Geographical Collections. 45 



Captain Peytier and myself having been charged with the geodesical and as- 

 tronomical operations of the map of the Morea, we have finished together the 

 triangulation of the Argolis, and commenced that of the neighbouring provinces. 

 I have explored the whole of its southern part, from the Arachnean mountains to 

 the sea, and have examined the numerous islands of the gulfs of JEgina and Nau- 

 plia. The position of Megara, the Parthenon, and RIount Hymettus, are con- 

 nected with the Argolis, and we hope that ere long Attica will be open to us, 

 and that we shall be able to complete these last observations. During the 

 months of June and July I discovered Magna and JNIessinia, and erected nume- 

 rous signals on the most remarkable summits, such as Taygetus, Hekenitza, Ly- 

 casus, Ethoma, &c. 



We made this discovery under guidance of M. Lapie's map. This map, 

 which has been keenly criticised by those who think a map of Greece can be 

 made with as much ease as a view of Paris from Pontoise, excites the surprise of 

 those who know the imperfect nature of the materials which he could employ. 



The excessive heats of the month of August (28°, 29", and even 33° and 40°, 

 at Monembasie, under our tents) condemned us to idleness ; but already the 

 nights are cooler ; we perceive light clouds forming on the horizon at sunrise and 

 sunset, and before the equinox we shall, in all probability, have a more support- 

 able temperature, and be able to resume our labours. 



The Morea and its shores are equally poor in respect to conchology. I have 

 not perhaps gathered twenty species of fresh water and land shells. How should 

 it be otherwise ? Seven months have passed without a drop of water to moisten 

 the ground or cool the air. All vegetation has long ago disappeared ; the beds 

 of the torrents are dried up, Alpheus and Eurotas alone having retained a little 

 water. The numerous lakes marked on the map have all evaporated, with the 

 exception of Phonia, whose waters are rising every day, in consequence of the 

 blocking up of its gulf or Katabathron, while, in a few days, continued and almost 

 tropical rains will render each of these rivers an impetuous torrent, and will 

 sweep the rapid slopes of the continent. These circumstances, together, seem to 

 render the existence of numerous fresh water or land species impossible. 



However, I have gathered some in privileged situations. Here, as in all lime- 

 stone countries, several powerful springs are met with, which at their origin give 

 rise to currents of nearly undeviating temperature and size ; and in these I have 

 found some univalves. 



As I do not belong to the commission in quality of naturalist, I have often 

 found it necessary to sacrifice geology to geography, and to devote only my spare 

 moments to it. However, I have endeavoured to solve some questions, and I be- 

 lieve have collected materials which wiU not be without interest. Of this you 

 may judge from what I shall now briefly state. 



The enormous compact limestone formation (zechstein ?) which covers three- 

 fourths of the surface of the Morea, has aflTorded me the most favourable oppor- 

 tunity of determining its topographical characters. Its nature, and the revolutions 

 which it has undergone, revolutions which are not merely hypothetical but are 

 proved by the stratification, partly account for the general configuration of the 

 peninsula, the existence of its numerous basins without issue, the scarcity of 

 water, &c. ; in a word for all which its peculiar physiognomy presents. 



You will, perhaps, recollect that the examination of the general stratification 

 of Bretagne {Annales du Museum, May 1827,) led me to this result, that that 

 extremity of our continent was the point of junction of two great systems of stra- 

 tification of ancient rocks, nearly perpendicular, of which the one comprehends 

 the mountains of Scandinavia, Scotland and England, the other those of the in- 

 terior and south of France. This very examination has led me to discover here 

 the traces of two great and ancient catastrophes, one of which has acted nearly in 

 the direction of from east to west; and the other, perpendicular to the first, frac- 

 turing the crust of the globe in the direction from N. W. to S.S.E. has impressed 

 its most marked features upon the Morea, as upon the whole of Greece, and, 

 doubtless, upon Italy also. I have endeavoured to extend to these catastrophes 



