MARK TWAIN

—a little rock 200 yards Jong with a light on it was the
anchorage of the Greek vessels. The plain of Troy is wide
and low—8 or 10 miles back is a range of undulating
hills. Half the plain is covered with what seems to be
green underbrush, and the other half is sand. We are
making a straight break for Dardanelles and shall enter
in an hour—Mt. Ida in the distance.

Noon, Passed abreast of ancient Troy and not long
afterward entered the Dardanelles (or Hellespont) and
after this passed the harbor whence Agamemnon's fleet
sailed to the siege of Troy.

Farther along the tomb of Hecuba on one side and
Ajax on the other.

First architects of Xerxes' bridge of boats over the
Hellespont were beheaded because the bridge broke away
—the hint was not lost on the second lot—Xerxes' host
2,600,000 men and 2,500,000 camp-followers crossed it.

Just entering the Hellespont 3 or 4 miles wide—guarded
on either side by Turkish castles, flying the crescent flag.
We are gaining fast on a French steamer since we have
hoisted main and main-top sails and jib—we'll catch him
in an hour. See a camel train on shore with the glass.
[Sketches and crude drawings of maps—entrance to the
Hellespont, etc,]

Aug. 16. Entered the Sea of Marmora at 5 in the after-
noon, if I remember rightly.

The Viceroy of Egypt passed us in his lightning yacht
as if we were standing still, waved his hand to us. He
looks a good deal like his uncle (or his brother—which?)
the Sultan of Turkey,

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