After the _Grand Seignior_ was informed, by Letters, of my Arrival (as I said before) he sent to the Governor of _Constantinople_, intimating his Pleasure, that he should send us to him into _Asia_, as far as the City of _Amasia_, or (as it is writ on ancient Coins) _Amazeia_, where he then was. Upon this Advice we prepared all Things for our Journey; and, with our Guides, on the 9th of _March_ we were wafted over into _Natolia_, (for so the _Turks_ call _Asia_ at this Day.) That Day we went no farther than _Scutari_, a Town on the _Asiatick_ Shore, opposite to Old _Byzantium_; where, or very little above it, the noble City of _Chalcedon_ was formerly thought to stand. The _Turks_ were of Opinion, That when our Horses, Coaches, Baggage, and Train, together with ourselves, were all got over the _Hellespont_, ’twas enough for one Day’s Journey; especially considering, that if we had forgot any of the necessary Accoutrements for our Journey, or had left them behind at _Constantinople_, (as it sometimes happened) we might bethink ourselves before we went any farther, and fetch them over. The next Day we continued our Journey from _Scutari_, over fragrant Fields, full of odoriferous Plants, and especially _Stæchas’s_, a sweet smelling Spike. There we saw a vast Number of _Tortoises_, stalking over all the Field, without any Fear at all. We had certainly seized upon a great many of them, as a Prey grateful to our Palates, had it not been for our _Turkish_ Guides, whom we were afraid to disoblige; for if they had seen any of them brought to our Table, much more, if they had touched them, they would have thought themselves so defiled, that I know not how many Washings would not have cleansed their imagined Pollution. For, as I told you before, the _Turks_, and the _Greeks_ too, are so superstitious, that they abhor ever to touch of that Animal; so that, it being no hurtful Creature, and no body endeavouring to catch them, the whole Country abounds with _Tortoises_. I kept one of them by me a great while, which had two Heads, and it would have lived much longer, if I had been as careful of it as I might. That Day’s Journey brought us to a Village, called _Cartaly_, which I mention, because I shall, for the future, gratify you with the Knowledge of the several Stages of this Voyage. For tho’ the Journey from _Vienna_ to _Constantinople_ hath been performed by many, yet this from _Constantinople_ to _Amasia_, hath, as yet, been undergone by no _Christian_ that I know of. From _Cartaly_ we came to _Gabise_, a Town of _Bithynia_, which some think was anciently called _Libyssa_, and is famous for the Sepulchre of _Hannibal_, who was there interred. From thence there is a most pleasant Prospect into the Sea, and into the Bay of _Nicomedia_; here also grow _Cyprus_ Trees of a wonderful Bulk and Tallness.