Places, in the Imperial _Portico_; and speaking of himself, he tells us, that he has often from Morning to Night read over many Law Books, and Discourses of Trade and Commerce in the Imperial _Portico_’s. From these Passages it is observable, that the Imperial _Portico_, and the Imperial _Cistern_, stood in the same Place. The Imperial _Portico_ is not to be seen, though the _Cistern_ is still remaining. Through the Carelesness and Contempt of every thing that is curious in the Inhabitants, it was never discover’d, but by me, who was a Stranger among them, after a long and diligent Search after it. The whole Ground was built upon, which made it less suspected there was a _Cistern_ there. The People had not the least Suspicion of it, although they daily drew their Water out of the Wells which were sunk into it. I went by Chance into a House, where there was a Descent into it, and went aboard a little Skiff. The Master of the House, after having lighted some Torches, rowing me here and there across, through the Pillars, which lay very deep in Water, I made a Discovery of it. He was very intent upon catching his Fish, with which the _Cistern_ abounds, and spear’d some of them by the Light of the Torches. There is also a small Light which descends from the Mouth of the Well, and reflects upon the Water, where the Fish usually come for Air. This _Cistern_ is three hundred and thirty six Foot long, a hundred and eighty two Foot broad, and two hundred and twenty four _Roman_ Paces in Compass. The Roof, and Arches, and Sides, are all Brick-work, and cover’d with Terrass, which is not the least impair’d by Time. The Roof is supported with three hundred and thirty six Marble Pillars. The Space of _Intercolumniation_ is twelve Foot. Each Pillar is above forty Foot nine Inches high. They stand lengthways in twelve Ranges, broad-ways in twenty eight. The _Capitals_ of them are partly finish’d after the _Corinthian_ Model, and part of them not finish’d. Over the _Abacus_ of every Pillar is placed a large Stone, which seems to be another _Abacus_, and supports four Arches. There are abundance of Wells which fall into the _Cistern_. I have seen, when it was filling in the Winter-time, a large Stream of Water falling from a great Pipe with a mighty Noise, till the Pillars, up to the Middle of the _Capitals_, have been cover’d with Water. This _Cistern_ stands Westward of the Church of St. _Sophia_, at the Distance of eighty _Roman_ Paces from it. CHAP. XXI. _Of the_ Chalcopratia.