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

320
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
but arc removed without much difficulty. They sic also subject
to phthisis and hemoptisis, the former being frequently fatal : the air
of the island is indeed considered as too stimulating to the lungs.
The instances of longevity at Scio are very few ; and I could not
learn that any of the inhabitants pass their eightieth year. As a
proof, however, that the island is not generally deemed unhealthy,
it has been selected as the residence of several valetudinarians from
different parts of Europe. Among these a very rich Englishman,
named Bradbridge, of an eccentric character, retired to Scio on
account of the deranged state of his health, which was considera-
bly improved by a long residence on this island. He died there
about fifteen years before our arrival.
From beneath the rock, which I have already described as being
the site of the school of Homer, a spring of water issues, which is
celebrated for its purity and medicinal properties. It is resorted to
by all the valetudinarians of Scio, who ascribe to this water a diuretic
quality.
It is indeed so much extolled, and held in such general
estimation, that large quantities of it are occasionally
sent to
Constantinople j for the use of the Grand Seignor and of the serag-
lio. Every part of the island is supplied with delicious water,
which is conveyed by aqueducts from place to place for the use of
the inhabitants of the different villages.
I should have observed, that the cultivated lands are in general
enclosed by stone walls from two to three feet in height, which are
extremely useful in particular situations, more especially on the
sides of the more elevated mountains, which are cultivated almost
to their summits. During the falls of rain the waters are prevented
by these walls from carrying down the soil, as well as the produce
of the inclosures, into the vallies beneath.
We sailed from Scio on the 5th, at half past ten in the morning.
At the time of our departure, the Greeks were preparing to cele-
brate the festival of 5/. George. About five o'clock on the follow-
ing morning we were in the gulf of Smyrna, midway between
Carabaroun and the island of Miiylene, the territory surrounding
Smyrna being distinctly in sight. At half past twelve o'clock we
arrived at Miiylene, and anchored in the harbour of Castro, or
Mitylene, the ancient Lesbos, the birth-place of so many learned
persons, whose celebritv has been handed down to our times.
Pit tat us, the poet Aldeus, Sappho, Epicus, TJicophrastus, and
Diophanes, are among the many great and extraordinary characters