Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. IIEvliya Çelebi
History
Narrative of Travels in Europe, Asia, and Africa, in the Seventeenth Century, Vol. II
Evliya Çelebi
Caucasus, South -- Description and travel; Istanbul (Turkey) -- Description and travel; Turkey -- History
Of these there are no less than three hundred and sixty-five, so
that there is one for every day in the year. The finest is that of
Búnár-báshí, where if you eat roast meat and drink of the water, you
feel hungry again immediately; of such digestive power is the water:
a mosque adorns this famous walk. The walk of the Mevleví-kháneh, or
convent of Dervishes, built by Orkhán, where twice a week the Mevlevís
assemble for their religious dances (sima’á), and afterwards take their
pleasure in the fields. The walk of Abdál Murád Sultán is situate in a
valley high up on Mount Olympus, whence the finest view of Brússa is
obtained. The verdure is so luxuriant, that the earth seems covered
with green velvet. There are plane-trees, willows, cypresses and
box-trees, of an immense height, under the shade of which ten thousand
men may procure shelter. Swings are fastened with ropes to some of
these trees, where lovers and their beloved swing each other. There are
benches for company and benches for prayer; it is a most delightful
place, and extends as far as the eye can reach. The walk of Fissdíklí
is adorned with pine-trees, and is a secluded but very pleasant corner.
The walk of Karanfillí, on the way to Kaplíjah, is a resting-place.
The walk of Kaplí Kiaya is a fine spot without any buildings, and
surrounded by woods, and that of Abd-ul-múmen is above all praise.
Outside of the town, to the east, in a chesnut-wood, half an hour’s
distance from the foot of Mount Olympus, stands the fountain of A’ssá,
which is said to have rushed forth by a miracle, when the great Saint
Emír Sultán struck his staff (a’ssá) into the ground on this spot. The
chesnuts are grafted trees, each not weighing above forty drachms. The
walk of Sobrán is also adorned with chesnut-trees. The place of Ulumest
is a convent for the accommodation of strangers. The pleasure-place of
Kazí-yailá (the judge’s Alp) is situate half-way up Mount Olympus, and
is ascended from below in five hours. The Okmeïdán, or archery-ground,
is so pleasant a place, that it is beyond all description. The walk of
the Monks’ mountain (Olympus) obtained its name from its having been
the retreat of Greek Monks.
_A Dissertation on Mountains._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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