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

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 6\
The plain of Troy, over which we rode, is of very considerable
extent, being about twelve miles in length, and from five to six
in breadth. It is fertile, and in a state good of cultivation. A
on which numerous
great part of the land is laid out in pasturage,
herds of cattle browze. The rivers Scamander and Siniais run
meandering through the plain; and near to their confluence siands
the
village
of L'ourna I>as/ti, on the site, as is supposed, of the
ancient Ilium. At an inconsiderable distance from this village are
to be seen the vestiges of an ancient temple dedicated to Apollo.
Several other small villages
are interspersed. The Scamander being
at
present
but
scantily supplied with water, a part of its bed affords
herbage
for cattle.
From Giawr-keuy we had a fine and distinct view of Mount
Ida, and also of the tomb from whence Polites, the son of Priam,
reconnoitred the forces of the Greeks. We were under the ne-
cessity of deferring till a more convenient opportunity our projected
excursion to Alexandria Troas, or, as it is now styled by the
Turks, Esca Slamboul. We slept in a house which the Bey had
prepared
for us.*
On the 3th we paid an earlv visit to Adam Oglou, who accom-r
panied us on our return to Chennecally, in compliance
with an
imperious message he had received from the Capitan Pacha to repair
thither. On this occasion he was extremely dejected, and appeared
to labour under strong apprehensions that his visit to the Capitan
Pacha would be attended by very serious consequences.
did not scruple to confess as much to General Koehler,
Indeed he
whom he
solicited to interfere in his behalf. In this the General was suc-
cessful, but not before the Bey had been exceedingly alarmed at the
appearances which manifested themselves against him. He had pre-
viously declared to several of our gentlemen, that he had constantly
at his command ten thousand fighting men, and that in the space of
three days he could assemble an army of forty thousand. With so
considerable a force in his hands, such is the system pursued in
from a me-
Turkey, and such the consequences to be apprehended
nacing message received from a minister or other person high in
authority, that Adam Oglou found himself placed in a very preca-
rious and hazardous situation.
* For a more minute description
of thin highly celebrated spot, I refer the reader to
the Remarks andOkervations on the Plain of Tray, published in iSco, by Captain
Frank/in, in the service of the East India Company; wherein the author expre&SiS himself
thoroughly satisfied with the correctness of the poet Homer in his beautiful descrip-
ti ;n of Troy.