KARDITCH. 



167 



clothed with thickets of luxuriant shrubs. Many * 

 beautiful species of orchis and ophrys attracted 

 our attention here for the first time. After the 

 not uncommon accident of losing our way in 

 a storm, and finding it again in sunshine, in five 

 hours we arrived at Karditch, a most romantic 

 and secluded spot in the heart of this great val- 

 ley, surrounded by thick and far-extending fo- 

 rests, and walled in by high mountains, the 

 summits of which were covered with snow. A 

 low stone house and a few black tents were all 

 the dwellings at our halting-place. The house 

 was the odoor of the district ; and introduced by 

 our guide to the local magistrate or Agha, we 

 were soon made welcome and comfortable. 



April 3?*d. — Guided by the Agha we soon found 

 ruins at a place about an hours journey hence, 

 called Ghiourastan-lik, a general name for ancient 

 sites. They were not of great extent or import- 

 ance, and consisted of about thirty sarcophagi and 

 numerous walls, some of Hellenic, others of mid- 

 dle-age architecture. Among them were the re- 

 mains of two early Christian churches. The in- 

 scriptions on the sarcophagi were much worn, and 

 required time and patience to copy ; but the 

 perseverance of Mr. Daniell at length was re- 



