February xv.
By break of day we set forward, and in one hour’s travel begin to mount the foot of Temnus, a low but large and difficult mountain, and at the same place cross the first branch of the Caicus, not far from its fountain. We pass the rest of this day thro a stony road on the Temnus, and upon the same mountain six hours from our conáck lodge at the unpleasant Kurugelchíck; where we were joined by two Turks, Mustaphá and Chalíl, who accompanied us to Adrianople.
February xvi.
We travel still over the Temnus, and on our right hand discover a large open vale on the top of the mountain, rich and well cultivated. In somewhat more than six hours we had passed the Temnus, and enter into a rich plain extended all along the backside of Ida, now Cordág; at the foot of which, about four miles distant from the road we descry the agreable seat of Balihísar. From this side of Ida thro a rich and fertile campain flows the river Aesépus, now called Simow by the Turks, which we cross by an old bridge at the village of Mandahóra, and there take our conáck in a large and convenient kane; which is more to be noted for its seven large pillars of course porphyry, now employed to support the roof of this barbarous edifice, but might possibly once stand in some fabric of antient Troy, from whence Mandahóra is distant about ten hours.
February xvii.
By eight a clock we set forward from Mandahóra, leaving the Aesépus to surround those hills on our right hand, whilst we proceed a shorter way, over small hills and dales, to meet it again in six hours and a half at Susegierlíck, where we were entertained in the public kane with excellent pike taken in that river.
February xviii.
We begin to bend our course more directly towards the Hellespont, and in order thereto proceed over a tract of gentle mountains, which Homer calls πόδα νείατον Ἴδης[99]; now frequented with wild beasts, but pleasant for the prospect they afford us on our right hand, whilst we pursue with our eye the whole course of the Aesépus almost as far as Mihalíck, where it enters the sea. In three hours we pass by an old village and adjoining castle called Minyás, which name it likewise lends to the neighbouring plain and lake; the former of which I take to have been antiently called the plains of Zelia, and the latter the λίμνη Δασκυλίτις[100]. Not far from hence flows a river by the modern name of Mulvetelée, passing into the adjoining lake; after which are small hills and pleasant villages, till in five hours we descend into the plains of Zelia, which are pleasant, fertile, and well cultivated. Here we pass thro large fields of wallnut trees, which bring us in five hours and a half to the banks of a fair and broad river; which I take to be the Tarsius of the antients, and by the Turks is now vulgarly called Tarza. We were here obliged to ferry over with our horses three together in a boat, the stream being not securely fordable. In one hour and half from thence, thro a level and verdant campain to the left of the above mentioned lake, we come to Humumlée, and there conáck. The lake we leisurely viewed from our conáck, and could compute it to be about thirty miles in circumference, being always full of water, and stored with plenty of fish, among which it then furnished us with delicious pikes. We were here informed, that the river, we lately passed, empties it self into this lake, from whence by a new chanel it takes its course to Mihalíck, where together with the Aesépus it soon after falls into the sea. And directly beyond this lake we then beheld the fair exalted hills of Cyzicus, and the Peninsula Cyzicena.
February xix.
By six this morning we leave Humumlée, where we had been lodged not inconveniently in a farmer’s house, and riding thro a continued campain begin to view the snowy head of Ida. But in some time we again lose sight of it, and in five hours from our setting out approach to Bozacgée, seated in the Adrastian plains[101]; and at the same place to a large and fair river, by the Turks named Bocléw[102], which we leave on our left hand, till in two hours we cross it by a dangerous wooden bridge near Sorrícui[103], and there conáck.