THEBES. 01 
groves of cypress-trees; a mosque and a minaret chap. 
being its most conspicuous edifices. Having > 
suffered more than any other city of Greece, it 
has little within its walls worth notice ; — but 
that little must not be disregarded. Beheld ex- 
ternally, it wears a more imposing appearance; 
and the view of it from a distance in the plain 
shews how greatly nature contributed to aid the 
operations of art in its antient fortifications. 
When it is thus seen, it still assumes all the 
aspect of a great city. Prodigious ramparts, and 
high mounds of a very artificial form, appear 
upon the outside of it ; a deep fosse surrounds 
it ; and the traces of its old walls may yet be 
discerned. We entered, by an antient gate, 
about noon. Half the arch of this gate, and one 
of the buttresses, remain. Soon afterwards 
arrived the English Consul of Patras, Mr, Slrani, 
from Livadia, in company with an English 
officer, Captain Laci/. We accompanied these 
gentlemen, upon the usual visit of ceremony, to 
the fVaiwode; and then we all dined together, 
upon such fare as the place afforded. We were 
in a wretched house, belonging to a poor Greek, 
who was the apothecary of the place, but who 
gave us all he could, namely, a welcome. Our 
interpreter being again attacked by his fever, 
wc; were forced to 'j^o into tlic town ourselves 
