Page:Travels and adventures of Wm. Lithgow (2).pdf/14

14 him into the sea. Nothing was saved but his coffer made of reeds in which he carried his papers and linen, and held it always in his arms. In this cave, which was 30 paces long, they abode three days without meat and drink, till, on the fourth, the tempest ceasing some fishing boats relieved them, Seventeen other boats were cast away on this coast and not a man saved. Through this island Lithgow travelled with a. thankful heart to Sio the capital, where, passing by an old castle, he was told that Homer’s sepulchre was still extant there; and being desirous to see it, he descended by sixteen steps into a dark cell, and through that to another square room, where he saw an ancient tomb on which were engraven some ancient Greek letters, which he could not understand. By MUylene, or Lesboa he next sailed in a carmoesalo to Negropoint (of old Euboea,) and in their way they were chased by two Turkish galliots into a long creek, where the Turks were deterred from attacking them, by bonfires made by the Greeks for six succeeding nights, our traveller, as a stranger, being exposed every night to stand centinel in the midst of frost and snow on the top of a high promontory, which however invited his mule to bewail his toilsome life, his solitary wandering, and his long distance from his native country.