282 



NATURAL HISTORY. 



route of Livado-chorio and Thermia to Lemnos ; the distance from 

 which to the place where the earth is dug is about twelve miles or four 

 hours. Upon our arrival, we were informed that the Mousselim 

 was gone to inspect a vessel building in the bay ; we went in our 

 boat to return him thanks for the civilities which he had shewn us. 

 The ship he was building was one of 50 guns : it had been on the 

 stocks about six weeks ; and he said the whole would be complete in 

 six months. It was of Balanida oak, brought from Romelia, and was 

 new and unseasoned. From this cause and other defects, the Turkish 

 ships last but a few years. He would not suffer us to pay for our 

 horses ; he said, he was happy in the opportunity of shewing a little 

 civility to foreigners, and did not doubt that he should receive the 

 same if he was in our situation. 



EUBCEA. 



Oct. 13. — We observed in the market of Egripo, the ripe fruit of 

 the Sorbns domestica, called here auyu^oc and ou/3e«n ; it is one of 

 those fruits which must be eaten in a state of decay, like the medlar, 

 with which it agrees in flavour. A great number of wasps were 

 collected round the fruit stalks, called Ztpwytiec, without doubt, the 

 £<pi}| of the ancients. We picked up several shells on the coast, the 

 Gaideropus, which is here called a^|/Jw, different species of Murex 

 and Buccinum, Turbo, and the Area Nose, and some species of Voluta. 

 The Brain stone and some Madrepores were thrown upon the beach 

 with a prodigious number of Medusae. We had formerly collected 

 here some crystals of magnetical iron ore ; at present we searched in 

 vain without discovering the least traces of it. 



Feb. 26, 1795. — We embarked at Zante, and in less than four 

 hburs anchored in the harbour of Pyrgo ; on the coast of the ancient 

 El is. We proceeded from our boat along a sandy beach covered 

 with the shells of the Area glycymeris and Cardium edule, mixed 

 with the spoils of other testacea. About an hour's distance from the 



