DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5542#0039
30
CHIFOOT KALKH.
[Chap, xxxii.
we passed under a lofty conical hill, rising with an uniform
slope from the water's edge to the height of nearly a thousand
feet. It is called Chifoot Kaleh, or Jew's Castle, and may
represent the ancient Tecmera, at one time used as a prison
by the Icings of Caria. From hence we were able to lay up
to the castle of Boudroum, the north wind blowing fresh
off the land. Two rocky islands with deep water all round
were directly in our course, besides another much more
dangerous, of which only the point appeared above the
surface of the water. It was impossible to get within the
mole with this wind, but we anchored in smooth water off
the castle. The picturesque appearance of the surrounding
scenery from the sea is very striking, the ground is highly
cultivated, and distributed into numerous gardens in which
palm-trees flourish luxuriantly, indicating the existence of
an almost tropical climate. The town, which runs in a nar-
row band along the shore, extends to the east and west of
the castle, and the remains of {he ancient theatre are visible
above the Governor's konak.
The modern town of Boudroum represents the ancient
Halicarnassus, the birthplace of Herodotus, celebrated for
the monument erected in honour of King Mausolus by his
widow Artemisia, and considered one of the seven wonders
of the world.* It has been supposed that the beautiful
bas-reliefs, which are still to be seen in the walls of the
castle, built during the middle ages, and which still defends
the town and port, are portions of those which, according
to Herodotus and other ancient writers, once adorned this
monument.
January 11th.—We landed early this morning full of
anxious hopes, and desirous of seeing the interior of the
fortress. I consequently took my firmahn ashore, in hopes
that the royal signature, and the permission which it gave
to see all the forts in the kingdom, would have its full effect
upon the Agha. Passing between the ruined piers form-
in"' the narrow entrance of the harbour, we landed on the
* Plin., H. N., lib. xxxvi. 5. Vitruv., lib. ii. c 8.
CHIFOOT KALKH.
[Chap, xxxii.
we passed under a lofty conical hill, rising with an uniform
slope from the water's edge to the height of nearly a thousand
feet. It is called Chifoot Kaleh, or Jew's Castle, and may
represent the ancient Tecmera, at one time used as a prison
by the Icings of Caria. From hence we were able to lay up
to the castle of Boudroum, the north wind blowing fresh
off the land. Two rocky islands with deep water all round
were directly in our course, besides another much more
dangerous, of which only the point appeared above the
surface of the water. It was impossible to get within the
mole with this wind, but we anchored in smooth water off
the castle. The picturesque appearance of the surrounding
scenery from the sea is very striking, the ground is highly
cultivated, and distributed into numerous gardens in which
palm-trees flourish luxuriantly, indicating the existence of
an almost tropical climate. The town, which runs in a nar-
row band along the shore, extends to the east and west of
the castle, and the remains of {he ancient theatre are visible
above the Governor's konak.
The modern town of Boudroum represents the ancient
Halicarnassus, the birthplace of Herodotus, celebrated for
the monument erected in honour of King Mausolus by his
widow Artemisia, and considered one of the seven wonders
of the world.* It has been supposed that the beautiful
bas-reliefs, which are still to be seen in the walls of the
castle, built during the middle ages, and which still defends
the town and port, are portions of those which, according
to Herodotus and other ancient writers, once adorned this
monument.
January 11th.—We landed early this morning full of
anxious hopes, and desirous of seeing the interior of the
fortress. I consequently took my firmahn ashore, in hopes
that the royal signature, and the permission which it gave
to see all the forts in the kingdom, would have its full effect
upon the Agha. Passing between the ruined piers form-
in"' the narrow entrance of the harbour, we landed on the
* Plin., H. N., lib. xxxvi. 5. Vitruv., lib. ii. c 8.