Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-09-22
GlImpses Of the OrIent...N0. 8.

a thicket The driver halts and tells US that Just
at this spot he himself was driving for Lord Mum |
caster and his party In 1870, when they were |
stopped by brigands, and the gentlemen seized |
and hurried of to the mountains and held for |
ransom. Because the government sent soldiers |
in pursuit and hunted out the rufians the latter
murdered four OF their prisoners, all English |
men. But the vigorous action OF the authorities |
at that time has prevented further acts Of brig
andage within Greek territory, though lawless
Greeks still haunt the disputed frontiers in the
north, and, no doubt would avail themselves Of
good opportunities for plumber and robbery. But
we are assured that there is no danger attending
travel anywhere in southern Greece, and thus far
we have experienced the most kindly and courte-
Gus intercourse with the people. Atabout eighteen
miles we emerge from the mountains, and descry
before us the island OF Eubei and its snow-tpped
heights. Soon the broad southern part OF the
strait Of Eurpus opens to view, and little far
Their on the whole OF the crescentshaped plain of
Marathon reveals itself. Mountains, like gigan
tic fortresses form the background encircling the
outer circumference of the crescent and recalling
instantly and most impressvely to the beholder
those well known lines:
"The mountains look on Marathon,
And Marathon looks on the sea-"
Not solitary vessel could be seen on the broad
bay, and with the exception Of a single hamlet
near the center Of the plain the whole region
seemed deserted The stretch OF level to which
the name OF Marathon is applied il six miles long
and from one and half to three miles wide
Very near the middle of the widest part are
some columns and pieces OF cornice which might
have belonged to low temple, and close by is the
celebrated mound erected to the memory Of
the Athenians slain here 10 the contest with the
Persians, 400 b. C. 1t is circular in form, at the
base perhaps eight rods in diameter and thirty
five feet in height. Though Pausanias mentions
monuments ~ then existing at near this spot
yet now the tumulus is OF earth only, thinly COW
cred with coarse grass and spring anemones We
spread our lunch on the leeward slope, and while
partakng so peacefully try to imagine the details
Of that memorable contest OF which Herod0tus
gives us but meager outline. There the Persian
vessels must have swung at anchor here the
Median lines have formed and waited for the
fray, and from the base of yonder hill Miltiades,
with his forces, must have rushed upon the foe,
and have driven them into the marsh that skirts
the bay. A fine beach fringes the shore for
mile or two, and shells abound which the villagers
string into necklaces and sell to travellers. JON
qus are in blossom on the marsh, and with other
wild flowers we make up quite n collection of
mementoes.
Our third excursion was to Argolis and Cornth.
Early on Monday morning we embark on n small
Greek steamer lying at the pireus and thence in
about ten hours reach Nauplia. On the way
touch at Egina-having a little earlier good
view OF the temple of Minerva on the ridge, or
rather we should say OF the columns For the
frieze has fallen and the sculptures which adorned
the pedments are now in the Glyptothek at Mu-
MICH Fyina Ia the summer resort OF the Athe-
mans, and is noted for its pure air and general
heathfulness. Its people are bred to the sea and,
in the late wars with the Turks, showed that the
valor which distinguished their ancestors at Sala
mis- had not altogether departed from the race.
Later we call at Porus the east side Of the Ar
collie peninsula at Hydra-noteworth for its am
phitheater-ke situation and for the white monas-
teries that cap the heights of the island, and at
| Spetzia, an island with town Of the same name
| two hours EDWARDS. Both these islands are Of
bare gray limestone. quite destitute OF verdure,
but the towns are built OF snow-white marble and
seem Of almost dazzling wilderness az they reflect
the sunlight "What spot you have chosen for
your country" said the late French minister
waddington to the Greek Admiral Tombszi con-
corning Hydra a. he glzed on it. at was liberty
that chose the spot not me- was the patriot 5
reply.
| voyaging among the isles of Greece and over
the inlets and bays which 40 much penetrate the
mainland is in fair weather always delightful,
but this afternoons trip was superb. On the
right were the rugged cliffs Of Southern Argolis,
| on the left the high mountains which environ
| Sparta. The intermingling of gray and reddish
limestone, the green OF the valleys and occasional
belts or level along the shores, the tranquil wa
| tiers, unrufed by breath OF wind, and the light
| purpng haze which manted all the landscape,
as il, forsooth, the heavens were distilling the
ambrosia of the gods, made for us rare pictures
and rare sensations as we glided on.
We reach Nauplia about four o'clock, and have
barely time to climb the lofty rock which form:
the Acropolis, before sunset. This citadel, sever
hundred feet high. and crowned with strong
fortress, bears the name OF Palamede, from thai
Palamedes who detected the counterfeited mad
ness of Ulysses and so, having incurred the dis
pleasure OF the hero OF Ithaca, was put to deati
early in the Trojan war. Nauplia was for tel
years after the establishment of Greek independ
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~ no l,nod,m A. s mas. soms NJ the win
A. 80 nar,,,, ,,,,s In Tho uaI,s-o, tho cai,s
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80 80. ,,h,ch ,hev ,hns en,ics ma b INV
rha ,n.,;nn -, ,hasa IA ,isi, onIv occunatiop and
~ - - :, oh,.,ning ro,ro, ,nanav
o. .,,a,s, ,,,da IA tho son 81 one of the Cer
,,.u ,,,ards ., y,na O,ho and tho,,b he mad,
,ha s,oon ascort With ma and Tor ma and led n,
-, a. t,u ,.o ho,rs oo,ld M, ha nrav.i,al
on % accs,, tho s,ightest remuneration for hi,
,ronh,a We met with similar courtesy a
pa,ras ubsre a soldier took ma over the castle
lint 10 opr offer Of n silver niece ON nartipe re
snonded In Italian "No thank Won" II NAV M
addad that the view from the P,lamede ia YER,
fine We have before us all that we saw in III,
last Of the VOYAGE and besides the plain and cit,
of Argos and the most of Tiryns and Mycene
Fairly the next Morning wa proceed to Tiryns
uere ia n low aat-topped hill. of obloup shane
and surrounding IL ara those famons walls
mora anciept and mora nrimitiye in construetio,
than anv stone work in (;reece There are IN
rims Of the old pateways. the foundations Of
tsmnle and ON the east aide long gallery bull
of hinge blocks of coarse basalt, The walls