-book of some of the
chief beauties, such as the Gothic gateways, the windows, balconies,
etc., and no inhabitant came to disturb him.

The pavement in the city, and even in the streets around the
fortifications, consists wholly of handsome slabs of stone, often of
different colours, like mosaic, and in such good preservation that
we could fancy the work had been but recently concluded. This is
certainly partly owing to the fact that no loaded wagon ever crushes
over these stones, for the use of vehicles is entirely unknown in
these parts; every thing is carried by horses, asses, or camels.

Cannons dating from the time of the Genoese still stand upon the
ramparts. The carriages of these guns are very clumsy, the wheels
consisting of round discs without spokes.

From our tower of observation we can form a perfect estimate of the
extent and strength of the fortifications. The city is completely
surrounded by three lofty walls, which seem to have been calculated
to last an eternity, for they still stand almost uninjured in all
their glory. In some places images of the Virgin, of the size of
life, are hewn out of the walls.

The neighbourhood of Rhodes is most charming, and almost resembles a
park. Many country houses lie scattered throughout this natural
garden. The vegetation is here no less luxuriant than in Smyrna.

The architecture of the houses already begins to assume a new
character. Many dwellings have towers attached, and the roofs are
flat, forming numerous terraces, which are all built of stone. Some
streets in the lower part of the town, inhabited chiefly by Jews,
are bordered with cannon-balls, and present a most peculiar
appearance.

I was also much struck with the costumes worn by the country-people,
who were dressed quite in the Swabian fashion. It was in vain that
I inquired the reason of this circumstance. The books we had with
us gave no information on the subject, and I could not ask the
natives through my ignorance of their language.

By three o'clock in the afternoon we were once more on board, and an
hour afterwards we sailed out into the open sea. To-day we saw
nothing further, except a high and lengthened mountain-range on the
Asiatic mainland. It was a branch of the Taurus. The highest peaks
glistened like silver in the evening light, enveloped in a garment
of snow.

May 23d.

To-day our organs of vision had a rest, for we were sailing on the
high seas. Late in the even