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                        _Miscellanea Curiosa._

                             Containing a

                              COLLECTION

                                  OF

                           Curious Travels,

                               VOYAGES,

                                  AND

                          _Natural Histories_

                                  OF

                              COUNTRIES,

                 As they have been Delivered in to the

                            ROYAL SOCIETY.

                               VOL. III.


                               _LONDON_:

  Printed by _J. B._ for _Jeffery Wale_ at the _Angel_ in St.
    _Paul_'s Church-yard; _J. Senex _&_ C. Price_ next the _Fleece_
    Tavern in _Cornhill_, 1707.




THE

CONTENTS.


  _A Journal of a Voyage from _England_ to
  _Constantinople_, made in the Year, 1668.
  by _T. Smith_, D. D. and F. R. S._      1

  _Historical Observations relating to _Constantinople_.
  By the Reverend and Learned _Tho.
  Smith_, D. D. Fellow of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._
  and of the _Royal Society_._      32

  _An account of the City of _Prusa_ in _Bythynia_,
  and a continuation of the Historical Observations
  relating to _Constantinople_, by the Reverend
  and learned _Thomas Smith_ D. D. Fellow
  of _Magd. Coll. Oxon._ and of the _Royal Society_._      49

  _A Relation of a Voyage from _Aleppo_ to _Palmyra_
  in _Syria_; sent by the Reverend Mr.
  _William Hallifax_ to Dr. _Edward Bernard_
  (late) _Savilian_ Professor of Astronomy in
  _Oxford_, and by him communicated to Dr.
  _Thomas Smith_, _Reg. Soc. S.__      84

  _An Extract of the Journals of two several Voyages
  of the _English Merchants_ of the Factory
  of _Aleppo_, to _Tadmor_, anciently call'd _Palmyra_._      120

  _Some Account of the Ancient State of the City
  of _Palmyra_, with short Remarks upon the Inscriptions
  found there. By _E. Halley_._      160

  _A Voyage of the Emperour of _China_ into the
  Eastern _Tartary_, Anno. 1682._      179

  _The Distances of the Places thro' which we passed
  in the _Eastern_ Tartary._      195

  _A Voyage of the Emperor of _China_, into the
  Western _Tartary_ in the Year, 1683._      196

  _An Explanation, necessary to justify the _Geography_
  supposed in these Letters._      210

  _Some Observations and Conjectures concerning
  the _Chinese_ Characters. Made by _R. H._
  R. S. S._      212

  _A Letter from _F. A._ Esq; R. S. S. to the Publisher,
  with a Paper of Mr. _S. Flowers_, containing
  the Exact Draughts of several unknown
  Characters, taken from the Ruins at _Persepolis_._      233

  _A Letter from Monsieur _N. Witsen_ to Dr.
  _Martin Lister_, with two Draughts of the Famous
  _Persepolis_._      236

  _A Description of the Diamond-mines, as it was
  presented by the Right Honourable the Earl
  Marshal of _England_, to the _R. Society_._      238

  _A Letter from the _East Indies_, of Mr. _John
  Marshal_ to Dr. _Coga_, giving an Account of
  the Religion, Rites, Notions, Customs, Manners
  of the Heathen Priests commonly called
  _Bramines_. Communicated by the Reverend
  Mr. _Abraham de la Pryme_._      256

  _Part of two Letters to the Publisher from Mr.
  _James Cunningham_, F. R. S. and Physician
  to the _English_ at _Chusan_ in _China_, giving
  an account of his Voyage thither, of the Island
  of _Chusan_, of the several sorts of Tea, of
  the Fishing, Agriculture of the _Chinese_, _&c._
  with several Observations not hitherto taken notice
  of._      269

  _A Letter from Mr. _John Clayton_ Rector of
  _Crofton_ at _Wakefield_ in _Yorkshire_, to the
  Royal Society, _May 12 1688._ giving an account
  of several Observables in _Virginia_, and
  in his Voyage thither, more particularly concerning
  the Air._      281

  _Mr. _Clayton_'s second Letter, containing his
  farther Observations on _Virginia_._      293

  _A Continuation of Mr. _John Clayton_'s Account
  of _Virginia_._      301

  _Mr. _John Clayton_, Rector of _Crofton_ at
  _Wakefield_, his Letter to the _Royal Society_,
  giving a farther Account of the Soil, and other
  Observables of _Virginia_._      312

  _A Continuation of Mr. _Clayton_'s Account of
  _Virginia_._      337

  _Part of Two Letters from Mr. _J. Hillier_, dated
  _Cape Corse_, _Jan. 3. 1687/8._ and _Apr. 25.
  1688._ Wrote to the Reverend Dr. _Bathurst_,
  President of _Trinity Colledge, Oxon_; giving
  an Account of the Customs of the Inhabitants,
  the Air, _&c._ of that Place, together
  with an Account of the Weather there from
  _Nov. 24. 1686._ to the same Day 1687._      356

  _An Account of the _Moorish_ Way of Dressing
  their Meat (with other Remarks) in _West-Barbary_,
  from Cape _Spartel_ to Cape _de Geer_.
  By Mr. _Jezreel Jones_._      381

  _A Letter from Mr. _John Monro_ to the Publisher,
  concerning the Catacombs of _Rome_ and
  _Naples_._      394

  _An accurate Description of the _Lake of Geneva_,
  not long since made by a Person that had visited
  it divers times in the pleasantest season of
  the Year; and communicated to the Publisher
  by one of his Parisian Correspondents: English'd
  as followeth._      404

  _Part of a Journal kept from _Scotland_ to _New
  Caledonia_ in _Darien_, with a short Account
  of that Country. Communicated by Dr. _Wallace_,
  F. R. S._      413

  _A Discourse tending to prove at what Time and
  Place _Julius Cæsar_ made his first Descent
  upon _Britain_: Read before the _Royal Society_
  by _E. Halley_._      422

                         _Miscellanea Curiosa._

                               VOL. III.




  _A Journal of a Voyage from _England_ to _Constantinople_, made in
    the Year, 1668. by _T. Smith_, D. D. and F. R. S._


On _Monday_ Evening _August 3, 1668._ we took Barge at _Tower-Wharf_,
and at _Greenwich_ went on Board the _Bezant_ Yacht for the _Downs_,
where we arrived the next day in the Afternoon, and went on Board
the _Leopard_ Frigat, a Ship of 56 Guns mounted, Captain _O Bryen_
Commander, appointed to carry Sir _Daniel Harvey_, his Majesty's
Ambassador to the Port of the _Ottoman_ Emperor at _Constantinople_.
Here, upon his first Arrival, the Ambassador was Complemented by Sir
_Jeremy Smith_, then riding Admiral, Sir _Edward Spragg_, and several
other Commanders of the Men of War, and afterwards Saluted with
Fifteen Pieces of Ordinance by the Admiral, to whom we returned as
many; then by the Vice-Admiral, and several other Ships. All which were
answered together at the same time with 21 in the whole.

Here we were forced to Ride for several days, the Winds being contrary.

In the _Offing_ between the _North Foreland_ and _South Foreland_ it
runs Tide and half Tide, that is, it is either ebbing Water or Flood
upon the Shore, in that part of the _Downs_, three hours, which is
grossly speaking the time of half a Tide, before it is so, off at
Sea. (For the flux and reflux of the Sea is not made exactly twice in
24 hours, but, as it appears by accurate observation, it requires an
overplus of almost 50 minutes.) The reason of this diversity of Tides,
I take to be from the meeting of the two Seas in that narrow Streight.

Oftentimes when the Wind has blown hard at N. E. or at W. or W. and
by S. there has hapn'd an alteration of the Tides in the River of
_Thames_, which ignorant People have mistakenly lookt upon as a Prodigy.

It is a most certain Observation, that where it flows Tide and half
Tide, tho' the Tide of Flood runs aloft, yet the Tide of Ebb runs under
foot, that is, close by the _ground_; and so at the Tide of Ebb, it
will flow under foot, as that great and experienc'd Sea-Commander, Sir
_H. Manwaring_, words it.

_August 9._ We sailed from the _Downs_, but were soon forced back
by distress of Weather, and came to an Anchor S. W. of the _South
Foreland_.

10. The Wind blew at S. S. W. and the Sea run very high, so that we
were in danger of losing our Cable and Anchor; the Ground, where we
rode, at 16 Fathom ½ water, being somewhat gruff.

15. The Wind coming about at W. N. W. we sailed, and were Saluted with
nine Guns from _Dover_ Castle, and seven from one Fort, and five from
another. We carried a Flag upon our Maintop, after we came out of the
_Downs_. The Wind in the Afternoon at N. E. brought us by seven of the
Clock to the _Ness_, where we lay at Anchor during the Tide of Flood;
during which time the Mariners caught good store of _Whitings_, baiting
their Hooks with raw Mutton.

16. We were in the morning athwart St. _Helen_'s Point in the _Isle of
Wight_; where we discovered Sir _Thomas Allen_ with his Squadron under
Sail, bound for the _Straits_.

17. In the morning we got to the West of _Portland_, the Wind at N. by
E. our Course lying thereupon S. S. W. but about noon, sailing over
part of the Race of _Portland_, where we met with a tumbling Sea, we
Anchored at the N. W. part in the Bay, over against the Point that
looks towards _Weymouth_. We were ashore in the Island, which seems
to be but one continued Rock; the Soil in several places not being
above five or six Inches deep, as I found by digging a hole with my
Knife; yet the Corn flourishing enough. The Castle consists of a double
Fortification; we could not observe above five Guns mounted. They told
us, that in the Island there was but 1 Church, and 4 Villages.

We weighed at twelve of the Clock at night: But

18. The Wind blowing fiercely at W. directly in our teeth, we made but
little way, and could not weather the _Start_ Point that night. The
Moon upon its first emerging above the Horizon, seemed to have a colour
like burnt Brick, the Sky very cloudy: but some Rain falling, as she
advanced higher and higher, she appeared more and more fiery.

19. We weathered the _Start_ Point by noon, but could not make much way
beyond it.

20. We got into _Plymouth_ Sound. The Cittadel, built upon a Rock, with
large Counterscarps and Bastions, returned our Salute with nine Guns.
Sir _Thomas Allen_ with his Fleet stood to the Lizard, and came not to
an Anchor.

21. Misty Weather. About eleven Clock Forenoon, and about six in the
Evening, we observed the Vapours in great quantity ascend out of the
Sea, soon covering the tops of the Mountains. Here we staid three days,
taking in some Provisions, ready prepared for us.

On _Sunday_ the 23_d_ of _August_ we weighed out of _Plymouth_ Sound,
and made the _Lizard_, a Promontory in _Cornwall_, before night: The
_Manacles_, several Rocks so called, we discerned very distinctly, it
being then low Ebb; as also the Lands end. The Wind blew fresh; and we
observed the Waves in the Night-time, as if they had been liquid Fire,
but palish.

The _Lizard_ bearing N. of us, we changed our Course, and taking leave
of _England_, we sailed into the Ocean. God of his Mercy send us a
happy Voyage.

24. We run this day thirty nine Leagues by a Compute from our Log-line.

25. We were full open with the _Bay of Biscay_. Several _Gulls_ were
hovering over the Surface of the Water to catch Fish, which swam by in
vast sholes, at about 50 Leagues distance from any Land.

At other times I have seen several Birds floating upon the Water,
which being driven by some Tempest from the Coasts of _Spain_ and
_Portugal_, have been tired in their flight, and so drowned. This
happens frequently in the great Ocean, where they meet with no Land
to fly to in several hundreds of Leagues; and sometimes even in the
_Mediterranean_, in the Mid-Seas between the _Christian_ and _Barbary_
Shores. In blowing Weather, among other Birds flying cross, we saw a
Hawk making to our Ship, then under good and swift Sail, which perched
upon the round-top of the Main-mast; which one of the Seamen espying,
he presently run up the Shrouds, and brought down the Hawk, which made
no attempt to fly away, being quite spent. But not long after, the Hawk
recovering his Spirits by rest and meat which was given him, took wing
and got away from the Fellow, notwithstanding all the care he took to
secure his new Adventure, which he hoped to have made Mony of at the
next Port that we should come to.

26. A strong Levant still blowing, and the Sea very rough and
boisterous, the Gale continuing almost right a stern, we run these 24
hours above 70 Leagues.

27. We found our selves by our observations, that we were in the
Latitude of 42 degrees 17 minutes, and began to be very sensible of our
nearer approach to the South, the Weather being excessive hot. In the
Afternoon we heard the report of several Guns fired at about seven or
eight Leagues distance, as we guessed. At eight of the Clock at night
another Gun was fired somewhat near us, which we thought might be from
an _Algerine_ Man of War, who gave a signal to his Consorts, and who
answered by several flashes of Powder. Whereupon our Trumpeters sounded
a Point of War, but no return was made. However, the Captain quartered
his Men, and the Decks were cleared, and all things made ready in order
to a Fight the next Morning; as soon as day appeared, we saw the Sea
clear, no Ships being in view any way: so that we concluded that they
were Merchant-Ships, with their Convoy, standing to the Northward.

28. Dreadful Lightnings in the Clouds towards the Evening; after which
great Dews fell: the Weather extream hot.

29. We saw a Pilot-fish swim by the sides of the Ship, and several
Bonito's and Albicores playing, as it were with their Heads above
Water. The Wind took us short in the night, and soon after there was
a stark Calm; and we had great reason to bless God for it: For had
we continued our Course that night, we had either run a-ground, or
had been cast upon the Rocks near to _Peniche_ in _Portugal_. The
fault was mis-reckoning, and haling in too soon to make the _Southern
Cape_: though the Seamen, to salve their Credit, and to excuse their
Error, which had like to have proved so fatal to us, pretended that we
were set in by a strong Current. God make us thankful for this great
Deliverance.

