Having obtained the necessary passport from the Turkish government, Captain Beaufort sailed from Smyrna, in July, 1811, and shortly after reached the coast of Karamania. His operations began at Yedy-Boo-roon, or the Seven-Capes, a knot of high and rugged mountains, which appears to have been the ancient Mount Cragus of Lycia, the abode of the fabulous Chimaera[1]. From thence he proceeded along the coast until he arrived off Cape Avova, in the Guiph of Adalia[2], where he met with an adventure which afforded him a very happy opportunity of displaying great prudence and humanity. He thus describes it:–
“While tranquilly employed there, surveying, wooding, and watering, we were astonished by the report of some heavy guns. No ships were in sight, there was no appearance of forts or castles on this almost uninhabited coast, and we began to think that the angel of Takhtalu was anticipating his autumnal summons[3].”
“A small vessel, which soon after anchored in a neighbouring creek, put an end to our conjectures. She brought intelligence that the city of Adalia had been lately surprised by a rival Bey, and that the firing which had been heard was occasioned by an attempt of the former governor to retake it.
“An approaching occultation of a star, and a lunar eclipse, were shortly to take place; and the island of Rashat, which is but a few miles from Adalia, seemed to be a desirable place for our little observatory. It would have been satisfactory to have obtained these observations near the principal city of the whole coast, but it was of more importance to our pursuits to avoid being entangled in the feuds of those turbulent chieftains. This news, therefore, determined me to remain where we then were, off Cape Avova. The distance of Adalia, from thence, is eighteen miles; and though we had distinctly heard the guns, we flattered ourselves that we might continue there, unperceived and undisturbed.
- ↑ Id. p. 1.
- ↑ Pamphylium Mare.
- ↑ Takhtalu is the ancient Mount Solyma, from whence, according to Strabo, the wrathful Neptune descries Ulysses approaching Phaecia. See Odys. E. v. 282. Its bald summit rises in an insulated peak 7,800 feet above the sea. The Agha of Deliktash (the ancient Olympus, or Olympos) assured Captain Beaufort, that every autumn a mighty groan is heard to issue from the summit of the mountain, louder than the report of any cannon, but unaccompanied by fire or smoke. He professed his ignorance of the cause; but on being pressed for his opinion, he gravely replied, that he believed it was an annual summons to the Elect to make the best of their way to Paradise. See Karamania, p. 68, and note at ditto; also pp. 46 and 58.
