52 
MARATHON TO THEBES. 
CHAP. 
II. 
Skemata, 
ascend the higher parts of the plain towards the 
north and north-west, and drew near to the 
mountains upon the opposite side of it to those 
we had quitted. Here we had a noble view of 
the whole Gulph of Eurijms ; to which we were 
now so close, that we could discern the 
buildings upon the opposite shore of Eabcea. 
We could not so plainly perceive the narrow 
strait where the bridge of Yakindee ' now is ; but 
we saw the two seas upon the opposite sides of 
the Euripus. At the distance of two hours from 
CEnea, we arrived at the village of Skemata, 
where we halted for the night. The great plain 
over which we had been travelling was called, 
by the yllbanians, Bratchi ; but after our arrival 
at Skemata, we observed that the inhabitants 
bestowed the name of Nacra, or Nacri, both 
upon the plain and upon their village. Our 
total ignorance of the Albanian language would 
render it absurd if we were to attempt to trace 
any connexion between this word Nacra, and 
Tanagra, the antient name of the city and dis- 
trict lying to the north, and perhaps to the 
(1) The name given in the country to the bridge whicli now connects 
Eubcea with the continent of Greece. Mr. Hobhouse visited the spot. 
He describes the v/ater as rusliiiig " like a mill-race" under this bridge, 
and as beinj! " not much more ihan four feet deep." " A strong eddy ii> 
observable on that side from which it is about to run, about a hundred 
yards above the bridge." See Hobhouse's Travels, <2>' ^53. Land. 1815. 
