March xxvi.
This day I took my passage for Constantinople on board the King William galley, captain Nehemiah Winter commander, and accordingly went on board at six a clock in the evening; being favoured with the company of Mr. Dunster, Mr. Turner, and Mr. Clotterbooke, who after a short repast returned a shore. On the same ship imbarked for Constantinople the barút agá of Smyrna, with his harém, and a numerous family.
March xxvii.
We set sail this morning with a gentle gale, which served us as far as St. George’s island, that lies before the harbour of Fochia Vecchia, that is Phocaea; betwixt which and the sand head, occasioned by the discharge of the river Hermus, we came to an anchor at the approach of the evening.
March xxviii.
We set sail early this morning with little or no wind, the whole day continuing calm till towards the evening; when the gale began to grow fresh, and favouring us all night advanced us betwixt the main land of Aeolia and the island of Mitylene, or Lesbos, leaving the bay of Cuma, now called Sotaléa, upon our right hand.
March xxix.
This morning with a contrary and very gentle gale we turn betwixt the island and the main, having a fair view of the harbour, city, and castle of Mitylene[57]; the last of which seems to be large and well walled, declining with a moderate descent on the side of a gentle hill. The same coast of the island is stored with many pleasant and considerable villages, well furnished with arable and pasture ground, and large woods at a distance, said to abound with deer. This day we advanced no farther than the isles of Musconisia, formerly Arginusae[58], situated betwixt the continent of Aeolia and the island of Mitylene. Here therefore we came to anchor about midday, lying opposite to the mouth of the Idaean or Adramyttian gulph, made by the two promontories of Cana on one side, and Lecton on the other, and fenced towards the continent of Troas (for so that whole region may be called) with the snowy and aspiring top of mount Ida.
March xxx.
This morning the wind springing fair about four a clock, we advance betwixt the island of Mitylene and the main of Aeolia, the narrowed bogáz is made by cape Siguri, antiently Sigrium, on the island side, and cape Babá, formerly Lecton, on that of the main. Near midday we begin to turn this latter cape, and thereby to gain the sight of Imbros and Tenedos; Lemnos not discovering itself till some hours afterwards, as we advanced with calm weather betwixt Tenedos and the Trojan shore; when the low land of Lemnos, with the round and exalted top of Athos on the other side of it, gave us a delightful prospect.