DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5541#0571
538
LETHSEUS.
[Chap. xxx.
and the river, above which to the S.W., at a distance
of eight or ten miles, was a lofty range of schistose moun-
tains, one of the southern branches of Mount Messogis. The
road soon entered a district of wooded hills, partly culti-
vated, where fragments of marble blocks and other archi-
tectural remains occasionally occurred, which continued
until, at the fifteenth mile, we descended into the valley of
the Lethseus; this stream issuing from a deep and pictu-
resquely wooded mountain glen in front, here suddenly turns
to the south, and after passing through a marshy district
flows under the walls of Magnesia ad Mseandrum, situated
between four and five miles to the south.
Leaving the cafe, situated near a beautiful fountain, at
the sixteenth mile, the wooded hills soon approached on
either side, and we entered the narrow valley of the Le-
thseus. The bed of the river was almost concealed by the
luxuriant plane-trees which overshadowed it, while the
hills above were covered with pine-trees and mountain
shrubs. After entering the ravine we crossed the stream
several times, the scenery becoming more grand and beau-
tiful at every step. Quitting the bed of the river we
ascended the hills on the left bank, and enjoyed a splendid
view of the surrounding country. The hills were clothed
with magnificent forest trees, with an underwood of myrtles
and arbutus, while the Lethseus on our left was flowing in
its wooded glen almost immediately beneath us. The air
was perfumed with the smell of the gum-cistus, and of the
many aromatic plants on the opposite side of the mountain,
where the Euruques were burning the woods, either for char-
coal, or in order to extend the pasture for their flocks and
herds; long lines of smoke upon the mountain-side marked
where the work of destruction was going on.
At half-past three we reached a small cafe, but, finding
no food for ourselves or horses, were obliged to go on to Aiasa-
luck, ten miles farther. We continued ascending for two miles
more, until we reached the elevated plain of Akche' Ova, co-
vered with vineyards, and from which several streams besides
LETHSEUS.
[Chap. xxx.
and the river, above which to the S.W., at a distance
of eight or ten miles, was a lofty range of schistose moun-
tains, one of the southern branches of Mount Messogis. The
road soon entered a district of wooded hills, partly culti-
vated, where fragments of marble blocks and other archi-
tectural remains occasionally occurred, which continued
until, at the fifteenth mile, we descended into the valley of
the Lethseus; this stream issuing from a deep and pictu-
resquely wooded mountain glen in front, here suddenly turns
to the south, and after passing through a marshy district
flows under the walls of Magnesia ad Mseandrum, situated
between four and five miles to the south.
Leaving the cafe, situated near a beautiful fountain, at
the sixteenth mile, the wooded hills soon approached on
either side, and we entered the narrow valley of the Le-
thseus. The bed of the river was almost concealed by the
luxuriant plane-trees which overshadowed it, while the
hills above were covered with pine-trees and mountain
shrubs. After entering the ravine we crossed the stream
several times, the scenery becoming more grand and beau-
tiful at every step. Quitting the bed of the river we
ascended the hills on the left bank, and enjoyed a splendid
view of the surrounding country. The hills were clothed
with magnificent forest trees, with an underwood of myrtles
and arbutus, while the Lethseus on our left was flowing in
its wooded glen almost immediately beneath us. The air
was perfumed with the smell of the gum-cistus, and of the
many aromatic plants on the opposite side of the mountain,
where the Euruques were burning the woods, either for char-
coal, or in order to extend the pasture for their flocks and
herds; long lines of smoke upon the mountain-side marked
where the work of destruction was going on.
At half-past three we reached a small cafe, but, finding
no food for ourselves or horses, were obliged to go on to Aiasa-
luck, ten miles farther. We continued ascending for two miles
more, until we reached the elevated plain of Akche' Ova, co-
vered with vineyards, and from which several streams besides