298 THE IMAGE OF WAK 



structed and with good gradients, leading to almost 

 all parts of the island. So little has labour and 

 trouble been grudged, that in places they are 

 actually supported on timbers driven into the face 

 of the cliff. 



For centuries charcoal - burning has been carried 

 on here, and still is, though now only a few scattered 

 trees remain ; and the roads have been constructed 

 by the charcoal - burners for the double purpose of 

 collecting their wood and removing their charcoal. 



On this beautiful morning I was only too thankful 

 for them, and walked pleasantly along enjoying the 

 scene. In the deep blue sea all around me lay islands, 

 those we had passed the previous day to my left, and 

 backed by a chain of hills covered with snow — those 

 of Euboea. Straight ahead, over the low islet of 

 Psathoura and its lighthouse, rose a glittering white 

 cone — Mount Athos. On the right, behind some 

 mere rocky islets, was the outline of the large Turkish 

 island of Lemnos. 



Unfortunately for my purpose, my frequent spyings 

 with the glass, likely though the ground was, were 

 vain. I crossed a big ravine (the foot of the valley 

 described by Professor Knotek), down which the path 

 was most skilfully traced, and at the bottom of which 

 a pair of doe horns were lying, and then made my 

 way up the opposite face where this path ended. I 

 calculated I had followed it eight miles, but this was 

 probably an overestimate, though it winds much. 

 I now turned to my right, and followed a sheep-track 

 to the eastern side of the island. Here the seaward 

 cliffs are sheer and the ground more promising ; but 

 nothing did I see till, coming on my partner's tracks, 

 I realised I was wasting my time, and made for camp, 



