PHOCIS. 



71 



fine forest, composed of the Pinus Picea. In somewhat more than an 

 hour I reached some snow, lying sheltered in the chasms of the rock. 

 Several curious plants grew here. The approach of night, the dis- 

 tance of the summit, and the apprehensions of banditti which alarmed 

 my Caloyers, prevented me from proceeding further. I descended 

 from the second summit, and reached the convent at sun-set. 



July 6. — > A monk of the cloister, famous for his knowledge in 

 simples, arrived the preceding evening. I had been told of his repu- 

 tation at Delphi. I walked out into the wood with him at day-break, 

 a venerable octagenarian. I learnt from him more than one hundred 

 names of the plants growing in the environs of the monastery; many 

 of them were barbarous, yet most of them were significative ; some 

 remained unaltered and uncorrupted, the ancient names of Theo- 

 phrastus and Dioscorides. To all he attributed some medical virtue, 

 some superstitious use. I regret much that the infirmities of his age 

 would not permit me to carry him along with me to Livadea. I had 

 offered rewards on my arrival at the convent for procuring different 

 birds. A short time before my departure a Caloyer arrived, making 

 a triumphant entrance, followed by two men supporting an immense 

 vulture. I do not find it mentioned by Linnaeus, though frequent in 

 the Greek mountains. It is called o^veo and Xvko^vso ; it measured, 

 the wings expanded, from tip to tip eight feet, and from the tip of 

 the beak to the extremity, of the tail three feet nine inches, and 

 weighed nine okes, or twenty-two pounds and a half. 



In Dr. Sibthorp's Journals there is an account of his attempt to ascend 

 Parnassus a third time. It is here inserted, being connected with 

 some of the preceding remarks. 



Sept. 11. — Soon after day-break, with two Caloyers for my guides, 

 I began my third ascent of Parnassus, and winding along the north- 



