21(5 RETURN TO LEBADEA. 
nature, perhaps, were the stones mentioned by 
Pausanias as a principal object of veneration 
among the Orchomenians, who believed them to 
have fallen from heaven': unless, indeed, which 
some are inclined to believe, substances that 
had really fallen from the atmosphere were 
preserved in this city, and worshipped by the 
inhabitants, as at Mgos Potamos. That the old 
superstitions of Greece are by no means alto- 
gether eradicated, must be evident to every 
traveller who visits the country. As we re- 
Retuin to tumcd iu thc evening to Lebadea, the secre- 
tary of the j4rchon, considered a man of edu- 
cation among the Greeks of that city — speaking 
of the tops of the mountains, and particularly 
of Parnassus, which he perceived attracted our 
attention continually towards it — said in Italian, 
" It is there that the old Gods {antichi Dei) 
have resided, ever since they were driven from 
the plains:" — and observing that we were 
amused by his observation, he added, with 
great seriousness, " They did strange things in 
this country : those old Gods are not fit sub- 
jects for laughter." 
Lebadea. 
(I) Taf jU«v Vn frir^as (rifioviri ts ^laXiirTa, xn'i T^'ETt^xXu (patr'iv avra; 
truj U Tot ov.^xtov. roiu^an. Ba-ol. c. 38. p. 786. ed.A'ji/in. 
