DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44973#0044
32
Phitribut.
A Journey'from Vienna to Lar issa.
through it , which makes a fast Pass, and commands the passage
of this Country,which put me in mind of la Chiujajn the Julian Alpes,
between Eenjone and Ponteva; which passage the Venetians {hut up
every night, we took notice also in our Journey, of the first Turkijb
Mofchea, which was built in these parts, upon that place, where the
Turks first rested, after they had taken the strong Castle and Passage os
Sarvitza. Here we also passed by a Hill of a fine red Earth, whereof
they make Pots and Vessels, like those of Portugal Earth, which are of
esteemall about these Parts. We proceeded over dangerous Rocks, in
narrow hanging ways still on Horse-back ; although we had little
pleasure to look down the Precipices on one hand, and see the Carkas-
ies of Horses in some places, which had fallen down and broke their
necks. Afterwards we had the Mount Olympus on our left hand, till
we. came to Aleffone or Alefiun, a considerable place; where there is
a Greek Monastery, and Monks of the Order of St. Bafil. The Mo-
nastery was of a different kind of building from any I had then seen.
From hence passing over a River, we entered into a round Plain, of
about five Miles over; with divers Towns pleasantly seated in it.
Then over an Hill again, which is a Spur of Mount Olympus • upon
the top whereof an old Man flood beating of a Drum, to give notice
unto Passengers on both Tides, that those parts were free from Thieves.
From this Hill as we deseended, we had a good Prosped of the Plains
of Thessaly ; and at the foot of it we turned to t?e lest, and passed over
a River, which runs from under a rocky Mountain, not in small
Springs, but the whole body of the River together ; and then through
Vin-yards, and Cotten 1 ields, to Tor novo, and from thence to Larffja,
where the Ottoman Court resided .• of which places we shall speakmore’
hereafter.
In our return, we left the road, about Kaplanlih, and turned unto
Skopia, a City of great Trade, and the largest in these parts. Scopia
or Scupi of Ptolomy, named Vfcopia by the Turks, is seated in the re-
motest parts os Mrefia Superior, or the Confines of Macedonia, at the
foot of Mount Orlelus, upon the River Vardar, or Axius, in a plea-
sant and plentiful Country, seated partly on Hills, and partly on Plains.
It was firfl a Bishops, afterwards an Arch Bishops See ; still a pleasant
and populous place. There are seven hundred Tanners in it, and they
Tann in great long Troughs of Stone, and make excellent Leather,
wherewith they furnish other parts.There are some handsom Sepulchral
Monuments,and many fair Houses,as that of the Cadih, and that belong-
ing to the Emir, or one of Mahomets Kindred, whose Father was of
great esteem in these parts. In the Court-yard of the Emirs House,
{lands a remarkable and peculia ly contrived Fountain, in manner of a
Castle, set round with many Towers, out of the tops whereof the
Water springs forth. Their best Houses are furnislied with rich Car-
pets to tread upon : and the Roofs divided into Triangles, Quadrangles,
and other Figures fairly gilded, and painted with several Colours, but
without any Imagery or Representation, either of Animal or Vegeta-
ble. Here is also a fair Bezejtan,covered with Lead; many Streets co-
vered over with Wood; and divers places are fair both within and
without the Town , • being set off by Trees and pleasant Hills and
Dales.
There are a great number of Mofdeds or Turkifb Churches. The
fairest
Phitribut.
A Journey'from Vienna to Lar issa.
through it , which makes a fast Pass, and commands the passage
of this Country,which put me in mind of la Chiujajn the Julian Alpes,
between Eenjone and Ponteva; which passage the Venetians {hut up
every night, we took notice also in our Journey, of the first Turkijb
Mofchea, which was built in these parts, upon that place, where the
Turks first rested, after they had taken the strong Castle and Passage os
Sarvitza. Here we also passed by a Hill of a fine red Earth, whereof
they make Pots and Vessels, like those of Portugal Earth, which are of
esteemall about these Parts. We proceeded over dangerous Rocks, in
narrow hanging ways still on Horse-back ; although we had little
pleasure to look down the Precipices on one hand, and see the Carkas-
ies of Horses in some places, which had fallen down and broke their
necks. Afterwards we had the Mount Olympus on our left hand, till
we. came to Aleffone or Alefiun, a considerable place; where there is
a Greek Monastery, and Monks of the Order of St. Bafil. The Mo-
nastery was of a different kind of building from any I had then seen.
From hence passing over a River, we entered into a round Plain, of
about five Miles over; with divers Towns pleasantly seated in it.
Then over an Hill again, which is a Spur of Mount Olympus • upon
the top whereof an old Man flood beating of a Drum, to give notice
unto Passengers on both Tides, that those parts were free from Thieves.
From this Hill as we deseended, we had a good Prosped of the Plains
of Thessaly ; and at the foot of it we turned to t?e lest, and passed over
a River, which runs from under a rocky Mountain, not in small
Springs, but the whole body of the River together ; and then through
Vin-yards, and Cotten 1 ields, to Tor novo, and from thence to Larffja,
where the Ottoman Court resided .• of which places we shall speakmore’
hereafter.
In our return, we left the road, about Kaplanlih, and turned unto
Skopia, a City of great Trade, and the largest in these parts. Scopia
or Scupi of Ptolomy, named Vfcopia by the Turks, is seated in the re-
motest parts os Mrefia Superior, or the Confines of Macedonia, at the
foot of Mount Orlelus, upon the River Vardar, or Axius, in a plea-
sant and plentiful Country, seated partly on Hills, and partly on Plains.
It was firfl a Bishops, afterwards an Arch Bishops See ; still a pleasant
and populous place. There are seven hundred Tanners in it, and they
Tann in great long Troughs of Stone, and make excellent Leather,
wherewith they furnish other parts.There are some handsom Sepulchral
Monuments,and many fair Houses,as that of the Cadih, and that belong-
ing to the Emir, or one of Mahomets Kindred, whose Father was of
great esteem in these parts. In the Court-yard of the Emirs House,
{lands a remarkable and peculia ly contrived Fountain, in manner of a
Castle, set round with many Towers, out of the tops whereof the
Water springs forth. Their best Houses are furnislied with rich Car-
pets to tread upon : and the Roofs divided into Triangles, Quadrangles,
and other Figures fairly gilded, and painted with several Colours, but
without any Imagery or Representation, either of Animal or Vegeta-
ble. Here is also a fair Bezejtan,covered with Lead; many Streets co-
vered over with Wood; and divers places are fair both within and
without the Town , • being set off by Trees and pleasant Hills and
Dales.
There are a great number of Mofdeds or Turkifb Churches. The
fairest