We still continue our journey at the foot of the mountain, till in an hour’s time we arrive at _Eskí Stambol_; from whence the way, now leaving _Haemus_ at our backs, carries us in four hours more to the first Turkish village, which had occurred in our progress, called _Boklar_. Mount _Haemus_ being the limit, that divides _Thracia_ from _Bulgaria_, or _Moesia Inferior_ of the antients, we made this day’s journey in the latter; which hereabouts appears as pleasant, as a just mixture of hills and vales, woods and lawns, arable and pasture ground can make it. The above mentioned _Eskí Stambol_ is a name given by the Turks to the remains of an ancient city (possibly the _Oescus Triballorum_) which at the foot of _Haemus_ shews the intire tract of two walls; the inward square, and of about a mile in circumference; the outward almost circular, and containing the compass of five miles. But besides these it has no reliques of carved work, or any inscription, that may give light to the true name or history of the place. In one corner only of the inward wall are several crosses, and an image of the Παναγία, or _Virgin Mother_, barbarously cut, with two or three rude lines of modern Greek characters, in which nothing but the word Βασηλίσαν, or _Queen_, was now legible, and that corruptly written, as it is here copied. By the abovementioned walls runs a small river from the _Haemus_, now called by the Italians _Monte Argentato_, and by the Turks _Batkán_. April xvi. Over a country, which is truly rich, as well as pleasant, and curiously varied by easy ascents and descents, we proceed in five hours from _Trágoe_ to _Arnoútcui_; a village whose inhabitants are of the Greek communion, tho its name implies them to be of Albanian original. April xvii. Thro a pleasant tract of country, containing a grateful variety of arable ground, pasture, and woods, we arrive in seven hours at _Uzungée Alon_. By the way we passed several villages, as likewise a large market town, wherein are seven _mosques_, and a palace of the _pashá_ of _Nicopoli_, which goes by the name of _Rásgrad_. The _cadí_ of this place, with an _alaí chiaush_, and other officers, came an hour out of town to meet his Excellency. April xviii. Thro a like country, only a little more woody, we continue our journey to _Uppéer_. And from thence the day following, where we first begin to see the _Danube_, we proceed thro a rich, pleasant, and well cultivated country, till about twelve a clock we arrive at _Tutracán_, on the banks of the river. April xx.