February xx.
By six we leave Sorrícui, and proceed a little way, where a fair is held at St. Georgetide, which continues for the space of ten days, and is much frequented. We then mount a high and steep hill, which bears a stately and extended wood of oak; the lower shrubs of which produce a quantity of galls, and at the roots of these the ground is overspread with an excellent and well scented sage. On the top of this hill in three hours we have a near prospect of the sea, and isle of Marmora, with one side of the Peninsula of Cyzicus. By the fifth hour we begin to descend on the other side into a pleasant and green plain, and by the seventh arrive at Dimotico, a market town, vulgarly so called from the corruption, as I suppose, of the antient Didymotichos. At this place occurs a moderate river with a wooden bridge; and an hour beyond the town a large one with a fair bridge of stone, built by the munificence of Sultan Mahomet the fourth. Here are to be observed the marks of a royal way, denoted by two equal and regular barrows on each side, by which lies the Grand Signior’s road to the wars. Hitherto our way had all along surrounded mount Ida, which often favoured us with the sight of its hoary head, and many rivers flowing from its watry bowels. We had now an hour farther to reach our conáck at Pismetlée; but losing our way, we were conducted by a cowherd (who was cudgel’d into this civility by Mustaphá bey) to a small pleasant village an hour farther in our journey, where being obliged to force our reception, we were thereupon lodged in the mosque of the place. This will appear an instance very singular in Turkey, and was looked upon as an abomination by the imám of the parish; who could not enter that place of his worship on the following morning, without saluting us three times with Stifer Alláh, that is, God forbid.