226 



MOUNT ATHOS. 



they carry a young child with such apparent ease, that they do not 

 relieve themselves from the burden when at the work in the fields : 

 in going from place to place they not only carry their infants in this 

 manner, .but have often a lofty jar or pitcher on their heads, and a 

 rock and spindle in their hands, with which they spin as they walk. 

 The shepherds, ploughmen, and indeed every peasant without 

 exception had a long musket slung at his back; a pistol, and yataghan 

 or Turkish sword in his belt. 



The price of wheat here was five piastres and a half, the kiloe, or 

 about eight shillings a bushel ; wine three paras an oke, a measure 

 of two pounds and a half; a lamb weighing two okes and a quarter, 

 cost four piastres or six shillings ; two eggs were sold for a para, 

 (halfpenny,) a fowl for twelve. Labourers in the vineyards have 

 twenty paras (ten-pence) a day, in addition to meat and drink ; 

 common labourers fifteen paras (seven-pence halfpenny) and food. 

 Mules for riding cost from one hundred and fifty to two hundred 

 piastres each ; an ox for ploughing is worth sixty piastres, a horse 

 for carrying burdens, sells for from fifty to sixty-five piastres. Before 

 we left this village we had a visit of ceremony from a bride, nJ//^, 

 whose friends told us they hailed our arrival as a good omen for the 

 happiness of the married pair. The bride was not so much veiled 

 as to conceal her face from us; on receiving a present she 

 took our hands to her mouth, kissed them, and then bowing, retired 

 in silence, having during the whole ceremony not uttered a syllable. 

 This silence we were told, was continued for eight days from her 

 wedding; during which period she is accompanied by her bride- 

 maids and husband's relations from house to house, and receives 

 from each male inhabitant a few paras or piastres according to the 

 wealth of the party. Small pieces of coin were strung to the braids 

 of her hair, which hung down her back and over her shoulders, 

 nearly reaching the ground; the skull-cap was covered with larger 

 coins ; among these were many ancient medals which we in vain 

 attempted to purchase at a high offer. We were told that the cap 

 she wore was considered as a family treasure, and that it descended 



