AND PLATiEA. - 99 
IVight put a stop to our farther researches, char 
after our visit to the source of the ^sopus ; and y i^-. ^ 
we returned to the village of Platana v/ithout 
having as yet found any remains of the city of 
Plat^a. To our great surprise, the inhabi- 
tants o^ Platana entertained traditions remark- 
ably connected with the history of the place. 
They spoke of a great battle having happened Traditions 
here in former times; and said they would con- Battle of 
duct US m the mornmg to the spot where it was 
fought; for they knew it well, both from the 
circumstance of its being more fertile than any 
other part of their land, and from the various 
bits of iron, lead, and other antiquities, which 
they had always been accustomed to find there. 
They spoke also o^di Pakeo-castm, in the direction 
of Coda, but less distant ; situate upon a pro- 
jecting part oi Cithceron, where they occasionally 
find medals. The most interesting conversation 
we ever had with the Albanians took place this 
evening, among the inhabitants of Platana. The 
owner of the little hut where we lodged, wel- 
comed us, as we entered, with the usual hospi- 
tality of his countrymen. Seating himself upon condition 
the clean and well-swept floor of his dwelling, j,abjtain"i 
with his back leaning against his upright sacks 
of corn, he bade his wife be brisk, and get a cake 
of bread ready, and bake it upon the hearth, 
II 2 
