THE GREEK ISLES 133 



II 



I have given this cruise nearly in full. From the 

 notes, unhappily imperfect, of two others, I will 

 take only specimens ; for in all there are features 

 of similarity and it is possible to have too much 

 even of submarine telegraphy and the romance of 

 engineering. And first from the cruise of 1859 

 in the Greek Islands and to Alexandria, take a 

 few traits, incidents and pictures. 



' May 10, 1859. 



4 We had a fair wind and we did very well, seeing 

 a little bit of Cerig or Cythera, and lots of turtle- 

 doves wandering about over the sea and perching, 

 tired and timid, in the rigging of our little craft. 

 Then Falconera, Antimilo and Milo, topped with 

 huge white clouds, barren, deserted, rising bold 

 and mysterious from the blue chafing sea ; 

 Argentiera, Siphano, Scapho, Paros, Antiparos, 

 and late at night Syra itself. Adam Bede in one 

 hand, a sketch-book in the other, lying on rugs under 

 an awning, I enjoyed a very pleasant day. 



' May 14. 



1 Syra is semi-eastern. The pavement, huge 

 shapeless blocks sloping to a central gutter ; from 

 this, bare two-storeyed houses, sometimes plaster, 

 many-coloured, sometimes rough-hewn marble, rise, 

 dirty and ill-finished, to straight, plain, flat roofs ; 



