118 CAPE SUNIUM-GREEK SIGNET. infallible testimonies of places resorted to by the Ancient Greeks*: Dr. Clarke found no remains of this town, but to me they were very perceptible, extending a considerable distance down the hill; and Chandler's opinion on this point seems quite borne out by facts. A signet ring of silver, found during Lord Strangford's excavations in the Acropolis of Athens when the Cambrian was last in the Archipelago, was presented to me this evening by Mr. Richmond Easto, the worthy and intelligent master of the frigate, himself the happy discoverer. The following is its figure, 61914 and the inscription, which I have not as yet been able to decypher, runs thus when impressed upon wax. CAPE SUNIUM-SHOOTING EXCURSION. 119 All that I can make of the legend at present is ΓΕΘΧΙΩΝ or ΓΕΘΧΙΑΝwhich is just nothing. The silver has been snapped in the thinnest part of the circumference. Wednesday, 29th Dec.-A party of us set out early this morning on a shooting excursion, being tempted by certain incorrect accounts of abundance of game. With me, however, this was only a minor object; I was sure to see the country, and that was as much as I cared about. There is little variety in this part of Attica; mountains dotted with the cypress and myrtle and obtruding sharp edges of rock at every step make much walking a very painful exertion: but the scenery is of so novel a character that it cannot avoid giving pleasure to the pedestrian, however inconvenienced he may be by the numerous obstacles which impede his way. A short distance to the south is a small plain upon which are some cedars, and a well of good water which furnishes supplies for the neighbourhood. Here I found a considerable herd of small cattle and ponies, watched by several Greeks armed, and attended by their black wolf-dogs. They were fine-looking ani 120 ANECDOTE OF A GREEK. mals, but savage in the extreme. any A Greek who had shot a number of small birds offered me the produce of his bag for a little gunpowder; but being rather apprehensive that by complying I might arm him against myself, should he take a fancy to any thing I carried, I declined his request, and he seemed a good deal disappointed. Perhaps I did him an injustice, and especially as he knew that the Cambrian lay close by, and would therefore hardly have made hostile attempt. In another part of this plain they were ploughing with oxen, presenting the only signs of cultivation that I discovered. The wood in many parts has been subjected to fire, but for what purpose is not very apparent; probably to cook the food of the cow-herds as they attend upon their charge. To the north of the plain rises the highest point in the country, affording a very beautiful and extended prospect. I traversed several deep ravines before I reached it, and ascended with considerable difficulty: before reaching the main summit I found a level ground abounding in long-forsaken mineshafts, and great quantities of scoria-here were the silver mines of Ancient Attica:-the NEGROPONT-SCIO-MASSACRE of the GREEKS. 121 whole of the upper strata appeared of white marble; I distinguished also a few pine-trees among the heights, but they were more abundant below. Thursday, 30th Dec.-At one o'clock this morning we made sail, leaving Negropont, the ancient Euboea, on the left.. "Euboea next her martial sons prepares, Such were they in the Homeric age. Chalcis, now Negropont, is still the capital of the island, but the "Strong Eretria," I believe, exists only in its name. We had much wind throughout the day. Friday, 31st Dec.-About noon we left Scio, (anciently Chios) on our right; it is called by the Turks "the Mastic Island" from the abundance of that tree, which it produces; but it is better known of late by the infamous butchery of the Greeks about five years since. Amongst the multitude of sufferers was my * Pope's Homer, B. II. 122 ANECDOTE OF A GREEK BOY. present servant, a lad of about fourteen years of age; his father was murdered, himself and three younger brothers were taken prisoners and confined in separate ships, where the Turks busied themselves in attempting their conversion. How they succeeded with the other lads does not appear; but Nicholai, (the boy in my service) was soon after transferred to the English corvette, Martin, Captain Eden, from whence he came last voyage to the Cambrian. He has forgotten nothing of his native language, and speaks tolerable English. The poor fellow's mother, the only being connected with him, of whose existence he has heard, resides at Smyrna, where he will probably see her for the first time since the slaughter of their countrymen. He has been long enough in England to become attached to it, and naturally prefers security and enjoyment there to the perils and barbarities of which Greece has been the seat. On our left appeared the island of Ipsara, not less remarkable than Scio for having been the scene of the Greek revolution. very Saturday, January 1st, 1825, NEW-YEAR'SDAY.-I was awakened soon after midnight by |