72 CONTINENT OF GREECE. 



east side, in about four hours reached a very high summit. A thick 

 fog and very deep mist obscured our view. I saw now no snow, 

 and was assured by the Caloyers that there was none at present on 

 the mountains; the perennial snows, therefore, mentioned by Wheler 

 and Chandler, are hyperbolical expressions. I had examined Par- 

 nassus on every side, and found its vegetable productions very various. 

 I met with several plants I had not noticed before on other parts of 

 the mountains. The thick mist and severe cold prevented me from 

 continuing long on the summit, and we descended over steep preci- 

 pices and torrent beds, covered with loose stones, with danger and 

 difficulty, down the east side of the mountain. 



