16 PLAIN OF MARATHON. 
plain, passed by it, leaving it upon his left hand ; 
by which he lost the finest view, not only of the 
Plain of Marathon, but of all the interesting objects 
which associate in the same prospect. It is three 
hours distant from Stamala, and eight hours from 
Athens, or about twenty-four miles ' ; and it is 
situate at the north-western extremity of a valley 
which opens, towards the south-east, into the great 
Plain of Marathon. The plain itself is quite 
flat; and extends along the sea-shore, from the 
north-east towards the south-west. Our first 
employment, after arriving here, was to delineate 
the whole of this grand perspective with as 
much accuracy as possible; and for this pur- 
pose, upon the following morning (^Dec. 2), we 
ascended the mountain which is immediately 
behind the village, proceeding about half a mile 
farther towards the north-west. The earth was 
covered with the blossoms of a beatiful species 
(1) It would exactly equal tvvv.nty-four miles, if three miles were 
allowed, according to the usual computation, for each hour; but the 
country is uneven and rocky, and perhaps the rate of travelling across 
it, with horses, does not here exceed 2^ miles per houi. This 
therefore allows an interval of twenty miles, or 160 stadia, which 
greatly exceeds the measurement antiently allowed for the distance 
between the two places. "If we suppose," says Mr. Hothouse, {Journey 
through Albania, S(c. p. 438. Land. 1813.) " that there was formerly 
a nearer road by Vraona (Brauron), the difference will be considerably 
diminished." 
