SIMIE.

Is a small Island which is in a Bay to the N W^t. of Rhodes, about 8 miles distant from the Asian shore, from which it was separated (as they say) by an Earth-quake. It hath but one Town upon Page  28the Island, and that but small. Their chief lively-hood is by diving for Spunges, of which they make great merchandize, supplying all parts in the Levant, from whence they are brought to most places in Europe. They will dive 15 fathom under water being brought up to this profession from their childhood, they reckon those the best of men, who can longest keep under water. I was a passenger in the Zante Friggat with Captain Robert Wilkinson, from Venice to Constantinople; thro' bad weather we sprung a leak, which we could not come to stop unless we landed most of our Goods. Being at anchor in the Port of Milo, and continually pumping, a Greek Priest told the Captain that he would undertake to gett a man that should stop the leak, tho it were at the keele of the ship; the Captain offer'd him fifty pieces of eight to get it done out of hand. Next morning the Priest brings one of the Islan∣ders; he first took a good swig at the bottle, and by our directions he soon found out the hole, he ordered a piece of lead to be cut square, and daubed with oakham and tarr, which he nayled over the leak so as our ship was again very sound. He first put the nailes into the lead, then diving, by degrees drove them into the ship side. He was some times above a minute under water. When they hear of any Vessel's being cast away, the first fair weather, they go to the place, and Page  29agree with the Inhabitants, to whom they give the tenths of what they shall get and keep the rest. The Basha of Candia gave them 200 dol∣lars for diving to get the Guns of the Theresia, a French ship blown up at Standia.