‘The travels of Sig. Pietro della Valle, a noble Roman, into East-India and Arabia Deserta. In which, the several countries, together with the customs, manners, traffique, and rites both religious and civil, of those Oriental princes and nations, are faithfully described: In familiar letters to his friend Signior Mario Schipano. Whereunto is added a relation of Sir Thomas Roe’s voyage into the East-Indies’ [‎281] (302/508)

Into the EAST-INDIES.
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lodg'd. The Turks fhew'd us I know not what, which they
call'd Paulos de Chrifiiani, which perhaps had been fome Church
of Saint PW; but every thing Wasfo deftroy'dj that T neither
faw nor underftood it well. There being nothing elfe remarkable
to be feen 3 we went away three hours before night, by the fame
Gate we had enrer'd at (perhaps becaufe the way was better'
without then within^) going about the City on the outfiide to
wards the plain on the North. But rd-eiltrlng afterwards at a
breach of the Wall, we walkt a good way within the City 3
which I found full of Gardensand OrchardSj with few dwel
lings., faving at the end. At length we went out at a Gate which
ftands in the more Weftern part of the City^though not full Weft,
where we pafs'd over a fair Stone-bridg which lies upon the River
Or antes our way to Alexandretta on the Northern banck 5
for, they that go diredly thither from Alepfo, never fee this Ri
ver., but leave it much South. We travell'd along its banks till
night, contrary to its ftream 3 and took up our lodging by the
River-fide, almoft diredly agairift tHe fcaftern Gate, at which
weenter'd, and which we beheld afar off on the other bank ;
Antiach is almoft fquare, about a mile long, and hath many
Gates ^ on the South, it is terminated with Mountaius, Which,
they faid, were feven, like the feven Hills of Rome^ but I could
diftinguilh no more then five, that is, not five Mountains, (for
the Mountain appears but one continu'd riigj but five tops of
it. Thefe Mountains are very fteep, and therefore I think could
not be built upon V but only, that part ,of them was included
within the wall for ftrcngth, and that the fame might not be pre
judicial to th« City by being left without, in cafe of War. That •
which remains of the City at the foot of the faid Mountains, is
of (mall circumference j fo that the City appear'd to me inuch
lefs then I imagined it. Within, as I faid,there is not any Fabrick
ftanding, but infinite ruins, and the earth is everywhere ftrow'd
with great and goodly ftones. Only the Walls are almofi: all
(bund and intire, with little decay. After midnight the Moon
arifing,we alfo got up, and leaving this Station, proceeded on our
way.
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