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

I
44
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
We arrived there at half past three in the afternoon, and as we
could not obtain horses to take us forward, were obliged to re-
main there for the night.
We quitted Esselback on the 7th, at five in the morning, and
proceeded to liohrbum and Essckaffenburg, a tiresome journey
over rough and bad roads, in a hilly territory, planted with woods
of beech, through which our road led. Being obliged
to wait for
horses at the latter of these places, we dined at the Three Crowns
Inn, where we paid a most extravagant charge. We arrived at
Dettingen at two in the afternoon ; and at half past four reached
Hanau, an agreeable, neat, and well-built town, which contains
a cathedral church, and several handsome public edifices. It belongs
to the principality of Hesse, and is regularly fortified. The
soil in the vicinity of this place is sandy, and produces fine crops of
corn, potatoes, and other vegetables. The roads leading
to and
from the town are
delightful, having on each side rows of trees re-
gularly planted. These avenues are very long, and afford a charming
prospect, as well as an agreeable shade.
On quitting Hanau to proceed to Frankfort, we passed near the
palace of the Prince of Hesse, very agreeably
situated to the left of
the town. The road to the latter place is kept in excellent order,
and passes through a level country, well cultivated, and the soil of
which is rich.
very On our arrival, at seven in the evening, we
took up our abode at the White Hart, a good and commodious
inn. Frankfort is seated upon the river Main, and is a fortified
town, containing about forty
thousand inhabitants. The streets
are well paved and clean, and the buildings handsome. The garrison
consists of about three hundred Hessians. Frankfort has
long been distinguished by its very extensive commerce, as well as
by the fairs which are resorted to by merchants and dealers of every
nation in Europe. The inhabitants of this place and of Hanau
have a great resemblance, in their dress and general appearance, to
the English.
We were busied on the 8 th, in making our arrangements, and in
putting our carriages into a state of repair, to set out for Cologn
on the following morning. We had hesitated whether we should
proceed thither by land or water: The former mode was, however,
considered as the most eligible.
On the 9th, at five in the morning, we quitted Frankfort, and
arrived at Koenigstein at eight o'clock. The first part of the road
is sandy ; but on approaching the above place it becomes hard and