SUMMIT OF PARNASSUS. 259 
wish to see a bulbous plant, extolled by the char 
natives for its restorative virtues (which they > 
eat, root and all, in vinegar), one of the guides 
was forced to descend in search of it. Another 
plant, because it contains a fluid of a milky 
colour, they give to women whose breasts fail 
to yield milk'. Thence climbing the mountain 
on its north-eastern side, we found it bleak, and 
destitute of herbage: higher up, we passed 
through snow, lying in patches. At length we Crater of 
reached a small plain, upon the top of the 
mountain, and also in the bottom of a crater, 
containing a pretty large pool of water, frozen 
over. In this respect the summit of this moun- 
tain resembles that of the Kader-Idris in JVules. 
The sides of the crater, rising in ridsfes around Nature of 
this plain, are the most elevated pomts of Par- 
nassus. We climbed the highest of them, 
which was upon our left hand ; but with great 
difficulty, as the sides were a glacier, covered 
with hard and slippery ice ; and our fingers, in 
spite of our exertions, were benumbed. At 
last, however, we reached the upmost peak, 
and, having gained a footing upon its top, stood 
(l) The same custom is mentioned by TVUelcr, {Journ. into Greece, 
p. 416. Lond. 1682.) He says Uiat the Greek name for the plant is 
Gahicorta; and lie calls it Scorzoneru Cretica. 
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