VALE OF TEMPE. 167 



he has left. The Peneus, which, as it runs through 

 Tempe, is about fifty yards in width, occupies 

 nearly the whole breadth of the vale or chasm, 

 and the narrow track, which, however bad as a 

 road, will never be felt long or wearisome, runs 

 parallel to its right bank. 



It is said that 1885 years B.C., the two moun- 

 tains Ossa and Olympus were separated by an 

 earthquake, and that in consequence of this 

 convulsion, the waters, which until that time 

 covered the Thessalian plain, escaped through 

 the vale of Tempe to the Ocean. I looked 

 very closely to try and fix upon any spot where 

 the strata might have the appearance of hav- 

 ing been formerly joined, but could discover 

 none : in fact, I do not believe that the disrup- 

 tion (if ever any did take place) could have been 

 to the extent which tradition has handed down. 



The plain of Thessaly has, undoubtedly the 

 appearance of having been covered with water at 

 no very remote period, but this might have been 

 caused by minor obstacles, such as, for example, a 

 collection of huge rocks in the bed of the Peneus. 

 Any natural obstacle of this description would, 

 by raising the level of that river, cause a water- 



