74 Aceaunt of a Cinerary Vase. 



former tenant of the one upon which I then stood, I raked with 

 my stick amongst the mould which filled it, and felt the resis- 

 ance of a hard substance. Though I little expected that a trea- 

 sure so precious should thus present itself, unsought, to my 

 notice, I nevertheless cleared away the surrounding impedi- 

 ments of earth and stones, and soon was rewarded for the 

 search, by seeing gradually revealed a vase of classic form. 



We were not a little pleased with the discovery, but were 

 rather at a loss to devise means to secure our acquisition from 

 the dangers of Greek treachery, and Turkish rapacity. We at 

 length decided that our safest course was again to cover the 

 vase with the earth, under which it had doubtlessly lain con- 

 cealed for many centuries, to observe a prudent silence respect- 

 ing the discovery, and to return the following evening almost at 

 night-fall, with instruments for excavating under our cloaks, 

 and after raising it from its bed, to convey it to a place of se- 

 curity, trusting to the cover of darkness for protection under our 

 operations. Our task was not accomplished without consider- 

 able fatigue, owing to the weight of the vase, and the uneven, 

 broken ground over which we had to pass to get to our dwell- 

 ing, for we avoided the high road and frequented paths to 

 escape observation. My friend Captain Jones kindly assisted 

 me in supporting it suspended on a short pole, of which each 

 end was borne by one of us. Safely lodged in our habitation, 

 it was soon visited by all the travellers, and by the European 

 consuls resident at Athens, some of whom are the principal 

 antiquaries of the place. 



These gentlemen said the form of the vase was similar to that 

 of the cups of Bacchus, and that the golden fillet was such as 

 was worn round the head by the Athenian females before mar- 

 riage. They were much surprised and pleased at the discovery, 

 but were rather jealous of its having been found with so little 

 trouble. The celebrated M. Fauvel, consul for France, said, 

 " Monsieur, vous etes trop heurexix." Another consul mentioned 

 the time and money he had spent in excavating, without making 

 any discovery of so much value. 



But the fact is no one had ever thought of seeking in the place 



