Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/76

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

Groom, and also concerning his Nephew by his Sister, all which were buried near at hand, and their Sepulchres there to be seen; and when any Suppliants come to pay their Devotions to them, they would have persuaded us, that they receive great Relief thereby; yea, they superstitiously affirm, That the Fragments of the Stones, and the very Earth itself, on which Chederles's Feet stood, when he staid for the Dragon, if drank in any Liquor, are very good against Fevers, the Head-Ach, and the Diseases of the Eyes. All the Country thereabout, is full of Dragons and Vipers, so that, in the hot Season of the Year, they are so thick, basking themselves in the Sun, that the Ways are almost unpassable for Travellers.

I had almost forgot to tell you, that, whereas, the Greeks do usually paint St. George on Horseback in their Temples, with his Squire behind him, holding out to him a Cup of Wine as to his Master, he being (as they believe) their Chederles; they laugh heartily at that Spectacle.

At this Place, we were near our Journey's End, for now we had but one Stage more to Amasia; and that was Baglison; from thence we reached Amasia, April 7, and thirty Days after, we left Constantinople. As we were coming, some Turks met us, to gratulate our Arrival, and to introduce us with Honour.

AMASIA is, in a manner, the chief City of Cappadocia, where the Turkish Governor of that Province usually had his Residence, for the Administration of Justice, and where he usually forms his Camp. But that Town, ever since Bajazet's Time, seemed to be very unlucky, and of late, the miserable Case of Mustapha hath confirmed it to be an unfortunate Seat. Strabo writes, that he was born there. It lies on the Side of two oppo-