CHAPTER I.

_On the Hill of Hissarlik, October 18th, 1871._

The site of ILIUM described--Excavations in 1870: the City Wall of Lysimachus--Purchase of the site and grant of a _firman_--Arrival of Dr. and Madame Schliemann in 1871, and beginning of the Excavations--The Hill of HISSARLIK, the _Acropolis_ of the Greek Ilium--Search for its limits--Difficulties of the work--The great cutting on the North side--Greek coins found--Dangers from fever 57