208 TRAVEL, ADVENTURE, AND SPORT. 



abounds on the west coast. The cistus, a low shrub 

 with a white flower rather like a dog-rose, was also 

 very plentiful, and a small kind of holly with coloured 

 leaves. 



About two o'clock we came suddenly in sight of 

 the sea, with .ZEgina in the distance, and the low 

 hills of Attica beyond. The scene was lovely beyond 

 description. We were riding through a thick olive- 

 wood, whose silver-grey foliage made a fine contrast 

 with the bright blue of sea and sky. The sun shone 

 brilliantly, and masses of white cloud cast their 

 shadows down the steep hillsides. The air was full 

 of the breath of spring, and of the joyous song of 

 birds. An hour's ride through this very paradise 

 brought us down to the little harbour of Epidaurus, 

 where we soon found a sailing-boat to carry us across 

 to the Piraeus. 



And so our rida across the Peloponnese was over. 

 A week, not free from discomfort a traveller must 

 make up his mind to that but also full of intense 

 delight, had shown us some of the beauties of Greek 

 landscape, had revealed to us some of the glories of 

 Greek art, had brought us face to face with places 

 long familiar to our minds in Greek legend and 

 history. The greatest was yet to come. Not many 

 miles across the blue waters at our feet we can see 

 the hills of Attica, locked in whose embrace lies 

 Athens. 



