Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/235

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return, I knew none fitter to leave in my place at Constantinople than himself, had he out-lived me.

After his Death, my Cares seemed to be doubled; nay, if I should have left him behind, I had returned but half myself, as it were. Well! his Soul is at Rest, and I erected a Monument, as a due testimony to his Vertue. But to return to our Island.

I lived there very pleasantly for three Months. It was a private Place, without any Crowd or Noise. There were only a few Greeks, with whom I diverted myself; but never a Turk to interrupt my Mirth. As for the Turks of my Houshold, they created no trouble to me; I might go whither I would, and pass from one of these Islands to another at my pleasure, without any molestation from them. There grew several sorts of Plants, as French Lavender, sharp-pointed Myrtle, Cotton-weed, and abundance more. The Sea is full of divers sorts of Fishes, which I took sometimes with Net, sometimes with Hook and Line. Several Grecian Fishers with their Boats attended me, and where we had hopes of the greatest sport, thither we sailed and cast our Nets. Sometimes we played above board, and when we saw a Crab or a Lobster at the bottom, where the Sea was very clear, we ran him through with a Fish-*spear, and so halled him up into a Vessel. But our best and most profitable sport, was with a drag-Net; where we thought most Fish were, there we cast it in a round; it took up a great compass, with the long Ropes tied to the ends of it, which were to draw it to Land. To those Ropes the Seamen tied green Boughs very thick, so that the Fish might be frightned, and not seek to escape. Thus we brought great Sholes of trembling Fishes near the Shore. And yet in this danger they were naturally instigated how to save themselves; some would leap over