54 T R A V E L S i n A S I A M I N O R .
T he wines of Scio have been celebrated as aiding digeflion,
as nutritive and pleafant. They were much efteemed by the
Romans. Hortenlius hoarded them j and C as far, who was as
generous as magnificent, difpenfed them freely to the people at
his triumphs and facrifices. It is related, that the culture of the
vine was introduced by a fon of Bacchus, called Oenopion or
The Wine-Drinker, whofe fepulchre remained here in the fecond
century ; and that red wine, with the method of making thefe
liquors, was invented by the Chians. A rugged tradt named
Arvifia was particularly famous for its produce, which has been
extolled as ambrofial, and filled a new nedtar. Mr. Bracebridge,
whom we vifited at his houfe near the town, treated us with a
variety of choice fpecimens; and it may be queflioned, if either
the flavour or qualities, once fo- commended, be at all impaired.
In feveral we found the former truly admirable.
T o the peculiar pofleffion of the Arvifian vine, now no
longer talked of, has fucceeded the profitable culture of the
Lentifcus, or maflic-tree. This employs, as we were told,
twenty one villages, which are required to provide as many thou-
fand okes 1 of gum annually for the ufe of the feraglio at Constantinople.
They procure it by boring the trunks with a fmall
fharp iron, in the fummer-months. In Odtober their harveft is
conveyed with mufic into the city, and lodged in the caftle.
The cadi and officers, who attend while it is weighed, have each
a certain portion for their perquifite. The remainder is delivered
to the farmer or planter, to be difpofed of for his own advantage.
The Greeks of thefe villages have a feparate governor,
and enjoy many privileges. In particular, they are allowed to
wear a turban of white linen, and their churches have each a
bell to call them to prayers, an indulgence of which they fpeak
with much glee. The Afiatic ladies are exceflively fond of this
. * An oke is a Turkifh weight of about two pounds three quarters avoir depots.
gum,
T R A V E L S i n A S I A M I N O R . 55
gum, which they chew greedily, believing it good for the
breath, and attributing to it various other excellent properties.
C H A P . X V I I .
Set fa il from Scio---- Moor in a creek -— Weather Cape Karabornu
The Inbat —— View o f Smyrna from the fea ----- The
Frank free t — The Confute houfe — Live camelions.
THE inconveniences, under which we had laboured for fome
time, rendered us impatient to get as fall as poffible to Smyrna.
We had been advifed not to carry fervants with us from England,
and had made our way thus far alone. Befides the want
of proper attendants, we were without our bedding, which, in
our hurry at quitting the Anglicana, had been left on the
quarter-deck. The weather was unfavourable to our departure
from Scio. Thick clouds covered the mountains, and the fouth-
erly wind called Sirocco prevailed. It thundered very much,
with lightning, and rained hard in the night. We had hired a.
boat maimed with Greeks, and our baggage was carried to the
cuflom houfe to be infpedted, but it blew fb violently, we were
advifed not to go on board. The next day the wind Hill continued
high and contrary; but as it feemed not likely to change,
and our boat was a flout one, we refolved to venture, and embarked
about noon with a rough, fea-
L e a v i n g the mole of Scio,. we buffetted the waves-
acrofs to the continent, where we took in more ballaflr.
We then flood to and fro the whole afternoon, but made
little way. Our boat carried a large unhandy fail, which,
when we tacked about,, did not readily clear, and once we
barely efcaped being overfet. In the evening we entered a
fmall creek, and moored by two other veflels. In the rock dole
by were caverns black with fmoke. Thefe afford fhelter to
mariners and fifhermen, in dark nights and tempefluous weather,,