AXCIENT OI.BIA. 153 



logical botanist Theodore de Saussure, arrived here on a 

 lovely April evening and was spell-bound hv the beaut\- 

 of the situation. From the windows of the "Auberge du 

 Saint Esprit'' he looked down on (Jrange groves whicli 

 were in the full splendour of fruit and blossom, and 

 enlivened b}' innumerable nightingales. The land fell awa}' 

 gradually to the sea, so he wrote, and the slope was 

 adorned in the foreground by gardens, with Olive gro- 

 ves be\-ond and Poplars in the distance. Wooded heights 

 formed a frame to this loveh' picture. 



liA'crcs is li\'e kilometres from the shore on which 

 formerh stood (Mbia, whenxe Iheres had its origin. 

 Founded hv Massiliots and destro\ ed b\ Saracens, this 

 town was rebuilt on the heights further from the sea, 

 that it might not be so directh- exposed to the attacks 

 ot the Corsairs. The site of ancient Olbia is now di\'idcd, 

 like a chess-board, into squares. These are flooded with 

 sea water, which is lelt to e\'aporate in the hot summer 

 sun for tlie sake of the salt whicli is deposited. (Opposite 

 are the Islands of Ihx-res stretched out as though sleeping 

 peacefully in the sea. The Figurians once obtained Irom 

 these islands the red coral with \vhich the\- adorned the 

 necks of their women and the belts of their swords. And be- 

 cause of the Lai'iDidttla Sioecluis (Fig. p. 257), which grew 

 here in great abundance, these islands were in ancient times 

 called "Stoechades". The perfume ot this species ol I>a- 

 vender was formerly much prized. The plant owes its name 

 to the arrangement of its flowers in vertical ranks. In the 

 Middle ^Vges the Stoechades changed their name for the 

 high-sounding one of the "(golden Isles". Was it the Golden 



