DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5504#0025
In 181/ and 1818.
119
loading two iron guns, the discharge of which was to announce,
on the following dav, the festival of the Courbain-Beyram,
the Easter of the Musulmans.* He seemed quite ashamed of
his awkwardness. A Greek who accompanied me, abused
him in bad Italian, in the lowest tone of voice, but, in over-
looking his performance, assumed an air of the most respectful
submission.
An antique head, in an eroded state, placed over the gate of
the chateau, seems to have belonged to a statue of Bacchus, or
of Apollo, rather than to that of an Amazon, although Tourne-
fort points it out as such.
From the top of a high tower a deep valley is seen, watered
by the Meles, onthebank of which tradition says Homer drew
his first breath, on which account the name of Melesigenes has
been bestowed on him. This river, thus ennobled, flows after-
wards beneath two aqueducts, and, finally, beneath the bridgo
of the caravans : throughout nearly the whole of its course it
is overshadowed by lofty trees.
M. Mechain, son of the celebrated astronomer of that name,
Consul-General of France at Smyrna, gave me a very polite re-
ception, and provided me with the means of visiting the ruins of
Ephesus. Ismacl, his head janissary, was ordered to provide
horses, to make the necessary preparations for our departure,
and to escort us. A young Frenchman, attached to the con-
sulate, who speaks the Greek, Turk, and Arabic languages
with great facility, joined our caravan; and thus, accompanied
by a pupil of M. Huyot, who begged to be of the party, and my
servant, we gaily took the road of Sediceuil.
Count Auchepied, consul of the king of the Netherlands,
and one of the richest bankers of Smyrna, inhabits, at Sedi-
ceuil, a fine house, with gardens laid out in the European
style. He has a very interesting family, and the reception wo
met with here was truly hospitable.
Early the next morning our caravan set out from Sediceuil.
The road, which was scarcely to be traced, led through a plain
surrounded by mountains, and intersected by the small river
Tertulittbai, and the brook Durlikeuil: the latter bears the
name of a small village. The banks of the river were lined
with cypresses, with theagnus castus, and rose-laurels. [Laurus
nobilis.] We fell in with a small Jewish caravan : [tchifout]
it was terrified on seeing the approach of a dozen armed men
advancing full speed, for this was the ordinary pace prescribed
to us by Ismael, who led the way. Our horses were full of
spirit, the weather was delightfully pleasant, and in a few in-
* This festival is celebrated on the first three days of the moon of Schovral.
119
loading two iron guns, the discharge of which was to announce,
on the following dav, the festival of the Courbain-Beyram,
the Easter of the Musulmans.* He seemed quite ashamed of
his awkwardness. A Greek who accompanied me, abused
him in bad Italian, in the lowest tone of voice, but, in over-
looking his performance, assumed an air of the most respectful
submission.
An antique head, in an eroded state, placed over the gate of
the chateau, seems to have belonged to a statue of Bacchus, or
of Apollo, rather than to that of an Amazon, although Tourne-
fort points it out as such.
From the top of a high tower a deep valley is seen, watered
by the Meles, onthebank of which tradition says Homer drew
his first breath, on which account the name of Melesigenes has
been bestowed on him. This river, thus ennobled, flows after-
wards beneath two aqueducts, and, finally, beneath the bridgo
of the caravans : throughout nearly the whole of its course it
is overshadowed by lofty trees.
M. Mechain, son of the celebrated astronomer of that name,
Consul-General of France at Smyrna, gave me a very polite re-
ception, and provided me with the means of visiting the ruins of
Ephesus. Ismacl, his head janissary, was ordered to provide
horses, to make the necessary preparations for our departure,
and to escort us. A young Frenchman, attached to the con-
sulate, who speaks the Greek, Turk, and Arabic languages
with great facility, joined our caravan; and thus, accompanied
by a pupil of M. Huyot, who begged to be of the party, and my
servant, we gaily took the road of Sediceuil.
Count Auchepied, consul of the king of the Netherlands,
and one of the richest bankers of Smyrna, inhabits, at Sedi-
ceuil, a fine house, with gardens laid out in the European
style. He has a very interesting family, and the reception wo
met with here was truly hospitable.
Early the next morning our caravan set out from Sediceuil.
The road, which was scarcely to be traced, led through a plain
surrounded by mountains, and intersected by the small river
Tertulittbai, and the brook Durlikeuil: the latter bears the
name of a small village. The banks of the river were lined
with cypresses, with theagnus castus, and rose-laurels. [Laurus
nobilis.] We fell in with a small Jewish caravan : [tchifout]
it was terrified on seeing the approach of a dozen armed men
advancing full speed, for this was the ordinary pace prescribed
to us by Ismael, who led the way. Our horses were full of
spirit, the weather was delightfully pleasant, and in a few in-
* This festival is celebrated on the first three days of the moon of Schovral.