paces wide, there is a piece of transparent Marble, two or three in∣ches thick. In the North Gallery, upon the Pavement is a reddish sort of a Marble-stone, brought, as the Turks and Christians relate, from Palestine, on which they fable, That the Blessed Virgin used to wash the Linnen of our Savi∣our.
I observed but one Step from the Body of the Church to the Bema, or place where the Altar formerly stood.
The great Mosch at Chasim-bassa on Pera-side to the West, was formerly a Church dedicated to St. Theodosia.
Gianghir, a Mosch so called upon a Hill at Fon∣daclee near Tophana.
In Constantinople there are several narrow streets of Trade, closed up with Sheds and Pent-houses, which I suppose were in use before the Greeks
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lost their Empire, and are the same with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Chrysaloras's Epistle, p. 119. But besides these places, several Trades have their distant quarters. The Streets are rai∣sed for the most part on each side for the greater convenience.
Not far from Suleimania is the House of the Aga, or General of the Janizaries, which so of∣ten changes its masters.
Pompey's Pillar, as the Franks erroneously call it, is of the Corinthian Order, curiously wrought, about eighteen foot in height, and three in dia∣meter
Beshiktash, a Village within three or four miles of Constantinople, towards the Bosphorus, where lies buried the famous Pyrate Ariadin, whom the Christian Writers call Barbarossa, who built here a handsome Mosch, having two rows of Pillars at the entrance. The Captain Bassa usually, before he puts to Sea with his Armata of Gallies, visits the Tomb of this fortunate Robber, who had made several thousand Chri∣stians Slaves, and makes his Prayers at the neigh∣bouring Church for the good success of his Expe∣dition.
They reckon in the City above a hundred publick Baths, every Street almost affording one. They are esteemed Works of great Piety and Charity, there being a continual use of them, not only upon the account of Religion, but of Health and Cleanliness: For their Dyet being for the most part hot spiced meats in the Win∣ter, and crude Fruits in the Summer, their Li∣quor Fountain-water or Coffee, to which we may add their lazy kind of life (for walking is never used by them for digestion, or otherwise in the way of diversion) frequent bathing becomes necessary.
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There are several Receptacles of Water under Ground, and one particularly under the Church of Sancta Sophia, as I was informed; but I did not think it worth my Curiosity to descend into it. These were of great use to the poor Greeks in the last fatal Siege; but the Turks are so se∣cure, that they do not think that they deserve either cost or pains to keep the Waters sweet, or the Cisterns in repair.
The Aquaeducts, which answer to those glori∣ous Aquaeducts, near Pyrgos, and convey the Wa∣ter to the great Cistern near Sultan Selim's Mosch, are in that part of Constantinople, which lies be∣tween the Mosch of Mahomet the Great and Sha zade.
The Turks began to besiege Constantinople on the fifth of April, and took it the twenty ninth of May, on Whitsun-Tuesday morning, 1453. or as the Turks reckon in the year 857. of the Hegira, or flight of Mahomet, the 22d day of the first Jomad.
The Chappel, where Ejub Sultan is interred, at whose Head and Feet I observed great Wax Candles, is enclosed with latten wire grates, for the better accommodation of such religious Turks, as come to pay their respect to the me∣mory of this great Musulman Saint. In the mid∣dle of the Area there is raised a Building sustai∣ned by excellent Marble Pillars, ascended by two several pair of stairs, where the new Emperor is inaugurated, and where he usually goes in Biram time.
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An Account of the City of Prusa in Bithynia, and a Continuation of the Historical Obser∣vations relating to Constantinople; by the Reverend and Learned Tho. Smith, D.D. Fellow of Magd. Coll. Oxon. and of the Royal Society.
MOntanea, formerly called Nicopolis, accor∣ding to Bellonius, or rather Cios, the Bay hence called Sinus Cianus, lies in the bottom of a Bay about fourscore miles from Constantinople, and is the scale or landing-place for Prusa, from which it may be about twelve miles; in the middle way to which is the Village Moussan∣poula.
Prusa, now called by the Turks Bursia, the chief City of Bithynia, is seated at the foot part∣ly, and partly upon the rising of the Mount Olympus, which is one of the highest Hills of the lesser Asia. Its top is covered with Snow for nine or ten months of the year, several streams of Water flowing down the Hill continually, accounted very unwholsome from the Snow mixed with it. In the upper part of the City to the North-west lies the Seraglio, which is wal∣led round; but the Emperors not residing here since their acquists in Thrace, or scarce making visits to this Imperial City, and none of their Sons living he••e of late, according to the for∣mer policy of the Turkish Emperors, who did not permit their Sons, when grown up, to be near
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them, but sent them to some honourable Em∣ployment, accompanied with a Bassa and Cadi, to instruct them in the Arts of War and Go∣vernment; it lies now neglected and despoyled of all its Ornaments.
In this part also are the Sepulchres of Osman, the Founder of the Family which now reigns, and his Son Urchan, who took the City, near a Mosch, formerly a Christian Church dedicated to St. John, and where was formerly a Convent of Religious, built by Constantinus Iconomachus, where I saw the figure of a Cross still remaining upon the Wall. Here hangs up a great Drum of a vast bigness, such as they carry upon the backs of Camels, and I suppose is one of those which they used in the taking of the place.
In the lower part, near the bottom of the Hill, Norad the second, the Father of Mahomet the Great, lies buried; near whereunto was formerly the Metropolitical Church of the Holy Apostles. The Bezesten, or Exchange, seems to be much better and larger than the great one at Constantinople, as are the several Caravanserais built for the use and accommodation of Mer∣chants and Travellers; in one of which, the Rice Chane, I took up my quarters.
Without the City, toward the East, is the Mosch and Sepulchre of the Emperor Bajazid the first, whom the Turks call Jilderim, or Lightning, and the Greek Writers 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Not far from hence is the Mosch of Mahomet the first, and his Sepulchre. Toward the West, upon the side of the Hill, is the Mosch of Mo∣rad the first, whom they call Gazi, or the Con∣queror, near which he lies buried. There are in the whole about 124 Moschs, several of which were formerly Christian Churches, and between
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fifty and sixty Chanes. The Castles built by Osman, when he besieged the City, are slighted and altogether unfortified, the one to the North, the other to the South-west.
At Checkerghe, about a mile and a half out of Town, are the hot Baths, much frequented both by Christians and Turks. They are made very convenient to bath in, and are covered over, that they may be used in all weathers. Among others, there is a large round Basin, where they usually divert themselves by swimming.
What Opinions the Turks have of our B. Sa∣viour and the Christian Religion, I shall brie∣fly shew, as they lye dispersed in several Cha∣pters of the Alcoran, according to which they frame their Discourse whensoever either Zeal or Curiosity puts them upon this Topick; for Mahomet, upon his setting up to be the Author of a new Religion, finding such a considerable part of the World professing the Doctrine of Christ, with all the Mysteries of Faith therein contained, was cast upon a necessity of saying something both concerning him and it. By which it will appear how great the power of Truth is above Imposture and Subtilty, and that as the Devils in the possessed confess'd, though against their wills, Christ to be the Son of God, so this Daemoniack, in the midst of all his Forgeries and Lyes, and ridiculous and childish Narratives, not being able to contradict the uni∣versal Belief of the Christians of that, and the preceeding Ages, founded on the History of the Gospel, hath been forced to give testimony to several particulars of it.
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They confess then, that Christ was born of a pure spotless Virgin, the Virgin Mary, chosen by God, and sanctified above all the Women in the World; and that the Angel Gabriel was dispat∣ched out of Heaven, to acquaint her with the news of it. That such a kind of miraculous and supernatural Birth never hapned to any besides, and that Christ was conceived by the Holy Ghost, and that he wrought mighty Miracles, for instance, that he cleansed Lepers, gave Sight to the Blind, restored Sick persons to their Health, and raised the Dead.
That he is a great Prophet, sent by God to convert men from the vanity and error of their false worship to the knowledge of the true God, to preach Righteousness, and to correct and re∣store the imperfection and miscarriages of hu∣man Nature; that he was of a most holy and exemplary life; that he was the true Word of God, the Apostle or Ambassador of God; that his Gospel was revealed to him from Heaven, and that he is in Heaven standing nigh to the Throne of God. They blaspheme indeed with a brutishness and stupidity only befitting Turks, the Mysteries of the Holy Trinity, and of the Di∣vinity of our B. Saviour, and deny that he was put to death, and say, that another in his shape was crucified by the Jews, and that he himself was assumed into Heaven in his body without dying at all, and consequently they will not own, that he satisfied Divine Justice for the Sins of the World; so great an affinity is there between the Heresie of Socinus and profess'd Mahometa∣nism.
I could never yet see any Turkish Translation of the Alcoran; they cry up the elegance of the style, which being Enthusiastick and high-flown,
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by reason also of the tinkling of the periods, is very delightful to their Ears, who seem to be affected with Rythme mightily. Though I sup∣pose it is upon a more politick account, that they are so averse, as to the translating it into their vulgar Language, not out of respect to the sa∣credness of the Original only, whose full com∣manding Expressions they think cannot be translated without a great diminution to the sence; but to keep it in greater veneration among the People, who might be apt to slight and disesteem it, should it become thus common among them. It is enough that the Priests and Learned men explain the difficult passages of it to the people, and write Commentaries for the use of the more curious and inquisitive. The Persians on the contrary think it no disparage∣ment to the Arabick, or profanation of the sence, to translate this cursed Book into their own Language, and Copies are frequent among them.
The Grand Signior's Women are usually the choicest Beauties of the Christian Spoiles, pre∣sented by the Bassa's or Tartars. The present Sultana, the Mother of the young Prince Musta∣pha, is a Candiot; the Valide or Emperors Mo∣ther, a Russian, the Daughter of a poor Priest, who with her Relations were seized upon by the Tartars, in an Incursion which they made into the Muscovites Country. She being recei∣ved into the Seraglio, by her beautiful Com∣plexion and cunning Behaviour, gain'd the Heart and the Affection of Sultan Ibrahim, (a man wholly addicted to soft Pleasures, and who seldom cared to be long absent from the Womens Apartment, but chose to spend his time among them.) Having the good Fortune
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to be the Mother of the Prince Mahomet, the eldest Son of his Father, who now reigns, she had all the Honours that could possibly be done her, and was the beloved Hazaki, or chief Con∣cubine. During this height of Splendour and Glory, the Court removing from Constantinople to Adrianople, distant about an hundred and twenty miles, as she was passing in great state attended with her Guards, through the Streets of the City, in a Coach much like our Car∣riage-wagons, but that they are latticed to let in the Air (for no one must presume to stare, or scarce look upon the Women, much less must they themselves suffer their Faces to be seen in this jealous Country) she out of curiosity looking through the holes, saw a poor Christian Slave in a Shop where Sugar and such-like Wares were sold. Upon her return she sent one of her Eu∣nuchs to enquire for the person, and to ask him several Questions about his Country, Relations, Friends, and the time when and how long he had been a Slave: His Answers were so parti∣cular and satisfactory, that she was soon con∣vinc'd of the truth and certainty of her appre∣hensions, when she first cast her Eyes upon him, that he was her Brother, and accordingly it pro∣ved so. Whereupon acquainting the Emperor with it, she immediately redeemed him from his Patron, and having made the poor Wretch turn Turk, got him considerably preferred.
The Bassa's for the most part are the Sons of Christians, taken into the Seraglio, near the Em∣peror's person, and so are preferr'd to considera∣ble Governments, or else they raise themselves by their Conduct and Valour. Mahomet Bassa, in the time of Achmet, whose eldest Daughter he married, was the first natural Turk that was
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made chief Vizier, having before been Captain Bassa. The chief Vizier Mahomet Kupriuli, (who settled the Empire in the minority of this Emperor, when it was ready to be shaken into pieces, and dissolved by several powerful Factions in the State, and by the Mutinies and Discontents of Janizaries and Spahi's, who drove different ways) was an Albanese by Birth, the Son of a Greek Briest, whom out of the height of his zeal for Mahomet, he made turn Turk in his old age, and converted the Christian Church in the Village where he was born, into a Mosch. This man also forbad the Dervises to dance in a ring and turn round, which before was their solemn practice at set times before the People, which they would do so long, till they were giddy by this swift circular motion, and fell down in a swoon, and then oftentimes upon their recovery from such Trances, they preten∣ded to revelation. The Churchmen are not very kind to his memory, looking upon him as a man of little or no Religion; and they give out, that if he had lived, he would have forbid their calling to Prayers from the Spires of their Moschs, and hanging out Lamps; both which they look upon as solemn and essential to the exercise of Religion; but he as the effect of Bi∣gottry and Superstitition.
They have a mighty honour and esteem for Physicians, for though they are of opinion, that they cannot with all their Art prolong Life, the period and term of it being fatal, and absolutely determin'd by God, yet they often consult them upon any violent sickness or pain, in order to make the time allotted them in this World more pleasant and easie. It is extraordinary rare, that a natural Turk makes Physick his profession and
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study. They who practise it among them, when I was in Turkey, were for the most part Greeks and Jews, who know nothing of chy∣mical Medicines, but follow the usual methods, which they learnt in Italy and Spain, the former having studied in Padua, and the latter in Sala∣manca, where they pass'd for good Catholicks. And I remember I met with a certain Jew Physician, who had been a Capucine in Portu∣gal. During the tedious Siege of Candia, the Vizier, what with Melancholy, and what with the ill air of the Camp, finding himself much indispos'd, sent for a Christian Physician Signior Massalini, a Subject of the Republick of Venice, but married to a Greek Woman, by whom he had several Children, who was our Neighbour at Pera, an experienc'd able man, to come spee∣dily to him, and made him a Present of about a thousand Dollars, in order to fit himself for the Voyage, and bear the expence of it. By this worthy Gentleman's care he recovered his Health, and would not permit him to depart, till after the surrender of that City, which might be about seven months after his arrival there, treating him in the mean while with all imaginable respect. During our short stay at Bursia, one of our Janizaries accidentally dis∣coursing with a Turk about us, whom they knew to be Franks, told him that there was a Physician in the company, who had been late∣ly at the Grand Signior's Court at Saloniki with the English Ambassador, and was now upon his return from Constantinople to Smyrna, where he lived. This presently took vent, and the Turks thought that they had got a man among them that could cure all Diseases infallibly; for seve∣ral immediately came to find us out in behalf
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of themselves or their sick Friends, and one of the most considerable men upon the place, de∣sired the Doctor to go to his House to visit one of his Women sick in Bed, who being permitted to feel her naked Pulse (for usually they throw a piece of fine Silk or Curle over their Womens Wrists at such times) soon disco∣vered by that and other symptoms and indica∣tions of her Distemper, that opening a Vein would presently give her ease, and recover her; which he did accordingly; for which he recei∣ved an embroidered Handkerchief instead of a Fee, and gained the reputation of having done a mighty Cure.
They have little of ingenious or solid Lear∣ning among them; their chief study, next to the Alcoran, being metaphysical Niceties about the Attributes of God, or else the maintenance of other odd speculative Notions and Te∣nents, derived down to them from some of their famed Masters and Holy men, whom they pretend to follow. Their knowledge of the motion of the Heavens, for which the Arabians and the other Eastern Nations have been so deservedly famous, as their Astronomical Ta∣bles of the Longitude and Latitude of the fixed Stars, and of the appulse of the Moon to them, fully evince, is now very mean, and is chiefly studied for the use of Judiciary Astrology. The great Instrument they make use of is an Astrolabe, with which they make very imper∣fect Observations, having no such thing as a Quadrant or Sextant, much less a Telescope, or any mechanical Engine, to direct and assist them in their calculation. Their Skill in Geo∣graphy is as inconsiderable; I remember I heard the Captain Bassa, whom they stile Admiral of
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the black and white Seas, meaning the Euxine and the Mediterranean, ask this silly question, Whether England were out of the Straits: And at another time the Caymacan or Governour of Constantinople hearing that England was an Island, desired to know how many miles it was about, in order, we supposed, to make an Estimate of our King's greatness and strength, by the extent and compass of it.
One of the great Astrologers of Constantinople, having heard that I had a pair of Globes in my Chamber, made me a visit on purpose to see their contrivance, being introduced by a wor∣thy Gentleman of our own Nation. After the first Ceremonies were over, I took my terrestial Globe, and rectified it to the position of the place, and pointed to the several circles both without and upon it, and told him in short the several uses of them; then shewed him how Constantinople beared from Candia, at that time besieged, Cair, Aleppo, Mecca, and other chief places of the Empire, with the other parts of the World: at which he was mightily surprized to see the whole Earth and Sea represented in that figure, and in so narrow a compass, and pleased himself with turning the Globe round several times together. Afterwards I set before him the celestial Globe, and rectified that, and shewed him how all the noted Constellations were exactly described, and how they moved regularly upon their Poles, as in the Heavens; some rising, and others setting, some always above the Horizon, and others always under, in an oblique sphere, and particularly what Stars would rise that night with us at such an hour; the man seemed to be ravished with the curiosi∣ty of it, turning this Globe also several times
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together with his Finger, and taking a mighty pleasure in viewing the motion of it; and yet this silly Animal pass'd for a Conjurer among the Turks, and was look'd upon as one that could foretell the Events of Battels, the fates of Empires, and the end of the World.
They have no Genius for Sea-voyages, and consequently are very raw and unexperienced in the Art of Navigation, scarce venturing to sail out of sight of Land. I speak of the natural Turks, who trade either in the black Sea or some part of the Morea, or between Constanti∣nople and Alexandria; and not of the Pyrates of Barbary, who are for the most part Renegado's, and learnt their Skill in Christendome, which they exercise so much to the terrour and da∣mage of it. A Turkish Compass consists but of eight points, the four Cardinal and four Colla∣teral; they being at a mighty loss how to sail by a side-wind, when by hauling their Sails sharp they might lye their course, and much more, when they are in the Winds eye, not knowing how to make tacks and bords, but chuse rather to make haste into some neigh∣bouring Port, till the Wind blows fair. An English and Turkish Vessel, both bound for the Bay of Saloniki, at the time of the Grand Signior's being there, pass'd together out of the Hellespont, but foul weather hapning, the Turks got into Lemnos; while our men kept at Sea, and pursued their Voyage, and after three weeks stay retur∣ned back to us, observing in their way, that the Turks remained in the same place where they left them, for want of a fore-wind to put to Sea in.
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They trouble not themselves with reading the Histories of other Nations or of ancient times, much less with the study of Chronology, without which History is very lame and im∣perfect; which is the cause of those ridiculous and childish mistakes, which pass current and uncontradicted among them. For instance, they make Job one of Solomon's Judges, and (Iscander) Alexander the Great Captain-General of his Army. They number Philip of Macedon among the Ancestors of our B. Saviour, and be∣lieve that Sampson, Jonas, and St. George were his Contemporaries. In this they are more excusa∣ble than their false Prophet Mahomet, who in his Alcoran has perverted several Historical No∣tices in the Writings of the Old Testament, and is guilty of vile and absurd Pseudo-chro∣nisms. To remedy this defect, of which he was very conscious, and the better to under∣stand the state of Christendom, and the particu∣lar Kingdoms and Republicks of it, the late great and wise Vizier, Achamet, made his Inter∣preter Panagiotti, a learned Greek, at leisure hours, even at the Siege of Candia, as well as at other times, read several ancient Histories to him, and render them extempore into the Tur∣kish Language, and particularly Blaeus Atlas, with which he was mightily pleased, and made great use of, and truly gained the reputation of a solid and judicious Statesman, as well as Soul∣dier among the Christian Ministers, who in the ordinary course of their Negotiations applied themselves to him.
Tho' their year be according to the course of the Moon, and so the Turkish months run round the civil year in a circle of thirty three years and a few odd days, yet they celebrate the
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Neuruz, which signifies in the Persian Tongue the New year, the twenty first day of March, (on which day the Vernal Equinox was fixed by the Greeks and other Oriental Christians, in the time of the Emperor Constantine, who made no provision for the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Pro∣cession, which in process of time the inequali∣ty between the civil and astronomical year must necessarily produce) at which time the Cadyes and other annual Magistrates, and Farmers of the Customs take place, and reckon to that day twelve month again.
In their civil deportment and behaviour one towards another, the left hand is the more wor∣thy and honourable place, except among their Ecclesiasticks; and the reason they alledge is, because they write from the right hand, and the Sword is worn on the left side, and so is more at his disposal, who walks on that hand. The chief Vizier accordingly in the Divan sits at the left hand of the Mufti, each maintaining their Right of Precedence, according to this way of decision.
In their Moschs they sit without any distincti∣on of degrees.
Some of the more zealous Turks cause to be engraven on their Cymeters and Bucklers a Sen∣tence out of the sixty first Surat, which is con∣cerning Fighting or Battle-array, and contains Encouragements to fight in the way and path of God, as the Impostor words it; for which he assures them, besides assistance from Heaven, to help them to get the Victory over their Ene∣mies, and that God will pardon their Sins, and bring them to Paradice. Thus spirited with zeal, a Turk lays about him with fury, when he is a fighting, and seems ambitious of dying to gain
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the delights of Paradise, at least indifferent whe∣ther he dyes or lives.
The Turks are, as to their temper, serious, or rather enclining to morosity, seldom laughing, which is accounted an Argument of great vani∣ty and lightness. They perform the Exercises which they use in the way of diversion, as Shooting and Hunting, with a great deal of gra∣vity, as if they designed them more for Health than for Pleasure; and this too but seldome. The better and richer sort, who have nothing to do, sitting all day at home, dolling upon a Sofa, or rais'd place in their Rooms, and taking Tobacco, which their Slaves fill and light for them: And if they retire in the Summer or Au∣tumn for a week or fortnight, to some conve∣nient▪ Fountain in a Wood, with their Women, it is chiefly to enjoy the Refreshments of the cool Air. In the times of Triumph indeed for some great Success obtained against the Christi∣ans, when the Shops are open for three nights together, and hung with Lights, as well as the Spires of the Moschs in curious Figures, they are guilty of extravagant Mirth, running up and down the Streets in companies, and sometimes singing and dancing after their rude way; but this fit being over, they soon return to their for∣mer melancholy. In the Coffee-houses where they use to resort to tipple, there is usually one hired by the Owners to read either an idle Book of Tales, which they admire as Wit, or filthy obscene Stories, with which they seem wonderfully affected and pleased, few of them being able to read. These are the Schools which they frequent for their Information, tho' in times of War when things went ill with them, their Discourses would be of the ill Government;
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and the Grand Signior himself, and his chief Mi∣nisters, could not escape their Censures, which manifestly tending to Sedition, and to the heightning of their Discontents by their mutual Complaints, and by this free venting of their Grievances during the War at Candia, the wise Vizier seeing the evil consequences that would follow, if such Meetings and Discourses were any longer tolerated, commanded that all the publick Coffee-houses should be shut up in Con∣stantinople, and several other great Cities of the Empire, where the Malecontents used to ren∣devouz themselves, and find fault upon every ill success and miscarriage, with the administra∣tion of Affairs.
The Custom of the Turks to salute the Em∣peror, or the Vizier Bassa's, with loud acclama∣tions and wishes of Health and Long-life, when they appear first in their Houses or any publick place, is derived from the Greeks, who took it from the Romans. This was done by them in a kind of singing tone; whence Luit∣prandus Bishop of Cremona tells us, that in a cer∣tain Procession (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) at which he was pre∣sent, they sang to the Emperor Nicephorus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, many years, (which Codinus, who li∣ved just about the taking of Constantinople by the Turks, expresses by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and to wish or salute by 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) and at Dinner the Greeks then present wish'd with a loud voice to the Emperor and Burdas, Ut Deus annos multiplicet, as he translates the Greek.
The Turkish Coyn in it self is pitiful and in∣considerable, which I ascribe not only to their want of Bullion, but to their little Skill in matters relating to the Mint. Hence it comes to pass,
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that Zecchines and Hungars for Gold, and Spanish Dollars and Zalotts for Silver stamp'd in Christendom pass current among them, most of the great Payments being made in them, they not caring either through Ignorance or Sloth, to follow the example of the Indian or Persian Emperors, who usually melt down the Christian Mony imported by the Merchants into their several Countries, and give it a new stamp. The most usual pieces are the Sheriphi of Gold, somewhat less in value than a Venetian Zecchine, and Aspers, ten of which are equal to Sixpence English, and some few three Asper pieces. A Mangur is an ugly old Copper piece, eight of which make but one Asper, and is not I think a Turkish Coyn, but rather Greek. They have no Arms upon their Coyn, only Letters embos∣sed on both sides, containing the Emperor's Name, or some short Sentence out of the Al∣coran.
The Turks look upon Earthquakes as ominous, as the Vulgar do upon Eclipses, not understan∣ding the Philosophy of them. During my stay in Constantinople, which was above two years, there hapned but one, which was October 26. 1669. about six a Clock in the morning, a stark Calm preceding. It lasted very near a minute, and we at Pera and Galata were as sensible of it as those who were on the other side of the Water; but, praised be God, nothing fell, and we were soon rid of the Fears in which this frightful Accident had cast us, being in our Beds, and not able, by reason of the surprize, in so little a space to have past through a Galle∣ry down a pair of Stairs into the Court, if we had attempted it. The Turks made direful Re∣flections on it, as if some Calamity would inevi∣tably
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fall upon the Empire, quickly forgetting the great Triumphings and Rejoycings which they exprest but a few days before for the Sur∣render of Candia. In the year 1668, in August, the Earth shook more or less for forty seven days together in the lesser Asia at Anguri (Ancyra) and for fifteen at Bacbasar, as we heard from a Scotch Merchant, who liv'd there: and particu∣larly, that at this latter place, on the second of August, between three and four of the clock in the Afternoon it lasted for a quarter of an hour; several Houses were overthrown, and some hundreds of Chimneys fell (it being a very populous Town) and yet there were but seven kill'd. The Trembling being so violent, both Turks and Christians forsook their Houses, and betook themselves to the Fields, Vineyards, and Gardens, where they made their abode for several days.
Their Punishments are very severe, this be∣ing judg'd the most effectual way to prevent all publick Disorders and Mischiefs. They use no great formality in their processes: If the Crimi∣nal be taken in the Fact, and the Witnesses ready and present to attest it, and sometimes if there be but probable circumstances, without full conviction, condemn him; and soon after Sentence, sometimes an hour or less, hurry him away to execution. For an ordinary Crime, Hanging is the usual Death; but for Robbery and Murder committed upon the High-way, by such as rob in Parties and alarm whole Pro∣vinces, or for Sacrilege, or for any hainous Crime against the Government, either Gaun∣ching or Excoriation, or cutting off the Legs and Arms, and leaving the Trunk of the Body in the High-way, or empaling, that is, thrust∣ing
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an Iron stake thro' the Body out under the Neck, or at the Mouth; in which extreme tor∣ment the miserable wretch may live two or three days, if the Guts or the Heart happen not to be wounded by the pointed Spike in its passage. This Punishment seems to have been in use among the Romans, Seneca's Epist. 14. Cogita hoc loco carcerem, & cruces, & eculeos, & uncum, & adactum medium hominem, qui per os emergat, stipitem: And so in his Book De Conso∣latione ad Marciam, cap. 20. Alii capite conversos in terram suspendere: alii per obscena stipitem egerunt, alii brachia patibulo explicuerunt: Murder is sel∣dom pardoned, and especially if the Relations of the murder'd person demand Justice.
The Circumcision, though it be a sacred Rite, is perform'd in their private Houses, and never in the Moschs.
The Women colour their Eye-brows and Lids with an ugly black Powder, I suppose, to set off their Beauty by such a shadow; and their Nails with the Powder of Kanna, which gives them a Tincture of faint red, like Brick, (as they do the Tails and Hoofs of Horses) which they look upon as a great Ornament. Their great Diversion is Bathing; sometimes thrice, if not four times a week. They do not permit them to go to Church in time of Prayer, for fear they should spoil their Devotion: The Turks being of so brutish a temper, that their Lust is raised upon the sight of a fair Object. They are call'd oftentimes by the Names of Flowers and Fruits, and sometimes fantastick Names are given them, such as Sucar Birpara, or bit of Sugar, Dil Ferib, or Ravisher of Hearts, and the like.
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Their Skill in Agriculture is very mean. In their Gardens they have several little Trenches to convey Water where it may be most neces∣sary for their Plants and Flowers. They know little or nothing of manuring their Grounds: Sometimes they burn their Fields and Vineyards after Harvest and Vintage, partly to destroy the Vermin, and partly to enrich the Soil. They tread out their Corn with Oxen, drawing a square Plank-board, about a foot and half or two foot over, studded with Flints, and winnow it upon their Threshing-floors in the open Air, the Wind blowing away the Chaff. They feed their Horses with Barly and chopt Straw, for I do not remember ever to have seen any Oats among them; and they make but little Hay.
For draught of great weight in their Carts they make use of Buffalo's.
Camels will endure Travel four days together without Water, and will eat tops of Thistles, Shrubs, or any kind of Boughs: They are very sure footed, and kneel when they are a loading, and live to a considerable number of years, some even to sixty.
The chief Furniture of their Houses are Car∣pets, or Matts of Grand Cairo, neatly wrought with Straw, spread upon the Ground; they having no occasion of Chairs, Couches, Stools, or Tables, their Postures within doors being different from ours. They have no Hangings, but their Walls are whited and set off with Painting, only adorn'd with a kind of Porce∣lane; no Beds clos'd with Curtains.
They Seal not with Wax, but Ink, at the bottom of the Paper, the Emperor's Name be∣ing usually written with flourishes and in per∣plex'd characters: Nor have they any Coats of
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Arms upon their Seals, there being no such thing as Gentility among them.
Some of them, notwithstanding their Zeal for Mahomet and the Religion by him establish'd, retain not only a favourable and honourable Opinion of our Blessed Saviour, but even place some kind of confidence in the usage of his Name, or of the words of the Gospel, though it may seem to be wholly in the way of Super∣stition. Thus in their Amulets, which they call Chaimaili, being little bits of Paper about two or three fingers breadth, roll'd up in pieces of Silk, containing several short Prayers or Sentences out of the Alcoran, with several Circles with other Figures, they usually inscribe the holy and vene∣rable Name of JESUS, or the figure of the Cross, or the first words of St. John's Gospel, and the like. They hang them about their Necks, or place them under their Arm-pits, or in their Bosom near their Hearts (being the same with what the Greeks call 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) and espe∣cially when they go to War, as a Preservative against the dangers of it; and indeed against any misfortune whatsoever. Some have them sow'd within their Caps: and I heard of a Turk who was so superstitious herein, that he always pluck'd it off, and was uncover'd, when he had occasion to make Water. Some are such Bigots in their Religion, and so furious against Chri∣stians, that not only they treat them with all imaginable Scorn and Contempt, but take it ill to be salam'd or saluted by them, as if it were the effect of sawciness or unbecoming familiari∣ty. Their malice against the Christians makes them envy the rich Furs they line their Vests with, and it is a trouble to these hypocritical
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Zealots to see the Franks ride upon their fine Arabian Horses.
The respect which they shew the Alcoran is wonderful; they dare not open the Leaves of it with unwashen hands, according to the advice or command written in Arabick upon the Cover, Let no one touch this Book, but he that is clean. They kiss it, and bend their Heads, and touch their Eyes with it, both when they open it and shut it.
The Janizaries, when they attend upon Chri∣stian Ambassadors to their Audience, seem to ap∣pear in their Bravery, and in a Habit far from that of a Souldier, being without either Fire-Arms or Swords, which latter are not worn, but in time of Service, or when they are upon a march, or embodied, wearing a Cap made of Camels Hair, with a broad flap dangling be∣hind, a gilt embroider'd Wreath running round it, and an oblong piece of Brass rising up from the middle of their Porehead near a Foot, with a great Club in their Hand, like inferiour Offi∣cers of the Civil Government. But when they are in the Camp, they throw off their upper Vest and Turbants, which they wear at all other usual times, as troublesome, and put on a Fess, or red Cap, which sits close to their Head, and tuck up their Duliman or long Coat to their Girdle, that they may be the more quick and expedite in their Charge.
They affect sinery and neatness in their Clothes and Shashes; not so much as a spot to be seen upon them, and in rainy or suspicious Weather are very careful how they go abroad without their Yamurlicks, which is a kind of Coat they throw over their Heads at such times.
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Their Pans and Dishes are for the most part of Copper, but so handsomely tinn'd over, that they look like Silver.
There are thousands of Gypsies or Zinganies in Turkey, who live the same idle nasty kind of life as they do in Christendom, and pretend to the same art of telling Fortunes; and are lookt upon as the offscouring of Mankind. It is ac∣counted the extremest point of human misery to be a Slave to any of this sort of Cattel.
The Haggi or Pilgrims, that have been at Mecca and Medina, forbear to drink Wine most religiously, out of a Perswasion, that one drop would efface all the merits of that troublesome and expensive Journey; and some have been possest with such a mad zeal, that that they have blinded themselves after their having been blest with the sight of Mahomet's Sepulchre.
After Jatzah, that is, an hour and a half in the night, throughout the whole year, there is as great a silence in the Streets as at midnight: The Emperor Achmet, in the year 1611, having made an Order, that no one should presume to be out of his House after that time, which is to this day most punctually observed. The Bo∣stangi bashi, who has the Command of all the Agiamoglans in the Seraglio, the Topgibashi, or such great Officers, attended with a great Train of armed men, walking the Rounds, and drub∣bing such as they find abroad at unseasonable hours, of what Nation or Quality soever, except Physicians, Chyrurgions, and Apothe∣caries, whom they allow at all times to visit Sick.
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The Turkmans, (for so they are peculiarly called, as if they were the true Descendents of the old Turks or Scythians, whose wandring kind of life is described by the Poet.
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Nulla domus, plaustris habitant, migrare per arva〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Mos, at{que} errantes circumvectare penates.)
have no fixt residence any where, but travel with their Families and Cattel from place to place, carrying their Wives and Children upon Camels; they pitch their Tents usually near Rivers and Fountains, for the convenience of Water, and according as their Necessities re∣quire, make a longer or shorter stay. Their whole Estate consists in their numerous Flocks and Herds, which they sell upon occasion, to supply themselves with what they want, at the Towns they pass by. Their only concern is, how to enjoy the Benefits and Blessings of Na∣ture, without the troubles and turmoils and dis∣quiets of Life, being contented and happy in one anothers Company, void of all Ambition and Envy, courteous and humane to Strangers, that may want their Help and Assistance, kind∣ly entertaining them with such Provision as their Folds afford. I have met with some Companies of these harmless Wanderers in my Travels. The Country lies open without any Enclosures, and the Propriety not being vested in any one, they travel through the Plains unmolested, and find excellent Pasture every where. The Turks till no more ground than will serve their neces∣sities, being supplied with Corn from Egypt, and from Moldavia and Walachia, by the way of the black Sea, letting vast tracts of Ground lye waste
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and uncultivated; so that their Sloth herein sometimes is justly punished with Dearths.
They have nothing to shew for their Houses and Possessions, but an Hogiet or piece of Pa∣per subscribed by the Cadi, if they have acqui∣red them by their Money, or that they were their Father's before them.
The Dervises generally are melancholy, and place the greatest part of their Religion in Ab∣stinence and other Severities. Some cut their Flesh, others vow not to speak for six or seven years, or all their lives long, though never so much provoked or distressed. Their Garments are made of a course sort of Wool, or Goats Hair: they are tyed up by the Vow of their Order ever from marrying. Several of this Sect, in the height of their Religious Phrenzy, have attempted upon the lives of the Emperors themselves, (at whose Government they have taken disgust) as Mahomet the Second, and Ach∣met, as if such desperate attempts were fatal to Bigots in all Religions.
They pay a mighty Veneration to any Relick of Mahomet, his Banner is still preserved in the Treasury of the Seraglio, and is look'd upon as the great Security of the Empire. They believe that it was sent from Heaven, and conveyed into the hands of Mahomet, by the Angel Ga∣briel, as a Pledge and sign of Success and Victory in his Battels against the Christians, and all other Enemies of the Musulman Faith. It was sent to Candia, to encourage the Souldiers to endure the fatigue of that long and tedious Siege; and when it was brought thence after the surrender of that City, to be deposited in its usual place, the Vi∣zier gave several Christian Slaves, that row'd in the Galley that was fraught with this holy
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Ware, their Liberty. They pretend to have some Rags of Mahomet's Vest, to which they ascribe great vertue. In confidence of which the Emperor Achmet, in the time of a great fire, which raged at Constantinople, when all other means failed, dipt part of them in Water, to be sprinkled upon the Fire to rebate the fury of it.
Next to the Mufti or Cadaleskires are the Mol∣las, of which these four are the chiefest in Dig∣nity. The Molla of Galata, Adrianople, Aleppo, Prusa; and after them are reckoned these eight, Stambol Ephendi, Larissa, Misir or Cairo, Sham or Damascus, Diarbekir or Mesopotamia, Cutaia, Sophia, Philippi.
The Priests have no Habit peculiar to their Profession, whereby they are distinguish'd from others. If they are put from their Moschs for Miscarriage or Neglect of doing their Duty, or if they think fit to resign and be Priests no lon∣ger, they may betake themselves without any scandal to secular Employments, their former Character and Quality wholly ceasing. While they remain Priests, they counterfeit a more than ordinary gravity in their discourse and walking: and affect to wear Turbants swelling out, and made up with more cross folds: which was all the difference which I could observe by their Head-Attire, which is various, though I could not find that this was constantly and strictly observ'd.
In Byram time, which is the great Festival of the year, at which time every one looks cheer∣fully and merrily, among other signs of mutual Respect, they besprinkle one another with sweet Water. They indulge to several Sports; and some are mightily pleased with Swinging in the
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open air, the ordinary sort of People especially, paying only a few Aspers for the diver∣sion.
The Government is perfectly arbitrary and despotical; the Will and Pleasure of the Em∣peror having the force and power of a Law, and oftentimes is above it. His bare Command, without any process, is enough to take off the Head of any Person, (though never so eminent in Dignity; though usually for formality, and to silence the murmurings of the Souldiery and People, the Sentence is confirmed by the Mufti.) Sometimes Bassa's, who have amassed great Treasures in their Governments, are cut off in their own Houses in the midst of their Retinue, the Messengers of Death producing the Imperial Command, usually sent in a black Purse, and not a Sword drawn in their defence. Others, if they are obnoxious to the least Umbrage or Jealousie, tho' dismist the Seraglio with all possi∣ble Demonstrations of the Grand Signior's Fa∣vour, and with rich Presents in order to take possession of Places of great command in the Empire, before they have got two or three days Journey from Constantinople, have been overtaken and strangled. In the Army Commands are gi∣ven according to merit, Courage and Conduct are sure to be rewarded, the way lying open to the meanest Souldier to raise himself to be the Chief of his Order. But other Preferments de∣pend upon meer Chance, and upon the Fancy of the Emperor, whether the person be fit or no, and they are as soon lost. The least ill suc∣cess or miscarriage proves oftentimes fatal, and a more lucky man is put in his place, and he suc∣ceeded by a third, if unfortunate in a design, though managed with never so much Prudence
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and Valour. They admit of no hereditary Ho∣nours, and have no respect to Descent or Blood, except the Ottoman Family; he only is great and noble whom the Emperor favours, and while his Command lasts. According to a Tra∣dition that passes current amongst them, a Bas∣sa's Son by a Sultana, or a Daughter or Sister of the Emperor, can rise no higher than to be a Sangiacbei, or Governor of some little Province, much inferiour to a Bassa, and under his Jurisdi∣ction. Being born of Slaves for the most part, they do not pride themselves in their Birth, very few among them being scarce able to give any account of their Grandfathers. They have no Sirnames, but are distinguished by their possessi∣ons and places of abode, and enjoying by Law a liberty of having what Women they please, they have little or no regard to Alliance or Kindred.
Their Empire owes the continuance of its Being to the severity of the Government, which oftentimes takes place without regard either to Justice or Equity, and to their frequent Wars, which prevent all occasions of Mutiny and Fa∣ction among the Souldiers, which happen fre∣quently when unemploy'd. So that tho' Ambi∣tion may put a warlike Sultan upon enlarging his Territories by new Conquests, yet reason of State forces a weak and effeminate Prince, such as was Ibrahim, to make War for his own secu∣rity. Their Politicks are not owing to Books and Study, and the Examples of past-times, but to Experience, and the plain suggestions of Na∣ture and common Sence: They have Rules of Government, which they firmly adhere to, hol∣ding the Reins streight, especially being cruel and inexorable to Criminals of State, who never are
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to expect any Mercy or Pity. Their Councils formerly were open, and their Designs known, and proclaimed before-hand, as if this had been a Bravery becoming their greatness, and that they scorned to steal a Conquest. But they have learned since the Art of Dissimulation, and can lye and swear for their Interest, and seem ex∣cessive in their Caresses to the Ministers of those Countries, which they intend to invade. But their Preparations for arming are made with so much noise, that an ordinary Jealousie is soon awakened by it to oppose them, in case of an attack. They seldom or never care to have War at both Extremes of the Empire at the same time, and therefore they are mighty sollicitous to secure a Peace with Christendom, when they intend a War upon the Persian; and as much as is possible, they avoid quarrelling with two Christian Princes at once, being usually at league either with Poland and Muscovy, when they war upon Hungary, and so on the contrary; dread∣ing nothing more than a Union of the Christian Princes bordering upon them, which would prove so fatal to their Empire, and quickly put a Period to their Greatness; for hereby they would be put upon a necessity of making a de∣fensive War, to their great loss and disadvan∣tage, and at last either be forced to beg a Peace of the Christians, or run the hazard of losing all by a further prosecution of War.
This they are very sensible of, and therefore as they take all occasion to promote Quarrels and Dissentions in Hungary and Transylvania, so they greatly rejoyce, when the Princes of Christendom are at War one with another. This is their great time of advantage, and they know, that it is their true Interest to pursue it, though they
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do not always, by reason of the ill condition of their own Affairs, make use of it. During the Civil Wars of Germany, the Bassa's and other Commanders of the Army were very im∣portunate with the Grand Signior, to make a War on that side, and to enlarge his Conquests as far as Vienna, no conjuncture having been ever so favourable to consummate such a design, in which Solyman so unhappily miscarried. They promised him an easie Victory, assuring him, that the Animosities of the Princes of the Empire were so heightned, that there was no room left for a Reconciliation, that he was but to go in the Head of an Army to take possession, and that Austria would surrender at the first news of his march towards it. The Emperor was not to be moved at that time by these Insinua∣tions and plausible Discourses; being continual∣ly urged, he as often denyed. One day when they came to renew their Advice about the Ger∣man War, he having given order before, that several Dogs should be kept for some days with∣out Meat, commanded that they should be brought out, being almost starved, and Meat thrown among them; whereupon they snailed and bit one another: In the midst of their noise and fighting he caused a Bear to be let loose in the same Area; the Dogs forgetting their Meat and leaving off their fighting, ran all upon the Bear, ready to prey upon them singly, and at last killed him. This Diversion the Emperor gave his Bassa's, and left them to make the ap∣plication.
A certain Prophecy, of no small Authority, runs in the minds of all the People, and has gain'd great credit and belief among them, that their Empire shall be ruined by a Northern
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Nation, which has white and yellowish Hair. The Interpretation is as various as their Fancy. Some fix this Character on the Moscovites; and the poor Greeks flatter themselves with foolish hopes, that they are to be their Deliverers, and to rescue them from their Slavery, chiefly be∣cause they are of their Communion, and owe their Conversion to the Christian Faith, to the Piety and Zeal of the Grecian Bishops formerly. Others look upon the Sweeds, as the persons de∣scrib'd in the Prophecy, whom they are most to fear. The Ground and Original of his Fan∣cy, I suppose, is owing to the great Opinion which they have of the Valour and Courage of that warlike Nation. The great Victories of the Sweeds in Germany, under Gustavus Adolphus were loudly proclaimed at Constantinople, as if there were no withstanding the shock and fury of their Arms: and their continued Successes con∣firmed the Turks in their first Belief, and their Fears and their Jealousies were augmented after∣wards, when Charles Gustave, a Prince of as he∣roick a Courage, and as great Abilities in the Art and Management of War as the justly admi∣red Gustavus, entred Poland with his Army, and carried all before him, seized upon Warsaw, and drove Casimire out of his Kingdom, and had al∣most made an entire and absolute Conquest, only a few places holding out. This alarmed the Grand Signior, and the Bassa's of the Port, as if the Prophecy were then about to be fulfilled, who did not care for the company of such trou∣blesome Neighbours, who might push on their Victories, and joyning with the Cossacks, advance their Arms further, and make their Country the Seat of a War, which might draw after it fatal consequences. To prevent which, Couriers are
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dispatch'd from Constantinople to Ragotski, Prince of Transylvania, then in concert with the Sweeds, to command him to retire with his Army out of Poland, as he valued the Peace and Safety of his own Country, and the friendship of the Grand Signior, whose Tributary he was, and by whose Favour he had gain'd that Principality: And the Crim-Tartars, the sworn Enemies of the Poles, who at that time lay heavy upon them, were wrought upon by the same Motives and Reasons of State, to clap up a Peace with them, that being freed from these distractions, they might unite their Forces the better together, and make head against the Sweeds.
The Ambassadors of Christian Princes, when they are admitted by the Grand Signior, to an Audience, (their Presents being then of course made, which are look'd upon as due, not to say, as an homage) are dismist in few words, and referred by him to his Wakil or Deputy, as he usually stiles the chief Vizier: and a small number of their Retinue only permitted the ho∣nour of kissing his Vest, and then rudely enough sent away.
The Grand Signiors keep up the state of the old Asiatick Princes: They do not expose them∣selves often to the view of the People, unless when they ride in Triumph, or upon some such solemn occasion; when they go to the Moschs, or divert themselves in the Fields, either in ri∣ding or hunting, they do not love to be stared upon, or approached. It is highly criminal to pry into their Sports, such an insolent Curiosity being often punished with Death. The Story is famous of Morad the Third, who baiting a Bear in the old Palace with a Mastiff, and espying three fellows upon the Tower of Bajazid's
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Mosch, who had planted themselves to see the Sport, commanded their Heads to be struck off immediately, and be brought before him, which was done accordingly. Instances of such Ca∣pricio's are frequent in the Turkish History: This following hapned during my stay at Constanti∣nople.
Upon the return of Vizier Achmet from Can∣dia, after the surrender of that City, and a hap∣py end put by him to that tedious and bloody War, he acquainting the present Emperor, then at Adrianople, with the History of that famous Siege at large, made such terrible Representati∣ons of their and the Venetians mining and coun∣termining one another, that the Emperor was resolved out of curiosity to see the Experiment made of a thing that seemed to him almost in∣credible. A Work was soon raised and under∣mined, and above thirty Murderers and Rob∣bers upon the High-way, and such-like Villains were put into it, as it were to defend it. The Grand Signior stood upon an Eminence at some considerable distance, expecting the issue of it; upon a Signal given, the Mine was sprung, and the Fort demolished, and the poor wretches torn piecemeal, to his great satisfaction and amazement.
The Moon is the auspicious Planet of the Turks; according to the course of which they celebrate their Festivals. They begin their Months from the first appearance of it, at which time they chuse, except a Delay brings a great Prejudice and Inconvenience with it, to begin their great Actions. The Crescent is the Ensign of the Empire, which they paint in their Banners, and place upon the Spires of their
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Moschs. Next to the day of the appearing Moon, they pitch upon Friday, to fight upon, to begin a Journey, and especially their Pilgrim∣mage toward Mecca, or do any thing of great consequence, as very lucky and fortunate.
An Account of the Latitude of Constanti∣nople and Rhodes; written by the Lear∣ned Mr. John Greaves, sometime Professor of Astronomy in the Ʋniversity of Oxford, and directed to the most Reverend James Ussher, Archbishop of Ardmagh.
UPON intimation of your Grace's Desires, and upon importunity of some Learned men, having finished a Table, as a Key to your Grace's exquisite disquisition, touching Asia, properly so called; I thought my self obliged to give both you and them a reason, why in the situation of Byzantium, and the Island Rhodus, (which two eminent places I have made the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and Bounds of the Chart) I dissent from the Traditions of the Ancients, and from the Tables of our late and best Geographers, and consequently dissenting in these, have been ne∣cessitated to alter the Latitudes, if not Longi∣tudes, of most of the remarkable Cities of this Discourse. And first for Byzantium, the received Latitude of it by Appianus, Mercator, Ortelius, Maginnus, and some others, is 43 degrees and 5 minutes. And this also we find in the Basil Edition of Ptolemy's Geography, procured by
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Erasmus out of a Greek MS. of Pettichius. The same likewise is confirmed by another choice MS. in Greek, of the most learned and judicious Mr. Selden, to whom for this favour and several others I stand obliged. And as much is expres∣sed in the late Edition of Ptolemy by Bertius, com∣pared and corrected by Sylburgius, with a Ma∣nuscript out of the Palatine Library. Where∣fore it cannot be doubted, having such a cloud of Witnesses, but that Ptolemy assigned to Byzan∣tium, as our best modern Geographers have done, the Latitude of 43°. 5′. And this will farther appear, not only out of his Geography, where it is often expressed, but also out of his 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 or Almagest, as the Arabians term it, where describing the Parallel passing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, he assigns to it 43°. 5′. What was the Opinion concerning Byzantium of Strabo prece∣ding Ptolemy, or of Hipparchus preceding Strabo, or of Eratosthenes ancienter, and it may be ac∣curater than all of them, (for Strabo (lib. 2.) calls him 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) though Tully (Lib. Ep. ad Att.) makes Hipparchus often reprehended Eratosthenes, as Ptolemy after him doth Marinus, their Writings not being now extant, (unless those of Strabo) cannot be deter∣mined by us. But as for Strabo, in our enquiry, we can expect little satisfaction; for his descri∣ption of places, having more of the Historian and Philosopher, (both which he hath perfor∣med with singular Gravity and Judgment) than the exactness of a Mathematician, who strictly respects the Position of places, without inquisi∣tion after their Nature, Qualities, and Inhabi∣tants, (though the best Geography would be a mixture of them all, as Abulfeda, an Arabian Prince in his Rectification of Countries above
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Three hundred years since hath done;) I say for these Reasons we can expect little satisfa∣ction from Strabo, and less may we hope for from Dionysius Afer, Arrianus, Stephanus Byzanti∣nus, and others. Wherefore next having re∣course to the Arabians, who in Geography de∣serve the second place after the Grecians, I find in Nassir Eddin the Latitude of Byzantium, which he terms Buzantiya, and Constantiniya, to be 45 degrees, and in Ulug Beg's Astronomical Tables the same to be expressed. Abulfeda chiefly fol∣lows four principal Authors as his Guides, in the compiling of his Geographical Tables, those are Alfaras, Albiruny, Hon Saiid Almagraby, lastly, Ptolemy, whose Geography he terms a description of the Quadrant, (or the fourth part of the Earth) inhabited; and all these, according to his assertion, place Byzantium in 45 degrees of Latitude. And here it may justly be wonder'd how this difference should arise between the Greek Copies of Ptolemy, and those translated into Arabick by the command of Almamon, the learned Calife of Babylon; for Abulfeda expresly relates, that Ptolemy was first interpreted in his time, that is, in the computation of Almeeinus, in Erpenius's Edition, and of Emir Cond a Persian Historiographer, more than 800 years since; concerning which Abulfeda writes thus, This Book (discoursing of Ptolemy's Geography) was transla∣ted out of the Graecian Language into the Arabick for Almamon: And in this I find (by three fair MSS of Abulfeda) Byzantium to be constantly placed in 45°. and as constantly in the Greek Copies in 43°. 5′. But in the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 of Chrysococ∣ca, out of the Persian Tables, (made about the year 1346. in Scaliger's Calculation) it is placed in 45°. To reconcile the difference between the
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Greeks and Arabians, may seem impossible, for the common refuge of flying to the corruption of numbers by Transcribers, and laying the fault on them, which sometimes is the Author's, will not help us in this particular; seeing the Greek Copies agree amongst themselves, and the Ara∣bick amongst themselves. The best way to end the Dispute, will be, to give credit concerning the Latitude of Byzantium, neither to the Greeks nor Arabians. And that I have reason for this Assertion, appears by several Observations of mine at Constantinople, with a Brass Sextant of above four foot Radius. Where taking, in the Summer Solstice, the Meridian Altitude of the Sun, without using any 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 for the Pa∣rallax and Refraction, (which at that time was not necessary) I found the Latitude to be 41 de∣grees 6 minutes. And in this Latitude in the Chart I have placed Byzantium, and not in that either of the Greeks or Arabians. From which Observation, being of singular use in the rectifi∣cation of Geography, it will follow by way of Corallary, that all Maps for the North-East of Europe, and of Asia, adjoyning upon the Bosphorus Thracius, the Pontus Euxinus, and much farther, are to be corrected; and consequently the situa∣tion of most Cities in Asia properly so called, are to be brought more Southerly than those of Pto∣lemy, by almost two entire degrees, and then those of the Arabians, by almost four.
Concerning Rhodes, it may be presumed, that having been the Mother, and Nurse of so many eminent Mathematicians, and having long flou∣rished in Navigation, by the direction of these, and by the vicinity of the Phoenicians, they could not be ignorant of the precise Latitude of their Country, and that from them Ptolemy might re∣ceive
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a true information. Though it cannot be denied, but that Ptolemy, in places remoter from Alexandria, hath much erred. I shall only in∣stance in our own Country, where he situates 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is London, in 54 degrees of Latitude, and the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or the middle of the Isle of Wight, (which in the printed Copies is falsly termed 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, but in the MSS rightly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) in 52 de∣grees, and 20 minutes of Latitude. Whereas London is certainly known to have for the Alti∣tude of the Pole, or Latitude of the place, only 51 degrees and 32 minutes; and the middle of the Isle of Wight not to exceed 50 degrees, and some minutes.
But in my judgment Ptolemy is very excusable in these and the like Errors, of several other places far distant from Alexandria, seeing he must for their position necessarily have depended ei∣ther upon relations of Travellers, or Observati∣ons of Mariners, or upon the Longitude of the day, measured in those times by Clepsydrae; all which how uncertain they are, and subject unto Error, if some celestial Observations be not joyn∣ed with them, and those exactly taken with large Instruments, (in which kind the Ancients have not many, and our times, (excepting Tycho Brahe, and some of the Arabians) but a few) I say no man, that hath conversed with modern Travellers and Navigators, can be ignorant. Wherefore to excuse these Errors of his (or ra∣ther of others fathered by him) with a greater absurdity, by asserting the Poles of the World since his time to have changed their site, and consequently all Countries their Latitudes, as Mariana the Master of Copernicus, and others after him have imagined; or else to charge Ptolemy, being so excellent an Artist, with Ignorance,
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and that even of his own Country, as Cluverius hath done, (from which my Observations at Alexandria and Memphis may vindicate him) the former were too great a stupidity, and the latter too great a Presumption. But to return to Rhodes, an Island (in Eustathius's Comment upon Diony∣sius's 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) of 920 furlongs circuit, where ac∣cording to Ptolemy, the Parallel passing 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, hath 36 degrees of Latitude, and so hath Lindus, and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the chief Cities of the Island; the same is confirmed by the MS, but where the printed Copy and Eustathius read 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which Mercator renders Talyssus, the MS renders 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Abulfeda in some Copies situates the Island Rhodes, (for he mentions no Cities there) in the Latitude of 37 degrees and 40 minutes: And the Geography of Said Ibn Aly Algiorgany, commen∣ded by Gilbertus Gaulmyn, in 37 degrees, if it be not by a transposition in the MS of the numerical Letters in Arabic, 37 for 36. which by reason of their similitude, are often confounded in Arabick MSS. By my Observations under the Walls of the City Rhodes, with a fair Brass Astrolabe of Gemma Frisius, containing 14 inches in the dia∣meter, I found the Latitude to be 37° and 50′. A larger Instrument I durst not adventure to carry on shore in a place of so much jealousie. And this Latitude in the Chart I have assigned to the City Rhodes, (from the Island so denomi∣nated, upon which on the North-east side it stands situated) better agreeing with the Arabians than with Ptolemy, whom I know not how to excuse.
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CHAP. VI.
Some Observations made in a Voyage to Aegypt.
By M. Belon.
IN our sailing between Rhodes and Alexandria, a sort of Falcon came and sate two hours up∣on our Sails. Abundance of Quails flying from the North Southwards, fell into our Ship. We observ'd in our sailing many Pelecans, and some unknown Birds.
At Alexandria I observ'd them to burn the Kali for Fuel, Wood being scarce; they calcine Lime with the Ashes, then call it Soda, and sell it to the Venetians, who melt it with a particu∣lar Stone brought from Pavia, by the River Te∣sino, and so make their famous Crystal Glass at Muran; but the French find the Sand brought from Estampes to serve as well as the Pavian Stone. From this place they send their Com∣modities and Merchandise into all parts of the World.
In my passage to and from Grand Cairo, and during my abode there, I observ'd besides other things the Animals and Plants.
As the Garaffa or Camelopardalus; the Bubalus of Africk, different from the Buffalo; Flocks of the Oryx, and of Gazells which they shoot; the Axis, a most beautiful Creature (by the Descri∣ption it may be the Zebra or Zembra of Africk) great varieties of Monkeys at Caire; the Hippopo∣tamus about the Lakes and Rivers; Goats with very long Ears hanging down almost to the
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Ground; Sheep with great Tails, and vast Laps under their Chin; the Ichneumon tame in their Houses like Cats, this Animal destroys Rats and Mice like Weasils, hunts Serpents which the People eat, destroys Chamaelions and other Liz∣zards, it creeps and darts upon its Prey; 'tis bigger and much stronger than a Cat. I ob∣serv'd at Caire many Civet-Cats.
Two kinds of Camelions frequently sitting on the Rhamnus, catching of Insects with their Tongues as they fly by; Crocodiles common in the Lakes and Rivers; the little Lacerta Chalci∣dica hunts Insects under the Walls; the Stellio or Swift Lizzard is common about the Pyramids, and the other Sepulchres, where it runs after Flies; the Excrement of this Animal is sold up and down for an excellent Cosmetick: I saw al∣so the Serpent call'd Cerastes. The great Batts abound in the Caves.
Amongst the Birds the Ostrich, whose Skins and Feathers are in use amongst the Turks; the Pelecan, with whose Bills and Bags the Water∣men of the Nile throw the Water out of their Boats; the Vulp-Anser is common in the watery places. I observ'd also the Crex, and the Ibis. The Inhabitants never hatch their Eggs under Hens, but all in Ovens or Furnaces.
The common Trees are, the Tamarisk, loaded with Galls or Animal Excrescencies; the Date-Palm; the Acacia or Gum-Arabick Tree; the Cas∣sia Solutiva; the Tamarind; the true Sycamore, or Pharaoh's Fig-Tree; the Musa Arbor, or the Plantane; the Siliqua or Carob; yellow Jasmine and yellow Roses; Syringa; Alcanna (a sort of Ligustrum) Cotton Trees, &c.
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The most remarkable Herbs I took notice of were the Papyrus Nilotica (a sort of Cyperus out of whose Threds or Filaments the Ancients made their Paper). The Colocasia or great Aegyptian Arum, whose Root they boyl with most of their Meats; The Sugar Cane or Reed, by the Fuel whereof they melt their Metals, Wood being scarce in Aegypt; Hyoscyamus niger, out of whose Root they prepare an Oyl for their Lamps and other uses: A milky Convolvulus on the Walls (perhaps an Apocynum, being podded;) several Phaseoli or Kidney-beans; Gourds, Pumpions, Thorn-apples, Coloquintida; many Ocimums or wild Basils; the Harmala common about Alexandria (a sort of Rue with great white Flowers) the Abrus, two Senna's, Bammia, Melochia, Stratiotes, &c.
The Eagle-stone is found up and down Aegypt in very great plenty.
More Observations made in Ae∣gypt, by Guilandinus, Alpinus, and others.
CHAP. I.
Of the Weather and Seasons in Aegypt.
THE Months of January and February make the Spring in Aegypt, the Trees beginning to germinate and put forth, and the Herbs to flower, so that then the Fields and Gardens are in their glory.
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They reckon two Summers, their first is in March, April, May, which is the most unconstant, unequal, and most sickly season of the year, as also the hottest and most scorching; which is imputed to the East and South Winds, that blow generally for fifty days together over de∣sart sandy places, accompanied with a hot bur∣ning Sand, that spoils all their Eyes: Strangers during this Season retire into Grotts and subter∣raneous places, and drink much of the Water of Nile, which is excellent in quenching epidemi∣cal Thirst at that time.
Their second Summer is in June, July, August, which is equal, constant, and healthful, the Wind blowing then from the North over Sea, the Nile also swelling and overflowing by the Rains falling in Aethiopia, and the Air moist and refreshing. Now all the People abstain from Business and Labour, follow Spectacles, Games, Plays, &c. the Land being under Wa∣ter.
September and October make their Autumn, at the end whereof they sow their Wheat, which they reap in March following. This Autumn is temperate and salubrious.
November and December are their Winter; Ice, Snow, and Hail are seldom or never seen: Rain falls rarely in the inner parts of Aegypt, only a Dew; but at Alexandria, and other pla∣ces near the Sea they have Rain, and a more healthful Air; these Showers come most in No∣vember.
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CHAP. II.
Of the Meats and Drinks of Aegypt.
THE Inhabitants, especially the Mahometans, live abstemiously, eat little and often; their Dyet is generally simple, abhorring mix∣tures and variety. Rice boyl'd in Mutton Broth, Lentils, Pulse, and Legumes; Bete, Mallows call'd Bamia, Cucumbers, Melons, Citruls, Dates, Figs of the Sycomore, Plantanes, Pomegranats, Grapes, Oran∣ges, Lemons, Citrons, Sugar Canes, Colocasia Root, &c. make up the greatest part of their Diet.
The richest sort eat Mutton, Poultry, and several sorts of Fish from the Nile, which tho' fat, are not esteem'd wholsome, because the bot∣tom of that River is very muddy, and the Wa∣ter much troubled. All their Bread is made of Wheat, and they make abundance of Milk-meats. Their Kitchin-herbs are water'd every day, all their Gardens being planted near the banks of the Nile, which is one reason that their Salleting is more watry and insipid than in Italy; yet if they did not water them every day in Aegypt, they would soon be dry'd up. There are no Gardens but near the River, because there is no Rain nor fresh Water in other parts.
The ordinary People will eat Camels, Buffaloes and Crocodiles. The Water of the Nile, purged and clarified either by standing in Jarrs or pre∣cipitated with Powder and Pastes of sweet Al∣monds, is the general Drink of the Country, being esteem'd the lightest, the most nutritious, and the most refreshing liquor in the World, the
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Water running so far under a hot Sun, and fal∣ling down so many Cataracts.
The Inhabitants sleep little, indulge Venery, having many Wives and Concubines, are gene∣rally idle, yet live long, and see more years than the Poles, Germans, and other Northern Nations, where Gluttony and Drunkenness are much more in fashion than in the Aegyptian Climate. The Jews and Christians, as also the Turkish Soul∣diers, will often debauch at Grand Caire, with those rich Wines brought from Candy, Rhodes, and Cyprus; those from Italy, Corfou, and Zant will not keep in Aegypt, the heat soon pricking them.
CHAP. III.
Of the Diseases and Physick.
THE most epidemical and endemial Distem∣pers of Aegypt are sore Eyes from the East and South Winds bringing along with them a burning Sand and piercing Nitre mixt with it, which makes them frequently wash and cleanse their Eyes with the Nile Water at that Season. Leprosies from their Salt and rotten Fish. In∣flammatory Phrenzies, killing in three or four hours time. A pestilential Small pox, and pesti∣lential Feavers, especially at Alexandria in Au∣tumn. Ruptures are very common, by reason of their moist and watry Diet: But that which destroys most is the Plague, which they take no care to obstruct or avoid, depending upon their Principle of inevitable Fate and Predestination; therefore in the year 1580 they lost above 500000 Souls in 6 or 7 months time, in the single City of Grand Caire.
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The Plague in Aegypt rages for the most part from the beginning of September to June, at which time it never fails to cease, the Wind tur∣ning then to the salubrious Quarter of the North, and the Nile swelling with fresh Streams.
They reckon this Plague is constantly brought either from Barbary, Lybia, or other African Countries, or else from Syria or Greece; that from Barbary is most furious and pernicious, the other two mild and gentle.
Their practical Physick consists in Phleboto∣my, which they administer universally in almost every Disease; in cauterizing or burning, in scarrifying, in cupping, bathing, in a few leni∣tive Purgatives, and cooling quieting Altera∣tives.
They Bleed by cutting or pricking the Veins and Arteries themselves in most parts of the Body; yet in Eunuchs, Women, Children, and other soft Constitutions, they take away Blood by scarrifying the Thighs, Ears, Lips, Nostrils, Gums, &c. They generally bleed after Meat. Their Cupping-glasses are of different Figures from ours, and their Cautery is Cotton set on fire.
They have a gross way of Cutting in Drop∣sies, to let the Water out. Their manner of ex∣tracting Stones out of the Bladder is by blowing and extending the Urethra, then pressing the Stones to the neck of the Bladder by their Fin∣gers put into the Anus or Fundament, and after∣wards sucking them out through the expanded passages.
Their Women bath very much, and use all manner of Arts to soften and plump their Bo∣dies.
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They abstain from all hot or violent Purga∣tives, as Scammony, Coloquintida, Elaterium, Hel∣lebores, Cataputia, Metezeon, &c. and use only the most gentle Lenitives, as Cassia, Tamarinds, Manna, Myrobalans, sometimes Rheubarb and a little Sena, as also cooling Clysters.
Their Alterative Physick consists of Coolers, and Anodyns, as Nymphaea, Poppy, Endive, Let∣tice, Berberries, China-root (never Guaicum or Sarsa) Opium, Flowers of the Alcanna, Coffee: The Women will eat Hermodactyls like roasted Chesnuts at night. They have few Compound Medicines, unless a Theriaca different from the Venetian, or that of Andromachus, in the preparing of which they seem very careful and ceremoni∣ous. Some amongst them pretend to many Ar∣canums against Feavers.
For a full Catalogue of such Trees, Shrubs, and Herbs as grow in Aegypt, together with their synonymous names and places, the Reader may consult Mr. Ray's Collection of Exotick Catalogues, publish'd at London 1693, and annext at the end of this Work, amongst which he will find an Aegyptian one.
The manner of hatching Chickens at Grand Cairo, with a particular delineation of the Ovens, Fire, Matts, &c. may be read at large in Mr. Greaves's Relation, printed in the Philosoph. Trans. N. 137. pag. 923, 924, 925.
Several Conjectures and Experiments upon the Aegyptian Nitre, commonly call'd Natron, (found floating on the Lake Latron near Nitria, a Town lower upon the Nile than Grand Cairo) may be read in the Philosoph. Trans. N. 160. from p. 609 to p. 619. also in N. 167. p. 837, 838. where 'tis proved to be little different from Sal Armo∣niack,
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and may owe its original to a natural union or mixture of the fossile Salt of the Lakes with the Urinose one, that comes from the Crocodiles, Hippopotami, and other Animal Inha∣bitants of those Waters.
Of the Pyramids of AEGYPT. By Mr. Creaves, Professor of Astro∣nomy in the Ʋniversity of Oxford.
A Description of the Pyramids in Aegypt, as I found them in the 1048 year of the He∣gira, or in the years 1638, and 1639 of our Lord, after the Dionysian Account.
A Description of the first and fairest Pyramid.
THE first and fairest of the three greater Pyramids is situated on the top of a rocky Hill, in the Sandy Desart of Lybia, about a quar∣ter of a mile distant to the West, from the Plains of Aegypt, above which the Rock riseth an hun∣dred feet or better, with a gentle and easie ascent. Upon this advantageous Rise, and upon this solid Foundation the Pyramid is erected; the heighth of the situation adding to the beauty of the Work, and the solidity of the Rock giving the Superstructure a permanent and stable sup∣port. Each side of the Pyramid, computing it according to Herodotus, contains in length 800
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Graecian feet: And in Diodorus Siculus account 700 Strabo reckons it less than a furlong, that is less than 600 Graecian feet, or Six hundred twenty five Roman. And Pliny equals it to 883. That of Diodorus Siculus, in my judgment, comes nearest to the Truth, and may serve in some kind to confirm those proportions, which in another Discourse I have assigned to the Grae∣cian measures: For measuring the North side of it, near the Basis, by an exquisite radius of ten feet in length, taking two several stations, as Mathematicians use to do, when any Obstacle hinders their approach, I found it to be Six hundred ninety three feet, according to the English Standard; which quantity is somewhat less than that of Diodorus. The rest of the sides were examined by a line, for want of an even level and a convenient distance to place my In∣struments, both which the Area on the former side afforded.
The Altitude of this Pyramid was long since measured by Thales Milesius, who according to Tatianus Assyrius lived about the fiftieth Olym∣piad, but his Observations is no where by the Ancients expressed: Only Pliny tells us of a course proposed by him, how it might be found, and that is by observing such an hour, when the sha∣dow of the body is equal to its height. A way at the best, by reason of the faintness and scatte∣ring of the extremity of the shadow, in so great an Altitude, uncertain, and subject unto Error. And yet Diogenes Laertius, in the life of Thales, hath the same Story, from the Authority of Hieronymus. Hieronymus reports, That he mea∣sured the Pyramids by their shadow, marking when they are of an equal quantity. Wherefore I shall pass by his, and give my own Observati∣ons.
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The Altitude is something defective of the Latitude; though in Strabo's computation it exceeds; but Diodorus rightly acknowledges it to be less, which if we measure by its perpendi∣cular, is Four hundred eighty one feet; but if we take it as the Pyramid ascends inclining (as all such Figures do) then it is equal, in respect of the lines subtending the several angles, to the Latitude of the Basis, that is to six hundred nine∣ty three feet.
What excessive heighths some fancy to them∣selves, or borrow from the relations of others, I shall not now examine. This I am certain of, that the Shaft or Spire of Pauls in London, before it was casually burnt, being as much, or some∣what more than the altitude of the Tower now standing (1647) did exceed the height of this Pyramid. For Cambden describes it to have been in a perpendicular, five hundred and twenty feet from the Ground.
If we imagine upon the sides of the Basis, which is perfectly square, four equilateral trian∣gles mutually propending, and enclining, till they all meet on high as it were in a point (for so the top seems to them which stand below) then shall we have a true notion of the just dimension and figure of this Pyramid: The Perimeter of each triangle comprehending two thousand se∣venty nine feet (besides the Latitude of a little Plain, or Flat on the top) and the perimeter of the Basis Two thousand seven hundred seventy two feet: Whereby the whole area of the Basis (to proportion it to our measures) contains four hundred eighty thousand, two hundred forty nine square feet, or eleven English Acres of Ground, and 1089 of 43560 parts of an Acre. A proportion so monstrous, that if the Ancients
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did not attest as much, and some of them de∣scribe it to be more, this Age would hardly be induced to give credit to it. But Herodotus de∣scribing each side to contain eight hundred feet, the area must of necessity be greater than that by me assigned, the sum amounting to six hun∣dred and forty thousand; or computing it as Diodorus Siculus doth, the area will comprehend four hundred and ninety thousand feet: And in the calculation of Pliny, if we shall square eight hundred eighty three (which is the number al∣lotted by him to the measure of each side) the Product seven hundred seventy nine thousand six hundred eighty nine, will much exceed both that of Herodotus and this of Diodorus. Though certainly Pliny is much mistaken, in assigning the measure of the side to be eight hundred eighty three feet, and the Basis of the Pyramid to be but eight iugera, or Roman Acres: For if we take the Roman iugerum to contain in length two hundred and forty feet, and in breadth one hundred and twenty, as may be evidently pro∣ved out of Varro, and is expresly affirmed by Quintilian, then will the superficies, or whole ex∣tention, of the iugerum be equal to twenty eight thousand eight hundred Roman feet; with which if we divide seven hundred seventy nine thou∣sand six hundred eighty nine, the result will be twenty seven Roman iugera, and 2089 of 28800 parts of an Acre. Wherefore if we take those numbers eight hundred eighty three of Pliny to be true, then I suppose he writ twenty eight iugera, instead of eight, or else in his propor∣tion of the side, to the area of the Basis he hath erred.
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The ascent to the top of the Pyramid is con∣trived in this manner. From all the sides with∣out we ascend by degrees; the lowermost de∣gree is near four foot in height, and three in breadth. This runs about the Pyramid in a le∣vel; and at the first, when the Stones were en∣tire, which are now somewhat decay'd, made on every side of it a long but narrow Walk. The second degree is like the first, each Stone amounting to almost four feet in height, and three in breadth; it retires inward from the first near three feet, and this runs about the Pyramid in a level, as the former. In the same manner is the third row placed upon the second, and so in order the rest, like so many Stairs rise one above another to the top. Which ends not in a point, as Mathematical Pyramids do, but in a little flat or square. Of this Herodotus hath no where left us the dimensions, but Henricus Ste∣phanus, an able and deserving man, in his Com∣ment hath supplied it for him; for he makes it to be eight orgyiae; where if we take the orgyia, as both Hesychius and Suidas do, for the distance between the Hands extended at length, that is for the fathom, or six feet, then should it be forty eight feet in breadth at the top. But the truth is, Stephanus, in this particular, whilst he corrects the Errors of Valla's Interpretation, is to be corrected himself; for that Latitude which Herodotus assigns to the admirable Bridge below (of which there is nothing now remaining) he hath carried up, by a mistake, to the top of the Pyramid. Diodorus Siculus comes nearer to the truth, who describes it to be but nine feet. Pliny makes the breadth at the top to be twenty five feet, Altitudo (I would rather read it lati∣tudo) à cacumine pedes 25. By my measure it is
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13 feet, and 280 of 1000 parts of the English foot. Upon this flat, if we assent to the Opini∣on of Proclus, it may be supposed that the Aegy∣ptian Priests made their Observations in Astrono∣my; and that from hence, or near this place, they first discovered, by the rising of Sirius, their annus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or Canicularis, as also their periodus Sothiaca, or annus magnus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, or annus Helia∣cus, or annus Dei, as it is termed by Censorinus, consisting of 1400 sidereal years, in which space their Thoth Vagum, and fixum, came to have the same beginning. That the Priests might near these Pyramids make their observations, I no way question, this rising of the Hill being, in my Judgment, as fit a place as any in Aegypt for such a design, and so much the fitter by the vicinity of Memphis. But that these Pyramids were de∣signed for Observatories, (whereas by the testi∣monies of the Ancients I have proved before, that they were intended for Sepulchres) is no way to be credited upon the single authority of Proclus. Neither can I apprehend to what pur∣pose the Priests with so much difficulty should ascend so high, when below with more ease, and as much certainty, they might from their own Lodgings hewn in the Rocks upon which the Pyramids are erected, make the same observa∣tions: For seeing all Aegypt is but as it were one continued plain, they might from these Cliffs have, over the Plains of Aegypt, as free and open a prospect of the Heavens, as from the tops of the Pyramids themselves. And therefore Tully writes more truly, Aegyptii, aut Babylonii, in cam∣porum patentium aequoribus habitantes, cum ex terra ad nihil emineret, quod contemplationi coeli officere posset, omnem curam in siderum cognitione posuerunt.
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The top of this Pyramid is covered not with (d) 2.14 one or (e) 2.15 three massy Stones, as some have imagined, but with nine, besides two which are wanting at the Angles. The degrees by which we ascend up (as I observed in measuring many of them) are not all of an equal depth, for some are near four feet, others want of three, and these, the higher we ascend, do so much the more diminish: neither is the breadth of them alike, the difference in this kind being, as far as I could conjecture, proportionable to their depth. And therefore a right line extended from any part of the Basis without, to the top, will equally touch the outward angle of every degree. Of these it was impossible for me to take an exact measure, since in such a revolution of time, if the inner parts of the Pyramid have not lost any thing of their first perfection, as being not expo∣sed to the Injury of the * 2.16 Air, yet the outward parts, that is these degrees or rows of Stone, have been much wasted and impaired by both. And therefore they cannot conveniently now be ascended, but either at the South side, or at the East angle on the North. They are well stiled by Herodotus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, that is, little Altars, for in the form of Altars they rise one above another to the top: And these are all made of massy and polish'd Stones, hewn according to Herodotus and Diodorus, out of the Arabian Mountains, which bound the upper part of Aegypt, or that above
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the Delta, on the East, as the Lybian Mountains terminate it on the West, being so vast, that the breadth and depth of every step is one single and entire Stone. The relation of Herodotus and Pomponius Mela, is more admirable, who make the least Stone in this Pyramid to be thirty feet. And this I can grant in some, yet surely it can∣not be admitted in all, unless we interpret their words, that the least Stone is thirty square, or to speak more properly, thirty cubical feet; which dimension, or a greater, in the exteriour ones, I can without any difficulty admit. The number of these Steps is not mentioned by the Ancients, and that caused me, and two that were with me, to be the more diligent in computing them, because by modern Writers, and some of those too of repute, they are described with much di∣versity and contrariety. The degrees, saith Bellonius, are two hundred and fifty, each of them single contains in height forty five digits, at the top it is two paces broad; for this I take to be the meaning of what Clusius renders thus: Abasi autem ad cacumen ipsius supputationem facien∣tes, comperimus circiter, 250 gradus, singuli altitudi∣nem habent 5 solearum calcei 9 pollicum longitudinis, in fastigio duos passus habet. Where I conceive his passus is in the same sence to be understood here above, as not long before he explains him∣self in describing the Basis below, which in his account is 324 passus paululum extensis cruribus. Albertus Lewenstainius reckons the Steps to be two hundred and sixty, each of them a foot and a half in depth. Johannes Helfricus counts them to be two hundred and thirty. Sebastianus Serlius, upon a relation of Grimano the Patriarch of Aqui∣leia, and afterwards Cardinal, (who in his Travels in Aegypt measured these degrees) computes
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them to be two hundred and ten, and the height of every step to be equally three palms and a half. It would be but lost labour to mention the different and repugnant relations of several others; that which by experience and by a di∣ligent calculation I and two others found, is this, that the number of degrees from the bottom to the top, is two hundred and seven, though one of them in descending reckoned two hundred and eight.
Such as please, may give credit to those fabu∣lous Traditions of some, That a Turkish Archer standing at the top, cannot shoot beyond the bottom, but that the Arrow will necessarily fall upon these steps. If the Turkish bow (which by those figures which I have seen in ancient Monuments, is the same with that of the Parthi∣ans, so dreadful to the Romans) be but as swift and strong as the English; as surely it is much more, if we consider with what incredible force some of them will pierce a Plank of six inches in thickness, (I speak what I have seen) it will not seem strange, that they should carry twelve score in length, which distance is beyond the Basis of this Pyramid.
The Description of the Inside of the first Pyramid.
Having finished the Description of the Super∣ficies of the greater Pyramid, with the figure and dimensions of it, as they present themselves to the view without; I shall now look inwards, and lead the Reader into the several spaces, and partitions within; of which if the Ancients have been silent, we must chiefly impute it to a reve∣rend and awful regard, mixed with Superstition, in not presuming to enter those Chambers of
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Death, which Religion and Devotion had con∣secrated to the rest and quiet of the Dead. Wherefore Herodotus mentions no more, but on∣ly in general, That some secret Vaults are hewn in the Rock under the Pyramid. Diodorus Siculus is silent, though both enlarge themselves in other particulars less necessary. Strabo is also very concise, whose whole Description both of this and of the second Pyramid is included in this short expression: Forty Stadia (or Furlongs) from the City (Memphis) there is a certain brow of an Hill, in which are many Pyramids, the Sepulchres of Kings, three of them are memorable, two of these are accounted amongst the seven Miracles of the World; each of these are a furlong in heighth; the Figure is quadrilateral, the Altitude somewhat exceeds each side, and the one is somewhat bigger than the other. On high, as it were in the midst, between the sides, there is a Stone that may be removed, which being taken out, there is an oblique (or shelving) en∣trance (for so I render that which by him is ter∣med 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) leading to the Tomb. Pliny ex∣presses nothing within, but only a Well (which is still extant) of eighty six cubits in depth, to which he probably imagines, by some secret Aqueduct, the Water of the River Nilus to be brought. Ari∣stides in his Oration entituled 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, upon a misinformation of the Aegyptian Priests, makes the Foundation of the Structure to have descen∣ded as far below, as the Altitude ascends above. Of which I see no necessity, seeing all of them are founded upon Rocks; his words are these: Now as with admiration we behold the tops of the Pyramids, but that which is as much more under ground opposite to it, we are ignorant of, (I speak what I have received from the Priests.) And this is that which hath been delivered to us by the An∣cients,
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which I was unwilling to pretermit, more out of reverence of Antiquity, than out of any special satisfaction. The Arabian Writers, espe∣cially such as have purposely treated of the Won∣ders of Aegypt, have given us a more full descri∣ption of what is within these Pyramids; but that hath been mix'd with so many Inventions of their own, that the truth hath been darkned, and almost quite extinguished by them. Which Traditions of theirs are little better than a Ro∣mance; and therefore leaving these, I shall give a more true and particular description out of mine own Experience and Observations.
On the North side ascending thirty eight feet, upon an artificial bank of Earth, there is a square and narrow passage leading into the Pyramid, through the mouth of which (being equidistant from the two sides of the Pyramid) we enter as it were down the steep of an Hill, declining with an angle of twenty six degrees. The breadth of this Entrance is exactly three feet, and 463 parts of 1000 of the English foot; the length of it beginning from the first declivity, which is some ten palms without, to the utmost extremity of the Neck, or streight within, where it contracts it self almost nine feet continued, with scarce half the depth it had at the first en∣trance, (though it keep still the same breadth) is ninety two feet and an half. The Structure of it hath been the Labour of an exquisite Hand, as appears by the smoothness and evenness of the Work, and by the close knitting of the Joynts; a Property long since observed, and commended by Diodorus, to have run through the Fabrick of the whole Body of this Pyramid. Having passed with Tapers in our Hands this narrow Straight; though with some difficulty (for at the farther
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end of it we must Serpent-like creep upon our Bellies) we land in a place somewhat larger, and of a pretty height, but lying incomposed: Having been dug away, either by the curiosity or avarice of some, in hope to discover an hid∣den Treasure; or rather by the Command of Almamon, the deservedly renowned Calife of Babylon. By whomsoever it were, it is not worth the enquiry, nor doth the place merit describing, but that I was unwilling to pretermit any thing, being only an Habitation for Batts, and those so ugly, and of so large a-size, (exceeding a foot in length) that I have not elsewhere seen the like. The length of this obscure and broken space containeth eighty nine feet, the breadth and height is various, and not worth consideration. On the left hand of this, adjoyning to that nar∣row Entrance through which we passed, we climb up a steep and massy Stone, eight or nine feet in height, where we immediately enter up∣on the lower end of the first Gallery. The Pavement of this rises with a gentle acclivity, consisting of smooth and polisht Marble, and where not smeared with Dust and Filth, appea∣ring of a white and alabaster colour; the Sides and Roof, as Titus Livius Burretinus, a Venetian, an ingenious young man, who accompanied me thither, observed, was of impolish'd Stone, not so hard and compact as that on the Pavement, but more soft and tender; the breadth almost five feet, and about the same quantity the height, if he have not mistaken. He likewise discove∣red some irregularity in the breadth, it opening a little wider in some places than in others; but this inequality could not be discerned by the eye, but only by measuring it with a careful Hand. By my observation with a Line, this
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Gallery contained in length an hundred and ten feet. At the end of this begins the second Gal∣lery, a very stately piece of work, and not in∣feriour, either in respect of the curiosity of Art, or richness of Materials, to the most sumptuous and magnificent Buildings. It is divided from the former by a Wall, through which stooping, we passed in a square hole, much about the same bigness as that by which we entred into the Py∣ramid but of no considerable length. This nar∣row passage lyeth level, not rising with an accli∣vity, as doth the Pavement below and Roof above of both these Galleries. At the end of it, on the right hand, is the Well mentioned by Pliny, the which is circular, and not square, as the Arabian Writers describe: The diameter of it exceeds three feet, the Sides are lined with white Marble, and the descent into it is by fa∣stening the Hands and Feet, in little open spaces, cut in the Sides within, opposite and answerable to one another in a perpendicular. In the same manner are almost all the Wells and Passages in∣to the Cisterns at Alexandria contrived, without Stairs or Windings, but only with inlets and square holes on each side within, by which, using the Feet and Hands, one may with ease descend. Many of these Cisterns are with open and double Arches, the lowermost Arch being supported by a row of speckled and Thebaick Marble Pillars, upon the top of which stands a second row, bearing the upper and higher Arch: The Walls within are covered with a sort of Plaister for the colour white, but of so durable a substance, that neither by time, nor by the water is it yet corrupted and impaired. But I return from the Cisterns and Wells there to this in the Pyramid, which in Pliny's Calculation is
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eighty six cubits in depth, and it may be was the passage to those secret Vaults mentioned, but not described by Herodotus, that were hewn out of the natural Rock, over which this Pyramid is erected. By my measure sounding it with a line, it contains twenty feet in depth. The reason of the difference between Pliny's Observation and mine, I suppose to be this, That since his time it hath almost been dammed up, and choaked with Rubbage, which I plainly discovered at the bottom, by throwing down some combustible matter set on fire. Leaving the Well, and going on straight upon a level, the distance of fifteen feet, we entred another square passage, opening against the former, and of the same bigness. The Stones are very massy, and exquisitely joynted, I know not whether of that glistering and spec∣kled Marble I mention'd in the Columns, of the Cisterns at Alexandria. This leadeth (run∣ning in length upon a level an hundred and ten feet) into an arched Vault or little Chamber, which by reason it was of a Grave-like smell, and half full of Rubbage, occasion'd my lesser stay. This Chamber stands East and West▪ the length of it is less than twenty feet, the breadth about seventeen, and the height less than fif∣teen. The Walls are entire, and plaister'd over with Lime; the Roof is covered with large smooth Stones, not lying flat, but shelving and meeting above in a kind of Arch, or rather an Angle. On the East side of this Room, in the middle of it, there seems to have been a passage leading to some other place, whither this way the Priests went into the hollow of that huge Sphynx, as Strabo and Pliny term it, or Andro∣sphynx, as Herodotus calls such kinds (being by Pliny's calculation 102 feet in compass about the
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Head, in height 62, in length 143, and by my observation made of one entire Stone) which stands not far distant without the Pyramid, South-east of it, or into any other private Re∣tirement, I cannot determine; and it may be too this served for no such purpose, but rather as a Theca or Nicchio, as the Italians speak, wherein some Idol might be placed; or else for a piece of Ornament (for it is made of polish'd Stone) in the Architecture of those times, which ours may no more understand than they do the reason of the rest of those strange proportions that appear in the Passages and inner Rooms of this Pyramid. Returning back the same way we came, as soon as we are out of this narrow and square passage, we climb over it, and going straight on, in the trace of the second Gallery, upon a shelving pavement (like that of the first) rising with an angle of twenty six degrees, we at length come to another partition. The length of the Gallery from the Well below to this partition above, is an hundred fifty and four feet; but if we mea∣sure the pavement of the floor, it is somewhat less, by reason of a little vacuity (some fifteen feet in length) as we described before, between the Well and the square hole we climbed over. And here to reassume some part of that, which hath been spoken, if we consider the narrow en∣trance at the mouth of the Pyramid, by which we descend, and the length of the first and se∣cond Galleries, by which we ascend, all of them lying as it were in the same continued line, and leading to the middle of the Pyramid, we may easily apprehend a reason of that strange Eccho within, of four or five Voices, mentioned by Plutarch, in his Fourth Book, De placitis philosopho∣rum; or rather of a long continued Sound, as
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I found by experience, discharging a Musquet at the entrance; for the sound being shut in, and carried in those close and smooth passages, like as in so many Pipes or Trunks, finding no issue out, reflects upon it self, and causes a con∣fused noise and circulation of the Air, which by degrees vanishes, as the motion of it ceases. This Gallery or Corridore (or whatsoever else I may call it) is built of white and polish'd Marble, the which is very evenly cut in spacious Squares or Tables. Of such Materials as is the Pavement, such is the Roof, and such are the Side-walls that flank it; the coagmentation, or knitting of the Joynts, is so close, that they are scarce di∣scernable by a curious Eye; and that which adds a grace to the whole Structure, though it makes the passage the more slippery and diffi∣cult, is the acclivity and rising of the Ascent. The height of this Gallery is 26 feet, the breadth is 6 feet, and 870 parts of the foot divided into a thousand of which three feet, and 435 of 1000 parts of a foot, are to be allowed for the way, in the midst; which is set, and bounded on both sides with two banks (like Benches) of sleek and polish'd Stone; each of these hath one foot, 717 of 1000 parts of a foot in breadth, and as much in depth. Upon the top of these Benches, near the Angle, where they close, and joyn with the Wall, are little spaces, cut in right angled pa∣rallel Figures, set on each side opposite to one another, intended, no question, for some other end than Ornament. In the casting and ranging of the Marbles in both the Side-walls, there is one piece of Architecture, in my judgment very graceful, and that is, that all the courses or ran∣ges, which are but seven, (so great are those Stones) do set, and flag over one another about
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three inches, the bottom of the uppermost course oversetting the higher part of the second, and the lower part of this overflagging the top of the third, and so in order the rest, as they de∣scend.
Having passed this Gallery, we enter another square hole, of the same dimensions with the former, which brings us into two anticamerette, as the Italians would call them, or Anticlosets, (give me leave in so unusual a structure to frame some unusual terms) lined with a rich and speckled kind of Thebaick Marble. The first of these hath the dimensions almost equal to the second; the second is thus proportioned, the Area is level, the Figure of it is oblong, the one side containing seven feet, the other three and an half, the height is ten feet. On the East and West sides, within two feet and an half of the top, which is somewhat larger than the bottom, are three Cavities, or little Seats, in this man∣ner,
[illustration]
This inner Anticloset is separated from the for∣mer, by a Stone of red speckled Marble, which hangs in two Mortices (like the leaf of a Sluce) between two Walls, more than three feet above the pavement, and wanting two of the Roof. Out of this Closet we enter another square hole, over which are five lines cut parallel and per∣pendicular.
Besides these, I have not observed any other Sculptures or Engravings in the whole Pyramid, and therefore it may justly be wondred whence the Arabians borrowed those vain Traditions I
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before related, That all Sciences are inscribed within in Hieroglyphicks. And as justly it may be que∣stioned, upon what authority Dio, or his Epito∣mizer Xiphilinus, reports that Cornelius Gallus (whom Strabo more truly names Aelius Gallus, with whom he travelled into Aegypt, as a friend and companion) engraved in the Pyramids his Vi∣ctories, unless we understand some other Pyra∣mids not now existent. This square passage is of the same wideness and dimensions as the rest, and is in length near nine feet, (being all of Thebaick Marble, most exquisitely cut) which lands us at the North end of a very sumptuous and well proportion'd Room. The distance from the end of the second Gallery to this En∣try, running upon the same level, is twenty four feet. This rich and spacious Chamber, in which Art may seem to have contended with Nature, the curious Work being not inferiour to the rich Materials, stands as it were in the Heart and Center of the Pyramid, equidistant from all the Sides, and almost in the midst between the Basis and the top. The Floor, the Sides, the Roof of it are all made of vast and exquisite Ta∣bles of Thebaick Marble, which if they were not vailed, and obscured by the steam of Tapers, would appear glistering and shining. From the top of it descending to the bottom, there are but six ranges of Stone, all which being respectively sized to an equal height, very gracefully in one and the same altitude, run round the Room. The Stones which cover this place are of a strange and stupendious length, like so many huge beams lying flat, and traversing the Room, and withal supporting the infinite mass and weight of the Pyramid above. Of these there are nine which cover the Roof, two of them are less by
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half in breadth than the rest, the one at the East end, the other at the West. The length of this (b) 2.17 Chamber on the South side, most ac∣curately taken at the Joynt or Line, where the first and second row of Stones meet, is thirty four English feet, and 300 and 80 parts of the foot divided into a thousand (that is 34 feet and 380 of 1000 parts of a foot.) The breadth of the West side at the Joynt or Line, where the first and second row of Stones meet, is seventeen feet, and an hundred and ninety parts of the foot divided into a thousand (that is 17 feet, and 190 of 1000 parts of a foot.) The height is nineteen feet and an half.
Within this glorious Room (for so I may just∣ly call it) as within some consecrated Oratory, stands the Monument of Cheops, or Chemnis, of
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one piece of Marble, hollow within, and unco∣vered at the top, and sounding like a Bell. Which I mention not as any Rarity, either in Nature or in Art; (for I have observed the like sound in other Tombs of * 2.18 Marble cut hollow like this) but because I find modern Authors to take notice of it as a Wonder. Some write, that the Body hath been removed hence, whereas Diodorus hath left above sixteen hundred years since, a memorable passage concerning Chemmis the Builder of this Pyramid, and Cephren the Founder of the next adjoyning. Although (saith he) these Kings intended these for their Sepulchres, yet it hapned that neither of them were buried there: For the people being exasperated against them, by rea∣son of the toilsomness of these works, and for their Cruelty and Oppression threatned to tear in pieces their dead bodies, and with Ignominy to throw them out of their Sepulchres. Wherefore both of them dying, commānded their Friends privately to bury them in an obscure place. This Monument, in respect of the nature and quality of the Stone, is the same with which the whole Room is lined; as by breaking a little Fragment of it, I plainly discover'd, be∣ing a speckled kind of Marble, with black, and white, and red spots, as it were equally mixt, which some Writers call Thebaick Marble; tho' I conceive it to be that sort of Porphyry which Pliny calls Leucosticto•• and describes thus: Ru∣bet Porphyrites in eadem Aegypto,* 2.19 ex eo candidis in∣tervenientibus punctis Leucostictos appellatur. Quan∣tislibet molibus caedendis sufficiunt lapidicinae. Of this kind of Marble there were, and still are, an infinite quantity of Columns in Aegypt; but a Venetian, a man very curious, who accompanied me thither, imagined that this sort of Marble
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came from Mount (c) 2.20 Sinai, where he had lived amongst the Rocks, which he affirmed to be speckled with party colours, of black, and white, and red, like this: And to confirm his Asserti∣on, he alledged, that he had seen a great column left imperfect amongst the Cliffs, almost as big as that huge and admirable (d) 2.21 Corinthian Pillar standing to the South of Alexandria, which by my measure is near four times as big as any of those vast Corinthian Pillars in the Porticus before the Pantheon at Rome, all which are of the same coloured Marble with this Monument, and so are all the Obelisks with Hieroglyphicks, both in Rome and Alexandria. Which Opinion of his doth well correspond with the Tradition of Aristides, who reports, that in Arabia there is a Quarry of excellent Porphyry. The figure of this Tomb without is like an Altar, or more near∣ly to express it, like two cubes finely set together and hollowed within: It is cut smooth and plain, without any sculpture and engraving, or any re∣levy and imbossment. The exteriour Superfi∣cies of it contains in length seven feet three in∣ches and an half. Bellonius makes it twelve feet, and Monsieur de Breves nine; but both of them have exceeded. In depth it is three feet three inches and three quarters, and is the same in breadth. The hollow part within is in length, on the West side, six feet, and four hundred eighty eight parts of the English foot divided
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into a thousand parts (that (e) 2.22 is 6 feet and 488 of 1000 parts of a foot) in breadth, at the North end two feet, and two hundred and eighteen parts of the foot divided into a thousand parts, (that (f) 2.23 is 2 feet, and 218 of 1000 parts of a foot.) The depth is 2 feet and 860 of 1000 parts of the English foot. A narrow space, yet large enough to contain a most potent and dread∣ful Monarch, being dead, to whom living all Aegypt was too streight and narrow a circuit. By these dimensions, and by such other obser∣vations, as have been taken from me by several embalmed Bodies in Aegypt, we may conclude, that there is no decay in Nature; (though the Question is as old as Homer) but that the men of this Age are of the same stature, they were near three thousand years ago; notwithstanding St. Augustine and others are of a different opini∣on. Quis jam aevo ist'o non minor sais Parentibus nascitur? saith Solinus.
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It may justly be questioned how this Monu∣ment could be brought hither, since it is an im∣possibility that by those narrow passages before described, it should have entred. Wherefore we must imagine, that by some machina it was rai∣sed, and conveyed up without, before this Ora∣tory or Chamber was finished, and the Roof closed. The position of it is thus, it stands exact∣ly in the Meridian, North and South, and it as it were equidistant from all sides of the Chamber, except the East, from whence it is doubly re∣moter than from the West. Under it I found a little hollow space to have been dug away, and a large Stone in the Pavement removed, at the angle next adjoyning to it; which Sands erro∣neously imagines to be a passage into some other compartiment, dug away, no doubt, by the Avarice of some, who might not improbably conjecture an hidden Treasure to be reposited there.
The ingenious Reader will excuse my curio∣sity, if before I conclude my description of this Pyramid, I pretermit not any thing within, of how light a consequence soever. This made me take notice of two inlets or spaces, in the South and North sides of this Chamber, just opposite to one another; that on the North was in breadth 700 of 1000 parts of the English foot, in depth 400 of 1000 parts; evenly cut, and run∣ning in a streight line six feet, and farther, into the thickness of the Wall. That on the South is larger and somewhat round, not so long as the former; and by the blackness within seems to have been a Receptacle, for the burning of Lamps. T. Livius Burretinus would gladly have believed that it had been an Hearth for one of those eternal Lamps, such as have been found in
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Tulliola's Tomb in Italy, and, if Cambden be not misinformed, in England, dedicated to the Urns and Ashes of the Dead; but I imagine the Inven∣tion not to be so ancient as this Pyramid.
A Description of the second Pyra∣mid.
FROM this Pyramid we went to the second, being scarce distant the flight of an Arrow from it; where by the way I observed, on the West side of the first, the Ruines of a pile of Building, all of square and polished Stone; such as Pliny calls Basaltes, and describes to be ferrei coloris, & duritiae, of an Iron colour and hardness. Formerly it may be some Habitation of the Priests, or some Monument of the Dead. To the right hand of this, tending to the South, stands this second Pyramid, of which besides the Miracle, the Ancient and modern Writers, have delivered little. Herodotus relates, that Cephren, in imitation of his Brother Cheops, built this, but that he fell short in respect of the magnitude: For (saith he) we have measured them. It were to be wished, for fuller satisfaction of the Reader, he had expressed the quantity, and also the man∣ner how he took his measure. He adds, It hath no subterraneous Structures, neither is the Nilus by a Channel derived into it, as in the former. Diodorus somewhat more particularly describes it thus: That for the Architecture, it is like unto the former, but much inferiour to it in respect of magnitude: Each side of the Basis contains a stadium in length. That is, to comment on his words, of Graecian
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feet six hundred, of Roman six hundred twenty five. So that by this computation, each side should want an hundred Graecian feet of the for∣mer Pyramid. Pliny makes the difference to be greater, for assigning eight hundred eighty three feet to the former, he allows to the side of the Basis of this, but seven hundred thirty seven. By my observation, the Stones are of colour white, nothing so great, and vast, as those of the first and fairest Pyramid; the sides rise not with degrees like that, but are smooth and equal, the whole Fabrick (except where it is opposed to the South) seeming very entire, free from any deformed Ruptures or Breaches. The height of it, taken by as deliberate a conjecture as I could make, (which it was easie to do, by reason of the nearness of this and the former, being both upon the same Plain) is not inferiour to it; and therefore Strabo hath rightly judged them to be equal. The sides also of the Basis of both are alike, as, besides the authority of Strabo, the Ve∣netian Doctor assured me, who measured it with a line. There is no Entry leading into it, and therefore what may be within, whither such spaces and compartiments, as I observ'd in the former, or whether different, or none, I must leave to every mans private conjecture, and to the discovery of after-times.
This is bounded on the North and West sides, with two very stately and elaborate pie∣ces, which I do not so much admire, as that by all Writers they have been pretermitted. About thirty feet in depth, and more than a thousand and four hundred in length, out of the hard Rock these Buildings have been cut in a perpen∣dicular, and squared by the Chessel, as I suppose, for Lodgings of the Priests. They run along at
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a convenient distance, parallel to the two sides we mentioned of this Pyramid, meeting in a right angle, and making a very fair and graceful Prospect. The entrance into them is by square openings, hewn out of the Rock, much of the same bigness with those I described in the first Pyramid. Whether these were symbolical (as the Theology of the Aegyptians consisted much in mysterious figures) and the depressure and lowns of these were to teach the Priests humility, and the squareness and evenness of them an uni∣form and regular deportment in their actions, I leave to such as have written of their Hierogly∣phicks to determine. The hollow space within of them all, is somewhat like to a square and well-proportion'd Chamber, covered and arched above with the natural Rock: In most of which, (as I remember) there was a passage opening in∣to some other compartiment, which the rubbage and darkness hindered me from viewing. On the North side without I observed a line, and on∣ly one, engraven with sacred and Aegyptian Characters, such as are mentioned by Herodotus and Diodorus, to have been used by the Priests, and were different from the vulgar characters in civil Affairs: In which former kind Justin Mar∣tyr makes Moses to have been skilful, as the Scri∣pture makes him to have been learned in all the wisdom of the Aegyptians. These ran not down∣wards, as the Chinese in our times write, but were continued in a streight line, as we use to write: And are to be read (if any understand those my∣sterious Sculptures) by proceeding from the right hand to the left, and as it were imitating the motion and course of the Planets: For so Herodotus expresly informs us, That the Graecians write and cast account, going from the left hand
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to the right, the Aegyptians from the right hand to the left. And this is that which in an obscure expression is also intimated by Pomponius Mela: Aegyptii] suis literis perverse utuntur. A manner practised by the Hebrews, Chaldaeans, and Syrians, to this day, and not unlikely to have been bor∣rowed by them from the Aegyptians, to whom the Chaldaeans also owed their first Skill in Astro∣logy, as the Graecians did their knowledge in Geometry, the former being attested by Diodo∣rus, and the latter confessed by Proclus, and other Graecians. And surely in imitation of these, or of the Jews, the Arabians neighbouring upon both, have taken up this manner of writing, and con∣tinued it to our times, communicating it also by their Conquests, to the Persians and Turks.
A Description of the third Pyramid, out of Mr. Belon and Greaves.
AMongst many modern Writers, none de∣serves to be placed before Bellonius, or ra∣ther before P. Gillius. For Thuanus makes the other to have been a plagiarius, and to have pub∣lished in his own name the observations of P. Gillius, a man very curious, and inquisitive af∣ter Truth, as appears by his Typography of Con∣stantinople, and his Bosphorus Thracius, to whom Bellonius served as an Amanuensis: The third Pyra∣mid is much less than the former two, but is a third part greater than that which is at Rome, near the Mons teitaceus, as you pass to St. Pauls in the Ostian way. It is still perfect, and no more corrupted, than
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as if it had been newly built: For it is made of a kind of Marble, called Basaltes, or Aethiopick Mar∣ble, harder than Iron it self.
It will be in vain to repeat the Traditions and Descriptions of several others; all which by a kind of Confederacy agree in the same Tale for the substance, only differing in some circum∣stances: So that I shrewdly suspect that Diodorus hath borrowed most of his Relation from Hero∣dotus; and Strabo and Pliny from Diodorus, or from them both; and the more learned Neote∣ricks from them all. For else how can it be ima∣gined they should so constantly agree in that, which if my Eyes and Memory extreamly fail me not, is most evidently false? And there∣fore I have a strong jealousie, that they never came near this third Pyramid; but that they did, as I have observed all Travellers in my time in Aegypt to do, fill themselves so full, and as it were so surfeit with the sight of the greater and fairer Pyramid, that they had no Appetite to be Spectators of the rest, where they should only see the same Miracle (for the Pyramids are all of the same figure) the farther they went, de∣creasing, and presented as it were in a less Vo∣lume. Or if they did view this, it was quasi per transennam, very perfunctorily and slightly; and that through a false and coloured Glass; for they have mistaken both in the quality of the Stone and colour of the Pyramid. I begin with Hero∣dotus, who by a notable piece of Forgetfulness, if it be not a 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 in the Copies, makes the dimensions of each of the sides, in the Basis of this, to be three hundred feet, and yet want but twenty of the first Pyramid, to which he assign∣ed before eight hundred feet; an Impossibility in Arithmetick; and therefore it will be no
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Presumption to correct the place, and instead of 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, to write 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. I know not how to palliate or excuse his other Error, where he makes this Pyramid to be built as far as to the middle of it, with Aethio∣pick Marble. If this sort of Marble be ferrei colo∣ris, as it is described by Pliny, and granted by Diodorus and Strabo, both of them expressing the colour to be black, and the latter bringing it from the remotest Mountains of Aethiopia, where the Marble hath the same Tincture and Colour with the Inhabitants, then can this relation of Herodotus no way be admitted; for the whole Pyramid seems to be of clear and white Stone, somewhat choicer and brighter than that in ei∣ther of the two other Pyramids. And therefore I wonder that Diodorus, Strabo, and Pliny, and amongst latter Authors Bellonius, Gillius, and seve∣ral others, should have all follow'd Herodotus, when with a little pains and circumspection, they might have reformed his, and their own errour. It may perhaps be alledged in their defence, that they mean the Buildings within are erected with black and Aethiopick Marble; and yet if this be granted, since there is no entrance leading into this, no more than is into the second Pyramid, what may be within depends upon the uncertain∣ty of Tradition or Conjecture, both which are very fallible; though it cannot be denied, but that close by this, on the East side of it, there are the ruines of a Pile of Building, with a sad and dusky colour, much like that we described in passing to the second Pyramid, which might be the ground and occasion of this Error. I cannot excuse the Ancients, but Bellonius or Gillius (for it is no matter which of them owns the relation, when both of them have erred) are far more
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inexcusable, because it might have been expected from them what Livy supposes, Novi semper scri∣ptores, aut in rebus certius aliquid allaturos se, aut scribendi arte rudem vetustatem superaturos credunt. Whereas these on the contrary have depraved what hath been in this particular with Truth delivered by the Ancients; for whereas Herodo∣tus and Diodorus equal the side of the basis to three hundred feet, and Pliny extends it to three hundred sixty three, these make it only a third part greater than the Pyramid at Rome of C. Cae∣stius, near the Mons testaceus. So that either they have much enlarged that at Rome, or shrunk and contracted this; for the Pyramid at Rome, exact∣ly measured on that side which stands within the City, is compleatly seventy eight feet English in breadth, to which if we add a third part of it, the result will be an hundred and four; which should be equal to this Aegyptian Pyramid in the notion and acception of Bellonius.
Of the rest of the Pyramids in the Lybian Desart.
I Have done with these three Pyramids, each of them being very remarkable, and the two first reckoned amongst the Miracles of the World. The rest in the Lybian Desart lying scattered here and there, are (excepting one of them) but lesser Copies, and as it were Models of these: And therefore I shall neither much trouble my self nor the Reader with the descri∣ption of them. Though to speak the truth, did not the three first, standing so near together, ob∣scure the lustre of the rest, which lye far scatte∣red,
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some of them were very considerable. And therefore I cannot but tax the omission of the Ancients, and the inadvertency of all modern Writers and Travellers, who with too much supineness have neglected the description of one of them; which in my Judgment is as worthy of memory, and as near a Miracle as any of those three which I have mentioned. And this stands from these South and by West, at twenty miles distance, more within the Sandy Desart, upon a rocky level like these, and not far from the Village whence we enter the Mummies. This as the Venetian Doctor assured me, and as I could judge by conjecture at a distance, hath the same dimensions that the first and fairest of these hath, Graduations or Assents without, and of the same colour like that, (but more decayed, especially at the top) and an entrance into it on the North side, which is barred up within; and therefore whatsoever is spoken of the first, in respect of the exteriour figure, is applicable to this. Bellonius exceeds in his computation of the number of them, who thus writes: Above an hundred others are seen dispersed up and down in that Plain. I could not discover 20. And long since Ion Almatoug in his Book of the Miracles of Aegypt, reckons them to be but 18: There are in the West side no more famous buildings than the Pyramids, the number of them is 18; of these there are three in that part which is opposite to Fostat (or Cairo.)
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In what manner the Pyramids were built.
WE had ended our Discourse of the Pyra∣mids, but that I find one scruple toucht upon by Herodotus, Diodorus, and Pliny, which is worth the discussion, as a point of some concern∣ment in Architecture; and that is, in what man∣ner these Pyramids were built, and with what Art and Contrivance the Stones, especially those vast ones in the first were conveyed up. Hero∣dotus, who first raised the Doubt, gives this solu∣tion:
They carried up the rest of the Stones with little Engines made of Wood, raising them from the ground upon the first row: When the Stone was lodged upon this row, it was put into another Engine, standing upon the first step, from thence it was conveyed to the second row by another: For so many rows and orders of Steps as there were, so many Engines were there; or else they removed the Engine, which was one, and easie to be carried, to eve∣ry particular row, as often as they moved a Stone. We will relate that which is spoken of either part; therefore those in the Pyramid were first made, which were the highest, then by degrees the rest, last of all, those which are nearest to the Ground, and are the lowest.
The first part of this Solution of Herodotus is full of difficulty. How in the erecting and placing of so many machinae, charged with such massy Stones, and those continually passing over the lower degrees, could it be avoided, but that they must either unsettle them, or endanger the
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breaking of some Portions of them; which mu∣tilations would have been like Scars in the Face of so magnificent a Building? His second An∣swer is the sounder; but I conceive the Text to be imperfect. Diodorus hath another Fancy:
The Stones (saith he) at a great distance off were prepared in Arabia, and they report, that by the help of Aggeres (Engines not being then invented) the Work was erected. And that which begets the greatest admiration is, that so vast a Structure was perfected in that place, which is all about replenished with Sand, where there appears not any Relicks ei∣ther of the Aggeres, or of the hewing and po∣lishing of the Stones: So that it seems not piecemeal by the Industry of Men, but altoge∣ther, and at once, the whole pile, as it were by some God, was erected in the midst of the Sands. Some of the Aegyptians relate Wonders of it, and endeavour to obtrude I know not what Fables, namely, That these Aggeres con∣sisting of Salt and Nitre, were dissolved by let∣ting in the River, which wholly consumed them without the labour of Hands, leaving this Structure (entire.) But the truth of the busi∣ness is not so, but that those multitudes of men which were employed in raising the Aggeres, carried them away unto their former places: For as they report three hundred and sixty thousand men were employed in these Offices, and the whole Work was scarce finished in the space of twenty years.
Pliny partly agrees with him, and partly gives another Answer: The que∣stion is, by what means the Cement is conveyed up to such a height (he rather might have question'd how those vast Stones were conveyed up) some say, that banks of Nitre and Salt were made up as
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the Work rose, which being finished, they were washed away by the River (Nilus.) Others imagine that Bridges were made with Brick; which, the Work being ended, were distributed into private Houses: for they conceive that the Nilus being much lower, could not come to wash them (away.) If I may assume the liberty of a Traveller, I imagine that they were erected, neither as Herodotus describes, nor as Diodorus reports, nor as Pliny relates, but that first they made a large and spacious Tower in the midst reaching to the top; to the sides of this Tower, I conceive, the rest of the Building to have been applied, piece after piece, like so many Buttresses or Supporters, still lessening in height, till at last they came to the lowermost degree. A difficult piece of building taken in the best, and easiest projection; and therefore it is no wonder, if it were not often imitated by the Ancients, and no where expressed or com∣mended by the great Master of Architecture Vi∣truvius. Yet surely if we judge of things by the events, and if we reflect upon the intention of Monuments, which are raised by the Living, to perpetuate the Memory of the Dead, then is this as commendable a way as any. And there∣fore we see at Rome, that though by the revo∣lution of so many Ages the Mausoleum of Augustus be almost decayed, and the Septizonium of Seve∣rus be utterly lost, both intended for lasting and stately Sepulchres, yet the Pyramid of C. Caestius stands fair and almost entire; which is no more to be compared, either for the vastness of the Stones or the whole bulk and fabrick of it, with these, than are the limbs and body of a Dwarf to the dimensions of a Gyant, or some large Colossus.
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I have done with the Work, but the Artizans deserve not to be pretermitted; concerning whom the observation of Diodorus is as true, as it is boldly delivered by him.
It is confessed, that these Works (speaking of the Pyramids) far excel the rest in Aegypt, not only in the massiness of the Structures, and in the Ex∣pences, but also in the Industry (and Skill) of the Artificers. The Aegyptians think the Archi∣tects are more to be admired than the Kings, who were at the expence; for they by their abilities and study, these by their Wealth re∣ceived by Inheritance, and by the labours of others erected them.
The Conclusion.
AND thus much of the Sciography, or of the artificial and architectonical part; I shall shut up all with one observation in Nature for the recreation of the Reader, recited by Strabo in these words.
We ought not to omit one of the strange things seen by us at the Pyramids: Some heaps of Stone, being Fragments hewn off lye before the Pyramids, amongst these are found little Stones, some in the similitude and bigness of lentils, some as grains of Barly, which appear half unscaled: They report these are some Relicks of the Provisions, which were gi∣ven to the Workmen, and have been petrified; which seems probable enough.
These, if there were ever any such, are either consumed by time, or scattered by the Winds, or buried with those Tempests of Sand, to which the Desarts are perpetually exposed: But Diodo∣rus, who not long preceded him, was not so
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curious as to deliver this Relation. And were not Strabo a Writer of much gravity and judg∣ment, I should suspect that these petrified grains (though I know such petrefactions to be no im∣possibility in Nature; for I have seen at Venice the Bones and Flesh of a man, and the whole Head entirely transmuted into Stone; and at Rome clear Conduit-water, by long standing in Aquaeducts, hath been turned into perfect Ala∣baster) are like those Loafs of Bread, which are reported to be found by the Red Sea converted into Stone, and by the Inhabitants supposed to be some of the Bread the Israelites left behind them, when they passed over for fear of Pharaoh. They are sold at Grand Cairo handsomly made up in the manner of the Bread of these times, which is enough to discover the imposture; for the Scripture makes them to have been unleave∣ned Cakes: And they baked unleavened Cakes of the dough which they brought forth out of Aegypt. Or else Strabo's relation may be like the Tradi∣tion of the rising of dead mens Bones every (a) 2.24 year in Aegypt; a thing superstitiously believed by the Christians, and by the Priests either out of ignorance or policy, maintained, as an Argu∣ment of the Resurrection. The possibility and truth of it, Metrophanes the Patriarch of Alexan∣dria thought (but very illogically) might be pro∣ved out of the Prophet Esay; And they shall go forth, and look upon the carcasses of the men that have transgressed against me, for their worm shall not dye, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be an abhorring unto all flesh.
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But I have digressed too far; the confutation of these, and the description of the Mummies, or of the rest of the Aegyptian Sepulchres (for from thence comes the matter of this their supposed Resurrection) and that infinite mass and variety of Hieroglyphicks, which I have either seen there, or bought or transcribed elsewhere, may be the * 2.25 Argument of another Discourse.
Of the Pyramids, Sphynx, Mum∣mies, &c. By Father Vansleb, and others.
IN my first Voyage to Aegypt I had seen the Pyramids, but having another opportunity offer'd to me, I went thither to view again these rare Monuments of Antiquity, to see whether I might not observe something more than I have taken notice of in my first Relation.
On the 27th of April I went thither, in the company of the French Consul, and many other Merchants, and with almost all his Houshold: We had with us three Janizaries to guard us, so that we were in all about fifty Cavaliers well mounted upon Asses, taking with us Provisions sufficient for three days.
When we were come to the Pyramids, and had observ'd exactly every thing, I took notice that the place where they stood was a Burying-place.
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This is plain to any that see the place; and doubtless it was the Burying-place of the old City Memphis; for all the Arabian Histories in∣form us, that this City stood where the Pyramids now are, over against old Cairo.
2. I took notice, that all the Pyramids have an entrance that leads to a low Alley, which is very long, and at the end is a Chamber, where the ancient Egyptians did place the Bodies of those Persons for whom the Pyramids were built. This Entrance is not to be seen in every one of the Pyramids, because the Wind hath stopt them with Sand. I saw upon some of them some Hieroglyphick Characters, but I had not time to write them out.
3. I took notice, that all the Pyramids were built in very good order; and that each of the three greatest were at the head of ten lesser, which are not well to be distinguish'd, because of the heaps of Sand: One may yet imagine, to see the place, that in former Ages there have been here one hundred Pyramids little and great.
4. I took notice, that they are all built upon an even Rock covered over with white Sand; so that it is very probable that the Stones have been taken from the place, and not brought from far, as some Travellers imagin, and old Writers, for the greatest is nothing but a Rock cut as a Pyramid, and covered over with a Wall of Stone.
5. I took notice, that of all the Stones of the greatest there is scarce one entire, but either worn out with the Weather and Time, or broken by some other Accident; so that though one may ascend on all sides to the top, yet not in all places with the same ease.
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6. I have taken notice, that none of the Py∣ramids are alike, or perfectly square, but that all have two sides longer than the others. I inten∣ded to measure the greatest; for that purpose I had with me a String of about thirty Land-yards; but because the Winds have heap'd about it Mountains of Sand, I could not possibly draw a line strait from one angle to the other.
On the 28th day of December I went to see the Pyramids the third time, with some Strangers. In our way we were mightily troubled with a very thick Mist, which lasted till ten a clock in the morning; and we found a great deal of Mud in the Trenches and Ditches, which was not yet dry since the retreat of the River, so that we were carried over upon the Moors backs that were with us.
At this time I went up to the top of the great Pyramid, and I observ'd, as at the first, that the place where the Pyramids stand is a pure Rock, cover'd over with white Sand, which appears sufficiently by the Ditches and Caves round about the Pyramids cut in the Rock.
2. The Rock is to be seen, upon which stands the greatest Pyramid, by a hole at one of the Angles, between the East and the North sides.
3. The Pyramids are not built with Marble, as some say, but with a white Sandy Stone very hard.
4. The greatest hath but two hundred and six steps; and though Monsieur Th. saith that it hath two hundred and eight, this proceeds from his not taking notice that two steps are broken into four.
5. On the top of the greatest Pyramid there was anciently a Statue or Colosse. This appears, because it is not sharp as the others, but plain:
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And there are yet to be seen great Pits, which were to keep fast the Colosse from falling.
At present there is nothing on the top but ma∣ny Letters of the Names of Persons of all Nati∣ons, who have left them to witness that they had been there. There is no sign of the Play at Mancala, which a Coptie told me was there im∣printed in the days of the Pharaohs.
6. The Stones of the biggest Pyramid are not equal, for some of the undermost are four foot high, some three foot and an half, and five foot long. The Stones of the middle are three foot and five inches high, and the uppermost Stones are but two foot high, and three and an half long.
7. The sides of the Pyramids are not equal; for in the greatest it is visible, and so in the others, that the North side is longer than that which stretches from East to West.
8. In all the Pyramids there are very deep Wells cut in the Rock, square; as I have seen in more than ten.
On the 26th day of June I went the fourth time to see the Pyramids, in the company of Mon∣sieur Sabatery Vice-Consul of Alexandria.
In the passage to old Cairo, on the other side of the River, I took notice of one thing very re∣markable in its Channel; the Water was perfect∣ly green, as a Cake covered over with green Grass. This was the first time that I saw it of this colour; which caused me to ask of the Boat∣men what this green colour was: They told me, that the River Nilus did then putrifie, that it had continued so fifteen days, and would be so five more. Some of them said, that there was none could remember to have seen the River so green as that year, 1672.
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To return again to the Pyramids, I went up this time to the top of the highest Pyramid, I enter'd into the Chamber, but saw no new thing which could cause me either to change or add to my former Observations. It is needless to speak of its Dimensions, seeing so many Travel∣lers have already publish'd them, as Monsieur Thevenot in his Levant Travels.
From the Pyramids we went to take a view of the Caves that are adjoyning. There are many, all cut in the side of a Rock; their out∣sides are out of order, without any proportion, but their inside very equal and polish'd. In eve∣ry one there is a deep Well square, cut in the Rock, where the Egyptians did put the Body of that person, for whom the Cave was made; for it was their Sepulchre. The Walls of many of these Caves are full of Hieroglyphick Figures, carved in the Rock. In some they are but small, in others very lively. In one I number'd sixteen great Figures, that represented eight Men and eight Women, holding one another by the hands, with many other small Figures or Shapes, on both sides.
The great Pyramid is 520 foot high upon a Base of 682 foot square: The Platform at top is 16 foot and two thirds square, and is compos'd of 12 large Stones, yet this from below appears to the Eye a sharp point. A strong man cannot throw a Stone from the top, so as to make it fall beyond the Steps or Basis of the Pyramid.
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Of the Sphynx.
WE saw next the Sphynx, near the Pyramids, on the East side. On the top stands the Head of a Woman of an extraordinary bigness and height. The Arabians call it Abulhon, or Abul-houl.
Pliny saith, that it was the Tomb of King Amasis. I imagine that this Sphynx was a Sepul∣chre, but we cannot understand that it belong'd to Amasis; for all the Records and Traditions of this Sphynx are lost.
That it is a Tomb may appear, first by its si∣tuation, which is in a place which was in former Ages a Burying-place; and near the Pyramids and mortuary Caves. Secondly, it is to be ima∣gined that it was a Sepulchre from its building. In the hinder part is a Cave under ground, of a bigness answerable to that of the Head, into which I have look'd by an entrance that leads into it, so that it could serve to no other purpose, but to keep a dead Corps.
Some Franks have, out of an excess of curio∣sity, climb'd up by the means of Rope-Ladders, to see whether this Head was hollow or massy, and they have found it to be hollow, but filled at present with Sand.
The Neck is worn out round about, which causeth men to imagine that it will not be able to support the weight of that great Head.
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Of the Wells where the Mummies are.
WHen we had fully viewed this Sphynx, we took the Road that leads to Saccara, a Village, at four hours travelling from the Pyra∣mids, and about eight from Cairo towards the South. The Burying-place of the Mummies is near adjoyning to this Village.
And because it was very late, and that we were to agree with the Arabians of the Village about the Price, the Number and Quality of the Wells, that they were to open for us, we stopt there all night, and the next morning we took with us twelve Horsemen, to guard us, of the Arabians; with them we went to this Burying-place, where the Mummies are in Caves under ground.
The first Well that we saw was that of Birds embalmed: When we had caused the Sand that stops the Wells mouth to be removed, through which we were to go down, and from thence to enter into the Cave, we caused our selves to be let down one after another, by tying a double Rope about our middles. As soon as we were at the bottom, and that every one had lighted his Taper, and several Matches that we had brought, we went into the Cave creeping upon our Bellies. The Cave is an Alley in the Rock, about the height of a Man, and about the breadth of a Perch, and of an extraordinary length. We found there many other Alleys on both hands, cut in the Rock, where were many large Stores, full of earthen Pots, covered over with Coverings of the same substance. In these Pots
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were embalmed Birds of all kinds, every Bird in its own Pot. And as I thought that the remem∣brance of a Custom so ancient and superstitious was worthy of our notice, I brought about half a dozen with me, some I have sent to the Kings Library. We found also some Hens-Eggs empty, but entire, without any ill smell or crack.
When we had viewed sufficiently this Cave, we returned up in the same manner that we went down, and found another open'd, called the Virgin, which is that was never open'd before. According to our Orders to the Arabians, Mon∣sieur Tiger and the others went down in the same manner as into the former, I alone could not follow them, because of a Quartan Fever, which had troubled me fourteen months, and took me at that very moment; but I lost nothing by that; for these Gentlemen told me at their re∣turn, that they found an horrid stench, and a close air, that put out their Cand••es and their Matches also, every time that they endeavour'd to light them, which caused them to get up again without entring further. They told me that this Well was much deeper than the for∣mer.
We caused another to be opened, which was not a Virgin Well, as the former, because it was not so deep. I ventur'd into that, notwithstan∣ding my indisposition.
We found there two Mummies, a great one and a little one of a Child, both in Coffins, the greatest was of Marble, upon the Covering it had the likeness of the person for whom it was made. We caused these Biers or Coffins to be open'd, but found nothing extraordinary, there∣fore we made no account of them, and left them where we found them.
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We went down next into a Cave, called, The Church, which was not so deep as the former. It was nothing but a long Alley under ground, well plaister'd, and painted all over with Hiero∣glyphick Figures round about the sides. It was almost all full of Sand, which caused us to creep along upon our Knees.
If the Reader desires a Prospect, and a Descri∣ption of this ancient Burying-place, let him think upon a boundless Champain, even and co∣vered over with Sand, where neither Trees, nor Grass, nor Houses, nor any such thing is to be seen; let him represent to himself the Superfi∣cies of this large Field full of dry Bones of Arms, Legs, Feet, and Heads; full of scattered pieces of Wood of Coffins, of little Idols, some of Wood, others of Plaister embolish'd with green, and mark'd before and behind with Hieroglyphick Letters. These Idols the Arabians have taken from the broken Mummies, which they have cast away. In some places you may see great Tomb∣stones, full of Cyphers and enigmatical Figures, that represent something of Chymistry, and of other Sciences and Mysteries, and full of strange characters that are no Hieroglyphicks. Whilst I was looking upon this Spectacle, the Arabians brought me two, whereof I caused the Co∣pies to be drawn as soon as I was returned to Cairo.
You have here a Description of some Relicks of the Grandeur and Vanity of the ancient Egy∣ptians, and the mournful signs of man's Mortali∣ty. The first sight is able to dash a person new∣ly arrived out of countenance, and to affright him: I mean the sight of so many Bones all scat∣tered up and down, one would think that here hath been a grievous fight.
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In this Champain or Field here are fifteen Pyramids; three are of an extraordinary bigness, which seem to have been favour'd by Time; for they appear entire without much decay. Here is also an entrance into every one, that shews a long Alley which leads to a Chamber; Monsieur de Tiger went into that which is far∣thest from the Village, commonly named The Pyramid of Rodope, where he found nothing in the Chamber.
This Pyramid is built as a Pavillion. The Franks say, that Rodope, a famous Strumpet, caused it to be built with the Money that she had gotten with the loss of her Honour. But this is doubt∣less an Error, if it be true what Pliny saith, That the Pyramid of Rodope was but small, though very beautiful; therefore this which is one of the greatest in all Egypt, cannot be that of Rodope. These are the words of Pliny; Supremum{que} illud ne quis Regum opes miretur, minimam extitisse lauda∣tissimam à Rodope meretricula factam. Aesopi fa∣bularum Philosophi conserva quondam, & contuber∣nalis haec fuit, majore miraculo tantas opes meretricio esse conquisitas quaestu.
For the others that are in the same Field, time hath almost worn them out; for they are but so many heaps of Sand, which have scarce the shape and shadow of what they have been here∣tofore.
Here is also a square heap of very great hewn Stones. The Arabians name it Mastabet Faraoun; for they say, that when the Pharaohs, Kings of Egypt, were to declare and give a new Law to the People, they stood on the top of this heap. But these are the Traditions of the poor Arabians that have nothing of certainty.
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To return to the Wells of the Mummies; As soon as the Franks have visited any, the Wind, or the Arabians fill the Entry again full of Sand, to get a little Money at the second opening: This is the greatest gain of these Wretches. The least they take for to open a Virgin-Well is thirty Piasters, because they that make the Well to be opened, have the liberty to carry away all the Curiosities and Mummies that he finds there.
A Description of an entire Body of a Mummy.
THis was a long and large Body, in a very thick Coffin of Wood, shut close on all hands; the Timber was not at all rotten, and we found it to be Sycamore-wood, which in Egypt they call Pharaoh's Fig-tree, that does not rot so soon as other Wood. Upon the Coffin the Face of him that was within it, was cut in embossed Work. Some Coffins there are also of Stone, with the Face of the person within, cut in Boss, and Hieroglyphicks all along the length of it. There are two of these Stones in the House of Monsieur Fouquet at St. Mande, and I had two of them also, of which one was broken at Ale∣xandria, and the other I brought home with me very whole, which weighs betwixt seven and eight hundred weight. Some of these Coffins are made of several pieces of Cloth pasted together, which are as strong as the wooden ones. I have one of this kind in my Closet, made of above forty Cloths glewed or pasted together in thick∣ness, which are not in the least rotten; it is co∣vered
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all over with Idols and Hieroglyphicks, painted on a very thin Plaister, with which the outside Cloth is daubed over, but it is a little spoil'd, the Plaister in some places being rubbed off. Among these Figures there is a Compart∣ment at the lower end, two inches broad, and a foot long, being painted cross-ways over the Coffin, wherein may be seen the manner how the ancient Egyptians embalmed dead Bodies. In the middle of this Compartment there is a long Table shaped like a Lion, on the back of which the Body that is to be embalmed is laid at length, and hard by there is a Man with a Knife in his Hand opening the Body; this man hath on a Vizard Mask, shaped like the Beak of a Sparrow-hawk, which (without doubt) was the Custom of their Embalmers, who made use of that kind of Mask, that they might not breath in the Corruption that might evaporate from the dead Bodies, as the Physicians of Italy do at pre∣sent, who in time of a Plague never stir abroad without a Mask of this kind, in the long Nose of which they put Perfumes; though I make no doubt, but the Mask I speak of is the Head of Osiris, which the Egyptians represented with the Head of a Sparrow-hawk, as they did Anubis with the Head of a Dog, the Nile with a Lyons Head, &c But as a surer mark that it is an em∣balming, there are four Vessels without Handles upon the aforesaid Table, which could be no∣thing else but the Vessels wherein the necessary Drugs were kept not only for the embalming, as Balm, Cedria, &c. but also for the wrapping up and incrustation of the Body, as Bitumen and others: By the sides of the Table there are seve∣ral Persons standing and sitting in divers postures.
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Within this Coffin is the figure of a naked Maid with her Arms stretched out.
But to return to my first Discourse. This Wooden Coffin I mentioned being broken to pieces with Hatchets, we found an entire Body in it, which lay in this manner. The Face was covered (as commonly all the rest are) with a kind of Head-piece of Cloth fitted with Plaister, on which the Countenance of that person was represented in Gold, and when we took off the Helmet, we found nothing of the Face remain∣ing, which is commonly reduced to Ashes; I be∣lieve it is, because it will not admit of gumming so well as the other parts of the Body. How∣ever, I brought to Paris the Head of a Mummy whole and entire, but it is all covered with Fil∣lets of Cloth, so neatly fitted, that they hinder not, but one may see the shape of the Eyes, Nose, and Mouth. The rest of the Body was swathed with little Bands of Cloth very neatly made, but wrapped about with so many casts and turnings, that I believe there were above a thousand Ells in it; and certainly it is so rare a way of Swa∣thing and Binding, that I think it cannot be imitated at present, as many Chyrurgions have acknowledged to me. Along the Breast and Belly there was a Band of Cloth three good Fin∣gers broad, and a large foot and a half long, it was fastened to the other Bands, and upon it were several Hieroglyphicks done in Gold. I took this Writing, and folded it, that I might the more conveniently carry it up with me. I hoped to have found Idols in that Coffin, know∣ing that they interred many with their Dead, either of Stone, Copper, or Green Earth, as I have several that have been found in these Bo∣dies,
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but finding none, I thought there might be some within his Body; for after they had em∣boweled them, they often enclosed Idols within their Bellies; for that end I had it bro∣ken up, but we could find nothing. I conside∣red then that Balm which is now quite lost, it is black, hard, and shines like Pitch, having much such a smell, but more pleasant, that kept Bodies entire, and (I believe) the Sand contributed not a little thereto, for even in the greatest Desarts of Arabia, sometimes the dead Bodies of Men and Dogs are found entire, who falling asleep, and staying behind the Caravans, are covered over with an ocean of Sand driven by the high Winds, in which the Bodies being buried, are by the dryness and salt that is in the Sand, which drys up all the humidity of them, preserved en∣tire, and are afterwards found, when another Wind blowing, carries off the Sand again. Many think that the Bodies so dryed, are the true Mummy; it is a mistake, and that which Merchants bring into Christendom, to be used in Medicine, is the Mummy we first described. Near the Room I went into there were several others full of Bodies, but seeing the entries into them were full of Sand, I called to them above to pull me up again with the same Rope, with which I was let down, being much dissatisfied with my Moors, who had open'd so sorry a Pit for me. When I was got up I looked upon my Cloth, whereon were Characters of Gold, but was much vexed to see that all the Letters disap∣peared, and that by my own fault, because I had folded it together when it was very humid, and so all the Gold and Paint stuck to the opposite sides; whereas I should have brought it up open and dryed it in the Sun. But I have others that
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are finer, which are only a little spoiled in the bringing. I brought with me also some Hands of Mummies, which are as entire at present as ever they were. I had also the good fortune to buy upon the place some Idols, of the Moors, who come and sell them to the Franks in the City. These Idols are of several sorts, and in many postures, there are of them of Copper, of several sorts of Stone, and several sorts of Earth also; at least, I have some of all these kinds, all which I am very sure have been taken out of Mummies, and cannot be said to be coun∣terfeit, for besides that, they have not the Art to do it, they sell them at so easie a rate, that the very Materials are worth more. This is all I could observe of the Pyramids and Mummies: And hence it appears, that the ancient Egyptians spent more in their Tombs than during their whole Lives; and one reason they gave for that was, That their Houses were only for living a short time in, and their Tombs the Palaces that were to be inhabited by their Souls for many Ages. Not far from these Mummies, towards the Nile, are some remains of a large Town, which was Memphis, the Inhabitants whereof were bu∣ried there, the Ancients never burying their Dead within Towns, for fear of infecting the Air, none but Christians (who mind not that) bury their Dead any where. Now, to prove that these great Ruins are the remains of Memphis, Pliny affirms it, when he says, that the Pyramids are betwixt the Delta of Egypt and the City of Memphis on the side of Africa. At length we re∣turned by old Caire, and saw all that is curious, or worth being seen in it.
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A Letter from Dublin, concerning the Porphyry Pillars in Egypt. By Dr. Huntingdon.
SIR,
YOU engage me after a very undeniable manner, as I perceive by the minutes of your Philosophical Society, to send you some account of the Porphyry Pillars in Egypt; and though I could have satisfied your Curiosity much better in this matter, had you thought of it when I was amongst my Papers in Oxford, yet rather than hazard your good Opinion, or give the least pretence of disrespect to your worthy Company, for whose Persons and Designs I have so just an esteem and veneration: I here send not what's fit for me to write, or you to read, but what I can remember upon this subject.
Nor do I intend to speak concerning the na∣ture or composition of Stones in general, or of Porphyry more particularly, but meerly as to matter of Fact, so far chiefly as it fell under my own cognizance, i. e. if you please, rather like an Historian than a Philosopher.
In the first place then, I think it may be taken for granted, that there is no such Quarry, or Rock of Stone rather, in all the lower parts of Egypt; for so far as the Nile o'erflows is perfect Soil. A Sample whereof I hope you still retain, and let me entreat you to be very exact in weighing it this year, that you may be sure
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whether it be heavier in the time of the inunda∣tion (as is generally believed) than before or after: And when, and in what proportion it en∣creases. The Boundaries of this overflow (which are never ten miles from the Channel, that I saw, generally scarce half of it, and in some places but a mile or two, (the Delta still excepted, which is universally covered, all but the North side to the Sea, and a little to the East for some miles above Damiata) are rising Hills of Sand, beyond which is perfect Desart, upon the Africk side, the Lybian. [Higher South I have been told, there are Rocks nearer the River, and in some places streighten it] but under those Sands is a yielding Stone, not much harder than Chalk, though not so white, and very easily managed, as at the Mummies, deep spacious Vaults, which were the old Repositories for the Dead. And the like also may be said of those Cells or Sepul∣chres which are hewn purely out of the Rocky Earth three quarters of a mile on the South of Alexandria. Albeit nearer the Sea there are Stones of a harder kind, and with which they build; but by their mouldering away, as appears by the Remains of Houses within the Walls of the City, 'tis plain they can't endure the Wea∣ther, which is sufficiently corroding there. The Iron which once plated their thick wooden Gates being mostly eaten away, and the deep Characters upon the sides of these very Porphyry Pillars exceedingly defaced. Indeed about Mem∣phis, i. e. by the Pyramids, they have a milder Air, and the Hieroglyphicks cut in those Stones will last well enough, till they shall be removed into a rougher: But then they'l crizle and scale, as I found by sad experience. For having pro∣cur'd
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four Stones, the best mark'd with those fi∣gures of Antiquity I could meet with, and sent them down to Alexandria, in order to their transportation for England, I found them, upon my second Voyage into Egypt, very much injur'd, being put into the Custom-house-yard (where they lye still embargo'd) by the Aga, who de∣manded an intolerable Sum for liberty to ship them, as you may remember I told you the Story. But yet farther in the Country there are Mountains of harder Stone: In the Nitrian, now the Desart of St. Macarius, and not far from the Lake where the Latroon or true Nitre incru∣states upon the top of the Water, there are many, and some of them not utterly unlike Porphyry. That which nearest resembles its colour, though not its Consistence, is the vein that produces the Eagle-stone, of which there are many in the Bahr Batama, a great Sandy Valley: But these Stones are of a different complexion from Por∣phyry, as you may perceive by those I sent you, which also will assist your conjectures of their original.
However, I can't pronounce that there is no Porphyry hereabouts; for in the chief Mona∣stery of the four now remaining (of 366, as many as are days in the longest year) dedicated to the Blessed Virgin; the two Stones which se∣cure their entrance are of the like, if not the very same substance; which I more particularly observ'd upon the account of their ingenious contrivance; for these poor People, lying other∣wise at the mercy of the roving Arabs, with these two Mill-stones (for that's their make) thus make good their Gate against them, (or ra∣ther their passage) into which they run them,
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and then drive a great wooden Wedge between them on the inside, which so fastens them, that they cannot be loosed, but upon the inside nei∣ther. And of such a sort of Porphyry is the no∣ted Sphynx (a mighty head and shoulders 110 feet in compass) yet standing by the Northern Pyramids. I have indeed been told of the place upon Mount Sinai, whence this Porphyry came, but so they shew the very Rock where the two excel∣lent double rows of Pillars in the Church of Bethlehem were hewn; though I went away sa∣tisfied that 'twas a quite different sort of Stone. Another tells of a Pillar of the same make yet lying there; and if this be certain, you need seek no further. Albeit, I must tell you, that the Stones brought thence with the representati∣on of a Buck (it must needs be called) upon them, some of which you had, though reddish, are of a much finer, and more even tex∣ture.
Wansleben writes of a great many, more Sou∣therly; but I know him too well to believe all that he says for Gospel. And a more sober man, Father Carlo Francisco d' Orleans, now Superior of the Capucines at Cairo, who went 300 leagues up the Nile in the year 69, told me of many Tem∣ples, Statues, and Pillars at that distance; tho I can't be sure he said there were any of Por∣phyry. But since 'twas in Thebais, why may we not suppose them of that black, white, and red speckled Thebaick Marble, famous in the World, and wherewith the lesser Pyramid perhaps was crusted, yet to be seen upon the ground about it, and when polish'd looks finely.
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Those which I have my self seen, are one of them at the Matarea, three or four miles East of Grand Cairo, and two at Alexandria, just with∣in the Wall upon the North side of the City; (for Pompey's Pillar, as they call it) half a mile without the Gate to the South, is quite of another make and matter: One of these is thrown down and broken into pieces, but was of the same di∣mensions for breadth and thickness with the other. The Franks call them Aguglia's, the En∣glish particularly Cleopatra's Needles, but the In∣habitants content themselves with the general name of Pillars. They have no Basis or Pede∣stals above ground; and if they never had, they must needs be very deep in the Earth. The Draughts I here send you will excuse all farther Description. One of them was very well taken by Monsieur Brute a French Druggerman, the other by a Dutch Painter, who, you'l see, has but lit∣tle commended his Art. If you have a fancy, upon the sight of'em, to sift out the Hieroglyphick character with which they are engraven, perhaps you'l find it to be the aboriginal Egyptian Letter, long since worn out of common use in the Country, as the Samaritan (so 'tis now generally call'd) was amongst the Jews; and that it bears proportion with the China (now in use) where each note represents a word, or rather an entire signification. And moreover, that 'tis wrought the same way too, from the top to the bottom; as you have seen in the Board I brought from a Door in the Village Succara (which is next to the Mummies) the lar∣gest piece of Egyptian Writing, perhaps, at this day in Europe. I confess that in the Vaults or Priests Chambers cut out of the Rock, close by the second Pyramid, the whole Walls are inscri∣bed
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therewith, but I speak of an Original. And if all that is there written were but exactly co∣pied, it might be then lawful to hope, that the Language so long since dead and buried in the House of Bondage, might have its resurrection in the Land of Liberty. That such vast Monuments might be remo∣ved from place to place, is difficult indeed, but not impossible. And if one Archimedes (as Athe∣naeus preserves the Story for us) could lanch the vast Ship of Hiero, which all the Strength of Syracuse was not able to bring to Sea; what might not many great Masters in the same Art perform, and upon their own Dunghil too? for I may call Egypt the Mother of the Mathema∣ticks.
Besides, some of these Mountains are near the Red-Sea, and Suss from Cairo but two or three days, from Nile less: And how possible it is to convey mighty weights by Water, let the Obe∣lisks at Rome declare; which were all of them brought from this very Country: And that such things may be done by Land too, though not by every one, is plain enough, because we see they have been done. At Baalbec, which is 14 hours from Damascus, (for thence I went, accom∣panied with Mr. Anth. Balam and Mr. Jo. Verney, both now in England, whom I thought fit to name for my Compurgators, if you should que∣stion the credit of Story:) There is a Stone about 66 foot long on the North side of the Castle-wall, and two more of 60 each: And I believe we saw the way they travel'd, having left one of their Company, though not quite so big in the Road, as a Monument thereof to this very day.
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If you have got the piece of this Aguglia, (for I have nothing here) you will thereby best di∣scern its colour and composition. 'Tis something more lively than the Porphyry of St. John's Font (for by that name 'tis known) at Ephesus, much more vivid than those four tall square Pillars at Tadmore (in its middle age Palmyra) which are each of them but of, I think, one piece, whilst all the rest, exceeding many, of another sort of Stone, are of several pieces, and round. If you'l attribute the clearness of their Complexion in part to the Air, which corrodes them especially upon the North and East; I impose not upon the liberty of your Reason. If the Ichnography of them (which I desire you to reserve for me) wont excuse me from any farther description, I beg your pardon that I have said thus much, and hazarded my Judgment to demonstrate my Affection, how much I am, and endeavour to be,
Your faithful Friend, And humble Servant, R.H.
The Cutts of these Pillars are not prefixt to this Paper, because engraven and published elsewhere. See Philosoph. Trans. N. 178. p. 1252.
Monsieur Cuper, in his Letter to l' Abbe Ni∣caise, informs the World, that he had received Letters from Aleppo, which say, that some En∣glish Gentlemen, out of curiosity, going to vi∣sit the Ruines of Palmyra, had found 400 Mar∣ble Columns, of a sort of Porphyry, and also
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observ'd some Temples, yet entire with Tombs, Monuments, Greek and Latine Inscriptions, of all which he hopes to get Copies.Journal des Seavans, No. 25. An. 1692.
A Journey from Grand Caire to Mecha.
THE day that the Emir-Adge parted from Caire, he encamped in Tents, close by the City, and a few days after he encamped at the Birque, which is a great Pond about twelve miles from Caire, near to which they encamp. This place is the Rendesvouz of all the Caravans. The Emir-Adge parted from thence with the whole Caravan, Wednesday the eighth of August, it be∣ing the Custom for the Caravan of Caire to set out Seven and fifty days after the beginning of the Ramadam, that so it may be there punctual∣ly at the time. It is very pretty to see them en∣camped in the Night-time, because of the infinite number of Lamps that are in the Tents and Pa∣vilions. Next day, the ninth of August, the Ca∣ravan of the Magrebins parted also from the Birque, and there all of Barbary, who intend to make the Journey, meet, and make a distinct Ca∣ravan; which depends not on the Emir-Adge o•• Caire, but have a Chief of their own. That Ca∣ravan never sets out, but a day after the Caravan of Caire; they travel commonly by night, and rest in the day time, as all other Caravans do that go to other places, that so they may avoid the heat, which is almost insupportable; and
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when the Moon does not shine, there are men who carry Links before the Caravan. In all Caravans, the Camels are tied tail to tail, so that let them but go, and there is no trouble of lea∣ding them.
Here I'll give the Reader an account, how many Stages there are betwixt Caire and Mecha, how many days they stay in them, how many hours travelling there is betwixt them, and at what Stages the Waters are sweet or bitter, all along the way. This little Itinerary I had from a Prince of Tunis, who made that Journey whilst I was at Caire. From Caire to the Birque it is reckoned four hours Journey; there is fresh Water there. From the Birque to Misana, that is to say, Cistern, ten hours; no Water there. From Misana to Kalaat Aadgeroud, which is to say, the Castle of Sand-pits, twelve hours and an half; there is bitter Water there. From the Castle of Aadgeroud to Navatir, seven hours and an half; no Water there. From Navatir to Ra∣stagara, ten hours; no Water there, and the way bad. From Rastagara to Kalaat el Nahhal, that is to say, the Castle of Palmes, fifteen hours; there they stay a day, and have fresh Water. From the Castle of Nahhal to Abiar Alaina, four∣teen hours; only bitter Water there. From A∣biar Alaina to Sath el Akaba, that is to say the Plain of the Hill, fifteen hours; no Water there. From Sath el Akaba to Kalaat el Akaba, that is to say, the Castle of the Hill, (that's upon the side of the Red Sea) sixteen hours, there they stay two days and an half, the way is very bad, but they have fresh Water. From the Castle el Aka∣ba to Dar el Hhamar, six hours and an half; no Water there, (Dar el Hhamar signifies Asses Back, and it is like the Mountain in Italy, where there
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is an Inn called Scarga l' asino.) From Dar el Hhamar to Scharafe Benigateie, fourteen hours; no Water there. From Scharafe Benigateie to Magare Chouaib, that is to say, the Grott of Je∣thro, fourteen hours; fresh Water there: that is the Country of the Midionites. From Magare Chouaib to Eyoun el Kased, fourteen hours and an half; fresh Water there: It was in that place where Jethro's Daughters going to water their Cattel, and the Shepherds offering to hinder them, Moses protected and defended them against those who would have hindred them to draw Water. From Eyoun el Kaseb to Kalaat el Moilah which is by the Sea-side, fifteen hours; there they rest two days and an half, and have fresh Water. From Kalaat el Moilah to Castel, eleven hours; bitter Water there. From Castel to Ka∣laat Ezlem, fifteen hours and an half; bitter Wa∣ter there. From Kalaat Ezlem to Istanbel antir, fourteen hours; fresh Water there. From Istan∣bel antir to Kalaat el Voudge, that is to say, the Castle of the Face, thirteen hours and an half; fresh Water there. From Kalaat el Voudge to Ekre, sixteen hours: no Water there but what is bitter. From Ekre to Hank Krue, that is to say, Gulf, twelve hours and an half: no Water there. From Hank Krue (going to Hhawre, they enter into the Territory of Mecha) to Hhawre, it is thirteen hours: only bitter Water there. From Hhawre to Nabte, fifteen hours: fresh Water there. From thence come the Nabathean Arabs, Eurus ad auroram Nabathaeaque regna recessit. From Nabte to Hazire, thirteen hours and an half: no Water there. From Hazire to Yanbouh, that is to say, Fountain, fourteen hours and an half: there they stay two days and an half, and have fresh Water. From Yanbouh to Soucaife, thirteen
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hours: no Water there. From Soucaif to Beder Hunein, that is to say, the Moon of Hunein, eight hours: fresh Water there. Hunein was a man that shew'd the Moon in his Well. From Beder Hunein to Ssbil el Mouhsin, that is to say, the way of Benefaction or Benefit, fourteen hours: fresh Water there: Rabii is a Sacred place, that is to say, not to be enter'd into, without being well prepared and purged from all Sin. Hence it is that there are two places which are called Hara∣mein, Sacred places, to wit, Mecha and Medina, that is to say, which are two Holy places, where one should take heed not to set his foot, unless he be well washed from all Sin. From Rabii to Kawdire, fifteen hours, no Water there. From Kawdire to Bir el fan, fourteen hours, fresh Water there. From Bir el fan to Vadi fatima, fourteen hours: fresh Water there. From Vadi fatima to Mecha six hours.
Of the Aga sent to meet the Caravan upon their Return.
ABout six weeks after the setting out of the Caravan of Caire, when they know that it is ready to return from Mecha, an Aga goes from Caire to guard the fresh Provisions that the People of the Country send to their Friends and Relations in the Caravan, every one sending ac∣cording to their abilities and Friendship, all which are well sealed up, and delivered to those they belong unto. For this effect the Aga has many Camels with him, and gets considera∣bly
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by the Caravan, which he meets half way. This year it returned on Tuesday the thirteenth of November, and encamped at the Birque, where the Caravan of the Magrebins arrived the day before. Several come to Caire the same day, and their Friends go as far as the Birque to welcome them; whereupon meeting, they kiss again and again five or six times, and all who know them salute and kiss them in the same manner; and indeed, for some days after there is nothing to be seen in the City, but people kissing one another, or lamenting their Rela∣tions who died in the Journey, Men, Women, and Children, who howl and make fearful ge∣stures, when they hear the news from the first of the Caravan, whom they meet. These Pil∣grims are forty five days in going, and as much in coming back to Caire, besides some days they stay there; but they make but easie Journeys, it being impossible that so great a body should march fast, for they must often stop to load the Camels whose loads have fallen off, to unload those that fall or die, or to bury their Dead, and a thousand such other accidents; and when one Camel stops, all the rest must wait. They travel commonly (as I said) in the night-time with Links, that they may avoid the heat. In this Journey they find but little Water, and that exceeding bad too: As for fresh Provisions, they find none, and eat only what they carry along with them: But the worst thing they meet with in the Journey, are certain hot Winds, which stifle the Breath, and in a short time kill a great many people. The Prince of Tunis told me, that in one day several hundreds died of that Wind, and that he himself was much afraid that he should have been one of the number. In fine,
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in this Expedition there died six thousand, what of Fatigue, Thirst, and these hot Winds. In that Journey People are to be seen riding on Camels, and singing Verses of the Alcoran, who suddenly fall down dead. Those who return with life are so alter'd and extenuated, that they can hardly be known; and nevertheless vast numbers of People from all parts yearly perform that Pilgrimage, and there passes not a year wherein Women and little Children do not make it. They who have performed that Jour∣ney are called Adgi, that is to say, Pilgrims, meaning though only the Pilgrimage of the Kiaabe, and they are much respected by all as long as they live, and highly credited. The Emir-Adge gains much by this Journey, for the Goods of all that dye belong to him, besides a vast deal of other profits that he makes on several occasions; and it is thought, that every Expedi∣tion he gets above an hundred thousand Piastres, but this year he got above three hundred thou∣sand, for many People died. The greatest Pre∣rogative of this Office is, that during the whole Expedition he is absolute Master of the Field, and administers Justice as he thinks fit.
Having in my hands an exact Description of Mecha, and considering that few or no Travellers have spoken of it with any certainty, I thought it would not be amiss to add it, and make a par∣ticular Chapter thereof.
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Of Mecha and Medina.
MEcha is seven and thirty days Journey from Caire, and all over Desarts; it is a days Journey from the Red-Sea; the Port of it is cal∣led Gidde, which is a little Town, wherein are two Castles on the two sides of the Port, one on each side, and the Turks say that Eve lies buried there: They shew her Sepulchre, which is in length 38 or 40 steps of a man's walk, and hath no other Ornament but a Stone at each end.
Mecha is about the bigness of Marseilles, in the middle whereof is the Kiaabe or Beytullah, that is to say, the House of God, which (the Turks say) was first built by the Patriarch Abraham. This House is about fifteen foot in length, eleven or twelve in breadth, and about five fathom high. The Threshold of the Door is as high from the ground as a man can reach his Hand, being within filled up even with the Threshold. The Door is about a fathom and an half high, and a fathom wide, and is in the corner to the left hand, when one faces the House. This Door is of beaten Silver, and opens with two leaves; they go up to it by a Ladder supported by four Wheels, two whereof are fastened to the lower end of the Ladder, and the other two to two wooden Posts about the middle of it, by means of which Wheels the Ladder is run to the Wall, when any body is to enter into the Beytullah.
This House has a flat Roof, supported by three Pillars of an Octogone Figure, which are of Aloes-wood, as big as the Body of a man, and
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about three fathom and a half long; they are of one entire piece each, and yet run in a streight Line the length of the Building, which is hung with red and white Stuff, having here and there these words upon them, La Illah Illal∣lah, Mouhammed Resoul allah.
At the same corner where the Door is (but on the other side by the Wall) is the black Stone, which they call Hadgiar Asuad, and is had in veneration by them, because (as they say) Abraham stood upon it when he built that House, and that it served him for a Scaffold, to the end he might make no hole in the Wall, it rising higher or lower as he pleased, and being for that purpose brought him by the Angel Gabriel.
There is a Court about this House, which the Turks call Haram, and it is encompassed with Walls, with three rows of Pillars, and Arches on the inside of it. The four Sects of Mahometanism have their places of Prayer in this Court, which are the Hanifi, Chafii, Maliki, and Hambeli, each in one of the four parts of the Court, with their Faces turned always towards the Beitullah, or House of God.
This House is begirt with two Belts of Gold, one below, and the other on high. On one side of the Terrass that covers the Beitullah there is a Spout of beaten Gold, about a fathom long, that jets out, to carry off the Rain-water that falls up∣on the Terrass.
The same House is covered on the out-side with Hangings of black Silk, which is a kind of Damask, and every year there are new ones sent from Caire, at the charges of the Grand Signior.
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Ten days Journey from Mecha, upon the Road to Damascus, is the City of Medina, three days Journey from the Red Sea: The Port of it is called Iambo, which is a little Town of the same shape and bigness as Gidde.
Medina is about half as big as Mecha, but it hath a Suburbs as big as the Town it self: Much about the middle of that Town there is a Mosch, in a corner whereof is the Sepulchre of Mahomet, covered in the same manner as the Monuments of the Turkish Emperors are at Con∣stantinople. The Sepulchre is in a little Tower, or round Building, covered with a Dome, which the Turks call Turbe. This Building is quite open, from the middle up to the Dome, and all round it there is a little Gallery, of which the out-side Wall has several Windows with Silver Grates to them, and the in-side Wall, which is that of the little Tower, is adorned with a great number of precious Stones, at that place which answers to the head of the Tomb. There are rich things there also, of an inestimable value, sent by the Mahometan Kings, during so many Ages, which are fastened within this Gallery, all round the said Turret. Among others, at the place which answers to the head of the Tomb, there is a great Diamond, half as long as ones Fore-finger, and two Fingers broad, over which is the Diamond which Sultan Osman, the Son of Sultan Ashmet, sent thither, and is equal to that which the Ottoman Emperors wear on their Fin∣ger. These two Diamonds were heretofore but one, which Sultan Osman caused to be sawed in two in the middle. Lower down there is a Half-Moon of Gold, set with Diamonds of great worth.
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The Pilgrims see not Mahomet's Tomb, be∣cause that Turret wherein it is enclosed hath no Windows, being only open above, as hath been said; but such as make any stay at Medina have liberty and leisure to enter into the Turbe, and see it, when there is no clutter of Strangers there, that is to say, three or four months after the departure of the Pilgrims, who see no more but the aforesaid Gallery, and the Riches that are within it, through the Silver Grates of the Windows, which we mentioned before. Those then who enter into the Turbe, see that the Tomb hangs not in the Air, as many have falsly writ∣ten, and (which is more) never did hang so, but is upon the flat Ground raised and covered like the Tombs of Turkish Emperors and Ba∣shaws.
The Turbe is hung all round with Hangings of red and white Silk, like Damask, which co∣ver all the Wall, except at the place where the great Diamonds are, for there they are tuck'd aside, that the Diamonds may not be covered. Round all these Hangings are the aforementio∣ned words in Characters of Gold, La Illah Illal∣lah, Mouhammed Resoul allah. These Hangings are renewed every seven years by the Ottoman Emperors, unless when a new Emperor succeeds, before the seven years be accomplished; for in that case the Emperor renews them so soon as he comes to the Throne.
The Door by which they enter into the Gal∣lery is of Silver, and so is the other that goes out of the Gallery into the Turbe.
When the Pilgrims (to the number of Two hundred thousand Souls) are come to Mecha at the usual time, which is a short while before the little Bairam, and that it is the day before the
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Vigil of the said Bairam, they go and lye at a place called Myne, half a league from Mecha, and next day being the Vigil of Bairam, they go half a league farther off, to another place called Arafa, which is a great Plain, in the middle whereof there is a Rock, or rising Hillock, and on the top of it a Member, or place for preaching in, into which steps a Scheikh, who preaches to all the People about in the Plain.
The Pilgrims being returned to Mecha, divide themselves in several Caravans, because of the different Countries they come from, and are to go back to them again. The Caravan that met at Damascus, upon their return pass by Medina, and visit Mahomet's Tomb, seeing it is upon their Road: Of the rest, those who are prompted by Devotion go thither, but a great part return back to their several Countries, without turning out of their way to visit the said Sepulchre, their Law not obliging them to that, as it does to vi∣sit the other places above mentioned: So that they are grosly mistaken, who have affirmed, that the Pilgrimage of the Turks is to the Sepul∣chre of Mahomet, who obliged them to it. For that false Prophet told his Followers, when he drew near his death, that if any one returning from Mecha, had the curiosity to come and see his Sepulchre, he should say a Fatha for his Soul (which is a Prayer taken out of the Alcoran, re∣sembling in some manner our Pater Noster) and be gone. Mecha is the place of Mahomet's Birth, Medina of his Burial.
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An Extract of a Journey through part of Arabia Felix, from the Copy in Ramusio's Collection.
WE travell'd in most places of Arabia by the help of a Compass, and were forty days and forty nights in going between Damas∣cus and Mecha; Port Ziden is forty miles di∣stant from Mecha, from whence it receives the greatest part of its Provisions by the Red Sea, from Aegypt, Aethiopia, and Arabia Felix, the numbers of Pilgrims and Camels being incredi∣ble, and fresh Water very scarce, and as dear as Wine in Europe.
I stole away secretly from Mecha in the disguise of a Mammaluke, to Ziden, in order to pass round Arabia by Sea into Persia. Ziden contains about 500 Houses; there lay at Anchor in the Haven almost 100 Brigantines and Foysts, with divers Barks of sundry sorts, both with and without Oars. After six days sailing we came to Gezan, a fair commodious Port full of Vessels; the Soil is very fruitful and delicious, abounding with many rare Fruits and Flowers: The Inhabitants for the most part go naked. Leaving Gezan in the space of five or six days, we reach'd an Island named Camaran, ten miles in circuit: In it is a Town of 200 Houses, the Inhabitants are Maho∣metans; it hath great store of Flesh, and fresh Water: The Haven is eight miles from the Con∣tinent, and is subject to the Sultan of Arabia Fe∣lix.
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In two days sailing we came to the mouth of the Red Sea.
The day after our arrival at Aden, I being suspected for a Portuguese Spy, was cast into heavy Chains, and thrown into Prison: After fifty five days Imprisonment, I was set upon a Camel with my Shackles, and in eight days Journey came to Rhada, a City where the Sultan then lay with 30000 men, to make War against the Sultan of Sana three days distant from Rhada. The Sultan's Guard were Aethiopians, with short broad Swords, painted Targets and Darts, Slings and Ropes made of Cotton. Having obtain'd ••y Liberty, I pass'd through Almacaran and La∣gh••, to Aden, where I embark'd for Persia.
In this Journey I observ'd many Monkeys, Lyons, Sheep with prodigious great Tails; va∣riety of Spices, Sugars, and a sort of Grape with∣out Stones, very delicious: Many strange Gum Trees, as the Balsam, the Myrrhe, Frankincense, Coffee, Coco's, &c.
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Some Observations made by Sir Henry Middleton, and other English-men, in Arabia Felix, when they were most treacherously seized, and led Prisoners from Moha and Aden up to Zenan. Also Capt. Payton's and Capt. Heyn's Observations in some parts of Arabia Felix.
WE were fifteen days in going from Moha to Zenan, which is about 180 miles di∣stant N. N. W. it lies in 16 degrees and 15. min. Lat. We were carried about our Christmas time, and were almost starved with cold, there being hoary Frosts and Ice at Zenan: Some of our men got Furrs, this was wonderful in such a Lati∣tude: We fed much upon Dates and Plan∣tanes.
Zenan appeared to me bigger than Bristol, its situation is in a Stony Valley, encompass'd with high Hills, with many Gardens and places of Pleasure. The Buildings are of good Stone and Lime.
February the 17th, we obtained our Liberty, and began on the 18th our Journey from Zenan to Moha: That night we came to Siam, 16 miles, some on Asses, others on Camels: On the 19th to Surage, 18 miles: On the 20th to the City Damare, in a plentiful Country 20 miles from Surage. On the 21st we arrived at Ermin, 15 miles, here we staid the 22d. On the 23d we
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came to Nagual Samare. The 24th to Mohader 13 miles from Nackelsamar. On the 25th to Ra∣battamain, 16 miles from Mohader: Here they make Opium of a Poppy, but it is not good. The 26th we came to Coughe, called Meifadine, 16 miles from Rabattamain. On the 27th we were at Tayes, half as large as Zenan, here they make Indigo out of an Herb. March the 1st, we travelled from Tays to Eufras, 16 miles distant. March the 2d, to Assambine 11 miles. On the 3d, to Accomoth. The 4th to Mousa, 17 miles: Here we observ'd them steeping the Indigo Plant. On the 5th we got to Moha.
Moha is less than Tayes, but very populous, it stands close by the Sea in a Salt and Sandy Soil, unwalled: yet it hath Platforms and Forts: A∣bundance of Shipping resort thither from India, and great Caravans by land from Syria and Me∣cha, to trade and exchange Commodities.
Aden is the greatest Port of Arabia Felix, 'tis situated at the foot of vast high Mountains, which rise up with Pikes, and run with great Promontories into the Sea: These Hills were called Cababarre, according to the Journal of Don John of Castro the Portuguese. Capt. Dun∣ton, of Sir Henry Middleton's Fleet, observ'd Aden to lye in 12 deg. 35 min. of N. Lat. The va∣riation Westerly was 12 degrees and 40 minutes. It flows upright between 6 and 7 foot Water on the change day. The Canoos came about the English Ships with Indigo, Olibanum, and Myrrhe, but no trade with them by reason of their trea∣chery. Aden has been a great City of above 6000 Houses, but Capt. Dounton found the Buil∣dings much decay'd, and many of them sunk. Capt. Sharpeigh was the first Englishman that ever
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landed at Aden, he had been there 16 months before, in the year 1610.
The aforementioned parts of Arabia Felix were at that time under the subjection of the Turks, who had got possession of them from the Arabians, by tricks and treachery, whom they kept in awe by many Castles built on Hills and Passes, and by the many Captives they always kept as Pledges. Sir Henry Middleton observ'd many of the mountainous parts to be under the Dominion of the Arabians, who are very popu∣lous in all the places where he passed, and are at frequent Wars with the insolent Turks, who pretended secret Orders from the Grand Signior, to destroy all the Christians that came ashore, lest they should go up to Mecha and Medina, to ran∣sack and burn them.
Cap. Walter Payton, in the year 1613, found great Hospitality and Ingenuity in some Ports of Ara∣bia Felix, nearer the Persian Gulf, especially at Doffar, a very good Road for Ships, and a fair City, where the Arabians presented his Crew with Bullocks, Sheep, Hens, Goats, Sugar-Canes, Plantans and Coco's. This Cape stands in 16 de∣grees 38 min. of N. Lat. and is free from the Turkish Yoke.
Capt. Edward Heyns anchored before Moha or Mocha, in Arabia Felix, An. Dom. 1618. the Go∣vernour sent him as Presents a young Bullock, two Goats, Mangoes, Limes, Cucumbers, Water Melons, Quinces, Rack made of Rice, &c. He went freely ashore, and found it a very neat, populous, and flourishing Town, built of Brick and Stone, curiously plaister'd over like Paris, two Stories high with flat Roofs and Terrasses on the top, whereon they build Summer-houses with Canes and Matts, wherein they sleep and
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receive the fresh Breefes in the great heats. They excus'd the Cruelty to Sir H. Middleton, laying it on the cruel Governor at that time.
Of the Ways and Roads between Egypt and Ethiopia.
IN the month of October an Ambassador of Ethiopia came to Caire, with several Presents for the Grand Signior, and among others an Ass that had a most delicate Skin, if it was natural, for I will not vouch for that, since I did not exa∣mine it. This Ass had a black List down the Back, and the rest of its Body was all begirt with white and tawny streaks, a finger broad a piece: The Head of it was extraordinarily long, striped and partly coloured as the rest of the Body: Its Ears, like a Buffles, were very wide at the end, and black, yellow, and white: Its Legs streaked just like the Body, not long ways, but round the Leg, in fashion of a Garter, down to the Foot, and all in so good proportion and symetry, that no Lynx could be more exactly spotted, nor any Skin of a Tyger so pretty, this may be the Zem∣bra. The Ambassador had two more such Asses, which dyed by the way, but he brought their Skins with him, to be presented to the Grand Sig∣nior, with the live one. He had also several lit∣tle black Slaves of Nubia, and other Countries, confining on Ethiopia, Civet, and other cost∣ly things for his Present. These little Blacks serve to look after the Women in the Seraglio, after that they are gelded. The Ambassa∣dor
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was an old man, and had the end of his Nose, part of the upper and under Lip cut off, but was otherwise a shapely man, and of a very good presence: He was cloathed after the Coph∣tish fashion, wearing a Turban like them, and spoke very good Italian, which gave me the op∣portunity of conversing with him: He told me his name was Michael, that he was a Native of Tripoly, in Syria, and that he had made three or four Voyages into Christendom: That eighteen months before, he had parted from Gontar, the Capital City of Ethiopia, and was so long retar∣ded by the way, because of the contrary Winds he met with on the Red Sea, by which he came. That of an hundred Persons whom he had brought with him, of his own Servants, and the Slaves he was to present to the Grand Signior, thirty or forty were dead. If he had come by Land, he had not been so long by the way; for from Gontar to Schouaquen it is about six weeks Journey, and from Schouaquen to Caire forty or fifty days by Camels; but he could not take that way because of his Train. He told me many things relating to the Kingdom of Ethiopia, which I shall here give the Reader an account of.
But first, of the ways of passing out of Egypt into Ethiopia. The Merchants setting out from Grand Caire, are carried up the Nile against the Stream, as far as Monfallot, and thence travelling in Caravans, first come to Siint, and so in order to the following Towns: Wack three days Jour∣ney; Meks two days; Scheb three; Sellim three; Moschu five; Dungala five, accounted the Metro∣polis of Nubia, then they come into the King∣dom of Sennar: From Dungala they travel to Kshabi, three days Journey; Korti three more;
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Trere three; Gerry one; Helfage one; Arbatg three; Sennar four: From Sennar in fourteen days they arrive at the Confines of Habessinia, the Entrance is called Tshelga. The passage by Sea is various, for the Merchants embark in se∣veral Ports on the Red Sea, as Suesso, Gidda, Al∣cossir, and so coast it to Suaquena and Matzua. The safest way of travelling into the Kingdom of Prester John, is with some Metropolitan or Ambassador. Some land at Baylar, a Port be∣longing to the King of Dengala, in amity with the Habessins, but the Journey thence by Land is tedious, and infested by the Gallons. 'Tis but three months travel by Land from Grand Caire to Gontar, the chief City of Ethiopia.
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Of Ethiopia: By Michael of Tripoly, Ambassador from the Habessine Em∣peror to the Grand Signior.
EThiopia, or the Country of the Abyssins, cal∣led in Arabick Abesch, from whence comes the word Abyssin, is a great Empire, being above seven months travel in circuit: On the East side it is bordered by the Red Sea, and Zanguebar, on the South with Zeila, Avousa, Naria, &c. On the West by the Country of the Negros and Nu∣bia, and on the North with the Country of Nu∣bia and Bugia, because to come from Ethiopia into Egypt, one must cross Nubia down the Nile. About an hundred years ago, Greyu Mahomet, King of Zeila, of which the Inhabitants are all Moors, invaded Ethiopia, and forced the King to save himself on a Mountain, from whence he sent to demand assistance of the King of Por∣tugal, who immediately sent it him, but hardly was he who commanded these Auxiliaries en∣ter'd the Country, when he resolved to return back again, finding that they ate raw Flesh there: However, his Brother Don Christopher had more Courage, and would not return without doing some Exploit: He marched up into the Country with about Three hundred Musque∣teers, fought, vanquished, and killed the Moo∣rish King, and then re-established the lawful King of Ethiopia: For reward of which Service,
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the King of Ethiopia gave Lands and Estates to all the Portuguese that stayed within his Domi∣nions, and their Offspring are still in that Coun∣try. The Father of this present King was a Catholick, but he dying some thirty odd years ago, the Queen his Wife, who was a great Ene∣my to the Jesuits, and no Catholick, and who suffer'd impatiently, that they should govern (as they pleased) the late King her Husband, wrought upon her Son that succeeded him, to persecute all the Roman Catholicks, in such a man∣ner, that the Jesuits were obliged to make their escape, and he put to death all the Capucins whom he found. Since that time, three Capu∣cins more were put to death at Schouaken; for the King of Ethiopia knowing that they had a mind to come into his Kingdom, sent to the Go∣vernor of Schouaken, praying him to put to death those three religious Franks. The Governor of Schouaken caused their Heads to be immediately struck off, and sent them to the King of Ethio∣pia, who as a Reward, made him a Present of three Bags of Gold Dust, promising him as many Bags of Gold Dust as he should send him Heads of Franks. And fifteen or sixteen years since, two others have been put to death, in the Pro∣vince of Oinadaga, whose Names were Father Fioravanti, and Father Francesco. In short, this King is a declared Enemy to all Franks, whom he accuses of being Hereticks, and of having conspired to put the Crown upon the Head of one of his Enemies: So that a Frank who would go into that Country, must pass for an Arme¦nian or Cophte, for the King and his People are of the Cophtish Religion. They believe but one Nature in Jesus Christ. At the end of eight day they circumcise, as the Jews do, and baptise
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Fortnight after. Before the Jesuits went thither, they baptised none before they were thirty or forty years of age. They say Mass as the Cophtes do, but their Church-books are in the Ethiopick Language. Their Patriarch depends on the Pa∣triarch of Alexandria, and when the Patriarch of the Abyssins dies, they send Deputies to Alexan∣dria, to entreat the Patriarch to send them ano∣ther, and he convocating his Clergy, chuses out the fittest among them, whom he sends, but is never any more heard of in Egypt, till he be dead.
There are four Kings that pay Tribute to the King of Ethiopia, to wit, the King of Sennar, who pays his Tribute in Horses. Sennar is a very hot Country. The King of Naria, who pay his Tribute in Gold. The King of Bugia, and King of Dangala. Naria is a good Country, and in that Country are the Mines out of which they have the Gold that passes on the Coasts of Soffala and Guiney. These Mines are not deep, as in many other Countries. From that Country al∣so comes the Civet. I think it will not be amiss here to say somewhat of Civets, which are so rare in our Country, as that they deserve to be taken notice of where one can find them. They are called Civet-Cats, come from Naria, (as I just now said) and are taken in Snares. The Jews in Caire keep many of them in their Hou∣ses, where for buying a few drachms of Civet one may see them. It is a Beast almost as big as a good Dog: It hath a sharp Snout, small Eyes, little Ears, and Mustachios like a Cat: The Skin of it is all spotted black and white, with some yellowish specks, and hath a long bushy Tail, almost like a Fox. It is a very wild Creature, and I believe the bite of it would put
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a body to no small pain. The Jews keep them in great square Wooden Cages, where they feed them with raw Mutton and Beef, cut into small pieces. When they would get from them that which is called Civet, (and is the Sweat of this Beast, that smells so sweet) they make him go back with a stick which they thrust in betwixt the Bars of the Cage and catch hold of his Tail: When they have that fast, they take hold also of his two hind Legs, pulling him half out of the Cage by the Door, which falls down up∣on his Back, and keeps him fast there, then ano∣ther opens a certain Cod of Flesh that these Beasts have, which is shaped like a split Gyserne, and with an Iron Spatula scrapes all the Sweat off it within. The Males have that piece of Flesh betwixt their Stones and Yard, which is like a Cats. The Females have it betwixt their Fundament and Privities, and it is emptied of the Sweat but twice a week, each Beast yield∣ing about a drachm at a time, by what I could discern. When that Sweat or Excrement is ta∣ken out, it is of a whitish grey, but by little and little, in some short space, it turns to a very brown colour. It smells very sweet at a di∣stance, but near hand it stinks and causes a Head∣ach. There are as many kinds of Civet-Sweat, as there are of Civet-Cats, for it is more whitish, greyish, or yellowish, and dryer in some than in others, and yet they mingle all together. After all, it is in vain to think to have pure Civet, for the Jews falsifie it; and if a man imagine it to be pure, because he has seen it taken from the Beast, he is mistaken, for before People come to their Houses, they rub the inside of that piece of Flesh, with a little Oyl, or some such Stuff, that so the Sweat and it together may make
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more weight, but when no body is present, they take it out pure, and mingle it afterwards. To find out the truth of this, I went one day to the House of a Jew, that kept Civet-Cats, without giving him notice before, (for because I had bought a little of him, and promised to come again another time, he asked me as often as he saw me, what day I would come) and ha∣ving desired him to get me some fresh Civet, he told me, that it was not the day he used to take it out; and having returned without acquain∣ting him before, upon one of the days when he said he was accustomed to gather it, he refused then also to do it, pretending Business, which confirmed all that had been told me of that mat∣ter. In the mean time they hold these Beasts very dear; for having asked that Jew, and others also, how much they would have of me, for a Civet Cat, they all told me, an hundred Chequins. Dangala is the capital City of Nubia, the King of Dangala is King of the Barberins, who are a kind of Blacks, of the Musulman Religion, that came in Crowds to Caire, to get Services; they are somewhat silly, but very faithful, and serve for a small matter, for two Maidins a day, or a Maidin and their Dyet: You may make them do whatsoever you please. They wear a blew Shirt, plat all their Hair in Tresses, and then rub it over with a certain Oyl, to keep their Head from being lousie. At Caire, when they have any falling out, they go before the Scheiks of their own Nation, who make them Friends, and if they think it convenient, adjudg them to pay a Fine, with which they feast and make merry together. They are great lovers of Crocodiles Flesh; and when any Frank has got one for the Skin, they come and beg the Flesh,
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which they dress with a pretty good Sawce. When these Blades have scraped together ten or twelve Piastres, they return home again wealthy to their own Country, provided they escape be∣ing robbed by the Arabs upon the way, who many times serve them so, therefore they com∣monly return in companies, as they came. The King of Dangala pays his Tribute to the King of Ethiopia, in Cloth. The Provinces of Ethiopia are Gouyan, (where the King keeps a Viceroy) Beghandir, Dambia, Amara, (which is a great Pro∣vince, full of Mountains and good Castles) Da∣moud Tegre, and Barnegas. Besides, there are se∣veral Provinces governed by Princes, who are Vassals to the King of Ethiopia. In short, the Kingdom of Ethiopia comprehends twenty four Tambours or Vice Roys. The capital City is called Gonthar, and is in the Province of Dambia. Ethiopia (as the Ambassador told me) is as cold as Aleppo or Damascus, only the Countries near the Red-Sea, and the Country of Sennar are hot. The King of Ethiopia has above an hundred Wives, and keeps no Eunuchs to look after them, because they look upon it as a Sin to geld a man; so that the Women have the same li∣berty there as in Christendom. He is a King of very easie access, and the poorest have the free∣dom ••o come and speak to him when they please. He keeps all his Children on a Mountain, cal∣led Ouhhni, in the Province of Oinadaga, which is a Mountain two days Journey distant from Gonthar; there is a place like a Cistern on the top of the Mountain, into which they are let down every night, and taken up again in the day-time, and suffered to play and walk about. When the King dyes, they chuse out one of the wittiest of them, and make him King, without
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any regard to Birth-right; and when he comes to have Children, he sends his Brothers Priso∣ners to some other place, and places his Children at Ouhhni. The place where the Kings are bu∣ried, is called Ayesus, and is a kind of Grott, where the Aged are laid in one side, and the young in the other. Heretofore there was a Church there of the same name, in time of the Jesuites; and in the same place there is a Libra∣ry. The Ambassador assured me, that he had been in that Library, and I fancy it is the old Library of the Ancient Ethiopians. Ethiopia is a good and fertile Country, producing Wheat, Barley, &c. The greatest Desarts of it are not above three or four days Journey over; and ne∣vertheless, when the King makes any progress, he lodges in Tents. The Houses of the great Lords are like those of Caire, that is to say, very mean, in respect of the Houses of Europe, and the rest are only of Mud. The Country affords men of all Trades, except Watch-makers. They have no Camels there, but Mules, Asses, Oxen, and Horses. All the People of this Country eat raw Flesh, except the King, who has it dress'd, and drinks Wine of Grapes; the rest drink only Wine made of Millet or Sarasin Wheat, but as strong as ours, and Brandy made of the same Grain. They are cloathed after the fashion of the Franks, and wear Cloath, Velvet, and other Stuffs imported to them by the Red-Sea. They have Harquebusses from the Turks, and of those People there are not above three or four hun∣dred who serve in the Wars with Harquebusses. In Trading they make no use of coyned Money, as the Europeans do, but their Money are pieces of fifteen or twenty Pies of Cloth, Gold, which they give by weight, and a kind of Salt, which
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they reduce into little square pieces like pieces of Soap, and these pass for Money. They cut out that Salt upon the side of the Red-Sea, five or six days Journey from Dangala, as you go from Caire, and the places where they make it are cal∣led Arho. Among them is the Nation of the Gauls, whom in Ethiopick they call Chava, and are a Vagabond people in Ethiopia, as the Arabs are in Egygt. These Gauls are rich in Cattel, and are alwaies at wars with the Ethiopians. They have no Harquebusses, nor other Fire-Arms, but make use of Lances and Targets. After all, they speak so m••ny different Languages in Ethiopia, that the Ambassador said to me, If God hath made seventy two Languages, they are all spoken in Ethio∣pia. I asked his Excellency if he knew any thing of the Source of the Nile, and this he told me concerning it: The Head of Nile is a Well that springs out of the Ground in a large Plain, where many Trees grow: this Fountain is called Ouem∣bromma, and is in a Province called Ago. It makes that a very delightful place, casting up Water very high in several places: And this Am∣bassadour of Ethiopia assured me, that he had been above twelve times with the King of Ethio∣pia, to spend several days about that Fountain, which is twelve days Journey from Gonthar.
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More Observations of Ethiopia, by Fa∣ther Lobo, Father Alvarez, Father Tellez, and others; extracted from their Portuguese Voyages.
THE Rains begin to fall in June, and conti∣nue July, August, and part of September, which make the Nile swell and overflow in those Months. Father Tellez says, the Mountains of Habessinia are much higher than our Alps and Py∣renean Hills; these render the Country more temperate and healthful, and make that torrid Climate tolerable to the European Bodies: There is plenty of good Springs and Herbage. In the midst of the Plains there rise up many steep Rocks of wonderful Figures and Shapes, on the tops whereof are Woods, Meadows, Fountains, Fish-ponds, and other conveniencies of Life: The Natives get up to them by Ropes, and crane up their Cattel: These are like so many For∣tresses, which defend the Natives against the sudden Incursions of barbarous Nations on all sides.
This Kingdom abounds with Metals, but they neglect to work them, lest Turkish or other In∣vasions should follow, if such Baits were disco∣ver'd. Their Winter is from May to September, the Sun then passing and repassing perpendicu∣lar over their Heads. During this Season, once every day it rains Torrents, and thunders most
description Page 184
violently, which are accompanied sometimes with sudden and furious Hurricanes.
The Jesuits residing in the Province of Zam∣bea observ'd both the Poles, the Antarctick higher with his cross Stars: In this tract of Heaven there is as it were a Cloud or Blot full of little Stars, as our Via Laclea.
The Animals of this vast Kingdom are, the Hippopotamus, or River-horse, which makes great devastation in their Plantations, Crocodiles, Rhi∣nocerots, Elephants, Lyons, Tygers, Panthers, Camelo∣pardalus, Gazels, Zembra's, Civet-Cats; great va∣rieties of Monkeys, Apes, and Baboons; Ostriches, Cassowars, Turtles, Locusts in prodigious numbers. The ordinary Trees are, the Date, Coco, Tama∣rind, C••ssia, Oranges, Musa, or Plantane, Cotton-Trees, with many others peculiar to the Climate and Region.
In one year they will have three several crops of Rice, Millet, Tef-Seed, (their common Food ten times less than Mustard-Seed) of Wheat, and other European Grain, yet the Locusts often de∣vour all, and bring on Famines.
They make a Drink of Honey, burnt Rice, Water, and a Wood call'd Sardo. They have no Mills, but grind all their Grain with the Hand.
Great Caravans pass up and down the Coun∣try, to and from the Sea-Ports, with Merchan∣dise. In many places the Towns and Villages are extreamly thick, and very populous.
Snow sometimes lies on the high Mountains of Ethiopia, especially those called Semam and Salleat, or the Jews Hills. This part of Africk called Habessinia, is much the highest of that Quarter of the World, the great Rivers running East, North, and West, a•• Hawas, Hanazo, the
description Page 185
Nile, Niger, or Gambia, the Zaire, &c. taking their rise in it.
Ludolfus in his late learned Commentaries on his Ethiopick History, figures several Animals proper to these African Regions: as, 1. Tigris orbiculis, minutis variegata. 2. Tigris maculis vir∣gatis. 3. Pardus maculis seu scutulis varius.
The Habessine Ports towards the Red-Sea are very ill guarded, therefore the Turks are in pos∣session of Arkiko and Matzua. The Habessines are not addicted to Navigation, they Trade only with the Arabians, and carry their Goods to Suaquena, Arkiko, and Matzua: The Armenians often get entrance into the Country, where they are very well received.
The Arabians come in their Barks cross the Red-Sea, from Mocha, Aden, Ziden, Cameron, and other Ports: Few of the Habessines pass over into Arabia, and when they do, they dissemble their Religion, and disguise themselves in the Habits of Musulmans. This comes from Hubert Klock, in his Letters to the Dutch East-India-Company, Anno 1685.
Father Hieronymo Lobo observ'd the Red Sea to be navigable only in the middle, in which are some small Islands and Rocks above Water, of little danger in clear weather: The two Shoars of Arabia and Ethiopia are of very bad passage, full of Shoals, Rocks, and Corals. The entrance of this Sea is the clearest and deepest on the side of Arabia, and is the ordinary passage for Ships of burthen, the other part of the mouth towards Ethiopia is full of Flats and Shoals, so that none ventures through but little Vessels: The Pearl-fishing is near the Island of Daleca. On several parts of this Sea we observ'd abundance of red∣dish
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Spots made by a Weed resembling Cargaco (or Sargasso) rooted in the bottom, and floating in some places. Upon strict examination it proved to be that which we found the Ethio∣pians call Sufo, us'd up and down for dying their Stuffs and Cloths of a red colour, (perhaps this may be one of the Rocoella's in Imperati, a fucus or Alga tinctoria.)
FINIS.
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STIRPIUM ORIENTALIUM. RARIORUM CATALOGI TRES.
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Stirpium Orientalium rariorum Catalogus, praesertim Graeciae, & Syriae provinciis nascentium.
A.
A Brotanum foemina verum Dioscoridis Zanoni v. He∣liochrysum Abrotani foeminae facie.
Acaciae foliis frutex Mesapotamicus Col. Annot. in Res medicas Novae Hisp. Recchi. A caciae similis Me∣sopotamica, minutissimis foliis, siliqua integra con∣torta, crassa & obtusa, seu Siliquae Nabathaea Breyn. Prod. 2. Juxta Tlgridem fluvium in Mesopotamia, & Euphratem in Arabia deserta.
Ageratum Persicum Breyn. Prod. 2.
Alhagi Maurorum Rauwolf. Genista spartium spinosum foliis Polygoni C.B. Spinosum Syriacum Park. Agul & Alhagi Arabibus, planta spinosa Mannam resipiens J.B. Manna in hac arbuscula invenitur Tereniabin aut Trungi∣bin Arabibus dicta. In Persia & circa Halepum. Rauw. p. 84.152.206.
Alcea Indica parvo flore C.B. Aegyptia Clus. Aegyptiaca Ger. emac. Bamia J.B. Bamia seu Alcea Aegyptia Park. parad. Trionum Theophrasti Rauwolf. Lugd. app. Non in Aegypto tantùm sed etiam in Syria inve∣nitur. Rauwolf. p. 167.
Alcea arborescens Syriaca C.B. Althaea arborescens glabra, Ketmia dicta J.B. Althaea frutex 2. Clus. Frutex flore albo vel purpureo Park. Rauwolf. p. 54. Circa Tripo∣lin Syriae observavit.
Androsaemum Constantinopolitanum fore maximo Wheeler. Flore & theca quinque capsulari omnium maximis Moris. Hist. p. 473. Non est hoc Ascyron magno flore C.B. prod. Notae enim non conveniunt. Circa Constantinopolin, eundo inde ad Pontum Euxinum, secus vias, & alibl co∣piosè,
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Anemone maxima Chalcedonica Park. Latifolia maxima versicolor C.B. Maxima Chalcedonica polyanthos Ger. Latifolia pleno slore 1. Clus.
Anetho similis planta semine lato laciniato J.B. Gingidi∣um folio Foeniculi C.B. Verum, sive Syriacum Park. Dioscoridis Rauwolf. Lugd. ap. In monte Libano, locis praeruptis, p. 234.
Anonis latea annua siliqua glabra breviore Moris. Hist. Halepo transmisit D. Rob. Huntington.
Apocynum folio subrotundo C.B. Folio rotundo, flore ex albo pallescente J.B. Latifolium non repens Park. Periploca latifolia Ger. Syriae & calidiorum regionum incola esse dicitur.
Apocynum repens & scandens Rauwolf. Monte Libano ob∣servavit Autor Itin. p. 233. Arbores tegit ut Ephedra.
Arbutus (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) Dioscoridis vera Wheeleri. Folio non serrato C.B. Adrachne Park. Adrach. Theophrasti J.B. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Graecis modernis, Bellonius multis locis in sua peregrinatione observavit. D. Wheelerus in Achaia prope montem Pentelicum.
Arisarum angustifolium Wheeleri itiner, p 309. Caule fo∣lioso pingitur. Propè Panthaeam inter Amphissam & Naupactum.
Aristolochia Maurorum C.B. Peregrina Rauwolfii Clus. Rhasut & Rumigi à Mauris nominata Rauwolf. Lugd. app. Aristolochiis similis Rhasut & Rumigi Maurorum J.B.
Aristolochia clematitis Attica, foliis in summo bifidis seu crenatis Wheeleri. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Graecis. In monte Hy∣metto.
Arum auriculis longis, Ovidne dictum, Chalepense Rauwolf. p. 104.
Aster luteus angustifolius Park. J.B. Luteus Linariae ri∣gido glabro folio C.B. 6 Clusii Ger. In monte Olympo Asiae. Wheel.
Astragalus Syriacus hirsutus C.B. Syriacus Lob. Ger. Park. J.B. Astrag. Dioscoridis, vulgò Christiana radix Rau∣wolf. Lugd. app. p. 105. D. Wheelerus Itiner. p. 435. Astragalum quendam describit & depingit, quem in Graecia propè Megaram invenit, & argenteum vocat. Qu. An Syriacus sit?
Atractylis Cypria Ang. Lugd. Purpurea C.B. Purpurea Cypria Park.
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Atractylis vera Antiquarum, cujus caulibus prosusis utuntur mulieres Graecae D. Covel. An Atractylidi & Cnico sylve∣stri similis C.B? Calochierni carduns Cretensibus J.B. In Thracia prope Constantinopolin. V. Hist. nost. p. 304.
Avellana Byzantina J.B. Pumila Byzantina Clus. Ger. emac. Peregrina humilis C.B. Nux Avellana Macedonica seu Byzantina Park.
Azadirachta foliis ramosis majoribus Syriaca, seu vulgaris flore majore coeruleo Breyn. Azedaraeth arbor, Fraxini folio, flore coeruleo C.B. Azadaracheni arbor J.B. Azadarach Avicennae Park. Zizipha alba Ger. Fructus hujus arboris venenatus est, & canes intersicit. Rauwolf. p. 51. In Syriâ & Palestinâ.
B.
Baccharis Dioscoridis Rauwolfio Park. Gnaphalio montano affinis Aegyptiaca C.B. Rauwolfius in Syria observavit, & Monte Libano, Itin. p. 233.
Balsamum verum J.B. Genuinum Antiquorum Park. Rutae folio, Syriacum C.B. Balsamum Alpini Ger. emac. Bellonius & Alpinus Arabiam Faelicem Balsami locum pa∣trium semper suisse, nunquam Judaeam aut Aegyptum, contendunt.
Behmen abiad, i. e. Ben album Rauwolfii Park. Serratulae affinis capitulo squamoso luteo, ut & flore C.B. Ad pedem montis Libani humido & umbroso loco, p. 235.
Bellis Chalepensis praecox Kusan & Surugen dicta Rauwolf, p. 109.
Borago variegata Cretica Wheel. Muralis variegata flore odorato Cretica Zanoni. In monte Hymotto Atticae. Fo∣lia maculis albis variegata sunt: flores (qui candidi) ma∣culis & striis purpureis caeruleísve.
C.
Calamus aromaticus Syriacus vel Arabicus supposititius Park. Syriacus C.B. prod. A Paludano ex Aegypto reduce ha∣buit C. Bauhinus.
Camarronum Rhasis Rauwolf. v. Tithymalus.
Capparis arborescens fructu Juglandis magnitudine C.B. Arabica non spinosa Park. Cappares arborescentes J.B. In Arabia observavit Bellonius, Obs. l. 2. c. 20.
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Castanea equina Ger. Park. Equina folio multifido J.B. Folio multifido C.B. Constantinopoli & in Creta nasci fertur: certè Constantinopoli ad nos transmissa est.
Catanance Dioscoridis Rauwolf. est Plantago quinque nervia cum globulis albis pilosis J.B. Consule Breynii Prod. 2. in Plantago.
Caucalis Syriaca cum maximo semine J.B. Gingidium la∣tifolium Ger. Latifolium Syriacum Park. Foliis Pasti∣nacae latifoliae C.B. Semen ex Syria allatum J. Bauhino Rauwolfius communicavit.
Cedrus magna conifera Libani Park. Magna sive Libani conifera J.B. Conifera folio Laricis C.B. In monte Libani, ubi sponte oritur, 24 tantùm arbores supputavit Rauwolfius, nec plures Melchior Lussy▪ ast Bellonius, qui non multo antea peregrinatus est, circiter 28, qui & in Amano & Tauro montibus se Cedros observasse scribit; ut Libano propriae & peculiares non sint. V. Rauwolf. p. 229.
Cedrus Lycia retusa dicta & nonnullis Cedrus Phoenicia, Gal∣liae etiam & Germaniae communis est. V. Cat. general.
Chomaeleon niger Dioscoridis Rauwolf. p. 51. 233.
Charnubi Arab. i. e. Siliqua, p. 21. V. Synonyma in Cat. gen.
Chondrilla altera Dioscoridis Rauwolf. p. 106. Clus. Co∣nyza marina Lugd. C.B. J.B. At nostro judicio de∣scriptio Rauwolfii illi non convenit.
Chondrillae alterius aliud genus Rauwolf. aliud genus Diosco∣ridis Lugd. Bulbosa, Conyza facie major, foliis latioribus C.B. Bulbosa altera latiore folio Park. Qui praeceden∣tem bulbosam Syriacam angustisoliam vocat. Utramque invenit Rauwolfius circa Halepum Syriae, alteram in arvis, alteram in locis saxosis, p. 106.
Chrysocome vera. Dioscoridis Zanoni, Helichrysum Persi∣eum nonnullis.
Chrysocome Syriaca candidissimis floribus Breyn. cent. In saxosis Libani montis Rauwolf. herbar, sicc. Gnaphalium Rauwolf. p. 232.
Chrysogonum Dioscoridis, Rauwolf. Lugd. app. Quibus∣dam J.B. Ponae Ital. Leontopetalo affinis foliis quernis C.B. In Syria inter segetes Rauwolf. p. 108.
Cistus foliis laurinis. In Olympo Asiae monte observavit Wheelerus. Invenitur prope Monspelium & in Hispania. V. Cat. Gen.
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Clinopodium Dioscoridis Rauwolf. 52.
Cneorum Matth. In Hymetto Atticae Monte invenit Whee∣lerus.
Colchicum Fritillaricum Chiense Park. Variegatum Cornut.
Convolvulus Hederae foliis Rauwolf. Itin. p. 113. Caeruleus Hederaceo anguloso folio C.B. Trifolius s. hederaceus pupureus Park. Caeruleus Ger. Nil Arabum quibusdam s. Convolvulus caeruleus J.B. Halepi in hortis.
Convolvulus purpureus folio subrotundo C.B. Caeruleus major rotundifolius Park. parad. Caeruleus folio subro∣tundo Ger. emac. Campanula Indica J.B. Ex Syria & Orientalibus delatum aiunt.
Convolvulus Sagittariae foliis flore amplo purpureo Wheeleri. Zacynthi ad puteos bituminosos.
Convolvulus Marinus Soldanellae affinis J.B. Soldanella ma∣ritima major Park. Soldanella vel Brassica maritima major C.B. Brassicae maritimae genus Rauwolf. p. 47. Lugd. app. In Syria circa Tripolin. Folia in sum∣mo bifida sunt seu crenata.
Convolvulus Arabicus seu Aegyptius Alpin. exot. 186. Park. Hujus semen ex Aegypto accepit Pr. Alpinus Convolvuli Arabici nomine.
Conyza Syriae quibusdam J.B. Minor Rauwolfiii Park. Major altera C.B. Circa Tripolin Syriae observavit Dasy∣lycus. Conyza Dioscoridis Rauwolf. p. 48.
Conchorus Plinii C.B. Conchorus sive Melochia J.B. In hortis Halepi Rauwolf. p. 67. v. Cat. Aegypt.
Coris foliis crispis montis Olympi Asiae Wheeler p. 220. An Hypericum foliis parvis crispis seu simulatis Siculum Hist. nost. p. 1018.
Coris legitima Clus. Hypericoides quorundam J.B. In Hy∣metto Atticae monte Wheeler. v. Cat. Cret.
Corona Imperialis Ger. Park. Cor. Imper. sive Tusai aliis J.B. Lilium sive Corona Imperialis C.B. Hujus bulbos ex Persia primò Constantinopolin delatos sibi persuadet Clusius, quoniam cum eos primùm accipiebat, inter reli∣quas haec fuit Inscriptio, Tusai fior Persiano rosso ò discolo∣rito con la Testa abasso, h. e. Tusai flos Persicus ruber aut decolor nutante Capite.
Cyanus floridus odoratus Turcicus major & minor Park. Variat floris colore albo.
Cyanus floridus odoratus Turcicus latifoliis laciniatus Hort. Paris.
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Cyanus Orientalis alter seu Constantinopolitanus flo. fistuloso candicante Hort. Reg. Par.
Cyclamen Antiochenum autumnale flore purpureo duplici Park.
Cyclamen Autumnale, folio subrotundo lucido molliore & crenato suave-rubente flore, Syriacum Hort. Reg. Par.
Cyclamen hyemale, orbiculatis foliis, inferiùs rubentibus, purpurascente flore, Coum Herbariorum Ejusdem.
Cycl. hyeme & vere florens, folio anguloso, amplo flore al∣bo, basi purpurea, Persicum dictum Ejusdem.
Cycl. Autumnale, orbiculato, circumroso folio, subtus ru∣bente, odoratissimo flore Ejusdem.
Cyperus rotundus odoratus Syriacus major Park. Orientali•• major vel Babylonius Rauwolf. Rotundus orientalis ma∣jor C.B. Rotundus Syriacus Ger. emac. Syriaca & Cre∣tica rotundior J.B. In Babylonia circa urbem Bagadet muscosis humidis copiosè Rauwolf. In Aegypto, locis pa∣ludosis Alpin.
Cyperus rotundus Orientalis minor C.B. Rotundus odora∣tus Syriacus minor Park. Minor Creticus Ger. emac. In Syriae montosis udis. Reperitur etiam in Italia.
Cytisus folio argenteo montis Olympi Wheeler.
D.
Daucus Tertius Dioscoridis Rauwolf. p. 105. Folio Corian∣dri, flore luteo J.B. v. Cat. Cret. Halepi in colle quo∣dam juxta fluvium observavit Rauwolfius. Radices Zar∣neb Melchi Turcis dicuntur.
Dictamnus Origani foliis Montis Stipuli Flo. Bat. fl. Origa∣num spicatum montis Sipyli foliis glabris Hist. nost. In monte Sipylo copiosè Wheeler itin.
Draba Chalepensis repens humilior, foliis minus cinereis & quasi viridibus Moris. Hist. D. Huntingdon. Hujus se∣men circa Chalepum collectum misit.
E.
Ephedra v. Polygonum.
Eruca Chalepensis, caulibus & Siliquis hirsutis, foliis inferiori∣bus maculatis Moris. hist. Chalepo semen à D. Hunting∣don transmissum est.
Eruca Chalepensis, flore dilutè violaceo, siliquis articulatis
description Page 9
Moris. hist. Haec etiam ab eodem missa, & ejusdem loci est.
Eryngium stellatum capitulis caeruleis Rauwolf. Halepi in∣ter segetes observavit Autor p. 107.
F.
Ficus Cypria J.B. Rauwolf. Sycomorus altera seu Ficus Cypria Park. Ficus folio Sycomori, fructum non in can∣dice gerens C.B. Circa Tripolin p. 50.
Fustick Wood, Chrysoxylon Wheeleri. In rupibus Pelo∣ponnesiacis.
G.
Garab. s. Garb. v. Salix.
Genista spinosa floribus rubris Wheeler. In Insula Teno.
Genista-spartium spinosum foliis Polygoni C.B. v. Alhagi.
Gingidium folio foeniculi C.B. v. Anetho similis, &c.
Glans unguentaria C.B. Nux Ben sive Glans unguentaria Park. Nux unguentaria J.B. Balanus myrepsica Ger. In Arabia prope Pharagou in itinere à Cayro ad montem Sinai Bellon.
Gnaphalio affinis Aegyptiaca C.B. Baccharis Rauwolfii Lugd. app. Clus. Hist. Dioscoridis Rauwolfio J.B. Gnaphalium foliis Auriculae subrotundis, flore duplici ni∣veo in Monte Libano observavit Rauwolf, p. 232. v. Chry∣so come.
H.
Habhel Assis Tripolitanis, sive Granum Altzelem Arabum Rauwolfii p. 55. i. e. Trasi veronensium Lob.
Hacub seu Silybum quibusdam J.B. Circa Halepum locis asperis. p. 66, 67.
Harmala v. Ruta Syriaca.
Heliochrysum Abrotani foeminae foliis Boccon. Abrotanum foemina verum Dioscoridis Zanoni. Ex semine Perside al∣lato in horto M. Ducis Etruriae succrevit.
Helichryson Orientale C.B. Heliochrysum Orientale, sive Amarantus luteus Park. parad. Stoechas citrina floris & magnitudine & colore speciosa J.B. An Chrysocome vera Dioscoridis Zanoni? Helychryson Orientale à Cretica spe∣cie diversum nobis esse videtur.
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Hesperis Syriaca J.B. Syriaca Camerarii Park. Peregrina siliquis articulatis C.B. Leucoium Melancholicum qui∣busdam. In Syriae montanis oritur teste Clusio.
Hieracium echioides, capitulis Cardui benedicti majus, Ara∣bicum, folio sinuato Hort. Edinburg.
Horminum sativum genuinum Dioscoridis Park. Sativum C.B. Sylv. foliis purpureis Ger. Comâ purpuro viola∣cea J.B. In Insula Lesena & universa Graecia.
Horminum Syriacum C.B. prod. Park. Gallitrichum exo∣ticum flore magno albo. J.B. Bisermas Camerarii Am••n quibusdam. Paludanus è Syria redux hujus semen at∣tulit.
Horminum Syriacum tomentosum foliis Coronopi sive pro∣fundè laciniatis Breyn. Prod. 2. rarum foliis laciniatis Rau∣wolf. p. 107.
Hyacinthus comosus Byzantinus Clus. Ger. Park. Comosus albus Byzantinus C.B. Comosus Byzantinus candicans cum staminulis purpureis J.B.
Hyacinthus racemosus moschatus C.B. Botroides major mos∣chatus, sive Muscari flore cinericeo Park. Odoratissimus dictus Tibcadi & Muscari J.B. Muscari obsoletiore flore Clus. Muscari Clusii Ger. E vicinis Constantinopoli hor∣tis, ultra Bosphorum in Asia sitis primùm Europae com∣municata est Clus.
Hyacinthus Orientalis, quibusdam Constantinopolitanus J.B. Orientalis C.B. cujus duodecim aut tredecim recenset spe∣c••es: plures Parkinsonus. Alii enim latifolii sunt, alii an∣gustifolii. Horum alii floribus purpureis sunt, alii albis vel exalbidis. Utriusque generis alii polyanthes sunt floribus vel in unum latus propendentibus, vel in omnem partem aequaliter sparsis; alii pauciores producunt flores. Circa Halepum copiosiss. Rauwolf. p. 109.
Hyacinthus stellatus Byzantinus J.B. Stell. Byzantin. nigrâ radice Park. St. Byz nig. rad. flore caeruleo Ger. Stella∣ris obsoletè caeruleus vel major C.B.
Hyacinthus Stellatus Byzantinus major flore Boraginis Ger. St. Byz. alter s. flore Boraginis Park. St. Byz. alter elegan∣tissimus serotinus bullatus J.B. Stellaris caeruleus amoe∣nus C.B.
Hyacinthus eriophorus Park. parad. Bulbus eriophorus Clus. Ger. Eriophorus Orientalis C.B. Constantinopoli saepius missus est Clus.
Hyacinthus Tripolitanus J.B. Exoticus flore Phalangii C.B.
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Florebat Aprili Hepali, ubi observavit Rauwolfius. Hya∣cinthus Halepi Ayr dictus Rauwolfii p. 109.
Hyoscyamus Aegyptius cauliculis spinosissimis Moris. hist. Aegyptius, cauliculis spinosis C.B. Peculiaris flore pur∣purascente J.B. Et Hyoscyamus Syriacus ejusdem & Cam. Ex semine Halepo à D. Huntingdon misso Morisono ortus est. Eundem observavit etiam Rauwolfius in arvis circa Halepum. p. 111.
Hypericon montis Olympi Wheeler. An Ascyron magno flore C.B? In Olympo Asiae monte.
Hypericum Syriacum Ger. Syriacum & Alexandrinum J.B. Folio breviore C.B.
I.
Jacea Babylonica C.B. prod. Park. Hujus Folium C. Bau∣hinus ex horto Contareni habuit.
Jacea maxima Alpin. exot. Ex seminibus Hierosolymâ dela∣tis enata est.
Jaceam laciniatam capitulis luteis, & Jaceam capitulis purpu∣rascentibus Monte Libano observavit Rauwolf. p. 231, 232. Vide Catalogum generalem.
Jasminum sive Sambac Arabum Alpino J.B. Sambac Ara∣bicum s. Gelseminum Arabicum Alpin. Aegypt. Syringa Arabica foliis Mali Aurantii C.B.
Jasminum Persicum v. Syringa.
Iris bulbosa Persica Park. parad. Persica variegata praecox Ferrar. Flor.
Iris Chalcedonica Ger. Chalcedonica s. Susiana major Park. Susiana flore maximo ex albo nigricante C.B. Latifolia major Susiana vel Chalcedonica, flore majore variegato Clusio J.B. Constantinopoli delata est.
Iris Asiatica caerulea Polyanthos C.B. Asiatica caerulea om∣nium amplissima, Dalmaticae affinis J.B. Constantino∣poli accepit Clusius.
Iris Byzantina purpuro-caerulea C.B. Major latifolia Byzan∣tina, Dalmaticae minori similis J.B. Major Latifolia 18. Clus.
Iris Asiatica purpurea C.B. Asiat. purp. major latifolia J.B. Major latif. 5. sive Asiatica purp. Clus.
Iris Damascena polyanthos C.B. Major latifolia 4. s. Dama∣scena Clus. Major latif. sive Damascena caerulea J.B.
Iris Tripolitana Clus. Tripolitana foliis longissimis, flore
description Page 12
aureo J.B. Media longissimis foliis lutea C.B.
Iris tuberosa C.B. Ger. Park. Tuberosa Belgarum J.B. Ex Arabia & regionibus Orientalibus.
K.
Kali Arabum primum genus Rauwolf. Lugd. app. C.B. Jux∣ta Tripolin copiosissimum observavit Rauwolfius p. 33.
Kali Arabum secundum genus Rauwolf. Lugd. app. Kali geniculatum alterum vel minus C.B. Cali Arabum aliud J.B. Circa Tripolin Syriae Rauwolf. ibid.
Kismesen vel Kesmesen Bellonio. Acacalis quorundam s. Kes∣mesen foliis Ceratiae J.B. Siliquae Sylvestri similis, an Dioscoridis Acacalis C.B. Semen hujus Cayrinae & Kisme∣sen nomine à Paludano ex Syria reduce accepit C. Bau∣hinus.
L.
Lamium moschatum, foliorum marginibus argentatis Whee∣ler. Circa Panthaeum inter Amphissam & Naupactum in Graecia.
Lapathum Chalepense folio acuto, seminum involucris pro∣fundè dentatis Moris. hist.
Laserpitium Alpin. exot. Bod. à Stapel. Comm. in Theophr. hist. lib. 6. p. 588. Ex seminibus à Thracia delatis ortum est.
Lathyrus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 s. supra infráque terram siliquas ge∣rens Moris. hist. An Araco similis planta ex Hispania mis∣sa Bod. à Stapel. In Asia Syriaque provenit. Semina ab urbe Chalepo à D. Roberto Huntingdon ad Morisonum trans∣missa fuere.
Laurocerasus Clus. Ger. J.B. Cerasus folio Laurino C.B. Cerasus Trapezuntina s. Lauro-cerasus Park. A Trape∣zunte primò in Constantinopolin illata dicitur, inde in Eu∣ropam.
Leontopetalon Ger. Park. C.B. quorundam J.B. Assab Syrorum. Circa Halepum Rauwolfius reperit. D. Wheele∣rus per totam planitiem Atticam inter Athenas & Hymet∣tum Rauw. p. 108.
Lepidium Dioscoridis Zanoni, Planta Persica. Maximum Chalepense, primis foliis minoribus & serratis; secundis majoribus & profundè sinuatis, spissis incanis Moris. hist.
description Page 13
Lencoium Alyssoides clypeatum majus C.B. Alysson Dio∣scorides. Ad Conrongeli pagum in Bythinia Wheeler. Monte Libano Rauwolf. p. 231.
Libanotis latifolia Aquilegiae folio C.B. Park. J.B. Ligu∣sticum Rauwolfii foliis Aquilegiae J.B.
Lilium album Syriacum Rauwolfii J.B. Album Byzantinum Clus. Park. Ger. Album floribus dependentibus seu pere∣grinum C.B. Sultan Zambach & Martagon Constanti∣nopolitanum flore albo Clus. hist. Halepi locis aquosis.
Lilium Byzantinum miniatum C.B. Flore miniato nutan∣te, sive Hemerocallis Chalcedonica quibusdam J.B. Lil. rubrum Byzantinum s. Martagon Constantinopolitanum Park.
Lilium Susianum Clus. Persicum Ger. Park. C.B. Persi∣cum sive Susianum J.B. Susianum dictum est, quod Susis Persiae urbe delatum fuerit.
Linaria annua Chalepensis, minor, erecta, flore albo, lineis violaceis notato, calyci ex quinis foliis constanti insidente Moris. hist. A.D.R. Huntingdon semen accepit.
Linariae purpurascentis duas species Monte Libano observavit Rauwolf. p. 232.
Lupinus peregrinus pentaphyllos C.B. Arabicus, sive Pen∣taphyllum peregrinum Ponae Ital. Pentaphyllum pere∣grinum Siliquosum bivalve minus Moris. hist. Ex semine Chalepo Syriae urbe transmisso Morisono enata est.
Lychnidis Chalcedonicae umbellâ Phlomos Lychnitis altera Sy∣riaca Lob. Phlomos Lychnitis Syriaca Ger. Verbascum acuto Salviae folio C.B. Foliis Salviae tenuifoliae Syriacum Park. Verb. Lychn. Syriacum incanum summitate floris Hierosolymitanae J.B.
Lychnis Chalcedonica Ger. Park. Hirsuta flore coccineo ma∣jor C.B. Flos Constantinopolitanus miniatus, albus & varius J.B.
Lychnis flore punctato Wheeleri. In Insula Zazyntho.
Lychnis Sylvestris hirsuta annua, flore minore carneo Moris. hist. Semina à D. Huntington Chalepo transmissa sunt.
Lychnis Chalepensis annua, foliis parum hirtis & angustis, flosculis carneis, pediculis biuncialibus insistentibus, capsu∣lis fere rotundis Moris. hist.
Lycium Dioscoridis Rauwolf. Buxi foliis angustioribus Sy∣riacum Breyn. Prod. 2. Hadhad Arabibus & Zaroa inco∣lis montis Libani. p. 233.
Lycium Buxi foliis rotundioribus Syriacum vel Persicum Breyn. Prod. 2. quem consule.
description Page 14
Lycopsis Dioscoridis Rauwolf. Lugd. app. Lycopsis Aegypti∣aca C.B. p. 109. Circa Halepum in arvis.
M.
Majorana Syriaca vel Cretica C.B. Marum Syriacum Ad. Lob. Ger. Syriacum vel Creticum Park.
Malva hortensis seu rosea folio subrotundo caulescens, flore simplici minore luteo-pallido Chalepensis Moris. hist.
Marrubium villosum Syriacum seu montis Libani Breyn. Prod. 2.
Medica trifolia foliis dissectis Rauwolf. p. 107.
Medica siliquis compressis viridibus longitudine & latitudine Siliquarum Senae Rauwolf. ibid.
Medium Dioscoridis Rauwolfii J.B. Viola Mariana lacinia∣tis foliis peregrina C.B. Mariana peregrina Park. v. viola.
Megasac Arabum, i. e. Poterium Matth. Rau. 106.
Melantzana vel Melongena v. Solanum pomiferum.
Melilotus curvis siliquis biuncialibus Syriaca s. Chalepensis ma∣jor Moris. hist. D. Huntington misit.
Melilotus Syriaca Park. Syriaca odora Ger. Melilotus cor∣niculis reflexis major C.B. Non Syriaca tantùm est, sed & Italica, verum in Syriaca siliqua videtur magis curva fal∣catave Lob. Melilotus siliculis pendentibus longis, curvis ex eodem centro ortis Germanica seu Italica Syriacáve recta Moris. hist. D. Huntingdon semen ex Halepo transmisit.
Melilotus lutea minor, floribus & siliculis majoribus, spicatim & rarò dispositis, foliis angustioribus, maculis sub exor∣tum notatis Moris. hist. Hanc etiam speciem semine à D. Huntington accepto debemus.
Melilotus minima Syriaca. Nephel sive Naphal Iben baithar & Malasefae Breyn. prod. 2.
Melissa Turcica Ger. Turcica multis dicta J.B. Turcica flore caeruleo & albo Park. Peregrina folio oblongo C.B. Ex Moldavia ad nos primum deleta est.
Melissa Moluca laevis sive Syriaca laevis Park. Rauwolf. p. 49. Mel. Molucca laevis Ger. Molucana odorata C.B. Asiaticae originis est, Constantinopoli primùm delata, unde & non∣nullis Melissa Constantinopolitana dicitur. Ejusdem loci & originis est Melissa Molucca asperior; quae & in Sicilia spontanea est v. Cat. Sic.
Melochia v. Corchorus Plinii.
Mes sive Meisce Avicennae v. Mungo.
description Page 15
Morgsani Syrorum Rauwolf. i. e. Capparis Portulacae folio C.B. Capparis fabago Ger. Fabaginea seu Peplis Lute∣tianorum J.B. Fabago s. leguminosa Park. Telephi∣um Dioscoridis & Plinii Col. Circa Tripolin invenit Rau∣wolfius.
Mosselini seu Muslin panni linei è Gossipii quadam specie fa∣cti, & à regione Mossoli dicta in Mesopotamia denomi∣nati.
Mungo Col. Clus. J.B. Garc. Fructus niger Coriandro si∣milis C.B. Mes sive Meisce Avicennae Rauwolf. p. 68. Nasci ferunt in Palaestina Halepi observavit Rauwolfius; ubi semina Turcis in pretio sunt, & cum Oryza mixta in deliciis habentur.
Myagyrum Arabicum Rosa Hierichuntina perperam dictum Zanoni v. Rosa Hierichontica.
Myrtus fructu nigro caeruleo, Sorbi magnitudine eduli Rau∣wolf. p. 65. An Myrtus angustifolia Baetica C.B. Clus. Hist.
N.
Narcissus Persicus Clus. Park. Ger. Colchicum melino flore C.B.
Nasturtium Babylonicum Lob. Est Draba umbellata s. Dra∣ba major capitulis donata C.B.
Negill Rauwolf. Gramini rubro loliaceo affine p. 195. Pe∣cori exitiale.
O.
Olea sylv. folio molli incano C.B. Zizyphus Cappadocia qui∣busdam olea Bohemica J.B. Zizyphus alba Bellon. Sei∣sefun Rauwolf. Monte Libano aliisque Syriae locis obser∣vavit Rauwolfius p. 101, 226.
Origanum Smyrnaeum Wheeleri hist. nost. p. 540. Smyrnae in monte cui Arx inaedificatur copiosè.
Ornithogalum Arabicum Clus. Park. Majus Arabicum Ger. emac. Umbellatum maximum C.B. Lilium Alexandri∣num s. Ornithog. maximum Syriacum J.B.
Onobrychis major annua, siliculis articulatis, asperis, clype∣atis, undulatim (i. e. antrorsum & retrorsum) junctis, flore purpuro-rubente Moris. hist. Ex semine Chalepo a D. Huntington transmisso in horto Academico Oxomenia enata est.
description Page 16
P.
Parma major C.B. Palma Dactylifera Jonston. In Syria frequens.
Panax Syriacum Theoph. est Panax Pastinacae folio sive Hera∣cleum majus; in Sicilia nobis observatum. v. Cat. gen.
Papaver Corniculatum flore sanguineo Wheeleri. In Attica circa Hymettum.
Persea C.B. J.B. Arbor Ger. Arbor Clusii Park. In Persia oriri dicitur & venenosa ibi esse, cùm in Aegypto nata innocens sit.
Periploca latifolia Wheeleri itin. p. 223. Ad vias publicas prope Prusiam Bythiniae urbem.
Petromarula Cretica in Monte Parnasso è rupium fissuris exit Wheeler.
Phaseolus Turcicus flore flavo Rauwolf. p. 49.
Planta lactaria Xabra & Camarronum Rhasis &c. v. Tithy∣malus.
Pistacea Ger. J.B. Nux Pistacea Park. Pistacea Peregri∣na fructu racemoso, sive Terebinthus Indica Theophrasti C.B. Multis Syriae locis abundat, ut circa Sermin urbem, inter Tripolin & Halepum, ubi integrae earum Sylvae sunt necnon circa Tripolin ipsam p. 59, & 64.
Polium Gnaphaloides Alpin. exot. Park. Wheelerus in Monte Parnasso observavit, unde Plantam à Gnaphalio ma∣ritimo vulgari distinctam esse, contra quam aliquando opi∣nati sumus, verisimile est.
Polygonum bacciferum scandens C.B. Ephedra sive Anaba∣sis Bellonii Park. Ad pedes montis Olympi & in monte Haemo. item circa Tripolin Syriae Rauwolf. p. 49.
Polygonum maximum, longissimis cauliculis & foliis Moris. hist. Circa Halepum Syriae urbem invenitur.
Poterium Matth. i. e. Tragacanthae affinis lanuginosa sive Poterium C.B. Circa Halepum observavit Rauwolf. p. 107. v. Cat. Hispan.
Prunella Spinosa Wheeler. In Atticae monte Hymetto.
Pseudo dictamnus acetabulis Moluccae C.B. alter Theophra∣sti Ponae Park. In Cithaera Insula Wheeler.
Pulsatilla rubra Ger. J.B. Flore rubro Park. Flore rubro obtuso C.B. Ex Halepo habuit Lobelius.
description Page 17
Q.
Quadrifolium annuum Persicum Zanoni.
R.
Ranunculus Asiaticus grumosa Radice 1. Clus. Tripolitanus Ger. Tripolitanus flore Phoenicio J.B. Asiaticus sive Tripolitanus flore rubro Park. Grumosa radice, flore Phoeniceo minimo simplici C.B.
Ranunculi Asiatici plurimae seu species, seu varietates in hor∣tis aluntur, quas omnes recensere nimis Longum foret. Consulantur Clusius, C. Bauhinus, Hortus Regius Parisi∣ensis, aliique.
Raphanistrum monospermon maximum Chalepense, flore luteo, capsula rotunda striata. Moris Hist.
Rhamnus spinis oblongis, flore candicante C.B. Hauset & Hausegi sive Rhamnus primus Rauwolf. Circa Tripolin.
Rhaponticum Thracicum s. Hippolapathum maximum ro∣tundifolium exoticum, Rhabarbarum verum nonnullis falsò creditum. In Rhodope Thraciae monte Alpin.
Ribes verum Arabum J.B. Arabum, foliis Petasitidis C.B. Lapathum rotundifolium montis Libani semine maximo Breyn. prod. 2. An Ribes Bellonii de Coniferis? Rauwol∣fius in monte Libano observavit, & figuram ejus exhibuit. p. 220, 230, 231.
Rosa Hierichontea vulgo dicta C.B. Park. Thlaspi Rosa de Hiericho dictum Moris. Hist. Myagrum Arabicum Rosa Hierichuntina perperam dictum Zanoni. Circa Hiericho nusquam reperitur, sed in Arabia deserta ad li∣tora maris in sabulo. Bellon.
Rosae Hierachonteae altera species sylvestris C.B. Park. Mya∣grum Syriacum femine spinoso Zanoni. In Syriae tectis & ruderibus invenit Rauwolfius.
Ruta quae dici solet Harmala J.B. Sylvestris Syriaca sive Harmala Park. Sylv. flore magno C.B.
Melanthium Syriacum minus frutescens latifolium, Rutae flore, fructu tricapsulari Breyn. Prod 2.
Ruta Chalepensis tenuifolia, florum pet••lis villis scatentibus Moris. Hist. Cat. Hort. Lugd. Bat.
description Page 18
S.
Salix Arabica folio Atriplicis C.B. Humilis Arabica folio Atriplicis Park. Garab Maurorum, Salicis genus J.B. Garab Maurorum Rauwolf. Lugd. app. p. 101. Garb Itinerar. Rauwolf. p. 159.
Salix Syriaca folio oleagineo argenteo C.B. Aegyptiaca & Syriaca Park. Salsaf Syrorum, Salicis species J.B. Circa Halepum.
Salvia Syriaca Cisti faeminae foliis, acetabulis moluccae Breyn. cent. Hujus meminit Rauwolfius in Hodoeporico p. 108.
Satureia frutescens Arabica folio fimbriato hirsuto Breyn. prod. 2. Sathar Arabum Rauwolfii, Hyssopum monta∣num Cilicium quibusdam J.B. Hyssopus montana angu∣stifolia aspera C.B. Montana vel de Cilissa Park.
Scabiosa argentea petraea. In isthmo Corinthiaco.
Scabiosa argentea minor montis Sipyli Wheeleri itin. p. 239.
Scammonia Syriaca C.B. Syriaca legitima Park. Syriaca flore majore Convolvuli J.B. Scammonium Syriacum Ger. In calidis pingui solo exit ut in Asia & Syria, & Bel∣lonio teste etiam in Creta.
Schamuth Arabum seu Schack Rauwolf. p. 103, 152. C. Bauhino Acacia Aegyptiaca habetur: nobis tamen aliter videtur, ut ex siliquae descriptione apparet.
Scorzonera radice rotunda Wheeleri. Ga••acorta Graecis modernis. In Attica circa Hymettum montem.
Scorzonera foliis fistulosis, Galacorta etiam dicta Wheeler. Cum priore.
Scorzonera Orientalis Vesling notis in Prosp. Alpin. de Plant. Aegypt. In Palaestina & finitimis Aegypti. An Scorzonera Chalepensis flore purpureo Rauwolf? p. 104. Alterum Scorzoneram floribus luteis monte Libano observavit Rau∣wolf. p. 230.
Scordium lanuginosum alterum verticillatum C.B. Scordo∣tis tomentosa Cretica J.B. Prope Mandragorui vicum in Phrygia observavit D. Wheelerus.
Sebestena domestica an 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Athenaeo C.B. Myxa sive Sebesten J.B. Myxos sive Sebesten Park Sebestena, Myxa s. Myxara Ger. In Asia & Aegypto Rau. p. 21.
Secacul Arabum. v. Sisarum.
Secudes Arabum. v. Stoechadi serratae affinis.
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Seisefun Rauwolf. Halepi in locis humidis & sepibus fre∣quens, est Olea Bohemica Matth. Rauwolf. p. 101.
Sepha, seu Persea Arbor Venenata Rauwolf. p. 197.
Sideritis Persica odorata Zanoni. An Herba venti Monspeli∣ensium?
Sisarum Syriacum C.B. Alterum Syriacum Park. Secacul Arabum & Mauritanorum, sive Pastinaca Syriaca Rauwolf. Lugd. app. J.B. Rau. p. 66.
Sisyrinchium Persianum C.B. Flos Persicus Sisyrhinchio con∣gener Clus. Hist.
Sisyrhinchium Chalepense Tharasalis dictum Rauwolf. p. 104.
Solanum pomiferum fructu incurvo C.B. J.B. Melantzana Arabum Rauwolfii Lugd. app. Halepi. p. 66.
Solanum pomiferum fructu spinoso J.B. Melantzana ni∣gra Rauwolf. Lugd. app.
Sorghi album, Milium Indicum J.B. Milium Arundinace∣um semine plano & albo C.B. Dora Rauwolf. p. 171. In Arabiâ circa Anam.
Spartium alterum monospermon, semine reni simili C.B. Secundum Hispanicum Clus. Prope Thyatiram in Asia invenit D. Wheelerus. v. Cat. Hispan.
Speculum Veneris Thracicum flore amplissimo. Inter se∣getes propè Constantinopolin invenit D. Covel SS. Theol. Doctor, & Collegii Christi in Cantabrigia Praeses dignis∣simus.
Stachys viscosa flore luteo Wheeleri. In monte Parnasso.
Stoechadi serratae affinis C.B. Tragium alterum Dioscoridis quibusdam, folio Trichomanis J.B. Secudes & Sucudus Avicennae Rauwolf. p. 112. Lugd. app.
Sycomorus J.B. Jer. Sycomorus sive Ficus Aegyptia Park. Ficus folio Mori, fructum in caudice ferens C.B. In Syria & Palaestina non minùs frequens est quàm in Aegypto. p. 50, 51.
Syringa Persica sive Lilac Persicum incisis foliis. Jasminum Persicum dictum Park. Agem Lilag Persarum, s. Lilac inciso folio Cornuto Ligustrum foliis laciniatis. C.B. Sy∣ringa Persica purpurea duplex, foliis laciniatis, & soliis integris.
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T.
Terebinthus Indica major fructu rotundo J.B. Peregrina, fructu majore. Pistaciis simili eduli C.B. latifolia Ger. Park. Indica prior Theophrasti, major Rauwolf. Lugd. app.
Terebinthus Indica, fructu parvo ad coeruleum accedente J.B. Peregrina fructu minore coeruleo & eduli C.B. Hujus fructus Botn Soagier illius Botn quibir Arabibus dicitur. Rauwolf. p. 193.205. In Persia Mesopotamia & Armenia.
Tereniabin Mannae genus v. Alhagi. Rauw. p. 85.
Tharasalis v. Sisyrhynchium.
Thlaspi fruticosum Persicum foliis Keiri Zanoni. Fruti∣cosum Leucoii folio C.B. Park. Latifolium platy car∣pon Leucoii foliis P. Boccone.
Thlaspi verum Dioscoridis s. Persicum Zanoni. Thlaspi Alexandrinum C.B. Park. Alexandrinum Cortusi Jo. Bauhini J.B.
Thymus verus Dioscoridis, Hasce Arabum Rauwolf. p. 52.
Tithymalus spinosus Creticus Alpin. Maritimus spinosus C.B. Marit. Creticus spinosus Park. In Graecia, pluri∣mis in locis.
Tithymalus (vel Tithymalo affinis) aphyllos dictus major In∣dicus, latifolius, flore sanguineo aviculae capitulum re∣praesentante Breyn. An Planta lactaria, Xabra & Camar∣ronum Rhasis Rauwolf. & C.B. pin.
Tragacantha humilior floribus luteis C.B. Syriaca flavescers Park. Trag. Rauwolfii J.B. In monte Libano. Rauwolf, p. 230.
Tragacantha Syriaca purpurascens Park. Tertia Rauwolfii. In eodem monte.
Tragium alterum Dioscoridis Rauwolf. v. Stoechadi serratae affinis.
Trionum Theophrasti Rauw. Lugd. app. Est Alcea Indica parvo flore C.B. i. e. Bamia. v. Alcea.
Trunschibil Mannae genus Rauw. p. 84. v. Alhagi.
Tulipa Persica Park. Variegata Persica C.B. Persica prae∣cox Clus. cur. post.
Tulipam omne genus colorum circa Halepum observavit Rauwolfius p. 109.
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V.
Verbascum subrotundo Salviae folio Syriacum C.B. Salvi∣folium exoticum cistoides Park. Sylvestre Salvifolium exo∣ticum, folio rotundiore J.B.
Viola Mariana laciniatis foliis peregrina C.B. Medium Dioscor. & Mindium Rhosis Rauwolf. p. 232. Monte Libano observavit Rauwolf. Trachelii seu Campanulae species est.
Vitex trifolia minor C.B. Agni casti species multò minor caeteris, tribus tantùm firmis foliis donata Rauwolf. p. 153.
Z.
Zarneb & Zarnabum Arabum v. Salix Safsaf.
Zarneb melchi v. Daucus tertius Dioscoridis.
Zaroa. v. Lycium.
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Stirpium Aegyptiacorum Catalogus.
A.
ABdellavi v. Melo Aegyptius.
Abelmosch v. Alcea Aegyptiaca villosa C.B.
Abrus v. Phaseolus Indicus ruber Bontii.
Absynthium Santonicum Aegyptiacum Park. C.B. Aegy∣ptium quibusdam J.B. Abrotani foeminae species secun∣da Zanoni.
Absus seu Lotus Aegyptiaca Park. Absus Alpin, Aegypt. Ve∣sling. Loto affinis Aegyptiaca C.B.
Abutilon Avicennae Ponae Ital. Alpin. Est Abelmosch seu Alcea Indica Moschata.
Acacalis est Kismesen Bellon. v. Cat. Orient.
Acacia vera J.B. Vera sive Spina Aegyptiaca Park. Diosco∣ridis Ger. Foliis scorpioidis leguminosae C.B.
Achaovan Alpin. Aeg. Matricaria inodora C.B. Park. Par∣thenium inodorum sive Achaovan Aegyptiorum J.B.
Agihalid Aegyptiaca Lycio affinis Park. Aegytium folio buxi, an Lycium? J.B. Lycio affinis Aegyptiaca C.B. Uzeg Alpini affinis & similis est, si non eadem.
Alcanna v. Ligustrum Orientale.
Alcea Aegyptia villosa C.B. Aegyptia moschata Park. Bel∣muscus Aegyptia Honor. Bell. J.B. Ab-el-mosch sive Mosch Arabum Vesling.
Alchimelech Aegyptiorum v. Melilotus Aegyptiaca.
Amomum Plinii Ger. Solanum fruticosum Americanum, dictum Amomum Plinii Park. Fruticosum bacciferum C.B. Strychnodendros J.B. In Aegypto passim Vesling.
Arum maximum Aegyptiacum, quod vulgo colocasia C.B. Aegypt. rotunda & longa radice, vulgo Colocasia dicta Park. Colocasia Clus. J.B. Aegyptiaca Ger.
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B.
Balsamum verum antiquorum nec Aegypti nex Judaeae indi∣gena est, sed Arabiae Faelicis v. Cat. Oriental.
Bammia J.B. Seu Alcea Aegyptiaca Park. Parad. Alcea Aegyptiaca Ger. emac. Indica parvo flore C.B. In Ae∣gypto frequentissima.
Ban vel Bon arbor J.B. Item Buna, Bunnu & Bunchos Arabum ejusdem. Bon arbor cum fructu suo Buna Park. Euonymo similis Aegyptiaca, fructu baccis Lauri simili C.B. Malè Aegyptiacam vocat, neque enim spontanea, neque culta in Aegypto invenitur sed in Arabia Faelice tan∣tùm Bunnu Rauwolfii, Buna ex qua in Alexandria fit po∣tio [Coffee dicta.]
Ban seu Calaf Alpin. Safsaf Syrorum Rauwolf vel eadem est, vel ei valde affinis. v. Cat. Orient.
Baobab Alpino, Baohab sive Abavus Clus. J.B. Abavo ar∣bor radice tuberosa C.B. Abavi Aethiopicus fructus bello J.B. Guanabanus Scaligeri huic Eadem arbor esse videtur. Aethiopiae natales debet, Aegypto advena est.
Beidelsar Alpini, seu Apocynum Syriacum J.B. Apocynum Syriacum Clusii Ger. emac. Lapathum Aegyptiacum la∣ctescens siliqua Asclepiadis C.B. Paul. Hermannus in Cat. Hort. Leyd. Plantam hanc ab Apocyno majori recto Syriaco Cornut. Specie diversam facit; quo cum consentit Commelinus in Cat. Hort. Amstel. Jac. Breyni∣ces in Prod. 2. Veslingum reprehendit quòd pro Apocy∣no hoc Apocynum majus Syriacum rectum Cornuti posu∣erit. Verùm in titulo Apocyni hujus non omnino consen∣tit cum Hermanno & Commelino: Siquidem hi, ut & Scholae Botanicae Tournefortii, Apocynum latifolium Ae∣gyptiacum, incanum, erectum, floribus spicatis maximis pallidè violaceis, siliquis folliculatis rugosis hoc vocant: Breynius autem, Apocynum erectum majus latifolium Ae∣gyptiacum flore luteo spicato. Apocynum autem illud latifolium &c. floribus pallidè violaceis &c. Hermanni & aliorum. Indicam & distinctam plantam facit, titulo A∣pocyni erecti majoris latifolii Indici flore concavo amplo carneo suave-rubente & cum antecedenti i. e. Aegyptiaco non confundendam monet.
Brassica spinosa C.B. Aegyptiaca Alpin. exot. Park. In Aegypto, Aethiopia & Syria.
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C.
Caova Alpin. i. e. Coffee Potio.
Capparis non spinosa fructu majore C.B. Park. Alpinus Cap∣pares Alexandriae majores quàm alibi inveniantur provenire scribit.
Carob s. Carub i. e. Siliqua dulcis in Syria & Palaestina, & circa Hierosolymam multò frequentior est quàm in Aegy∣pto.
Cassab & Darira Alp. exot. Lysimachia lutea Aegyptiaca Hist. nost. p. 1022. In Aegypto, locis humidis, inque judaea circa lacum Gennesareth, & multis Syriae in locis.
Cassia fistula Alexandrina C.B. Fistula Ger. Purgatrix J.B. Solutiva vulgaris Park. In Aegypto aliisque regionibus calidioribus.
Chate Alpin. Cucumis Aegyptius Chate J.B. Cucumis Ae∣gyptius rotundifolius C.B.
Caucalis Daucoides Tingitana Moris. prael.
Chamaedrys arborea Aegyptiaca C.B. Arborea in Insula Cor∣cyra Alpin. Nescio cur C. Bauhinus hanc Plantam Aegy∣ptiacam denominet, cùm Alpinus in Aegypto nasci non af∣firmet, sed in Corcyra insula.
Colocasia v. Arum Aegyptiacum.
Convolvulus Aegyptiacus quinquefolius C. Bauhini J.B. Foliis laciniatis, vel quinquefolius C.B. Major Arabicus sive Aegyptius Park. Aegyptius Vesl••ngii qui vix dari cultiorem in Aegypto hortum scribit cui non ornamentum commodet.
Cyperus rotundus Orientalis major in Aegypto etiam copiosè provenit. v. Cat. Orient.
Cyprus i. e. Alcanna seu Elhanne v. Ligustrum Orientale.
D.
Datura v. Stramonium.
E.
Elhanne v. Ligustrum Orientale.
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F.
Faba Aegyptia Bod. à Stapel. Faba Aegyptiaca Dioscoridis affi∣nis C.B. Fructus valde elegans, Faba fortè Aegyp. Diosc. J.B. Alpinus Fabam Aegyptiam pro Colocasia habet. Nascitur in paludosis & ad fluviorum ripas in India Orien∣tali, an in Aegypto nescio. Nymphaeae speciem faciunt qui de ea scripserunt.
Felfel-tavil seu Piper longum Aegyptium Alpini & Veslingii qui in maritimis Africae locis plantam satis frequentem esse ait.
Ferula Tingitana, folio latissimo lucido Hort. Edinburgh.
Ficus Aegyptia seu Sycomorus Park. Folio Mori fructum in caudice ferens C.B. Sycomorus Ger. J.B. In Aegypto & Syria copiosè.
G.
Gossipium arboreum caule laevi C.B. Xylon arboreum J.B. Park. In Aegypto invenitur.
Gramen erucis sive Neiem. el. salib. Alpini J.B. Bont. dacty∣lon Aegyptiacum C.B. Park. In Aegypto frequens.
Gramen Stellatum Aegyptium Veslingii. Dactylon Aegypt. Park. Qui in praecedentis descriptione hujus quoque me∣minit. Circa Heracleam seu Rossetum oppidum.
H.
Hyacinthus Mauritanicus Clus. Hist. ap. 1. Oblongo Flore fusco C.B. Ex ea Mauritaniae parte ubi urbes Fessa & Ma∣rochum sita sunt delatus est.
Hyoscyamus Aegyptius Park. Rubello flore Ger. Peculiaris flore purpurascente J.B. Et Hyos. Syriacus ejusa'em. Can∣liculis spinosissimis Aegyptiacus C.B. Et rubello flore ejus∣dem. Hyoscyamus albus Aegyptius Alpin. Aeg.. & Exot. Vesling. Juxta Pyramides Aegyptias majores.
K.
Kali Aegyptiacum foliis valde longis hirsutis C.B. An Psylli∣um minus quod Gottne rubri & Botrio rubro nomine accepit C. Bauhinus? Kali tertia species Alpini Aeg.
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L.
Lablab seu Leblab Alpini v. Phaseolus.
Lathyrus Tingitanus flore amplo ruberrimo▪ Semina hujus Plantae, ut & aliarum rariarum D. Alex. Balam è Tingi urbe Africae in Angliam primus detulit.
Libanotis cachryophoros semine sulcato laevi Moris. praelud. E Mauritania Tingitana attulit D. Alex. Balam.
Ligustrum Orientale sive Cyprus Dioscoridis & Plinii Park. Ligustrum Aegyptiacum latifolium & angustifolium C.B. Alcanna & Elhanne Arabum, nunc Graecis Schenna Rau∣wolfii.
Lotus Aegyptia Alpin. exot. Nymphaea seu Neufar Aegypti∣um Vesling. Nymphaea alba major Aegyptiaca sive Lotus Aegyptia Park. In aquis.
Luffa Arabum seu Cucumis Aegyptius reticulatus Vesling. In horto Arabis cujusdam prope Cayrum vidit Veslingius.
Lupinus Aegyptius Sylvestris Veslingii v. Cat. Oriental. In villarum sepibus prope Heracleam seu Rossetum.
Lycium Indicum creditum Alpino Park. Indicum Alpino putatum J.B. Indicum alterum (Uzeg) C.B. Supra ripas rami Nili C••lig vocati 10. ab Alexandria m. p. inve∣nit Alpinus.
Lycopsis Aegyptiaca Park. v. Cat. Orient.
M.
Marum Aegyptiorum Alpin. exot. l. 2. c. 10. Aegyptiorum Alpino Park. app. Vesling.
Musa arbor J.B. Park. Musa Serapionis Ger. Mauz Musa Alpin. Palma humilis longis latisque foliis C.B. In Aegy∣pto frequens.
Melilotus Aegyptiaca Park. Aegyptia Alchimelech vocata J.B. Corniculis reflexis minor C.B.
Melo Aegyptius C.B. Melones Abdellavi Aegyptii J.B.
Melochia Alpini. Corchorus Ger. Plinii C.B. Cor sive Me∣lochia J.B. Park. Olus Judaicum nonnullis. In cibis nihil est ea Aegyptiis familiarius aut gratius Alp.
Moly Africanum umbella purpurascente C.B. prod. Africum umbella purpurascente Park.
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N.
Nabca folio Rhamni vel Jujubae J.B. Nabca Paliurus Athe∣naei credita Alpin. Oenoplia spinosa & non spinosa C.B. Ger. emac. app. Spinosa & non spinosa, sive Napeca, sive Zizyhus alba Park. In Aegypto folia per totum annum retinet, at in Creta, observante Bello per hyemem amittit. Aegyptus, Syria & Armenia hac arbore abundant Bellon.
Nymphaea seu Nuphar Vesl. v. Lotus.
O.
Ocimum Aegyptium Alpini Rihan. dictum Herm. Hort. A∣cad. Leyd.
Oenoplia v. Nabca.
Oenanthe altera minor Africana Park. Item tenuisolia altera Africana, ejusdem p. 895. E Barbaria Africae regione attu∣lit Gulielmus Boelius.
P.
Paliurus Athenaei Alpino v. Nabca.
Palma Ger. C.B. vulgaris Park. Major C.B. Dactylifera ma∣jor vulgaris Jonst. In Aegypto & Syria.
Papyrus Nilotica Ger. J.B. Antiquorum Nilotica Park. Ni∣lotica seu Aegyptiaca C.B. Provenit etiam in Siciliae palu∣stribus v. Cat. Sicularum rariorum P. Boccone.
Phaseolus indicus ruber Bontii. Pisum Americanum cocci∣neum, aliis abrus. J.B. Abrus. Alpini de Plant. Aegypt. Glyzyrrhiza Indica vulgò.
Phaseolus Lablab Alpini J.B.
Phaseolus Aegyptiacus nigro femine C.B.
Polium montanum pumilum tenuifolium Africum Park. A Guil. Boelio circa Tunisium urbem collectum est.
R.
Ruta Sylvestris quae dicisolet Harmala J.B. Juxta Alexandri∣riam v. Cat. Orient.
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S.
Sabina Aegyptia Lob. est Abrotanum foemina Sabinae folio C.B.
Sebesten v. Cat. Orient. Non enim in Aegypto tantum sed & in Asia provenit.
Secamone Alpin. Aegypt. Apocynum angusto Salicis folio C.B. Apocyno affinis Secamone flore albo J.B. An Apocyni Secundi species altera Clus?
Sena J.B. Ger. Alexandrina Park. Alexandrina sive fo∣liis acutis C.B. In Syria, Persia, Arabia nasci aiunt, unde Alexandriam desertur.
Sefamum J.B. C.B. Park. & aliorum. Myagrum Aegy∣ptiacum Zonani.
Sesban Alpini Aegypt. Sesban sive Securidaca Aegyptia ar∣ticulata Park. Galega Aegyptiaca siliquis articulatis C.B.
Sinapi maritimum Aegyptiacum Alpin. exot. l. 2. c. 19. Ex seminibus Aegypto delatis enata est.
Sonchus frutico••us Africanus petraeus spinosus Park. In pe∣trosis circa Tunis & Sapphi a Boelio inventus & ad Parkinsonum delatus est.
Sophera Alpini & Belli J.B. Galegae affinis Sophera dicta C.B. Sophera seu securidac•• Aegyptiaca villosa Park. Hoxocoquamoclit Cam. hort.
Stramonium minus flore geminato purpurante Park. Fructu rotundo, foliis per ambitum X••nthii modo incisis Col. Solanum foetidum pomo spinoso rotundo, semine palli∣do C.B. Datura Aegyptia Vesling. Contarena Alpin. exot.
Stratiotes Aegyptia J.B. aquatica vera Dioscoridis & Aegy∣ptiaca Park. Lenticula palustris Aegyptiaca, sive Stratio∣tes aquatica foliis Sedo majore latioribus C.B. Aquis in∣natat sine radice, ut aiunt.
Stratiotes Aegyptia Dioscoridis Vesling. Haec & superior vel Nilo, vel fossis inde deductis supernatat, nec radice in terram demissa firmatur, sed huc illuc fluitat.
Sycomorus v. Ficus.
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T.
Tamarindus Ger. Park. J.B. Siliqua Arabica quae Ta∣marindus C.B. Ex Aethiopia in Arabiam & Aegyptum delatam nonnulli volunt.
Tamariscus Aegyptia gallifera J.B. Tamaria Aegyptia ar∣bor C.B. Aegyptia gallas serens Park. In Aegypto locis humidis secus slumina oritur, non raro etiam aridis & sa∣bulosis. Bellon.
Thlaspi Alexandrinum C.B. Park. Alexandrinum Cortusi J.B. Verum Dioscoridis Zanoni.
U.
Uzeg arbor v. Lycium Indicum.
Z.
Zatar-hendi Origanum Indicum Alpini & Veslingii Origano congener Zatar-hendi C.B. Zatarendi herba J.B. Planta Aegyptiaca non est, sed ex India illuc deportata, ut nomen arguit. Coeterùm. Zatarendi Alpin.
description Page 30
Stirpium Creticorum rariorum Catalogus.
A.
ABellicea Cretica sive Santalus adulterina J.B. Pseu∣do-santalus Cretica, Abelicea dicta Park. Pseudo∣santalum Creticum C.B. In montibus Leucis, co∣rúmque jugis altissimis.
B. Absinthium Ponticum Creticum grati odoris C.B. prod. In viridi saltem amaritudo nulla percipitur, unde ab Asi∣nis, pecoribus, omnibúsque Brutis valde expetitur.
Acanus Theophrasti Park. vid. Agavanus Cretensium.
Acanthus spinosus in agris & juxta semitas frequens est Bellon.
Acetosa Cretica semine aculeato C.B. Mihi descriptiones utriusque conferenti eadem aliquando visa est cum Acetosa Neapolitana Ocimi folio 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Col. Verùm peri∣tissimus Botanicus D. Jacobus Breynius, qui utrumque coluit, & observavit, nos erroris insimulat, & distinctae species cùm sint, à me perperam confundi scribit; cui non repugno, cùm nec initio id fidenter, sed timidè affirmaverim.
Achlades Bellon. Pyri sylvestris genus.
Adrachnae Park. Theophrasti J.B. Arbutus folio non ser∣rato C.B. Adracla Graecis. In Creta, montibus Leucis, & alibi inter saxa.
Aga Cretensium C.B. i. e. Silybum minus Baeticum Park. Carduus lacteus peregrinus Camerarii J.B. albis macu∣lis notatus exoticus C.B.
Agasuga Bellon. i. e. Pyra sylvestria Cretica.
Agavanus Cretensium i. e. Acanus Theophrasti Park. Aga∣vanus Cret. fortè Acanys Theophr. Hon. Belli ep. 5 ad Clusium, & Ponae Ital. Carduus latifolius echinos obso∣letae purpurae ferens C.B. Vulgaris est notit••ae in Creta.
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Agriocinara Cretica Ponae Ital. Cinara Sy••vestris Cretica C.B. Park. Carduus Agriocinara Cretensium, ex quo Costus niger Officinarum J.B. Agrioanzinari Cretensi∣um Bello ep. 2. ad Clusium. An Cinara sylv. Baetica Clus. cur. post? Supra Chisami arcem Bellon.
Agriomelea Bellonii, quam in Cretae montibus invenisse scribit, exiguorum malorum Pyris formà similium fera∣cem, an Cotoneaster Gesn? v. Cat. gen.
Agriostari seu Frumentum sylvestre Creticum Ponae Ital. Bell.
Althaea fruticosa Cretica Park. Frutex 3. Clus. Hanc cum Althaea frutescente Bryoniae folio C.B. s. frutescento fo∣lio acuto, flore parvo. Althaea Olbiae perperam dicta, eau∣dem putamus. V. Cat. Sic.
Ammi Creticum Ger. Park. Creticum aromaticum Lo••. odore Origani J.B. Alterum femine Apii C.B. Semen ex Alexandria Aegypti adfertur.
Anchusa humilis Alpin. exot. humilis Cretica Park. In locis montosis & sylvis Cretae.
Anemone tenuifolia Cretica albo magno flore C.B. prod.
Anthyllis falcata Cretica Park. Trifolium falcatum Alpin. exot.
Anthyllis Alpin. exot. In maritimis copiosé. Accedit ad An∣thyllidem à Clusio & J. Bauhino descriptam.
Arachydna aut Aracoides Honorii Belli, J.B. Cretica Park. Viciae similis, supra infráque terram fructum ferens C.B.
Archontoxylon i. e. Ebenus Cretica.
Arcturus Creticus Belli v. Blattaria pilosa Cretica.
Aristolochia polyrrhizos v. Pistolochia.
Aristolochia clematitis serpens C.B. Reliqua Synonyma v. in Cat. Hisp. Arbores scandit Ephedrae aut Smil••cis mo∣do. Bellon.
Arundo graminea aculeata Alpin. exot. In locis humidis supra terram serpit.
Asclepias Cretica Clusii J.B. Park. Siliquâ bifido mucrone C.B.
Ascolimbros Bellonii non est (ut puto) Scolymus chrysanthe∣mos s. Eryngium luteum Narbonensium, sed Carduus Siculus chrysanthemus procerior caule eduli Hist. nost. p. 258.
Ascyroides Cretica Alpin. exot. Cretica major Park. Hanc plantam in Hist. nost. eandem putavimus cum Androsae∣mo
description Page 32
Constantinopolitano flore maximo Wheeler; icon tamen non respondet, at neque descriptio: ut nunc mu∣ratâ sententiâ diversam suspicer.
Aspalathus secundus Creticus Alp. v. Cytisus.
B.
Blattaria pilosa Cretica sive Arctos quorundam J.B. Ver∣bascum humile Creticum laciniatum C.B. Verbasculum sylv. Creticum Alpin exot. Blattaria Cretica incana, rotundo laciniato folio Park. Arcturus Creticus Belli. Provenit inter saxa & super parietes.
Blattaria Cretica spinosa Park. Leucoium Creticum spino∣sum Clus. J.B. Creticum spinosum incanum luteum C.B. Spinosum Creticum Ger. Spinosum cruciatum Alpin. Glastivida Cretensium Belli.
Borago Sylvestris annua Cretica Zanoni. Buglossum pro∣cumbens annuum pullo minimo flore Moris. praelud.
Borago muralis variegata, flore odorato Cretica Zanoni, Buglossum Lusitanicum bullatis foliis Moris. praelud. In muris urbis Candiae ex ipsis petrarum fissuris exit.
Borago sylvestris Cretica flore rubro cremesino perennis, eadem videtur Echio Cretico latifolio rubro C.B.
Buglossum Creticum verrucosum, perlatum quibusdam Schol. Bot. seu Hort. Reg. Par. Tournefort.
Bryonia Cretica Pon. Ital. Cretica dicoccos Park. Cre∣tica maculata C.B. Alba maculata J.B. In Creta fre∣quens est.
Buphthalmum Creticum Cotulae facie Breyn. Flore luteo & albo.
C.
Calamintha Cretica Cam. Folio & flore parvo incana J.B. Incana Ocimi foliis C.B. Minor incana Park. Montana vulgaris Ger. Ex semine è Creta misso Camerario suc∣crevit. Lobelius tamen cautibus Linguagotticis calida∣rúmque regionum innasci scriptum reliquit.
Calochierni carduus Cretensibus J.B. Atractyli & Cnico sylvestri similis C.B. Fortè Atractylis major è cujus caulibus mulieres fusos efficiunt. Atractylidi vulgari simi∣lis, not tamen eadem. Vid. Hist. nost. p. 304.
Caloschirrida v. Echinus Creticus Alpin.
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Carduus pinea Theophrasti Alpin. exot. pinea seu Ixine Theophrasti Park. Chamaeleon albus gummi ut mastix ferens Bell.
Carduus Eryngoides capite spinoso Alpin. exot.
Caryophyllus arborescens Creticus C.B. Sylvestris arboreus Alpin. exot. Nostrâ sententiâ. Betonica coronaria ar∣borea Cretica J.B. In montibus Cretae oritur.
Caucalis Cretensium & Graecorum i. e. Seseli Creticum.
Cerasus Alpina Cretica, seu Idaea Alpin. exot. Vitis Idaea Cretica elatior Park. Agrifolii folio. In monte Idâ Cretae familiaris est. An Agriomelea Bellonii?
Chamaecerasus Idaea Alp. ex. Vitis Idaea Cretica humilior Park. In monte Ida nascitur.
Chamaecistus Alpin. exot. An Chamaecistus Serpyllifolia floribus carneis C.B? Serpylli folio, flore carneo J.B? 7 Clus?
Chamaedaphnoides Cretica, seu Laureola Cretica humilis Alp. exot. Chamaedaphnoides sive Laureola Cretica Park. In Cretae montanis.
Chamaedrys spinosa Cretica Park. Spinosa C.B. J.B. Ex horto Bembi Patavio accepit C.B.
Chamaegenista Cretica C.B. Park. Parkinsonus pro Spar∣tio Cretico Alp. ex. hanc habet.
Chamaepeuce Plinii Anguillarae, v. Stoebe fruticosa Cretica.
Chamaepitys futicosa Cretica, v. Stoebe capitata Rosma∣rini foliis Ponae.
Chrysocome Cretica Clus. Elichrysum Creticum C.B. Santolina Cretica Alpin. Hanc plantam pro Stoechade citrina alteri inodorae Lobelii affini capitulis brevioribus J.B. habemus Vid. Hist. nost. p. 282. In montosis Cretae.
Cichoreum spinosum Creticum Park. Pon. In maritimis, inque siccis collibus & arenosis locis. Hanc speciem in Si∣cilia observavimus. v. Cat. gen.
Cissampelos ramosa Cretica Park. Helxine Cissampelos ra∣mosa Cretica Ponae. Convolvuli species.
Cistus Ledon Cretense C.B. Led. latisolium Creticum J.B. Ladanifera Cypria Park. Item ladanifera Cretica vera ejusdem. Ledon 4 Clusii Ger. Descriptionem vid. in Alpin. exot.
Clinopodium Creticum Alpin. exot. Persimile est, si odo∣rem excipias, Acino vulgari.
Cneoron album folio Oleae argenteo molli C.B. v. Convol∣vulus rectus odoratus Ponae.
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Cnicus singularis Alpin. exot. alter Creticus Park.
Colutea Scorpioides Cretica odorata. Alpin. exot.
Convolvulus ramosus incanus, foliis Pilosellae C.B. Helxine Cissampelos ramosa Cretica Pon. Ital Park.
Coris legitima Cretica Dioscoridis Belli Ger. emac. Park. Item Coris Matthioli ejusdem: Nos enim has non distingui∣mus. C. Hypericoides quorundam J.B. Lutea C.B. In collibus foecundis copiosé.
Coronilla frutescens coronata glauco folio Cretica, flo. luteo odorato Breyn. prod. 2
Cyanus arborescens longifolia Alpin. exot. In montanis Cre∣tae nascitur.
Cyanus arborescens altera, Styracis folio Alpin. exot.
Cyanus tomentosus Alpin. exot.
Cyanus lanuginosus spinosus Creticus, & Cyanus fruticosus Creticus, v. Stoebe fruticosa Cret.
Cynara sylvestris Cretica C.B. Park. Carduus Agriocinara Cretensium, ex quo Costus niger Officinarum J.B. An Cinara sylv. Baetica Clus. cur post. Supra Chisami arcem, &c. v. Bellon.
Cynoglossum Creticum secundum Clusii J.B. Creticum alterum Ger. Cret. latifolium Park. Latifolium foeti∣dum C.B. Cynoglossae alteri mediae fructu cotylode sive Lychniode Col. eadem videtur planta.
Cynoglossum Creticum angustifolium Park. Creticum ar∣genteo angusto folio C.B. Creticum 1. Ger.
Cyperus rotundus odoratus Creticus Cam. Park.
Cytisus Creticus, Aspalathus secundus Alpino dictus. In loco Fraschia dicto propè Cretam urbem. Aspalathus 2. Dioscoridis Bello & aliis. V. Cat. gen. Acacia trifolia.
D.
Daucus Creticus Ger. Creticus verus Dioscoridis Park. No•• videtur diversus à Dauco Cretico semine hirsuto J.B. seu Dauco montano umbellâ candidâ C.B. V. Hist. nost. p. 463.
Daucus stellatus Alpin. exot. Park. Planta à Dauco longè diversa est.
Daucus tertius Dioscoridis Bello Ponae Park. Tertius solio Coriandri, flore luteo J.B. Creticus nodosus umbellâ luteâ C.B.
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Dictamnus Creticus C.B. Park. Dict. Cretica seu vera J.B. Dictamnum Creticum Ger. In monte Ida; in scopu∣lorum fissuris, nec usquam alibi.
Dorycnium Creticum v. Convolvulus rectus.
Dorycnium Dioscoridis fortè Ponae Park. Jaceae oleae folio affinis C.B. Item Cneoro albo affinis ejusdem. Hujus semina è Creta ab Honorio Belli ad fe missa Lagochymicae nomine scribit C. Bauhinus in Pinace.
E.
Ebenus Cretica Alpin. exot. Cytisus Creticus incanus sive Ebenus Cretica Belli Park. C.B. Barba Jovis lagopo∣doides Cretica frutescens incana, flore spicato purpureo amplo Breyn.
Echinopoda Cretensibus J.B. Echinop. frutex Creticus Park. Genista spartium spinosum aphyllum, tribus acu∣leis semper junctis, floribus luteis C.B.
Echinus Creticus Park. Echinus seu Tragacantha alia hu∣milior & spinosior Alpin. exot. Graeci Caloschirrhida vocant.
Echium Creticum latifolium rubrum C.B. Park. An Echium Candiae flore pulchre rubente J.B? V. Cat. gen.
Echium Creticum Alp. exot. Creticum album Park. Echi∣um pumilum flore luteo C.B. Park. h. e. Echium flavo flore Clus. cur. post. huic idem videtur.
Echium nigro flore eleganti Alp. exot. Creticum nigrum Park.
Echium Creticum angustifolium rubrum C.B. Park. Cre∣ticum 2. Clus. Habetur & in Sicilia. Cat. Gen.
Equisetum montanum Creticum Park. Alpin. exot. In montanis Cretae. Flores fert circa virgarum geniculos, quo ab Equisetis differt. Tragi sive Uvae marinae spe∣cies est.
Eruca maritima Cretica siliquâ articulatâ C.B. E Creta Ho∣norius Belli misit.
Eryngium trifolium Alpin. exot. Park. In locis asperis.
Erysimum Dioscoridis Zanoni Erysimi annui Creticae no∣mine missum.
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F.
Foenum Graecum sylvestre polyceration majus Creticum Breyn. Cent.
Frutex pulcherrimus Belli i. Stoebe fruticosa latifolia Cre∣tica.
Fumaria major Cretica Park. Altera tenuior Syriaca Cam. minor folio oblongo capillaceo C.B. Capnos Cretica Clus. An Fumaria nostra major scandens?
G.
Gaiderothymum v. Stachys spinosa Cretica.
Galastivida Cretensium prima v. Blattaria spinosa.
— Altera v. Tithymalus marit. spinosus.
Gallium montanum Creticum Alpin. exot. Park. In mon∣tanis Cretae abundat.
Genista arborea Cretica, foliis semper virentibus Zanoni.
H.
Habbures Cam. i. e. Leontopodium Creticum aliud.
Hedysarum argenteum, Alpin. exot. argenteum Creticum Park.
Hieracium majus Creticum Park. Majus folio Sonchi, se∣mine curvo C.B. Item Sonchus asper laciniatus Creti∣cus ejusdem. Chondrillae Creticae nomine missa, se∣mine crispo J.B. Sonchus Creticus foliis laciniata vulgò.
Hieracium parvum Creticum Park. Clus. Minor flore ex albo carneo C.B. Intybaceum, non ramosum Ponae.
Hieranzune Cretensium est Lotopisum Belli. v. Cat. gen.
Hippomarathrum Creticum C.B. prod. Park. Daucu•• 3. Creticus, aliis Seseli nodosum & Hippomarathrum Ponae. Ital. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vulgo, i. e. Pedes corvini. Foeni∣culum magnum sive Hippomarathrum J.B. Libanoti•• cacrhyoph. sem. sulcato aspero Moris. Hist.
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Holosteum sive Leontopodium Creticum C.B. Park. Ger. Leontopodium Cretense Clus.
Holosteum Alpin. exot. quod ab Holosteo Salmanticensi Clusii differre contendit. Plantago angustifolia minor lanuginosa Cretica vel Syriaca, pediculis & capitulis ma∣turitate ad terram inflexis Breyn. prod. 2.
Horminum comâ rubrâ J.B. vulgo Horm. Creticum.
Horminum minus supinum Creticum Clus. C.B. Park.
Hyoscyamus Creticus luteus major C.B. Luteus minor J.B. Creticus Park. Creticus alter Clus. Haec species in Italia & Gallia Narbonensi occurrit. v. Cat. gen.
Hyoscyamus aureus Alp. exot. Creticus luteus minor C.B. 4. s. albus Creticus Clus. Albus Creticus Ger. emac.
Hyssopus Graecorum Alpin. exot. An Hyssopus Origani folio Dalech. J.B?
J.
Jacea incana Cretica, flore luteo medio purpureo, squamis in molliores spinas abeuntibus Herman. Hort. Lugd. Bat.
Jacea Cretica Park. laciniata squammata C.B. Squamma∣ta Cretica, quibusdam Scabiosa Cretica dicta J.B.
L.
Lachryma Jobi Sesamum annuum Zanon. in Creta copiosé.
Lagochymica Cretensium est Dorychium Dioscoridis Ponae. Bellonius Heliochryson vulgò Lagochymithia dictum scri∣bit, quòd leporibus cubilia grata praebeat.
Lamium fruticosum non maculatum Creticum Zanon.
Laurus Sylvestris Cretica Alpin. exot. Park.
Lazegiri Cretensium i. e. Lycium Creticum alterum.
Leontopetalon crassa radice Bellon. In Ida monte hyeme flo∣ret.
Leontopodium Creticum Clus. v. Holosteum.
Leucoium Creticum Thlaspifolium C.B. Marinum Creticum majus Park. Marinum Creticum 1. Clus.
Leucoium Creticum floribus minoribus C.B. Creticum minus Park. Marinum Creticum 2. Clus.
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Leucoium Creticum foliis oblongis crenatis C.B. Creticum oblongis foliis crenatis Park. Creticum 3. Clus.
Leucoium Creticum minimum folio subrotundo C.B. Cre∣ticum caeruleum marinum Alpin. exot. Park.
Leucoium album odoratissimum folio viridi C.B. prod.
Leucoium Creticum luteum utriculato semine Alp. exot. Park.
Leucoium spinosum Creticum Clus. Est Blattaria spinosa seu Glastivida.
Libanotis Apii folio femine aspero C.B. Theophrasti Apii folio Cretica Park. Rosmarinus foliis Selino similibus Bell.
Linaria Cretica latifolia major Clus. Park. Latifolia triphylla major C.B.
Linaria Cretica angustifolia Clus. Park. Quadrifolia, exiguis flosculis cinereis C.B.
Linaria perennis fruticosa Cretica C.B. prod. Cui & Linaria latifolia Dalmatica magno flore dicitur.
Linum arboreum Alpini exot. Arboreum Creticum luteum Park.
Lotus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cretica fruticosa argentea, siliquis longis∣simis propendentibus rectis Moris. Hist.
Lotopisum Belli i. Lotus edulis Creticus v. Cat. gen.
Lutea maxima Cretica Honor. Belli J.B. Luteola herba fo∣lio Cannabino C.B. Maxima Cretica foecunda & sterilis Park. Cannabis lutea fertilis & sterilis Contareni Alpin. exot. Inter montes in Aquis nascitur, loco quodam 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 dicto, tertio ab urbe Cydonia lapide Bell.
Lychnis Cretica angustifolia Park. Hirsuta angustifolia Cret. C.B. Ocymoides flore rubro minus Creticum J.B. sylv. 7. Clus.
Lychnis Auriculae ursi facie C.B. Sylv. latifolia Clusii sive Muscipula Cretica Auriculae ursi facie J.B. Sylv. latifolia Clusii Ger. emac.
Lychnis viscaria maxima Cretica Alpini. Viscaria maxima Cretica Alpini Park.
Lycium Cretense sive Berberis Cretica J.B. Creticum pri∣mum Belli Park. Berberis Alpina Cretica C.B. Lycium Creticum s. Berberis Alpina Belli Bon. In montium altissi∣morum convallibus.
Lycium Creticum alterum Park. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 i. e. Amygdal•• Petraea, licet cum Amygdalis nihil ••mmune habeat Bell. Ep. ••.
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M.
Majorana Cretica vel Syriaca C.B. Marum Creticum Alp. exot. Syriacum A. Lob. Ger. Syriacum vel Creticum Park.
Mandragora mas & foemina Bellon. In monte Ida. Quae quam∣vis in Hispania etiam & Italia sponte proveniant, quia ta∣men rariores sunt omittere nolui. Vid. Cat. Hispan.
Marrubium Creticum Ger. Park. Album angustifolium pe∣regrinum C.B. Album angustiore folio J.B.
Marrubium Creticum angustifolium inodorum Park. Album peregrinum brevibus & obtusis foliis C.B.
Marrubium nigrum Creticum Alp. exot. Park. Planta Alpino descripta imperfecta erat, absque flore & se∣mine.
Melilotus quaedam Cretica Alpin. exot. Est Lotus Siliquis singularibus vel binis tenuis J.B.
Melilotus vesicaria Cretica Hort. Altdorf.
Meum alexiterium Creticum Park. Alpin. exot.
Millefolium Creticum J.B. Incanum Creticum C.B. Park. Stratiotes Millefolia Belli ep. 2. ad Clusium Alpin. exot. Parkinsonus ex hac planta duas facit: priorem Millefolium incanum Creticum vocat, posteriorem Stratioten Mille∣foliam Creticam.
Muscipula Cretica &c. v. Lychnis.
Myrrhis sylv. Cretica nodosa, seminibus asperis annua, semine striato aspero oblongo, nodosa Moris.
N.
Napus Sylvestris Cretica Park. C.B. Bunias agrestis Belli, qui ad C. Bauhinum è Creta misit.
Nardus montana Cretica Alpin. exot. An Valeriana Cretica tuberosa Park? Nardus Cretica Belli. Cretica Filipendu∣lae radice C.B? Nardus tamen Cretica Belli diversa vide∣tur à Nardo montana Cretica Alpini.
Nigella Cretica C.B. Melanthium simplici flore Creticum Clus. Nigella Cretica inodoro semine Park.
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Nigella Cretica latifolia odorata Park. Ponae Ital. Alba simplici flore Alpin. exot.
Nigella Cretica altera tenuifolia odorata Park. Cretica folio Foeniculi C.B.
Nigella Cretica odorata, foliis Lini, seminibus biformibus Park. Malè inscribitur Nigella. Melanthium odoratum Alpin. exot.
O.
Oenanthe stellata Cretica Alpin. exot. Park.
Oenanthe Cretica prolifera Park. Apula prolifera C.B.
Oleander Creticus fruticosus major foetidus Zanon.
Origanum Creticum J.B. Ger. Sylvestre Syriacum Lob. O∣nites C.B. Matth.
Ornithogalum Creticum & Pannonicum flore albo J.B.
P.
Paeoniae duo genera candido flore Bellon. Graecis Psiphaedile. In omnibus humidis vallibus montis Idae.
Pastinaca tenuifolia Cretica, radiis umbellae Gingidii longiori∣bus Moris.
Petromarula Cretica i. e. Rapunculus Creticus.
Petroselinum Creticum C.B. Park. Agriopastinaca vulgò in Creta Bello ep. 5. ad Clusium, cui Buselinon Plinii vide∣tur. In montibus Cretae & Dalmatiae. Duplex genus est, radice nigra, & rad. ruffa.
Phyllitis alata sive ramosa Alpini: an & quomodo ab Hemi∣onitide multifida differat inquirendum. Alpini icon plantam distinctam repraesentare videtur: & Jac. Breynius longè diversam esse ait.
Pistolochia Cretica C.B. Cretica semper virens Par. Ari∣stolochia Pistolochia altera J.B. Diversa est à Pistolo∣chia Virginiana, Polyrrhizos dicta, ex accurata observati∣one & descriptione ad me missa incomparabilis Botanici D. Joan. Banister, tristissimo casu nuper in Virginia rebus hu∣manis erepti.
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Polium latifolium incanum Creticum C.B. Park. Ad Po∣lium montanum luteum vulgare proximè accedere videtur. Circa Cydoniam urbem.
Polium angustifolium Creticum C.B. Park. Erectum Cre∣ticum & fortè frutescens Dioscoridis Ponae. In Creta ad maris littora frequens.
Polium gnaphaloides Alpin. exot. Park. Gnaphalii marini species est. In maritimis Cretae. Gnaphalium marinum Clusii esse pernegat.
Polygonum Creticum Thymi folio C.B. Park. Non mul∣tum abludit à Polygono nostrate parvo, flore albo verticil∣lato.
Pimpinella spinosa Park. Poterio affinis folio, Pimpinella spinosa C.B. Poterium quibusdam, sive Pimpinella spi∣nosa J.B. Poterion Lobelii sive Pimpinella spinosa Came∣rarii Ger. Stoebe legitima Dioscoridis Bello. In Creta perpetuo viret, & multos annos durat.
Poterium Alpini. Tragacanthae species, multis Cretae Insulae in locis invenitur.
Pseudostachys Cretica v. Stachys.
Pseudocistus Ledum Alpin. exot. 1. Park.
Pseudocistus Ledon alterum Alpin. exot. 2. Park.
Pseudodictamnus Cydoniae seu Ps. 2. Theophrasti Ponae i. e. Pseudod. acetabulis Moluccae C.B.
R.
Ranunculus echinatus Creticus Park. Stellatus echinatus Creticus C.B. Creticus echinatus latifolius Alpin. exot.
Ranunculus Creticus albo flore, majore quam Papaveris Rhoeados J.B.
Ranunculus Creticus latifolius Clus. Park. Ger. Emac. A∣sphodeli radice Creticus C.B.
Ranunculus Creticus grumosa radice, flore niveo Clus. Gru∣mosa radice, flore niveo C.B.
Rapunculus Creticus seu Pyramidalis alter C.B. Creticus Pe∣tromarula J.B. Pretrom. Cretica sive Rapunculus Creti∣cus Park. Petromarula s. Lactuca petraea Pon. Ital. Bell.
Rosmarious Selini folio Bell. v. Libanotis &c.
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Rosmarinum Stoechadis facie Alpin. exot. Potiùs Euphrasia Stoechadis facie.
Rubia argentea Cretica Alpin. exot. Park. Cruciata argen∣tea.
Rubia arborescens Cretica Alpin. exot. Laevis arborescens Cretica Park. An & quomodo à Rubia Sylvatica laevi J.B. differat inquirendum.
S.
Salvia Cretica pomifera Clus. Ger. Baccifera C.B. Gallifera J.B. Major Cretica latifolia & angustifolia, aurita & non aurita, pomifera & non pomifera, nam specie con∣veniunt, Bellonius poma haec esui apta esse scribit, eáque rusticos legere solere, issque plenos Saccos in proximas ur∣bes venum deferre: quod mirum, cùm nihil aliud sin•• quàm Gallae, seu morbosi tumores ab Insectis excitati. Park.
C. Salvia Cretica angustifolia Clus. Tenuifolia J.B. Angustif. serrata C.B. Angustif non aurita Park. Semine è Creta accepto nata est.
Sandalida Cretica est Lotus siliquis quadripinnat. in Catal. general.
Santolina Cretica Alpini v. Chrysocome.
Satureia Cretica C.B. Ger. emac. Cretica legitima Park. Thymbra Graeca J.B. Hoc genus Alpinus Tragoriganum esse contendit, non Thymbram, cujus rationes vide.
Satureia Cretica spinosa Ponae.
Saxifraga Cretica prior Park. Saxifraga Alpin. exot.
Saxiphraga altera Alpin. exot. Cretica altera Park.
Scabiosa arborea Alpin. exot. Arborea Cretica Pon. Pere∣grina Ger. Fruticosa, folio non dissecto peregrina J.B. Stellata folio non dissecto C.B.
Scammonea macrorrhizos Alpin. exot.
Scandix Cretica major C.B. prod. Park. Pecten Veneris Creticum J.B.
Scordium alterum languinosum verticillatum C.B. Scordo∣tis Plinii prima Park. Ponae. Tomentosa Cretica J.B.
Scordotis Cretica C.B. prod. Altera Plinii Ponae Ital. Park. Scordotis Alpin. exot.
Scrophularia Cretica 1. Clus. Cretica latifolia Park. Indica Ger. Foliis Filicis modo laciniatis, vel Ruta canina latifolia C.B.
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Seseli Creticum majus C.B. Ger. Creticum, sive Tordylium majus Park. An Caucalis Lusitanica Alpin. exot?
Seseli Creticum minus v. Cat. gen.
Seseli Cretense nodosum Park. Myrrhis Sylvestris Cretica nodosa, seminibus asperis Hist. nost p. 432.
Sideritis viscosa Cretica bitumen redolens Zanoni. Glutino∣sa bitumen redolens Moris. praelud.
C. Siler Creticum quibusdam, foliis Cicutae, femine longo cri∣spo J.B. Sil. 2. foliis Cicutae C.B.
Solanum somniferum Antiquorum Alp. exot. Somniferum Antiquorum verum Park. Item Solanum somniferum Park. Verticillatum J.B. Somniferum verticillatum C.B. In Cretae locis maritimis.
Spartium Creticum Alpin. exot. Park.
Spartium spinosum Creticum Alpin. exot. Park.
Spartium spinosum secundum Alpin. exot. Spinosum aliud Creticum Park.
Spica trifolia Cretica Alpin. exot.
Stachys Cretica major seu latifolia Hort. Reg. Par. Tournefort. Catal.
Stachys Cretica C.B. Stachys sive Pseudostachys Cretica Park. C.B. prod.
Stachys spinosa Park. Spinosa Cretica C.B. Ger. Spinosa J.B. Gaidarothymo i. e. Asininum Thymum rusticis Cretensibus.
Staphis agria in monte Ida passim sponte provenit Bellon. v. Cat. gen.
Stoebe fruticosa latifolia Cretica Park. Frutex rotundo argen∣teo folio, Cyani flore C.B. Cyanus fruticosus Creticus Candiae Ponae Ital. Frutex pulcherrimus Bello ep. 2. ad Clus.
Stoebe spinosa Cretica Park. Spinosa J.B. Spinosa mariti∣ma C.B. Cyanus spinosus Creticus Ponae & Alpini.
Stoebe angustifolia Cretica i. Stoebe capitata Rosmarini foliis Ponae. Forte Chamapeuce Alpin. exot. Chamae pitys fru∣ticosa Cretica Belli. Jacea fruticans Pini folio C.B.
Stoebe Plantaginis folio Alpin. Park.
Stratiotes Millefolia Cretica Alpin. v. Millefolium.
description Page 44
T.
Teuerium Creticum Clus. Park. J.B. Creticum incanum C.B. Ex semine è Creta misso Chamaedryos majoris appel∣latione Clusio enatum est.
Thlaspi Creticum umbellatum flore albo odorato Park. Um∣bellatum Creticum flore albo odoro minus C.B. Parvum umbellatum flore niveo odorato J.B.
Thlaspi clypeatum arborescens Creticum Alpin. exot. Park. Qu. An non idem sit cum Thlaspi fruticoso altero Lob. aut fruticoso folio Leucoii marini minoris J.B.
Thymbra v. Satureia.
Thymbra Alp. exot. Cretica vera Alpino Park.
Tithymalus cyparissias Creticus Alpin. exot.
Tithymalus arboreus Alpin. Dendroides ex codice Caesareo Lugd. Dod. In hort. Reg. Paris. colitur, & pro distinc•• à Tithymalo Dendroide Matthioli specie in Schol. Bot. Par. ponitur.
Tithymalus maritimus spinosus C.B. Mariti••us Creticus spinosus Park. An Tithymalus spinosus Creticus Al∣pin?
Tragacantha altera feu Poterium densiùs ramificatum Alpin. exot.
Tragacantha humilior floribus luteis C.B. Tragacantha Al∣pin. exot.
Tragacantha Cretensis aut Idaea nigra, tota echinata Moris. Tragacantha altera Alpin. exot.
Tragacantha humilior & spinosior v. Echinus.
Tragacantha quarta seu Spartium spinosum alterum Alpin. exot. Nec flores nec fructum hujus plantae vidit Alpinus, proinde ad quod genus referenda sit certò nequit defi∣niri.
Tragoriganum Creticum C.B. Park. Cretense Ger. qui∣busdam nigrius folio duro, flore purpureo J.B.
Trifolium spinosum Creticum C.B. Clus. Park. Ger. emac. Aculeatum Creticum J.B. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Cretensibus Bell.
Trifolium peltatum Creticum C.B. J.B. Odoratum peltatum Creticum Park. Rusticis Cretensibus 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Bell.
description Page 45
Trifolium falcatum Creticum Alpin. exot. Anthyllis falca∣cata Cretica Park.
V.
Valeriana Cretica tuberosa Park. Nardus montana Cretica Alpin. exot. Nardus Cretica Belli. q. v. Nardus.
Viscaria Cretica maxima Alpini v. Lychnis.
FINIS.
Notes
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* 2.1
These Measures you may rely on, as exact to half a foot.
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(a) 2.2
〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. So the Emperour Constantine in a Let∣ter to Eu∣sebius, de Vita Con∣stantini, lib. IV. cap. 39. & a••ud Theo∣doritum Histor. Ec∣cles. lib. 1. cap. 16. v. etiam So∣crat. Scho∣last. Hist. Eccles. lib. 1. cap. 16.
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(b) 2.3
V. Socratem ibidem. Et Theophanem in Chronographia XXV. anno Constantini.
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(c) 2.4
The Itallan word Rione is a manifest corruption of the Latin word.
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(d) 2.5
In Pa∣negyrico, quem Romae dixit An∣themio Au∣gusto, bis consu••i.
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(e) 2.6
Hoeresi LXIX. quae est Ariano∣rum. Sect. 2. where he says a sad dismal fire was kin∣dled by Arius: 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, which sei∣zed almost upon all Romania, or Ʋniver∣sum Romanorum Imperium, as Petavius renders it, but especially the Ea∣stern parts of it.
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(f) 2.7
Pag. 144, 152, 155.
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(g) 2.8
Pag. 139.
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(g) 2.9
V. Gil∣lium de Bosp. Thrae∣cii, l. 111. c. 12. &c.
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(h) 2.10
Pag. 169 Num. 3.
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(i) 2.11
Pag. 121
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(k) 2.12
Vid. Historiam Politicam Constanti∣nopoleos apud Cru∣sium in Tur∣co-Graecia, pag. 9.
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(l) 2.13
This was an old error: for thus writes Dionysius Byzantinus, in his little book of the Bosphorus. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
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(d) 2.14
Les voyages de Seign. Vil∣lamont.
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(e) 2.15
Sands Travels.
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* 2.16
The Air of Aegypt is confessed by the An∣cients to be often full of Vapors; which ap∣pears both by the great dews that hap∣pen'd after the Deluge of Nilus for several months; as also in that I have discovered at Alexandria, in the Winter time, several obscure Stars in the constellation of Ʋrsa major, not visible in England; the which could not be discerned there, were there not a greater refraction at that time, than with us, and consequently a greater condensation of the medium, or Air, as the Opticks demonstrate.
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(b) 2.17
These proporti∣ons of the Chamber, and those which fol∣low of the length and breadth of the hollow part of the tomb, were taken by me with as much exactness as it was possible to do; which I did so much the more diligently, as judging th••s to be the fittest place for the fixing of measures for Poste∣rity. A thing which hath been much desired by learned men, but the manner how it might be exactly done, hath been thought of by none. I am of opinion, that as this Pyramid hath stood three thousand years almost, and is no whit decayed within, so it may continue many thou∣sand years longer: and therefore that after-times measuring these places by me assigned, may hereby not only find out the just dimensions of the Engl••sh foot, but also the feet of several Nations in these times, which in my Travels abroad I have taken from the Originals, and have com∣pared them at home with the English Standard. Had some of the an∣cient Mathematicians thought of this way, these times would not have been so much perplexed, in discovering the measures of the Hebrews, Babylonians, Aegyptians, Greeks, and other Nations. Such parts as the English foot contains a thousand, the Roman foot on Cossutia's Monument commonly called by Writers Pes Colotianus) contains nine hundred sixty seven. The Paris foot a thousand sixty eight. The Spanish foot nine hundred and twenty. The Vene••ian foot 1062. The Rhinland foot, or that of Snellius, 1033. The Bracio at Florence 1913. The Bracio at Naples 2100. The Deran at Cairo 1824. The greater Turkish Dike at Constantinople, 2200.
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* 2.18
As ap∣pears by a fair and ancient Monument brought from Smyr∣na to my very wor∣thy Friend Mr. Rolt Esq which stands in his Park at Woolwich.
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* 2.19
Plin. lib. 36 cap. 7.
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(c) 2.20
Which may also be confir∣med by Bellonius's Observati∣ons, who describing the Rock, out of which, up∣on Moses's striking it, there gush∣ed out wa∣ters, makes it to be such aspec∣kled kind o•• T••baick Marble: Eit une gross•• pierre massive droicte de mesmegrain & de la couleur, ba que.
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(d) 2.21
The compass of the Scapus of this Column at Alexandria near the Torus is 24 English feet: The compass of the Scapus of those at Rome is fifteen English feet, and three inches. By these proportions, and by those Rules which are expressed in Vitruvius, and in other Books of Architecture, the ingenious Reader may compute the true dimensions of those before the Pantheon, and of this at Alexandria, being in my calculation the most magnificent Column that ever was made of one en∣tire Stone.
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(e) 2.22
Six feet 488. 1000.
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(f) 2.23
Two feet 218.1000. In the ••e∣iteration of these numbers, if any shall be offen∣ded, either with the novelty or tedious∣ne••s of ex∣pressing them so often. I must justi∣fie my self by the example of Ʋ••ug ••g, Nephew to Timurlane the great (for so is his Name, and not Tamerlane) and Emperor of the Moguls or Tartars, (whom we term amiss the Tar∣tars) for I find in his Astronomical Tables (the most accurate of any in the East) made about 200 years since, the same course observed by him, when he writes of the Grecian, Arabian, Persian, and Gelalean Epocha's, as also of those of Ca••aea and Turkistan. He expresseth the numbers at large, as I have done, then in figures, such as we call Arabian, because we first learned these from them; but the Arabians themselves fetch them higher, acknowledging that they received this useful invention from the Indians, and therefore from their Authors they name them Indian Fi∣gures. Lastly, he renders them again in particular Tables. Which manner I judge worthy the imitation, in all such numbers as are radical, and of more than ordinary use: For if they be only twice expressed, if any difference shall happen by the neglect of Scribes▪ or Printers, it may often so fall out, that we shall not know which to make choice of; whereas if they be thrice expressed, it will be a rare chance, but that two of them will agree; which two we may generally presume to be the truth.
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(a) 2.24
Sands in his Tra∣vels writes That they are seen to rise o•• Good Friday. A French∣man at Grand Cai∣ro, who had been pre∣sent at the resurrecti∣on, shewed me an arm which he brought from thence: the flesh shri∣veled, and dryed like that of the Mummies. He observed the Miracle to have been always behind him: once casually looking back, he discovered some Bones, carried privately by an Egyptian under his Vest, whereby he understood the Mystery.
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* 2.25
An Ar∣gument in∣tended by me, and for which I made a collection of several Antiquities, in my Travels abroad, but these (and would only these) have unfortunately perished at home amidst the sad distractions of the time.
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