PHOCIS. 65 



Elateas. We left the summit of the mountain, near which we dis- 

 tinguished clumps of the silver fir EXan;, at the distance of about two 

 hours ; and through a narrow pass, Commanded by the ruins of 

 Gypto-chorio, descended, after a ride of three hours, into the fertile 

 plains of Bceotia. In two hours more we arrive at Pyrgos, a small 

 village situated on a rising ground, with the remains of an old tower, 

 worked up with the ruins of Grecian buildings. About two miles to 

 our left was Cocla, anciently Platsea; the soil, rich and light, was in 

 many places turned up by the moles. Leaving Pyrgos, we advanced 

 along the plain to Eremo-castro ; in our road we observed droves of 

 pigs tearing up the ground for the roots of the Cuckow pint ( arum 

 maculatum J, which was called by the swine-herd ^xkovtio. Flocks of 

 sheep, whose fleeces were of remarkable blackness, were feeding in 

 the plain ; the breed was considerably superior in beauty and size to 

 that of Attica. It was almost evening when we ascended the hill of 

 Eremo-castro, three hours distant from Pyrgos, passing some foun- 

 tains, and a brook choked up with sedges. 



Nov. 19. — The morning view from Eremo-castro was particularly 

 striking and picturesque ; the eye extended over a rich plain walled in 

 by rough and lofty mountains, Cithseron, Helicon, and Parnassus, with 

 its summit covered with snow ; as were also Olono and the higher 

 tracts of land in the Peloponnesus. Descending from Thespise we pro- 

 ceeded along the plain towards Livadea ; after an hour's ride we passed 

 a small rivulet fringed with plane trees, and a village ; on our right 

 was a marsh with the Lake Topoglias, the ancient Copais ; the 

 greater portion of it overgrown with reeds ; the plain beyond was 

 shut in by the high land above Talanda, and the ridge of rocky 

 ground on the east coast of Boeotia. We saw a great number of vul- 

 tures soaring over the mountains ; and the moor buzzard flew along 

 the marshy tract of the Copais, pursuing the Scolopax, and other 

 Grallae. Great quantities of Saccharum Ravennse grew by the road- 

 side, and the peasants were employed in gathering it for covering their 

 Callivia. After riding six hours we arrived at Livadea. 



K 



