Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 1 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773 — John Shaqi
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 1 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773Bruce, James
History
Travels to Discover the Source of the Nile, Volume 1 (of 5): In the years 1768, 1769, 1770, 1771, 1772 and 1773
Bruce, James
Egypt -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- Description and travel; Ethiopia -- History; Natural history -- Ethiopia; Nile River
The harbour of Bengazi is full of fish, and my company caught a great
quantity with a small net; we likewise procured a multitude with the
line, enough to have maintained a larger number of persons than the
family consisted of; we got vinegar, pepper, and some store of onions;
we had little bread it is true, but still our industry kept us very
far from starving. We endeavoured to instruct these wretches, gave
them pack-thread, and some coarse hooks, by which they might have
subsisted with the smallest attention and trouble; but they would
rather starve in multitudes, striving to pick up single grains of corn,
that were scattered upon the beach by the bursting of the sacks, or the
inattention of the mariners, than take the pains to watch one hour at
the flowing of the tide for excellent fish, where, after taking one,
they were sure of being masters of multitudes till it was high water.
The Captain of the small vessel lost no time. He had done his business
well, and though he was returning for another cargo, yet he offered
me what part of his funds I should need with great frankness. We now
sailed with a fair wind, and in four or five days easy weather landed
at Canea, a considerable fortified place at the west end of the island
of Crete. Here I was taken dangerously ill, occasioned by the bathing
and extraordinary exertions in the sea of Ptolometa, nor was I in the
least the better from the beating I had received, signs of which I bore
very long afterwards.
From Canea I sailed for Rhodes, and there met my books; I then
proceeded to Castelrosso, on the coast of Caramania, and was there
credibly informed that there were very magnificent remains of ancient
buildings a short way from the shore, on the opposite continent.
Caramania is a part of Asia Minor yet unexplored. But my illness
increasing, it was impossible to execute, or take any measures to
secure protection, or do the business safely, and I was forced to
relinquish this discovery to some more fortunate traveller.
Mr Peyssonel, French consul at Smyrna, a man not more distinguished for
his amiable manners than for his polite taste in literature, of which
he has given several elegant specimens, furnished me with letters for
that part of Caramania, or Asia Minor, and there is no doubt but they
would have been very efficacious. What increased the obligation for
this kind attention shewn, was, that I had never seen Mr Peyssonel; and
I am truly mortified, that, since my arrival in England, I have had no
opportunity to return my grateful thanks for this kindness, which I
therefore beg that he will now accept, together with a copy of these
travels, which I have ordered my French bookseller to forward to him.
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.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account