DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4098#0071
TOWN OF PARGA. 47
Greeks, and have been able to resist both the open force and trea-
cherous cunning of Aly, the Pasha of Joannina, who has for several
years, endeavoured to attach this important post to his dominions.
Some of the principal Pargiotes, hearing we were English travellers
on our way to Constantinople, begged us to present a petition to our
ambassador at the Porte, requesting to be taken under the English
protection, in order to avoid the consequences of the threatened in-
vasion of the powerful Pasha of Joannina. We however thought
proper to decline the proffered honours. Parga is curiously built, and
stands on so steep a rock, that most of the houses are seen rising one
above another. The streets are narrow and dirty. I observed but
one church. The fort is in bad order, but might be made a place of
some strength and importance. The Pargiotes are a remarkably
handsome people. Most of the women were sitting before their
doors, industriously occupied in spinning or knitting; and every one
had something civil to say to us, as we passed through their streets.
There are no remains Avhatever of antiquity at this place.
We were in hopes of finding in this vicinity the port Glykis, and the
mouths of the Acheron and Cocytos ; but these infernal rivers pro-
bably enter the sea nearer to Corfu ; for we see in Thucydides1 and
Strabo,2 that the Acheron entered the sea at the Cheimerian promon-
tory below the town of Ephyra. The other cities mentioned by
Strabo on this coast are Kichyros, the same as Ephyra, Phcenice,
Bouchetion, and inland Elatria, Pandosia, and Batiai; the four
latter in the territory of the Cassopaei.
A small stream about five feet broad, enters the port of Parga;
the mountains from which it runs have a bold and savage aspect, and
contain scenes of a wild and gloomy character, though their base is
mottled with verdure and cultivation, cottages, vineyards, and orange
groves, which, with the view of the town and its rock-bespangled
bay, form a beautiful and curious picture. The sea which washes
this coast is the Thesprotian gulph.3
1 B. I.e. 46. :B. 7. p.S24. » Livy, b. 8. c. 24.
Greeks, and have been able to resist both the open force and trea-
cherous cunning of Aly, the Pasha of Joannina, who has for several
years, endeavoured to attach this important post to his dominions.
Some of the principal Pargiotes, hearing we were English travellers
on our way to Constantinople, begged us to present a petition to our
ambassador at the Porte, requesting to be taken under the English
protection, in order to avoid the consequences of the threatened in-
vasion of the powerful Pasha of Joannina. We however thought
proper to decline the proffered honours. Parga is curiously built, and
stands on so steep a rock, that most of the houses are seen rising one
above another. The streets are narrow and dirty. I observed but
one church. The fort is in bad order, but might be made a place of
some strength and importance. The Pargiotes are a remarkably
handsome people. Most of the women were sitting before their
doors, industriously occupied in spinning or knitting; and every one
had something civil to say to us, as we passed through their streets.
There are no remains Avhatever of antiquity at this place.
We were in hopes of finding in this vicinity the port Glykis, and the
mouths of the Acheron and Cocytos ; but these infernal rivers pro-
bably enter the sea nearer to Corfu ; for we see in Thucydides1 and
Strabo,2 that the Acheron entered the sea at the Cheimerian promon-
tory below the town of Ephyra. The other cities mentioned by
Strabo on this coast are Kichyros, the same as Ephyra, Phcenice,
Bouchetion, and inland Elatria, Pandosia, and Batiai; the four
latter in the territory of the Cassopaei.
A small stream about five feet broad, enters the port of Parga;
the mountains from which it runs have a bold and savage aspect, and
contain scenes of a wild and gloomy character, though their base is
mottled with verdure and cultivation, cottages, vineyards, and orange
groves, which, with the view of the town and its rock-bespangled
bay, form a beautiful and curious picture. The sea which washes
this coast is the Thesprotian gulph.3
1 B. I.e. 46. :B. 7. p.S24. » Livy, b. 8. c. 24.