IN THE MOREA. 



35 



of the ancients respecting this part of the Messenian territory admits 

 of further elucidation, I shall begin the extracts from my journal from 

 our arrival at Calamata on the 7th of April. 



This town is situated not far from the sea on the eastern side of 

 the beautiful and extensive plain of Messenia. This plain is watered 

 by the Pamisus*, and extends along the shore for about fifteen miles 

 from Ithome and the mountains that separate Messenia from Triphy- 

 lia to Taygetus. Cotylus and Lycaeus are the boundaries to the 

 north-east and north, whence the Pamisus rolls its waters to the sea. 

 Its sources are mentioned by Pausanias in the way which led from 

 Thuria into Arcadia. Notwithstanding the slowness of its course it 

 is the largest river in the Peloponnesus, and divides itself into three 

 or four considerable streams, encircling small islands in its progress 

 between the foot of Mount Ithome f and the sea. The whole plain 

 is naturally fertile, and the eastern part of it near Calamata is a scene 

 of rich and beautiful cultivation. The fields are divided by high 

 fences of the Cactus or prickly pear, and large orchards of the white 

 mulberry tree, the food of silk-worms (of which the inhabitants of 

 this part of the plain rear great numbers), are interspersed with fields 

 of maize, olive grounds, and gardens almost worthy of Alcinous him- 

 self. Among these the small town of Calamata stands, consisting of 

 perhaps three hundred houses scattered amidst the gardens and along 

 the banks of the rivulet that now bears its name. This rivulet descends 

 from Taygetus, and was anciently the Nedon described in Strabo, 

 lib. viii. p. 360., as falling into the sea near Pheras, or Pharae. It has 

 every character of a mountain torrent, an inconsiderable stream in 

 summer, and even when we were there (in spring) it was almost lost 

 in a bed of large stones and gravel of about one hundred yards in 



* Now called Pirnatza. Mr. M. confirms the words of Strabo, who says " it is the 

 largest river (meaning the broadest, for in length the Eurotas and Alpheus exceed it) 

 within the isthmus." Lib. viii. 



f Now called Mount Vulkano ; the ruins of Messene are near a spot named Mavroma- 

 thia. See the French edition of Strabo, and Gell's Itinerary of the Morea. 



F 2 



