546 ON THE SYRINX OF STRABO, 



must have regarded the whole eastern coast of Euboea, while the 

 Etesian winds blowed, as a most dangerous lee-shore. For here, it" I 

 mistake not, were the tremendous hollows [aotXa, Coela) of EubcEa^ 

 where a detachment of the Persian fleet were wrecked ; and even at 

 this day, the navigators of these seas carefully avoid all approach to 

 an iron-bound coast, which in a line of about thirty leagues presents 

 only one place of shelter for a ship in distress.* 



The harbour f which is thus situated, being little frequented by 

 the Greeks, was wholly unknown to navigators from the west of 

 Europe, before I visited this inhospitable coast in the autumn of 

 1797, for the purpose of carrying on a series of triangles along the 

 eastern side of Greece. After surveying this harbour, I was anxious 

 to proceed round Cavo d'Oro (Caphareus), but such was the hollow 

 form of the coast on my right, and so great the danger of being 

 forced on a lee-shore, that the captain of the vessel (a polacre of 

 Ipsera) thought it not adviseable to attempt weathering that cape, until, 

 at the end of two days, the violencp of the northerly wind (Etesian) 

 had a little abated. J 



In proposing a new explanation of the Coela of Euboea, I have 

 ventured to differ from some of the latest and best writers on ancient 

 geography, such as D'Anville, Larcher, and Barbie du Boccage ; but 

 when it is considered how greatly the actual examination of a country 

 must assist in clearing up the obscurities of its ancient geography, I 

 trust I shall be acquitted of presumption ; more especially when 

 we observe how much the reports of ancient geographers are at 

 variance with each other, and how many corruptions have been 

 introduced into the text of their works. Even Strabo and his 

 epitomiser are at variance upon this point, the former assigning to 



* Kingsbergen observes, that, " on the whole north-eastern coast there is no handing- 

 place. It is even dangerous to approach that shore." This is the observation of a sea- 

 man, but it is not strictly correct. 



f Now called by the Greeks FleTgiaij. 



t On my return to England I communicated to Mr. Arrowsmith the corrected form of 

 this coast and the situation of this unknown harbour, which were engraved in his new map 

 of the Ottoman empire. 



