Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1852-09-23
Perilous Ascent.

rMr. Bowen thus describes the curious
position and appearance OF the second OF
the great monastic seats of Greece-1he
monasteries of Meteora, and his ascent to
one of them -
"In half an hour we reached narrow
ledge of rock, from which rises perpendIc-
ularly cliff near three hundred feet hlgh,
on the summit of which is the monastery
of the Holy Trinity. On the tops OF the
neighboring pinnacles are placed the con-
vents of Me'eora $50 called, par excellence,
as the largest of alD--Barlaam $50 called
after the founder, Saint of the Greek
CaIendar)-St, Stephen, and three others OF
little note, determined to ascend ( o the
Trinity. as the highest Of all, ard at the
same time nearest to the village. Besides
the nets, the monastery is accessible by lad
ders Of wood and rope, made in several sep
crate Joints, and let down over the face OF
the cliff, from artificial tunnels in the rock,
which communicate with the lower parts
of the buildings AT night, or when not
required, they are pulled up, and the monks
are entirely issoated from the world below.
The ladders are, of course, infinitely the
most hazardous mode of ascent or descent,
as they are perfectly perpendicular, and
swing backwards and forwards with the
least breath of wind. A monk mounting
by them looks like large black fly crawl,
ing on the face of the preciplce. | prefer
red the net, as in them you resign yourself
entirely to the care of the holy fathers,
whereas on tho ladta-s ,,~-...------. 49, -
your own nerve and steadlness. The ques-
ton is, will you rely on the Church, or in
your own private judgment ? fired off a
pistol to attract the attention Of lhe monks,
when long before the echo, reverberated
by the cliffs around, had died away over
Pindus, two or three cowled heads were
thrust out from under the covered platform
projecting from the summit Of the rock,
and which resembles the shed on the top
story of lofty London warehouse. The
rope, too, is worked in similar way, by a
pulley and windlass. After accommodating
us for a moment, and seeing that we were
not strong enough to carry their monster,
ry by a coup dc main, the monks threw
down what appeared strong cabbage-net
lowering at the same time thick rope
with an iron hook at its end. My guide
spread the ne on the ground, and | seated
myself in it cross-Iegged. He then gather
ed the meshes together over my head and
hung them on the hook The monks above
then worked their windlass, and IN abon'
three minutes and a-haIf reached the sum
mt, distance of between two hundred and
three hundred feet, swinging to aud iro III
the breeze, and tnrning round like JoInl
of meat roasting before a slow hire. This
Inconvenience might easily be prevented
by another rope being held by person be-
low, as is done in the shafts OF mines but
that is a Cornish luxury which has not yet
occurred to the good fathers OF course
as began TO ascend my weight draws the
net close, until my knees are pulled up te
my chin, and am rolled into a ball like {
hedgehog, The guide told me TO shut my
eyes to escape gdlness but | soon opened
them, on feeling myself banged pretl!
sharply against the rough side OF the rock
and swung myself off again by convul
slve push OF the knees. The height is, i'll
deed, dizzy enough; for | could no longe
see the narrow ledge from which ha'
started, nor the path which led to 1t, bu
looked right down on tie plain Of TAessals
one thousand fee, more beneath Dnrln,
the ascent the rope occasionally slips from
one spoke to another OH the wlndass, whe
of course, you fall like piece Of lead, 70
a few yard, aud are then brought up wit
"A mighty dISayreeable jerk. On rcachIn
the level of The projecting shed above, 20
are left hanging for half IN mute over tn
abyss, tIIl The monks leave the capstan, an
ti,h you III with apole like boat hook
they have no such contrvance@ as a turf
ing crane Tor landing their guests in fac
their machinery is altogether OF mos
primitive order You lie on the floor,
perfectly helpless ball, until they undo tn
meshes Of HE net from the hook, unroIl yol
give you gentle shake, and then help yo
TO your leet."