ISTHMUS OF CORINTH. 587 
was set before us, with the richest and most CHAP. 
V 
highly-flavoured honey. The fire being kindled 
in the middle of the floor, the peasants form a 
circle around it, sitting or lying with their feet 
towards the hearth. Their conversation is 
cheerful and animated; and, as it was inter- 
preted to us, it seemed to be filled with as 
lively sallies of wit against the faults of their 
Governors, as it is usual to hear among nations 
boasting of the freedom they enjoy. We could 
not hear of any antiquities in the neighbour- 
hood ; nor did we expect even a tradition of the 
Cromyonian sow, or any other exploit of Theseus 
in the Straits of Peloponnesus, among a people 
who are not the indigenous inhabitants of the 
country. A single black terra-cotta vessel, of 
small size, and shaped like a bottle, found in 
some sepulchre near the place, was the only 
relic of antient Cromyon that we were able to 
procure. 
Monday, November the sixteenth, the wind 
continuing still contrary, we hired asses, and 
determined to proceed by land ; being now safe 
from interruption on the part of the Governor 
of Corinth, and relying upon the Albanians for 
protection, who are generally considered as the 
only persons exercising the Sdronian profession 
