X. 
TO THESSALONICA. 40/ 
the history of its sepulchres, our curiosity was chap. 
strongly excited to repair ourselves to the spot; 
but in this we were disappointed. The ^gha, 
to whom we sent our Tchohodar with a request 
for that purpose, positively refused his assent: 
and when we applied to the inhabitants for 
guides to conduct us thither, even in spite of 
the u^gha'fi refusal, we found that no one dared 
to accompany us. The Greek inhabitants, to 
whom we applied, told us, that if we were 
determined to go to the Paheo-castro, we must 
remain in Katar'ina until we could enter into 
some contract with the robbers who dwell there, 
and who are the only proper guides to such 
deserted places. This we would willingly have 
done; but our time for remaining in Turkey 
would not admit of such delay, and we were 
therefore reluctantly compelled to abandon the 
undertaking. The persons whom the Greeks of 
Katar'ina designate by the name of robbers, are 
probably nothing more than the Albanian moun- 
taineers of Olympus ; a set of men whom any 
traveller may safely trust, and in whose honour 
we would gladly have confided. But it must 
be confessed, that their own countrymen, the 
Arnauts of Katar'ina, speak of a sturdy set of 
depredators in Olympus, whom they say even 
