Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1871-08-09
The WOmanIeSS Region.
BY n. S. DODGE.


BY n. $. DODGE.
There are many islands uninhabited by
mankind There are also not few cont
mental districts which have no stated re
representatives. Of the human race But a.
far a. information extends, there is only
one territory Of any size, and never ha,
been but one, occupied by any considerable
population, from which woman is absolute
" excluded. \ description of this sngu
lar spot, known geographically these g.
/ 600 years, but the social popularity OF
which, though dating back many centuries
seems never to have been noticed before
the Simonidcs MSS. controyersyof Of SG3-4
may be readily given.
The highest promOntory between Cape
| Race and Brazil, is Mount Desert, on the
coast Of Maine Suppose this bluff to
stretch some forty miles into the Atlantic
ocean, varying IN its midst from two to
| nine miles across, and reaching at its ex-
| tremity an altitude of 6,O0u feet above the
waters,-to be attached to the coast by a
\ low and narrow iSthmus and to be cloth
ed throughout with a woodland that was
gay with flowers. rich with odors, merry
with song-birds, and canopied by the
brightest Of all blue skies.-and the reader
will have before his minds eye a general
outline of the wOmanless locality as far as
relates 70 its natural features The sons
of Eve are there, but none Of the daugh-
tiers. To all females it has been, so far
back as history reaches, forbidden ground
Lest they should attempt to intrude, in
fueneed BY the curiosity attributed by
common fame to their primal mother, a
guard is stationed to keep them out. So
we'll is watch and ward maintained, that
TO some Of the inhabitants who migrated
thither il carly childhood, the idea Of wo-
man, whether as mother. sister or wife. is
almost lost
Reference Is here made TO the most cast
ern Of the three tongues Of Land which pro-
ioct from the north coast of The Greek
Archipelago 1t IS the Ola peninsula Of
Acte-now called Monte Sancto-of which
Mount Athos forms the terminating point,
"A conicaI mass of limestone shooting mp
abruptly to the hight of G,350 feet, with
its base clothed with pines and its bare
peak lighted by sunbeam-, it has been for
ages an object Of admiration % mariners.
From its chapel on the top, visited only on
the 9th Of August every year by monks
to say mass. the The.saliau shores penc-
tratcd by clear blue waters. the Macedo-
nian SUBMITS, and Pelion, Ossa and Olym-
pus may be seen. La the days Of inexpert
navigation, its neighborhood was greatly
dreaded. Nerxes. to avoid roughing the
seas around its base, cut a canal across the
peninsular Greel pilots put far out to
sea in old days To shun its dangers And
even modern navigation, with the adyan-
tages Of steam, gives wide berth to its
uncertain waters
Between this bold headlaud and the
coast, occupying a plateau Of moderate
elevation, where cultivated fields are di-
vcrsiGcd with woodlands Of chestuuts and
oaks and ig trees and olives are indigne-
Gus, dwclls Il mona>tic confederation Of
Greek Christians They have twenty
three converts, and number IN all some
thing more than 1000 souls TN the hill
sides and all through the deiiles and rayine
are scattered iunumcrable crosses and re-
treats, cells and hermtagc-. Though these
conventual houses are bounu together by
the tie Of religious eeclusion the history OF
each is independent. Two OF the monas-
teries claim Constantine as their founder
two others the Empress Pulcberia Not
one Of the twenty-threc dates its lounda-
tion later than the twelfth century. These
fratcrnities had the prudence to submit to
Mohammcd IL. prior 10 the fall Of Con-
stantinoplc, and received from him prom
se Of protection, which has been respected
ever since. Though the domain Is part of
the Turkish empire, not a rood Of it is
claimed in property by the Sultan, or a
Mussulman subject IN annual tribute Of
10000 piastrcs, about : 800, is paid by
the whole peninsular, towards which the
different societies contribute their share
according to an assessment determined by
their representatives. Each convent sends
a deputy to "A diet which manages general
interests and holds It's sittings at Karyes,
a small town occupied by carvers Of cross
es, and the residence Of solitary Turkish
official who collects the revenue
At the entrance Of the penlnsuar few
soldiers in the pay of the monastic bodies
are stationed, for the purpose of excluding
ntrudcrs. No woman-iH esse reI posse
is allowed TO cross the frontier. The pro-
HlDlLlOu j. OF long StdHulHg, UIlgtnaJeu
partly by superstition and partly for the
better maintenance Of ascetic discipline
Absurdly enough the rule is extended to
every other female creature. Hence from
time immemorial, no COW, mare hen, duck
goose, slut, or she-cat has ever been per-
mitted to make acquaintance with hill or
valley, farm-yard or kitchen of Mt. Athos
territory. But despite all this hares will
pair, and birds mate, and every traveller
who has passed hospitable roof of and
one of the score of converts, shows that
both the King and Queen of Fleas keep
their court there and reign over legions of
subjects. But in their purchases Of poul-
try to fatten, or dogs for the chase, or
horses for riding, the monks choose males
only. Of course there is no milk on the
peninsular. If she-cats are not tolerated
tom-cats are in great favor huge fellows,
imported from the world without when kit
tens, and taught strange feats of leaping
and vaulting by the younger brethren.
Karyes has weekly market, assuredly