T h e chriftian religion was planted early at Troas. In the
beginning of the fifth century, the bilhop, Silvanus, was required
to deliver a veffel from a dasmon, which was believed to
detain it, as it Could not be launched. It was intended for transporting,
large columns and Was of great fize. Going down to the
beach he prayed, and taking hold of a rope, called on the multitude
to alii ft, when the ill i p readily obeyed him, and hurried
itito the fea. But the churches have been fo long demoliihed,
that the traces of them are uncertain.
T he defolation of this place was begun, and probably completed,
before the extin&ion of the Greek empire. Many houfes
and public ftruaures at Conftantinople have fince been raifed
with its materials. We found only a few inconfiderable remnants
o f white marble by the gymnafium, where formerly was a vaft
heap. Some pieces in the water by the port, and two large
granate columns were perhaps removed to the ihore to be ready
for embarkation. The magazine is yet far from exhaufted. The
name Troas was not become obfolete in the year 1389.
C H A P . X.
An accident----A t 'the vineyard — In want o f provifons__Are
joined by the owfier of the vineyard — In fear o f banditti.
W E employed the firft day at Troas in taking a plan and
two views of the principal ruin. We dined under a.fpreading
tree before the arcade, and had juft refumed our labour, when
we Were almoft reduced to fly with precipitation. One of the
Turks, coming to us, emptied the afhes from his pipe, and a
fpark of fire fell unobferved in the grafs, which was long, parched
by the fun, and inflammable like tinder. A brifk wind foon
kindled a blaze, which withered in an inflant the leaves of
the
the bufhes and trees in its way, feized the branches and roots,
and devoured all before it with prodigious crackling, and noife,
and with a thick fmoke; leaving the ground black and the ftones
hot. We were much alarmed, as a general conflagration of the
country feemed likely to enfue. The Turks with their fables cu.t
down boughs, and we all begun bufletting the flames, ' which
were at length fubdued; the ruins fomevyhat retarding their pro-
grefc and enabling us to combat, them more effefiii.ally. The
ftruggle lafted about an hour, and a confiderable tradt of ground
was laid wafte. Clofe by was. an area with dry matted grafs,
where no exertion could have delayed for a moment, but the fire
mud have acquired a maftery, and have ravaged uneontroled,
until repelled by the wind. The janizary fignalized his prowefs
in this engagement. The fun fbone exceedingly hot, and we
were all covered with fmoke, and fmut.
I n the evening we returned to the vineyard, and found our
cook, with two or three of the Turks, bufy in a hovel, roafting
a kid on a wooden fpit or flake. We fate down with our Jew
and janizary; and the flefh proved excellent. Our table was a
mat on the ground, beneath a fpreading vine. Our men formed
a like group at a little diftance from us. Soon after we fell afleep,
and the ftarry heaven was our canopy.
E a r l y in the morning the afs was loaded again. We palled
the day at the ruins, with fome difcontent from keen appetites
not duly gratified. The wine and provifions, which we expected
from Tenedos, did not arrive in time; and the peafant,
whom we had lent to a village named Chemali, could procure
only a couple of fowls, with fome eggs, which he broke in
bringing. This accident compelled our Jews to fall, their law
not permitting them to eat of what we had, and which fupplied
us with a very fcanty meal.
A f t e r completing our furvey as well as the prudent caution-
of our Jew and Turks would permit, we returned to the vineyard,