RETURN TO ISNA. 67 



it to be Pyrrha, which he places between Phel- 

 lus and Xanthus, a position agreeing well with 

 that of Saaret.* After examining the geology 

 of the district, which is of much interest, as 

 the valley is occupied by a marine tertiary for- 

 mation, we returned to our horses, which we 

 had left pasturing on a rich sward near the 

 village. 



On our return to Isna, much anxiety was 

 shewn by its inhabitants, to know the result of 

 our visit to the ruins, more particularly if we had 

 seen or obtained the treasure from the large 

 stone, meaning the obelisk, connected with which 

 they narrated a tradition about a man, who in 

 attempting to break it open lost the use of one 

 side, and subsequently died. This we recognised 

 as the same story with which our little friend 

 of Sedek had amused us on the preceding even- 

 ing. On desiring our Greek interpreter to ex- 

 plain to them that the circumstance of a man 

 suddenly losing the use of half his body was 

 not an uncommon occurrence in our country, 

 he declined, saying, " keep them in ignorance, 

 allow them to retain their superstitions, and we 

 shall the longer preserve the memorials of our 



* Plin. Nat. Hist. 1. v. c. xxvii. 



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