aroundworldortra00peebiala-1

364 ABOUND THE WOELD.
Sailing up the Mediterranean I saw Samos, — literally
" sea-shore height." This island, at an early period of history,
was a powerful member of the Ionic Confederacy.
Pythagoras left it, to travel in foreign countries, under the
government of Polycrates. A future view of this classic
isle from St. Paul's prison and Mount Prion, around which
was grouped ancient Ephesus, famed as the seat of the most
eminent of the old Asian churches, was very fine. Not far
distant was the beautiful island of Cos, with its mountainous
peaks, vine-clad hillsides, and pleasant-appearing homes,
embowered in evergreen foliage. And there peered above
the horizon Patmos, sainted' Patmos, seat of John's visions
and revelations. Banished from the world's bustle, and frequently
in the " spirit on the
Lord's Day," he became- the
recipient of truths and illuminations that streamed in glory
down through all the sunrise hours of the Christian dispensation.
Determined to see the ruins of this old Ionian
city, Ephesus,
once noted for its commercial prosperity, for its stadium,
theaters, and Temple of Diana, as well as for the place
where the Apostle John spent his last years, I left Smyrna
Nov. 7, 1870.* It was sixty miles distant to Isaalouke, a
disagreeable Arab town.
The English own this railway. An hour's ride on
wretched horses dropped us doAvn with a party of pilgrims
to the rim of the Ephesian ruins. The original city was
evidently built around the base of Mount Prion. Crumbling
remnants of custom-house and ware-houses are yet
visible. But the Mediterranean waters have so receded, that
bay, harbor, and landing have given place to a broad basin
covered with grasses and weeds, through which winds a
small serpentine stream. The employees of J. T. Wood
were putting down shafts between Prion and St. John's
* Descriptions in this volume relating to Smyrna, Ephesns, Constantinople,
Rome, Naples, Pompeii, Herculaneum, &c., are taken from notes made
during a previous visit to Europe, Turkey, and Asia Minor.