30 ISLAND OF NAXOS. 
CHAP, architectural knowledge. We noticed some 
caves near the shore; and it is probable that 
this obscure and almost unknown retreat has 
offered an occasional asylum to some of the 
numerous corsairs of the Archipelago. After 
this, our botanical excursions led us a little far- 
ther into the interior, over a barren district, 
" Jitter" as Tournefort said of the whole island ', 
" to inspire sadness than joy ." We saw neither 
fixed inhabitants, nor any mark of cultivation 2 . 
The high rocks above the creek were covered 
with the blossoms of a species of Cyclamen, 
probably the aulumnale of Ray 3 : we collected a 
great number of these, and several bulbous- 
rooted plants, particularly one with a small and 
very elegant white flower, which we thought 
was new, but the specimens were afterwards 
injured or lost. We could not find Tournefort s 
(1) " Elle nous parut d'abord plus propre ;t inspirer de la tristesse 
que de la joye." Voyage du Levant, torn. \. p- 254. Lyon, 1717. 
(2) Cuuut de Choiseul Gouffier gave a very different description of the 
north part of the island. " Si Ton avanee dans les terres, on trouve 
des vullt'es delicieuses, arrose'es de mille ruisseaux, et des fonts 
d'orangers, de figuiers, et de grenadiers. La terre par sa fecondite* 
semble prt-veuir tons les besoins de ses habitans ; elle nourrit un 
grande quantite de hcstiaux, de gibier. Le ble", 1'huile, les figues, et 
le vin, y sont toujuurs abondans. On y recueille aussi de la soie.'' 
Voyage Pittorcsque de la Grece, p. 41. Paris, 1782. 
(S) Raii Hist. 1206. 
