Page:Busbecq, Travels into Turkey (1744).pdf/71

 the Head of that private and particular Person; who is thereupon degraded.

Ancyra, we came to a Village called Balygazar, and from thence to Zarekuct; from Zarekuct to Zermeczii, and to the Bank of the River Halys: As we past through a Village called Algii, we saw, at some Distance, the neighbouring Mountains of Synopi, which were red, like Vermillion; and from which Red Lead is called Synopi.

Halys is the famous River which was heretofore the Boundary of the two Kingdoms of the Medes and Lydians; concerning which, there was an ancient Oracle, That when Crœsus pass'd it to make War on the Persians, he should overthrow a great Empire, which fell out to be his Own; whereas he thought it would have been the Persians. Near the Bank of this River, there was a Wood, which seemed to us, to bear an unknown Shrub; but when we drew near, we found it to be Liquorice, and with the Juice of its Root, we refreshed our selves abundantly.

that River, we met with a Countryman, and asking him, by an Interpreter, Whether that River did abound with Fish? And how they used to catch them? He answered, That there were Fishes enough; but no Body could catch them. When he saw we wondred at his Answer, he proceeded: For, says he, if a Man strive to take them up in his Hands, away presently they swim, and will not stay to be catched. This Answer was the less surprizing to me, because, when we had lighted upon some unknown Birds, and demanded of the Country-men, how we might take them? One or other of them told us, That they could not be taken; for if any Body endeavoured to lay Hands on them, they would fly away.