58 PLAIN OF THEBES. 
cii.'\r. 
II. 
rains, when they are more easily perceived upon 
the soil, and are left in the channels made by 
rain water. 
Upon the fourth of December we set out for 
Thehes, at the distance of five hours, or fifteen 
miles. Three-ciuarters of an hour after leaving 
Villages of Skemata, the village of Bratchi was upon our left, 
Macro!and ^^^ Mttcro and Megalo Vathni upon our right: 
Megaio ]3ut the two last were not in sidit. We then 
Vathni. _ '^ 
quitted the Plain of Bratchi; and having crossed 
an eminence, immediately entered the noble 
Plain of Plain of Thebes. This will serve to confirm an 
observation before made, that every principal 
city of Greece occupies its peculiar plain, sur- 
rounded in a most remarkable manner by a 
natural wall of mountains : and, in alluding once 
more to the fact, the author must of course 
repeat what he has already said; but too much 
stress cannot be laid upon it, because it will 
enable the Reader to take, as it were, a mental 
survey of the country; and the mere name of 
any Grecian city, by this circumstance of associa- 
tion, will convey with it, whenever it is men- 
tioned, a correct, although an imaginary picture 
of its appearance and situation; especially to the 
minds of travellers who have once seen any 
similar instance of this nature. The country 
