RUINS OF NEMEA. 527 
peasant who had joined us, to the village, where 
the Tchohadar had already arrived and engaged 
one of the huts for our reception. The poor 
Albanians, to whom this little habitation be- Albanians. 
longed, had swept the earth floor and kindled a 
fire upon it; the smoke escaping through a hole 
in the roof: one end of the hut being occupied 
by their cattle and poultry, and the other by 
the family and their guests. Having killed and 
boiled a large fowl, we made broth for all the 
party; sitting in a circle round the fire. After- 
wards, imitating the example offered to us by 
our host and his family, we placed our feet 
towards the embers, and stretched ourselves 
upon the floor of the cottage until the morning. 
We perceived during the night, that the women, 
instead of sleeping, were always tending the 
fire ; bringing fresh fuel when it was wanted, 
and spreading out the embers so as to warm the 
feet of the men, who were lying around the 
hearth. When these peasants had taken a short 
nap, they sate up, and began talking. The con- 
versation turned upon the oppressions of their 
Turkish masters. The owner of the hut told us 
that each male is compelled to pay a tax of 
seventy piastres; that, for himself, having three 
sons, they demanded of him an annual payment 
