Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-11-24
From nodwelI,s Classical rouc in Greece.

DELPHl, AND IT'S MODERN INHABITANTS. No
situation can well surpass the approach 10
Delphi. Us grand and theatrical appearance,
combined with its ancient celebrity, It's mou'-
derinp ruins, and its fallen state. form such eX-
,Esi as6s rrshs 81 It's former magnf.
cence. "Prorsus ut incertum sit utrum NUM-
menlum loci, an ma jastas Del plus h,c admit
ratonis habeat?" The very locality brcathcd
the presence of Apollo.
The first objects which attract the attention
are the vast precipiccs Of ParnassuS, which rise
nearly in perpendicular majesty, behind the
humble cottages of Kastri, and form the two
noble points celebrated in antiquity The vale
is circular and deep, and surrounded by the
rough aud barren rocks Of Parnassus and kir-
phis, by which it seems excluded from the
rest Of the world. Parts of the vale is planted
with olive and mulberry trees, and the corn
grows on the terraces which were raised by
the Delphians for the security Of their tenn
pies and their hahitations. which could not o.
,herwise have been supported, against the ra-
pidity Of the descent.
The inhabitants of this valley exhibit peo.
pie in state OF more inarlificial and simple
existence than ANY have before seen. This
written before the present revolution began
Indeed, they have little to DO out of their own
at home, affords no irdrcsment for the intius
ion of the Turks. They are however, govern
ed by an Agha, who bears good character q,
mong them.
Our arrival excited the eager curiosity of the
Kasriiotes;they crowded into our colts ge where
every thing we had was a matter of astonI III.
ment. They were SO much pleased with our
sugar, that every one begged l,tle bit; and is
difficult TO describe the surprise which they
manifested when they saw me use India rub
Der to cffaee some pencil lines. The grown up
persons stared AT each Other, and observed that
I was "polugnosticOs onthropos;'' the chill
dren ran away, and said was the devil
The Kastriote wcmen are distinguished by,
their native beauty, and their unadorped eie-
gance. To fine figures they unite handsome
pro6les, good teeth, and large black ewes. We
wen, one day TO a cottage 10 inquire for Coins;
and making the woman of the house compli
ment for her good looks, she seemed highly
pleased, aud said she had been handsome when
young, and twas nov her sunset, that, howe
yer she had five daughters; all as handsome as
she had been, and whom. she would show us, if
We would dance at her cottage the next day
During our conversation two ofher daughters
came in, with large pitchers on their heads
with water from the Kastalan spring and con.
WINGED US she had spoken the truth
Itgaye US pleasure to a6nd that most of the
poor inhabitants Of Kastri could read and write
and could also speak both the Greek and AL
banian, or Arbanitic languages. Although
Greece in general is in state Of Ignorance,
several parts OF Grea, Britain, as well as other
Civilized and enlightened countries, are in the
same situation; bu, the mind is more forcibly
struck IN the former case, by the contrast be-
tween its ancient and It's present state, When
Greece monopolized the learning of the world, |
our islands was in state of barbarism: at pre-
sent the case is the reverse. Apollo and the