might indeed be
ſafe from the North-Ea
ſt wind, but not from the North, nor from that wind, which is called in
Pontus, Thra
ſcias, but in Greece,
Sciron. During the night there came on a violent
ſtorm of thunder and lightning; nor did the wind continue in the
ſame quarter, but came about to the South, and
ſoon after from the South to the South-We
ſt, which rendered the bay, or road, in which we lay, no longer a
ſafe
ſtation. Therefore, before the
ſea had begun to rage violently, we drew up into the harbour of Athenæ as many of our
ſhips as it would contain, excepting one trireme, which having found a convenient
ſhelter under cover of a rock, rode there in
ſafety. We thought proper al
ſo to
ſend
ſeveral of our ve
ſlels to the neighbouring
ſhores to be drawn aground ; which
ſucceeded
ſo well, that they all e
ſcaped
ſafe, excepting one, which entering the bay expo
ſed its
ſide improperly to the wind, and the
ſwell of the
ſea drove it a
ſhore, where it was wrecked. Every thing on board however was
ſaved, not the
ſails only, and the nautical in
ſtruments, but the bolts al
ſo, and the men. We al
ſo
ſcraped off the wax, which is as nece
ſſary an article in
ſhip-building as any, timber excepted; of which la
ſt material there is, as You know, a great quantity in the countries that border upon this
ſea. The
ſtorm continued two days, and nece
ſſarily detained us during that time. It would indeed have indicated a want of re
ſpect to have pa
ſſed by Athenaæ, even the one of that name on the Pontic
ſea, as if it were
ſome de
ſerted and namele
ſs port.
Setting ſail thence early in the morning, we attempted to make our way with the waves, or ſwell of the ſea, bearing upon the ſide of our ſhip; but as the day advanced, the North-Eaſt wind blowing gently calmed the ſea, and rendered it altogether ſmooth and tranquil. Before noon we reached Apſarus, having ſailed more