ISLAND OF SYROS. 155 
monies of the vintage are particularly conspi- CHAP. 
cuous. Before sun-rise, a number of young v. . y - ../ 
women are seen coming towards the town, 
covered with the branches and leaves of the 
vine ; when they are met or accompanied by 
their lovers, singing loud songs, and joining in 
a circular dance. This is evidently the orbicular 
choir 3 who sung the Dithyrambi, and danced that 
species of song in praise of Bacchus. Thus do 
the present inhabitants of these islands exhibit 
a faithful portraiture of the manners and cus- 
toms of their progenitors: the ceremonies of 
Antient Greece have not been swept away by the 
revolutions of the country: even the represen- 
tations of the theatre, the favourite exhibitions 
of the Attic drama, are yet beheld, as they 
existed among the people before they were 
removed from the scenes of common life to 
Become the ornaments of the Grecian stage. 
Some very fine gems and medals were shewn Gems and 
to us by a native of Syra : but the price he 
demanded for them exceeded all moderation. 
One of the gems was of high antiquity. It was 
an intaglio of red jasper; the subject, Pegasus, 
(3) f Ey'x< gift,. See De Guys, vol. I. p. 218; and the authors 
by him cited. 
