The Turks have lately been endeavouring to clean out the ancient harbour of Cos by dredging, and have found a colossal hand, probably from the statue of some Roman emperor, whose body may still lie embedded in the mud. I obtained during this visit an unedited inscription, containing a mention of Halasarna, which is placed by Ross on the S.E. shore of the island. An embassy to some king, probably one of the Ptolemies, is also mentioned. This inscription was presented to me by the Ionian for whom we had obtained redress from the Turkish captain. I also copied an inscription in the possession of M. Demetri Phatanista, which contains the commencement of a letter from the Emperor Tiberius to the people of Cos, bearing date A.D. 15, the year of his accession.
Our departure from Cos was not attended with so much pomp and circumstance as marked our arrival there. We embarked in a little caique full of Turks. The wind blew fresh from the N.W., as it generally does here at night in this season, and we made the passage to Rhodes in one night.
XIX.
On the 30th of August I was agreeably surprised by a visit from the "Firebrand," on her way south to the coast of Syria. Lord Carlisle was on board, and was so delighted with Rhodes, that I persuaded him to be my guest till the return of the "Firebrand."
