MARATHON TO THEBES. 51 
Descending into this plain, we passed a 
village called Shalishi, where we observed an 
antient fountain. This place is distant three ^shltShL^ 
hours from MagU and six hours and a half from 
Marathon, equal to about twenty miles. We had 
no sooner entered the plain than we were struck 
by the appearance of a large insular knoll or 
hill rising out of it, beautifully adorned with 
oak and pine-trees, and upon the top of which 
there was a tower ; one of many edifices of the 
same nature which may be observed through- 
out Boeotia, built perhaps for alarm and defence, 
during the period of the Latin domination". 
We passed, across the plain, to the right of this 
tower, leaving it upon our left hand. After a 
ride of two hours from Shalishi, we came to a 
village called Eia, situate upon an eminence. Eia. 
It is now in ruins ; but it has a large tower and 
some walls remaining, among the ruins of 
several houses. There is no antient name with 
which the modern appellation of this place ap- 
pears to correspond. Continuing our journey 
through the plain, we passed the ruins of other 
houses and towers, proving that it was once a 
very populous district. We now began to 
(6) Mr. Hawkins has informed the author, that such lofty square towers 
are also common over all Eubcea. 
£ 2 
