morning entered the old port of Rhodes, between the two piers, on which it is fancifully asserted, by some modern writers, that the feet of the celebrated Colossus formerly rested. The mouth of this harbour is so choked with ruins, that small vessels alone are able to enter: even our little bark ran aground before she came to her anchor.

the

Sex Holler

454.

the

(2) It is somewhat remarkable, that this circumstance, neither mentioned by Strabo nor by Pliny, both of whom described the statue, continues erroneously propagated.

CHAP. VII.

Rhodes.

GULF of GLAUCUS now called GULF of MACRI.

with the Topography of the Ruins of the City of Tolmesus.

A. Town of Macri,

B. Ruine of Telmessus
EW.of the Town.
C. Ruins of Geneese and
Venetian Fortresses.
D. The Irland covered
entirely by ruins of
Genoese or Venetian
buildings lying accress
the mouth of the Harb
E.Land in the mouth of
the Gulf behind which
Ships and the best an
chorage for watering.
F. Rock on which La Pique
Frigate struck.
GILK.Islands in the mouth
of the Gulf

M.N.P. Anchorage.
8.Watering Place.

V. Biver running into the
harbour.

E.D. Clarke bu

CHAP. VIII.

Rhodes.

FROM RHODES, TO THE GULPH OF GLAUCUS, IN ASIA MINOR. Rhodes Climate-Antiquities-Lindus-Inscriptions-Pagan Ceremony-Divers of Syme and Nisyrus-Gulph of Glaucus-Grandeur of the Scenery-Malaria-Genoese Island-Ruins of TelmessusTheatre Oracular Cave Sepulchres of the TelmessenssiansTomb of Helen, daughter of Jason-Other Soroi-MausoleumMonolithal Sepulchres-Ruins at Koynúcky-Turbulent State of the Country-Conduct of the Natives upon the Coast-New-discovered Plants-Isle of Abercrombie.

CHAP. VIII. RHODES is a most delightful spot. The air of the place is healthy, and its gardens are filled with delicious fruit. Here, as in Cos, every gale is scented with powerful fragrance wafted from groves of orange and citron trees. Numberless aromatic herbs exhale at the same time such

profuse

FROM RHODES, TO THE GULPH OF GLAUCUS.

profuse odour, that the whole atmosphere seems impregnated with a spicy perfume.

The present inhabitants of the island confirm the antient history of its climate, maintaining that hardly a day passes, throughout the year, wherein the sun is not visible. Pagan writers describe it as so peculiarly favoured, that Jupiter is fabled to have poured down upon it a golden shower. The winds are liable to little variation; they are north, or north-west, during almost every month; but these blow with great violence. From the number of appellations it bore at different periods, Rhodes might have at last received the name of the polyonoman island'. Its antiquities are too interesting to be passed over without notice; but we were hastening to the coast of Egypt, and contented ourselves by taking the few inscriptions found within the town, or its immediate vicinity. The streets were filled with English sailors and soldiers, and all other considerations were absorbed in the great event of the expedition to Aboukir. A vessel had returned, and put on

shore

(1) Ophiusa, from the number of its serpents; Stadia, or Desert; Telchinis, Corymbia, Trinacria, Æthræa, from its cloudless sky; Asteria, because, at a distance, the island appears as a star; Poessa, Atabyria, Oloessa, Macaria, and Pelagia. "Some are of opinion that Rhodes was first peopled by the descendants of Dodanim, the fourth son of Javan. Both the Septuagint and Samaritan translation of the Pentateuch (Egmont and Heyman, vol. I. p. 269.) instead of Dodanim, always use Rodanim; and by this appellation the Greeks always named the Rhodians."

(2) The antient history of Rhodes, collected by Savary from different authors, and contained in the Twelfth Letter of his Travels in Greece, may be considered the most favourable specimen of that author's talents, and perhaps the best account extant of the island. It is better to refer the Reader to such a source, than to repeat what has been already so ably detailed.

225

CHAP. VIII.

Rhodes.

Climate.