Wordsworth, Christopher: Greece, pictorial, descriptive and historical (London, 1853)

278

PASS OF MOUNT PINDT7S.

for adaptation to the metre of epic poetry, became Thassalia, and for the sake
of harmony, and to avoid the repetition of the same letter, Thessalia.







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THE LAKE AND CITX OF JASMIN A.



Let us imagine ourselves as issuing forth from the gates of Jannina, on
the eastern frontier of Epirus, to survey this country. A good road conveys
us along die western brink of the lake of that city, -whence we wind round its
southern extremity, and pursue our course to the north-east. At about twelve
miles from the town we stand on the summit of the hill of Diiisko, where is a
kiosk, a fountain shaded by a plane tree, and a magnificent view. From one 01
its slopes the city of Jannina is seen, with its shining domes and minarets and
white castle rising out of the bosom of the placid lake: in front of us is a
grand ridge of mountains, running parallel to the great Pindus chain.

At the eastern foot of the hill of Drisko is the valley of Balduma, where
is a bridge over the stream which winds along it: it is the work of the
renowned Ali Pasha, as indeed are most of the bridges and the khans upon
this route to Thessaly; but now the grass grows over the paved road, the
bridges are broken down, and the khans deserted. The most melancholy
objects in this country are the improvements which were once made m «•
They are effected, and then fall into decay, for there is no continuity of action
in the governing power. The redeeming element of most other despotisms-
hereditary succession—is here wanting. An Ali Pasha dies, and the roads o
his Paslialic become impassable.