When the punishment of the Jew and the coronation were over, Tavernier
began to turn his thoughts towards Turkey; and two French gentlemen
proceeding at this period to Constantinople on public business, he
obtained permission to accompany them, and set out through Hungary,
Servia, Bulgaria, and Romelia, to the shores of the Dardanelles. At
Constantinople he remained eleven months, during which time he undertook
several little excursions, among which was one to the plains of Troy;
but finding neither the pomp of courts nor the bustle of trade upon this
scene of ancient glory, he was grievously disappointed, and regarded
the time and money expended on the journey as so much loss. So little
poetical enthusiasm had he in his soul!
At length the caravan for Persia, for the departure of which he had
waited so long, set out, proceeding along the southern shore of the
Black Sea, a route little frequented by Europeans. On leaving Scutari
they travelled through fine plains covered with flowers, observing on
both sides of the road a number of noble tombs of a pyramidal shape. On
the evening of the second day the caravan halted at Gebre, the ancient
Libyssa, a place rendered celebrated by the tomb of Hannibal. From
this town they proceeded to Ismid, the ancient Nicomedia, where Sultan
Murad erected a palace commanding a beautiful prospect, on account of
the abundance of game, fruits, and wine found in the neighbourhood.
Continuing their route through a country abounding with wood, picturesque
hills, and rich valleys, they passed through Boli, the ancient
Flaviopolis, when they halted two days in order to feast upon the pigeons
of the vicinity which were as large as fowls. From thence they continued
their route through Tosia, Amasia, and Toket, to Arzroum, in Armenia,
where they remained several days. They then proceeded to Karo, thence to
Erivan, and thence, by Ardebil and Kashan, to Ispahan, where he arrived
in the year 1629.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account