VOYAGE TO ATHENS. 193 
the port of ZiV. There was barely wind enough CHAP. 
to keep the vessel steady to her helm ; there- ._ ' . 
fore if she chanced to fall upon a rock or a 
shoal, it would be easy to get her off again, and 
the pilot had said that the course was clear. 
Accordingly, we set sail, and for once ventured 
towards a lee-shore, without seeing any thing of 
the land. In this manner passing the mouth of 
the old haven PHALERUM, as we drew near to 
the Munychian Isthmus, we distinctly perceived 
the coast, like a long dark wall, before us. Upon 
this, we stood somewhat farther out, towards 
the norlh-ivest; and doubling the point, lowered 
our sails, and took to the oars, steering north- 
east, and afterwards due east; by which means 
we soon entered the outer port of the PIRAEUS ; Arrival t 
but endeavouring to pass farther in, we drove 
the vessel upon the ruined pier, on the Muny- 
chian side. Daylight was beginning to dawn ; and 
a part of this pier rose above the water, so that 
we were enabled to land upon it, and lighten 
the caique, while our sailors were employed 
in getting her head off the pier. We found the 
entrance to the inner harbour to be close to this 
(2) The variation of the compass 12. 55', as observed in 175 T, 
makes the course exactly north by the magnetic needle. See Stuart's 
Athens; Map of Attica ; vol. III. 
VOL. VI. O 
