94
of the pedeftals. We would have cleared them all from weeds
and rubbiih, which concealed their inferiptions j but our guide
had affirmed, that we could not pafs the night here without
danger j our horfes were Handing ready, and we had no time to
{pare,
C H A P ; X X V I .
O f the peninfula — Chifme — Mount Corycus — Mount Mimas —
End o f the peninfula —- A t Segigeck — Antiquities — Cranes.
ERYTHRfE was about mid-way in the periplus or circumnavigation
of the peninfula. It had to the north a village named
Cybellia, and the cape, by which was a quarry dug for mill-
ftones. The lofty mountain to the fouth was called Corycus,
and its promontory Argennum. This ran out toward Pofidium,
a "promontory of Chios, from which it was feparated by a ftrait
about fixty ftadia or feven miles and an half wide. In Corycus a
cave was fhown, in which they faid the Sibyl Herophile was
born. Its coaft had feveral ports, and was much infefted by
pirates and robbers. After Corycus was Gerae, a fmall town of
the Teians by the port north of their city. The third tribe of
the Erythreans had its name from a region called Chalcitis,
peopled with Chalcidenfians; and the fea-haths by a cape of
that diftrift were efteemed fuperior to any in Ionia.
W e had been told that at Chifme, a town fince noted for the
deftru&ion of the Turkiffi navy by the Ruffians, and diftant
about five hours from Erythrae, were fpatious and handfome
baths ereitcd by the Genoefe. We had intended feeing them,
but were now informed that the place was almoft abandoned,
the plague having been carried thither from Scio.
Our
O ur guide, at fetting out, conducted us to the ffiore; and
winding fouthward, we afcended a lofty ridge of mount Corycus,
from which we had an extenfive view of the coaft, of the
channel of Scio, and of the gulf of Smyrna. ‘The Brothers were
before us, and behind us Chifme. The mountain was covered
with low ihrubs. We then defcended to the ftation of feme
goatherds,, guarded by feveral large and fierce dogs. In three
hours and a half we came unexpectedly to the village on mount
Mimas, where we lay the preceding night.
T he valley beneath us, and the fide of the mountain, were
again enveloped in thick ihrning mift, when we began our journey
j and keeping along the fouthern edge of a plain, re-
afcended mount Mimas, which the antients have deferibed as
woody and- abounding in wild beafts. The Hopes here were
clothed with pines and ihrubs, and garniffied with flowers, many
of a bright yellow, refembling fmall Angle pinks. The hogs-
had rooted up the green corn in feveral places. At noon we
came to the bay, which we palled in going to Erythrse; and
ftriking off to the right, difmounted to dine by a copious fountain.
We had fuffered much from the fun, and were greatly
fatigued.
A f t e r enjoying awhile the luxury of cool water and ihade,
we continued our journey, leaving Vourla and the villages on
our left hand. As we croffed the mountain, the illand Samos
rofe to view at a diftance, and we opened the fea on the fouth-
fide of the peninfula. We paffed many fmall pleafant fpots,
well watered, and green with corn, or with myrtles and ihrubs.
We defcended from mount Mimas by a road cut in the rock,,
which antiently divided the Erythrean territory from the Clazo-
menian. Here the Peninfula ends. The way from hence, or
from the beginning of the Ifthmus on the fouth, to Clazomene,
was over mount Mimas to Chytrium, originally the fite of that
city,, andnowy itfeems, o f Vourla.
W e