Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

JIO TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY*
sonisi. We found in the bay a caick bound from Rhodes to Sciu.
We were told that there was a town within two leagues of us ;
but were prevented from landing by
the rains which fell
during the
greater part of the day. On the sides of the mountains, and in the
adjacent vallies, we observed several fine vineyards.
We were prevented from sailing on the 26th by a gale from the
north-east, which was so violent, that, notwithstanding this was a
favourable point for our destination, our Reis was unwilling to put
to sea. As it rained at the time, we landed between the showers,
and made an excursion to the neighbouring mountains. We passed
through several vallies, the soil of which was rich and of a reddish
colour, and the cultivation not neglected. The mountains are
composed of rocks of blue and white marble, blended with a stone
called the satin stone ; In the parts susceptible of cultivation they
are planted with olive-trees, firs, the mastic, the arbutus, and other
trees and shrubs. We did not meet with any dwellings ; but pas-
sed two or three small caves, which appeared to be destined to re-
ceive the grapes when ripe : For the purpose of containing the juice,
after it has been expressed from the fruit, we saw in each of these
caves a small cistern. From the springs which issued from the
rocks we procured exrellent water.
At five in the morning of the 27th we got under way, but were
soon after becalmed. At seven o'clock we had a gentle breeze from
the westward ; and bore away as soon as we had weathered the
north-east point of the island, Satlanova being distant from us
about fifteen or twenty miles to the east. W r
e were becalmed for
several hours ;
and at half past two o'clock P. M. were under the
necessity of entering a fine bay on the north side of the island,
where we came to anchor. We landed, and walked to the vine-
yards, which were in a
very flourishing
state. Among the shrubs
which at grew the sides of the mountains, we noticed the juniper,
the berries on which were uncommonly large. Three of our crew
were sent to a neighbouring town, called by the Turks Vati, dis-
tant from the bay about a league and a half, to procure bread, and
the other articles of which we stood in need. We had ourselves
made an arrangement to land on the following morning ; but our
Reis disappointed us by getting under way before day light. His
sudden departure was occasioned by the dread he still entertained
of the pirates, who are said constantly to lurk in the vicinity of
this island. The northern side, which we were now coasting, is
principally laid out in vineyards : The land is lofty and irregular.