110 ARRIVE AT ZITZA. 



and the guides saddling the horses, and gazed 

 with intense admiration on the extremely beauti- 

 ful country which surrounded me, I felt exhilara- 

 ted more than I can express ; and as the plaintive 

 note of the cuckoo from the neighbouring wood 

 reached my ear, I was more disposed to regret 

 that I had not sooner availed myself of the oppor- 

 tunity my residence at Corfu afforded me of 

 visiting so magnificent a country, than to enjoy to 

 its fullest extent the wildness of the mode of life 

 with which I was at the time so enraptured. 



The influence of climate and country on na- 

 tional character is acknowledged, but its effect 

 likewise on foreigners is not only not chimerical, 

 but perceptible. No one can, I am convinced, 

 breathe for any length of time the pure atmos- 

 phere of a bold mountain country, without being 

 imbued with that feeling of independence, which 

 is certain to characterize its inhabitants. 



We reached Zitza about noon, after a rather 

 amusing adventure with our guides, who with 

 their chief, the Turk, took it into their heads to 

 try and compel us to submit to what they wished 

 us to do. 



We had made an agreement at Delvino, that 



