He fet out from Mylafa on the twentieth of February for
Efki-hiffar, diftant about twelve miles, and croffed the ifioun-
tains to the north-eaft. He defcribes that place as between hills»
on a level fpot opening to a large plain, in which the river China
runs. He defcended from thence, and going a league to the
north, and then about two to the weft, afcended near a league
to a village called Lakena ; about a mile from which is a ruined
caftle, ftrongly fituated. The next morning, he Went about
two leagues north to the river Paieflu, which runs into the
China; and then crofting the hills to the weft, for the fpace of
three leagues, came to one of the villages called Akfhouieh; and.
going on a league to the weft, between low rocky hills, and by
the fide of a rivulet with a bridge,- which he pafled over, faw
a remnant of an old aqusdufi j, and entering a ^ fine plain, travelled
acrofs it two miles northward to the village of China,
which is fituated at the eaft end, and to the fouth of the rivet
of that name. He went up the hill, of which the top had
been fortified, and faw there two or three fepuichral grots, and
a ciftern cafed with brick, above ground, confifting of two oblong
ftjuare compartments. The village Lakena feems the an-
tient Lagina, where Hecate had her temple. The caftle near
it, and that by China, are probably the two in the territory of
Stratonicea, once called Tendeba and Aftragon.
C rossing over to the fouth-fide of the plain from China, he
came to Arafoi-hiffar, where ace confiderable ruins o f an antient
city, which he defcribes, and fuppofes to have been Alinda.
From hence he went about a league fouth-weft in the plain»,
crofted feme low hills, and returned to Guzel-hiffar, after re-
pafling the bridge over the China.. The river, fays Pocock,
rifes in the fouth-eaft part of Caria, beyond Aphrodifiasj and,
running through the valley, which is near Stratonicea and Lagina,
turns to the north, a little before it falls into the M&ander.
The chain of mountains between the two rivers, afford fine herbage
for fheep and black cattle, in which the country abounds.
& r The
The reader will obferve, that he has given a much longercourfe
to the China than that afligned by us to the Harpafus. He was
ignorant of the tranfparent fprings, which we dtfeovered, andwhich
plainly appeared the fburcea of this or the pnnc.pal
ft ream.
C H A P . LXI.
O f Guzel-hijfar — - Intelligence of the plague — - The Bajha
Fright of our Janizary — Magnefia — The river Lethaus
The remains— O f Rylee— Difiance from Efhefus and Tralles,
G U Z E L -H IS SA R , the beautiful Caftle,. is a large and very
populous town ; the houfes mean, with lofty domes, minarees,
and trees interfperfed; a high hill, antiently called Thorax,
towering behind them. It is the place of refidence of a Bafha.-
The air! in the hot months, is fo bad as-to bealmoft peftilential.
We met many paffengers on the road; and. theburymg-groun s
were ftrewedwith broken columns and remnants of marble.. A t
entering the town, we were furprized to fee around us innumer-
- able tame turtle-doves, fitting on the branches of the trees, on
the walls, and roofs of houfes, cooing unceafingly.- We were
condufted to a miferable khan, elofe, and crouded with people..
W e had here alarming intelligence of the plague at Smyrna,,
the daily havoc it made, and the rapidity with which the fierce,
contagion was then propagated; threatening to overfpread the
whole country before the end of the fummer. It was impoflible
a great thorough-fare, fituated like Guzel-hiffar, if free,, could,
continue long without infeaion. We had room to be appre--
henfive of the malady, and to be impatient to leave fo fufpicious
a place, where we were pent up in a fmall chamber and gallery,,
among doves and travellers, chiefly Turks; devoured by myriads
of infefts; and fuffering alike from extreme heat and from cha<-