150 OUR RECEPTION BY THE MONKS. 



The usual mode of ascent, however, appeared 

 to be by the ladders, and the monks seemed a 

 good deal surprised at our asking for the net. 

 These worthies gave us, as monks always did, some 

 excellent wine and very good goat cheese. The 

 convent is remarkably neat, clean, and comfort- 

 able, and there is a small garden belonging to it 

 occupying the remaining space on the top of the 

 rock on which Agios Stephanos stands. All 

 these convents are, to a great extent, independent 

 of external supplies, having an abundant supply 

 of water, and plenty of corn and wine in their 

 cellars, so that, being quite inaccessible, no ene- 

 my, however powerful, could, except by treachery, 

 get possession of any of them. It is true, they might 

 ultimately be starved into submission, but this 

 would be an almost interminable affair, consider- 

 ing the abundance which may always be seen 

 in their cellars and storehouses. 



After remaining about two hours in this extra- 

 ordinary neighbourhood, we again mounted our 

 horses, and four hours' riding brought us to Tri- 

 cala. Here, as in all the towns along the road, 

 we found a very bad and very dirty khan. I lay 

 it down as a general rule in travelling in this part 



