but the rubbish of new _Ilium_, or of that city once attempted there by _Constantine_. April ii. We endeavour this morning to continue our voyage, but make no considerable progress; because the gentle gale, that favoured us, could not prevail against the current of the _Hellespont_, which perpetually flows with a full and rapid course into the _Aegéan_ sea. We therefore drive back, and content ourselves with coming to an anchor in the same place, from whence we weighed this morning; taking the opportunity of going to dine on the Asian shore. After midday a fresher wind advanced us within a small distance from the old castles; where it again deserted us, and obliged us to drop anchor a second time, to maintain the way we had gained in opposition to the violent stream of this chanel. April iii. We continue anchored at the same place, being all this day entirely becalmed. And the day following, the calm having changed into a contrary wind detained us still at the same anchor. But however disagreeable this interruption in the course of our voyage might prove to some others of the company, the leisure of those two days was to me very grateful. Nor could I esteem it any loss of time, but rather an advantage, on account of the favourable and unexpected opportunity it afforded me of visiting two so famous castles, together with the villages adjoining to them[61]. Going ashore therefore in the captain’s pinnace to the town on the Asian side (formerly called _Abýdos_[62], but by the Turks _Eskí Natolia Hisar_) with great pleasure I walked about the place, but found no footsteps of antiquity[63]. The town is large, but mean; yet famous for a curious sort of earthen ware finely glazed, which is made here, and vended in great quantities. The castle is intire, of a square figure, with bastions projecting at each corner, and with one side flanks the water on a level shore; where are to be seen betwixt twenty and thirty vast guns, such as perhaps are no where else to be found, except in some other parts of Turkey. They are of brass, and have a bore at least three quarters of a yard diameter; and are charged with stone bullets of the same dimensions, which lie at hand spherically cut. The charge of powder, as I was informed on the place by the _barút agá_ of _Smyrna_, is an hundred and five _okes_. From _Abýdos_ I crossed over in a small wherry to _Sestos_[64], that is, from _Natolia_ to _Rumeli Hisar_, and in the way observed the art of the boatman in avoiding the force of the current, a circumstance mentioned by _Strabo_[65]. This town stands on a precipice, descending steeply towards the sea shore; and is better built, tho less, than _Abýdos_. It has a castle consisting of a triangular tower, enclosed within an high wall of this [Illustration] figure, and that again with another triangular wall, all surrounded with a deep foss. In the same level with the water are mounted about thirty guns, of the