FINE SHOOTING COUNTRY. 183 



good deal, but a few hours up to my horse's 

 girths in water cooled astonishingly my sense of 

 the ridiculous. 



The country between Platamona and Caterina 

 is not much cultivated, but there is a general ap- 

 pearance of industry, wherever there is any symp- 

 tom of cultivation. The villages are remarkably 

 neat and clean. I saw no vines, but, on inquiry, 

 was told there are some under Mount Olym- 

 pus. 



The whole of the ground must be magnificent 

 for shooting. I should like much to find myself 

 in this part of the country in the month of Janu- 

 ary, with a few regular, out-and-out sportsmen, 

 and a good double pack of spaniels. I can ima- 

 gine nothing more splendid, as better or more 

 favourable ground for woodcocks I never saw, 

 and partridges and pheasants abound. I often 

 saw red-legged partridges, but I believe there are 

 grey partridges also, and as I was passing along 

 the road near Caterina a hen pheasant got up 

 quite close to me. 



