ATTICA. 



147 



a shepherd playing upon a pastoral flute, a single piece of the donax, 

 about a foot long ; the note was very pleasing. The husbandmen 

 were now preparing the ground for the seed-corn, and with instru- 

 ments like our pick-axes, x%tvwi pulverized the clods. We walked 

 from the Acathymia to a small villa of the Consul's under the hill, 

 called Turko Bouni ; it was surrounded by a vineyard, contained 

 three stremata, and was purchased for 100 piastres. We saw adjoin- 

 ing to it a rich piece of ground, containing nearly an acre, which had 

 lately been bought for 50 piastres. The low price of land, and the 

 misery every where apparent through the city and its neighbourhood, 

 were strong evidences of the despotism which prevailed. I saw some 

 hedges planted with the Cactus opuntia, called 'Apxfioa-vxi, Arabian, 

 or Indian fig, a sufficient proof that it is not a native plant but intro- 

 duced from the east. I picked up the Aloe perfoliata in the streets 

 of Athens ; it was still called Axo??* : toasted before the fire the Alba- 

 nian women applied it to swellings of the neck. The plain of 

 Athens, if we except the olive tree, is extremely destitute of wood, 

 and we observed on our return the peasants driving home their asses 

 laden with Passerina hirsuta for fuel. 



Oct. 24. — Logotheti called upon us in the morning, and conducted 

 us to a tanner's, where was explained to us the process of dyeing the 

 black and yellow leathers ; the red was not made in this manufactory. 

 The hair or wool being taken off the skin by its being soaked in a 

 strong solution of lime-water, it was then put into a second, and after- 

 wards into a third solution ; it was next rubbed with dogs' dung. 

 After this process, if the intention was to dye it black, it was put into 

 a lixivium made by mixing powdered Balanida with boiling water, 

 which is cooled by pouring in cold ; the skin is then put into it, 

 and remains steeped some time before it has acquired a due degree 

 of ■ astringency or toughness. It is taken out and dried, and being 



* The medicinal uses of the aloe are mentioned in Dioscorides, lib. hi. c. 25. Roasted 

 in an earthen pot it was employed for complaints in the eyes. Mixed with wine and 

 honey it was applied to disorders in the jaws, and tonsils, and mouth. 



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