twenty two, of different fizes, difpofed in three rows, all plain,
and of ftone.
T he caftle-hill is exceedingly high, the afcent fteep and
tirefome, with loofe ftones in the way. By the track is a
fountain, with a broken infcription', and earthen pipes, which
convey water down to the city. It is a mean fortrefs, abandoned,
and in ruins. The cannon, it is related, were removed
to the Sangiac calUe in the gulf of Smyrna. The recompenfe
of our toil in gaining the fummit was an extenfive view of a
fine verdant plain, divided by the Hermus ihining like filver.,
T he Romans obtained their great vi&ory over Antiochus between
Thyatira and Sardes, on the banks of the Hyllus, then
called the Phrygius. His camp had that river in front, and
was flrongly fortified. Thyatira is diftant fourteen or fifteen hours
from Magnefia} and the Hyllus defcends by it to the Hermus.
The junftion of the two dreams may fometimes be feen from
the caftleV , .
C H A P . LXXXI.
Our embarraffment---- Infecurity at Magnefia —— ‘The plague at
'thyatira — Set out fo r Smyrna —-A t Hadgilar — A t Sedicui—
A Greek.
O U R fituation was now become very critical and diftreffing.
We were only eight hours north-eaftward from Smyrna. We
were all fufficiently wearied with wandering, and defirous of a
refpite. Several of our horfes were fpoiled by the rough fervice
they had undergone; and fome of our men were anxious for
their families, and uneafy from their long abfence. The dif-
abled condition of our little corps, with the general difquietude,
and the rifque in journeying, as well from the feafon as from
' Heffdius. n. 24. * Chifhull. p. 56,
the
the diftemper, made us ardently wifh for a fecure retreat, but
the difficulty was to find one.
T he malady, it was believed, had not yet reached Magnefia ;
but caravans were continually arriving from Smyrna, and it could
fcarcely fail of being fpeedily imported. In a khan we were
expofed among the foremoft to infection. I f we obtained ad-
miffion into the Greek monaftery or a private houfe, horror and
momentary peril would be our portion as foon as the plague
commenced; at, a diftance from our countrymen, without friends,
among people fatally ignorant and negligent} in whom we could-
place no confidence, and from whom, we, if attacked, could
have little room to expedt any attention and regard, or indeed
even fepulture.
A n Italian quack dodtor had vifited us at the khan, and accompanied
us up to the caflle. He was juft arrived from A k-
hiflar or Thyatira, and allured us, that place was free from contagion.
We determined, rather than enter Smyrna without ab-
folute neceffity, to extend our tour thither, and to Pergamum ;
hoping, while we were employed on that fide of the Hermus,
a favourable alteration might enfue. The Janizary and Armenians
acquiefced, with fome reludtance, and our baggage was
loading, when a papas informed one of my companions, that
he had recent intelligence from Thyatira, and that the plague
was then in the houfe of the Aga. Our whole arrangement
was in an inftant overturned j but we agreed immediately to
abandon Magnefia; and, fortunately, as the evil prefaged became
manifeft there very foon after, and the civil Frenchman,
our guide, perifhed among the firft victims.
W e are now on the road to Smyrna. After riding for fome
time at the foot of mount Sipylus, we entered On a track on the
left hand, and eroding the mountain, arrived in the plain of
Hadgilar, a village two hours from Smyrna. We met a few
travellers, whom we palled with caution, enquiring of them at
a diftance,