FORDING THE XANTHUS. 295 



swiftest part of this rapid river, the current was 

 sufficiently strong to carry our horses off their 

 feet, and render the seat a nervous one for those 

 of our party who could not swim. After chang- 

 ing our dripping garments we directed our 

 course towards Minara, anxious to ascertain if 

 the Beacon had returned to carry away the 

 marbles. Presently meeting some natives on 

 their way to the mountains, we learned the 

 gratifying information that a party of English- 

 men had been landed from a ship off the mouth 

 of the river about a week before ; and that they 

 were now employed among the ruins at Xanthus 

 removing the marbles. They could not say 

 whether the Beacon's people were there or not. 

 At Minara, however, all this was denied. The 

 natives who remained there had not heard 

 of the arrival of strangers. In doubt we des- 

 patched one of our surigees to Leveesy to fetch 

 the letters we had ordered to be sent there; 

 and having still much to do at Pinara, devoted 

 our time to planning and exploring that most re- 

 markable of all the Lycian cities. 



Pinara, like Petra in Idumea, may be styled 

 the City of Tombs ; for, though ruins of temples, 

 Pagan and Christian, of theatres, and of dwellings, 



