DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.44973#0055
Maia insana.
The Descripticn of Larissa and Thessaly.
The Gourdes in the Hedges, with their large yellow Flowers, and
the many sorts of green Thorns, and ever green Oaks, make the ways
pleasant.
The Ilex coccisera, and Chermes-berry, or the Excretion, serving sor
dying, and making the Confection of slicker me s grows plentifully in
these Countries ; and with this AEgeus in old Time tinged the Sails,
which he prefented to Thefeus upon his Voyage to Crete ; ordering
him, if he overcame the Minotaure, and returned fortunat ly, to make
use of these Sails beautifully coloured in token of Victory, Upon the
high Hills grow Asclepias and Helleborus; in the stony Plains Car duns
globofus, Cyftus, Lavender, Marjoram, Rosemary, and other sweet
smelling Plants. The Flatanus or Plain-tree grows moil sair, large
and well spread in Macedonia^ affording a refreihing ssiade ; so that it
is less to be wondred at, that Hippocrates found Democritus sitting un-
der a Plain-tree at Abler a in Macedonia. Some of the seeds and tufts I
brought with me into England.
They use much Garlick in moll of their Diflies, and their Onions are
extraordinary, as large as two or three fair ones w;ith us, and of a far
better taste; being (harp, quick, ard pleasantly pungent, and without
any often sive smell. Though I were no lover of Onions besore, yet
I found these exceeding pleasant and comfortable to the Stomach. They
are used at most Collations, and eaten with B ead in good quantity.
I asked a Chians, then with us, who had travelled through most of the
Turkijh Dominions, whether he had any where met with so good O-
nions, as these of Thessaly; who answered me, that the Onions of
dEgypt were better, which was the firfl: time I sensibly understood the
expresslon in Scripture, and ceased to wonder,why the Israelites lingred
after the Onions of that Country.
They have a Fruit which they call Patlejan or Melanzan, between
a Melon and a Cucumber; out of which they make a very pleasant
Dish, by taking out the middle or seeds of it, and filling it up with the
meat of Sawsages, and then pare it, and boyl it.
Of the Agents of foreign Countries, there attended on the Grand
Seignior, the Resident of the Emperor of Germany ; the Ambassador of
Raguff, and another of Wallachia, which are Ambassadorsof the Con-
fines ; the Ambassadors for Trade, residing about Confiantinople, and
not obliged to keep close unto the Sultan. Larifla being full and pe-
stered with People, the Emperor’s Resident desired of the Sultan leave
to abide in some Neighbour Town ; who bade him to make choice of
any Place, or any House he liked; which concesslon moved him to
cast his Eye upon Tornovo, a large and pleasant City of Thessaly, about
ten Miles West-ward from Larifia’, and seated near the Hills;
where most of the Inhabitants are Christians, there being only three
Mofcheds, but eighteen Churches of the Greeks; whereof the chiefeft, •
which I observed, were these: the Cathedral Church of St. John, the
Church of St. Demetrius, oiCofmus and the Nativity of the
blessed Virgin; of St. Elias (this is the Habit of their Monks. ) (w here
there is also an adjoyning Monastery, seated on the side of the Hill )
of St. Anastajius, of the twelve Apostles, of St. Nicholas, (with a Con-
vent also, ) and of St. Anthony the Hermite. The Biihop hereof is under
the Arch-bifliop of Larissa.
And