The travels of Monsieur de Thevenot into the Levant. In three parts Viz. Into. I. Turkey. II. Persia. III. The East-Indies / Newly done out of French [by A. Lovell].

Jean de Thévenot

Date:: 1687

Credit: The travels of Monsieur de Thevenot into the Levant. In three parts Viz. Into. I. Turkey. II. Persia. III. The East-Indies / Newly done out of French [by A. Lovell]. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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I Part I. Travels into the Levant. CHAP. II. Of Medina. Th E Town of Mejfma lies on that fide of Sicily which looks to Rbe^io, in Mept. : Italy, from which it is but Threefcore Miles diftant. It is fituated in the place where the Town of Zande flood, and had the Name of Meffna, from Zande. the MeffnUm of Peloponefus, who built and inhabited it ; it hath a fafe Harbour, made fo by Nature, which would feem to have been meafured with the Com* pafs, fo round and proportioned it is. On the Shoar, round this Port, there are feveral fair Palaces of uniform Building, which offer a pleafant Profpedt to thofe that enter the Port, but they have not been continued. At the end of the .Mole, which fhuts in this Port, there is a Tower to fecurethe Entry ; much about the middle of the faid Mole Hands another Tower, on the top of which there is a great Light kindled every night, to let Ships out at Sea know where they are. This is but a kind of a^ melancholy Town, though the Streets be fair and large in viewing of it, I law written over the Door of the Cathedral ' Church,in pretty large ancient Characters, a -, when the French became Mailers of Sicily, Meffna was the firft place that furrendred unto them, and that the memory of it might be preferved, they caufed that Infcription to be made. Before this flately and large Church, there is a great Square or Piazza, with a Theatre in the middle of it, where the Victory of Lepanto is reprefented on Brafs, and a Brazen Statue of Don John of Juftria Itands.The Novitiate of the Jefuites lia nds upon a Hill higher than any placeof theTown*, and feeing the wholeTown and Harbor may befeen from the Gardens of it,I readily embraced the offer that ajefuite made me of carrying me to them: Having pafs’d through fome fpacious walks, he led me to a very high Garden, .. from whence he fhewed me ScylU and Chanbdis, which heretofore rendred that cUrtbdis Streight fo dangerous, that all that pafs’d it thought themfelves certainly 1 oil. ; 1 * ScylU is a Rock,pretty near a Caftle, on the Italian Shoar,over againft the Phare of Meffma ^ this Caftle is called Scyllio, from whence that Rock hath had the Name of ScylU. As for Charibdis, it is near and oppofite to the Port of Mef- fma^ but is not dangerous but when two contrary Eddies meet,which making Veflels turn round for fome time, fuck them down to the bottom without remedy : To avoid them, one mull keep as near, or as far off of the Port as poffibly can be, for the danger is in the middle, betwixt the Port and the Land of Italy, on the other fide. Though the greateft danger be in that place, yet the Port is not free from it, for the Jefuite told me, that it hath fometimes happened, that a Ship being got into the Harbour, and having faluted the Town, hath been carried out again by the currents, and call away in light of the place. The old Proverb, Incidit in Scyllam citpiens uitare Charibdim, was not faid without reafon ; for when Men have avoided the danger of one of thefe Rocks, they may very eafily fall upon the other, if they have not a care : The Fable which faid, that Charibdis and ScylU were two Sea Monflers, furrounded with Dogs that barked, has its original from the great noife thefe Waters mgke, by beating and clalhing one againfl another} fo that, efpecially when they beat againft ScylU, one would think it were the barking of great Dogs. Now to prevent the calling away of Ships in thofe Paffages,, the , Meffnefes have always a great many Pilots purpofely in readinefs, and payed by the City, of whom there is always one Handing Sentinel upon a high Piiots hired Tov.rer; and when Ships, or other Veffels, finding themfelves in imminent dan-hyrthe ger, fire a Gun, thefe Pilots fail not to put off in their Boats and affift them. ne eu The Jefuite led me into another Garden higher than the reft, hard by which there is a Baftion that Commands the Town, and all that Houfe of the Jefuites ^ B 2 he

The travels of Monsieur de Thevenot into the Levant. In three parts Viz. Into. I. Turkey. II. Persia. III. The East-Indies / Newly done out of French [by A. Lovell].

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