Litchfield enquirer., 1844-08-29

our admlrlng eyes. 1t was once pare TOOK rising out of the sea- and has been settled and built by fugees, from various places destroyed during the Greek revolution, who fled here with only the clothes they wore, and their hands to work with. It Is now large fourishing place. multitude of wind-mills, round stone towers with their thin transparent whirled rapidly round by the strong wind which was blowing at the time, might be seen covering every hilltop and rising ground in all directions, while along the seaside counted eleven vessels on the stocks in different stages of progress, and most of them of large size. This with the rapid cink of the hammer borne to us over the water, betokened busy and thriving pop ulation. The houses are built upon the sides of two high hills which slope down to the waters edge, and ranged tier above tier nearly to the top Just back of the valley between the two hills which front the sea- rises another cone-like mound also covered with houses and surmounted by pret- ty church, filling up the gap most beautifully. We were told there are at the back ofths town accor- ding to the record for taxes) more than two thou sand gardens from the water however these are not seen, and all appears one glare of white. A number of vessels in the harbor had the suspicious yellow flag floating from their mast, denoting them as coming from the suspected, though at present not infected district, the east, and being in quail antine like ourselves, who were under the same ban. This of course prohibited landing We part ed here with regret from nearly all our English passengers, Ga party of five who were going to AL exandria,) as we'll with all Orientas, Turks, Greeks and Arabs. Tie last cannot say was fa- vorably impressed with. They certainly had to me an expression decidedly fendish, and @ Ia canibal One in particular grinned such horrid ghastly smile as made me shudder. Much to our satisfac- ticn we remained stationary till dinner was over, and at moved of. Syra as we left was brilliant with the innumerable lights scattered its up- per and lower town, which with its white houses gleamng in the darkness, had magical effect. A youthful Miss Moon was admiring her pretty face in the smooth waters, ard coquetting with the waves that raised themselves to meet and gistened with the brightness of her smile, while the whole expanse above was
 "Bespanged with those isles of light,
 So dark, spiritually bright ,.
 We had quiet, comfortable night, and though at day break it rained violently, the came out bright and clear; the decks were dry and looked white and nice; the brass ornaments which were in profusion were cleaned, and for the first time since we had been on board, glittered in the sunshine. We had good run for fifteen hours, then the wind changed, though the weather was still pleasant. We passed this day Cape Malea and the island of Cergo, celebreted as the birth place of Helen and as one of the haunts of Venus, where was temple erected to her. We could distinguish the ruins and columns of one we passed, but there is no certainty as to whom it was erected. "There is temple in ruin stands,
 Fashioned by long forgotten hands;
 Two or three columns, and many stone,
 Marble and granite with grass O'ergrCwn" And that is all. "Out upon time' that cheats us so | After this we rounded Cape Matipan, the most southern point of the Peleponessus, and then took our last look of Greece. We saw many pretty vil- ages situated upon the slopes and hills of the cape and passed and left behind several sail vessels that were rocking and tossing in manner not at all en- viable. An hour after we passed the gulf where was fought the memorable battle of Navarino, Oct. 2Oth, 1897, which terminated the Greek war and took Greece from the Ottoman power. The haibor is shut in by island, the ancient Sphactera, fa nous for the signal defeat the Spartans sustained here from the Athenians, and also as the scene of Byron's Corsar. Within the walls of the ancient fortress which surmounts the promontory above the town, killed the gallant Count Santa Rosa, Piedmontese refugee, August 1925, and his tomb with that of Young Lucien Boraparte are shown on the island of Sphacteria. Leaving these islands and the rocky heg ghts of the peninsula, we saw no more of land, the wind became more and more ad- verse, and by o'clock was quite sickening. suc- ceeded however in remaining at table and was much the better for my dinner An empty stomach is great aid to sea sickness, full one often find a preventative. I sat upon deck all of the follow. | ing day with my book and " everlasting worsted work no land in sight, our prospect was extensive, for it was over boundless sea, the air was soft and pleasant, but was wishing for land which was to bring letters so the day seemed tediously long, 1 About went below, but had not been long there when was called to come up and see the sun set. l had been wishing the weather would admit of seeing fine sunset on the Mediterranean. So hastened up and the west was truly georgeous with the blaze of living light of the all glorious sun. It was not however an tnclouded blaze there were clouds above and around, but this rather added to than detracted from the exceeding splendor of the magnificent scene for each and every was light ed and colored by the brilliancy of his departing rays and as the twights of very short duration the majestic orb seemed to drop at once into the l blue waters beneath, whilst the brlliancy of the hues above passed in quick and constant succession, almost in glance, till in few moments both sky and water were enveloped in nights dusky mantle and all was sombre grey. Ere long the clouds which had been lowering about the sun brought upon us shower; but notwithstanding this, our eyes were gladdened in the morning by the prospect of another day of sunshine. The major called out to US from the gangway, "land ahead" always a cheering sotnd. We hastened to pack our loose articles and have all in readiness to debark, and thing to do on our approach but gaze upon the unioue and beautifully fortified island, made so a- motis in former ages by the Knight Templars of St. John. We seemed to be still in the open sea the | land looked like blue haze in the dstance.- 1 Nought met the view save the numerous sail which dotted the horizon, accommodating rapidly as we neared our harbor Soon the barren and rocky coasts of Malta were visible, beautified by the verdure of its Sicllian soil and as we drew and more near we could not but be struck with wonder and admi. ration at the extent and grandeur of its lofty and poa thai have lone yvifhsfood