Szte of an Ancient Town. 37 
barely a foot high, and barley equally short. With all 
the resources of modern agriculture, artificial manure, 
deeper ploughing, and more complete cleaning, such 
results do not seem altogether commensurate with the 
labour bestowed. Of course it is not always so, else 
the enterprise would be at once abandoned. But 
when I come to think of the ancient tillage in the 
terraces upon the barren slopes, I find it difficult to 
see how, with their rude implements, the men of those 
times could have procured any sustenance from their 
soil, unless I suppose the conditions different. 
If there was forest all around, to condense the 
vapours rolling over and deposit a heavy dew or 
grateful rainfall, then they may have found the 
stubborn earth more fruitful. Trees and brakes, and 
thickets, too, would give shelter and protect the rising 
growth from the bitter winds ; while when first tilled 
the soil itself would be rich from the decay of accu- 
mulated leaves, dead boughs, and vegetable matter. 
So that the terrace gardens may have yielded plenti- 
fully then, and were probably surrounded with stock- 
ades to protect them from the ravages of the beasts of 
the forest. Now the very site of the ancient town can 
scarcely be distinguished : the sheep graze, the lambs 
gambol gaily over it in the sunshine, and the shepherd 
dozes hard by on the slope while his dog watches the 
flock. 
A long day of rain is often followed by a mode- 
rately fine evening—the clouds breaking up as the sun 
