APPROACH TO PARNASSUS. 21!) 
a sort of tree that we had first observed in going chap. 
up Mount Garganis, in Troas ; which we had ■ 
called the /ran/ IVood of Ida ; because, when- 
ever we attempted to cut it, we found it to be 
so hard and brittle, that it was like making an 
incision into a piece of ivory. It is at first very 
heavy; but after it has been kept a short time, 
it loses both its weight and strength, and breaks 
like a dried willow. We do not know its 
botanical name ; having lost the specimens that 
we collected during its fructification. 
After descending into the valley, we saw 
between thirty and forty eagles collected upon 
one spot; and we observed, upon our right, 
two immense rocks towering above the road. 
The huge masses they exhibit, added to a 
striking effect produced by their ochreous 
colour, gave a surprising degree of grandeur to 
the fore-ground of the magnificent picture that 
was here presented to the eye. Upon the top 
of the higher rock is a remarkable ruin, circular 
corresponding with the description and situa- men""" 
tion of the monuments (ra fjuvriij^ccrtt,) of La'ius and 
his follower, according to Pausanias'; but 
fttraiTccraf rtis r^ioiav, kcci itr' Murar XiSai Xeyaiiii giffa>ptvf,'ttn, Pausan, 
Fhocica, c. 5. p. 808. ed, Kithnii, 
