DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4692#0022
• I 3
TEOS.
Y the 17th of September the heat had sufficiently moderated to enable me to undertake
excursions by land. Of the sites I had undertaken to explore, Teos being the nearest to
Smyrna, I made arrangements to go there, and engaged the services of Spiro for the trip.
The ruins of Teos are situated near the town of Sighajik, which is a long day's ride from
Smyrna, on the south side of the peninsula that forms the northern boundary of the
Gulf of Smyrna. On account of the great length of this tongue of land,—some fifty or
sixty miles,—the sea passage occupies three days with the most favourable wind. I
therefore determined to proceed by caique to the narrowest part of the isthmus, and then
to cross on horseback by way of the town of Vourlah. This plan gave me an opportunity of seeing the
site of Clazomena?, one of the principal towns of Ionia, which stood upon an island adjoining the place
where we were to land.
We started on the evening of the 17th,—for the imbat blows up the gulf during the summer months,
but dies away towards night; therefore the evening is the best time for setting sail. "We slept under a tent
formed of sails in the caique, and at daybreak found ourselves at Vourlah Scala. A neighbouring fountain
furnished us with the means of ablution, and during the time that elapsed before horses could be procured from
Vourlah, which was three miles distant, I searched the neighbourhood for ruins, but found nothing but a
few stones, evidently brought from the opposite island, upon which formerly stood Clazomenre. In the
present day there arc not even the foundations of its buildings remaining. As the site is so easily accessible,
every stone has been removed for the purpose of being used in the construction of houses at Smyrna and
elsewhere. The causeway mentioned by Strabo is visible, though partly submerged. The country on the
mainland opposite the island is gently undulating, and forms the lowest part of the peninsula of Karabournou,
which in other parts is occupied by high mountains.
Horses having arrived, we arranged our baggage, and proceeded through well-cultivated fields and vine-
yards to the town of Vourlah. This town, situated partly on a hill, is inhabited chiefly by Greeks. It is a
flourishing place, its prosperity being chiefly derived from the culture of the vine for raisins, and from the
production of silk. There is a school here, established by American missionaries. We halted for a frugal
breakfast, and then proceeded through a flat cultivated country for two hours. Wc soon came to low hills
covered with brushwood, and after three hours' journey over these, arrived in sight of the Bay of Sighajik.
Looking down from the summit of a rocky hill, we saw the town lying at the head of a small bay. Behind
the town, which was surrounded by high walls, stretched an extensive plain well stocked with trees. On the
opposite side of the bay was a range of low hills, and at its mouth a small island, which I at once concluded
would be the best place for our camping-ground, as the whole coast would be thence accessible by boat,
and Ave should be free from molestation.
We reached the gates of the town by three o'clock. Upon inquiry for the governor, who was a yuzbashl,
or captain, we found him encamped outside the walls near the sea. Upon explaining the object of my journev,
he beo-fed us to pitch our tent near his own for protection, as he said that there were many fena adamler
(bad men) about, and that he would not be responsible for our safety if we did not. We declined, for if
wc had followed his advice, we should have been subjected to the annoyance of visitors at all hours of the
day, and told him that it was our intention to encamp on the island, requesting him to furnish us with
a'boat and two guards. A bargain was soon concluded, and by sunset our tent was pitched, and we were
glad to be able to repose free from the molestation of any plagues more troublesome than earwigs, which
were very numerous. The island was a rock rising out of the sea, covered with long grass and bushes.
It was above half a mile in length by about 300 yards in width, and was situated about half a mile
from shore. .
The next morning wc rowed to the southern side of the peninsula, rounding a rocky point, and landing
TEOS.
Y the 17th of September the heat had sufficiently moderated to enable me to undertake
excursions by land. Of the sites I had undertaken to explore, Teos being the nearest to
Smyrna, I made arrangements to go there, and engaged the services of Spiro for the trip.
The ruins of Teos are situated near the town of Sighajik, which is a long day's ride from
Smyrna, on the south side of the peninsula that forms the northern boundary of the
Gulf of Smyrna. On account of the great length of this tongue of land,—some fifty or
sixty miles,—the sea passage occupies three days with the most favourable wind. I
therefore determined to proceed by caique to the narrowest part of the isthmus, and then
to cross on horseback by way of the town of Vourlah. This plan gave me an opportunity of seeing the
site of Clazomena?, one of the principal towns of Ionia, which stood upon an island adjoining the place
where we were to land.
We started on the evening of the 17th,—for the imbat blows up the gulf during the summer months,
but dies away towards night; therefore the evening is the best time for setting sail. "We slept under a tent
formed of sails in the caique, and at daybreak found ourselves at Vourlah Scala. A neighbouring fountain
furnished us with the means of ablution, and during the time that elapsed before horses could be procured from
Vourlah, which was three miles distant, I searched the neighbourhood for ruins, but found nothing but a
few stones, evidently brought from the opposite island, upon which formerly stood Clazomenre. In the
present day there arc not even the foundations of its buildings remaining. As the site is so easily accessible,
every stone has been removed for the purpose of being used in the construction of houses at Smyrna and
elsewhere. The causeway mentioned by Strabo is visible, though partly submerged. The country on the
mainland opposite the island is gently undulating, and forms the lowest part of the peninsula of Karabournou,
which in other parts is occupied by high mountains.
Horses having arrived, we arranged our baggage, and proceeded through well-cultivated fields and vine-
yards to the town of Vourlah. This town, situated partly on a hill, is inhabited chiefly by Greeks. It is a
flourishing place, its prosperity being chiefly derived from the culture of the vine for raisins, and from the
production of silk. There is a school here, established by American missionaries. We halted for a frugal
breakfast, and then proceeded through a flat cultivated country for two hours. Wc soon came to low hills
covered with brushwood, and after three hours' journey over these, arrived in sight of the Bay of Sighajik.
Looking down from the summit of a rocky hill, we saw the town lying at the head of a small bay. Behind
the town, which was surrounded by high walls, stretched an extensive plain well stocked with trees. On the
opposite side of the bay was a range of low hills, and at its mouth a small island, which I at once concluded
would be the best place for our camping-ground, as the whole coast would be thence accessible by boat,
and Ave should be free from molestation.
We reached the gates of the town by three o'clock. Upon inquiry for the governor, who was a yuzbashl,
or captain, we found him encamped outside the walls near the sea. Upon explaining the object of my journev,
he beo-fed us to pitch our tent near his own for protection, as he said that there were many fena adamler
(bad men) about, and that he would not be responsible for our safety if we did not. We declined, for if
wc had followed his advice, we should have been subjected to the annoyance of visitors at all hours of the
day, and told him that it was our intention to encamp on the island, requesting him to furnish us with
a'boat and two guards. A bargain was soon concluded, and by sunset our tent was pitched, and we were
glad to be able to repose free from the molestation of any plagues more troublesome than earwigs, which
were very numerous. The island was a rock rising out of the sea, covered with long grass and bushes.
It was above half a mile in length by about 300 yards in width, and was situated about half a mile
from shore. .
The next morning wc rowed to the southern side of the peninsula, rounding a rocky point, and landing