FROM THESSALONICA, 
length, and six or eight in breadth'. The 
plain, in which it lies, may be considered as a 
(l) This was our conjecture as to its dimeusions-; but Mr. fVitlpole 
states them soraewbal differently ; which only shews how uucertaiu 
all computations by the eye must prove, of the extent of a lake, or 
inland sea. ^Nothing is more liable to cause deception, especially 
when such a piece ot water is surrounded by high mountains. The 
following extract from Mr. WdlpoWs Journal will give the whole of 
his Journey from Salmiica to Cavallo; or, as he writes it, Cavalla. 
" At seven hours' distance from Salontca we reached Klissala ; 
passing, ou the right, two beautiful lakes, and two towns, called the 
Greater aud the Lesser Beshek. Of these lakes, the first and smallest 
appeared to be twelve miles in circumference : the larger may be 
fifteen miles in length, and five in breadth. Many kinds of fish are 
caught in them, said to be excellent. It is not easy to point out the 
uames which the lakes antienily bore : Johannes Cameuiates, who 
wrote in the year 904 his account of the destruction of Thessalonica, 
does not give them. His account of the Ihkes I shall transcribe. ' In 
the middle of the plain are two broad lakes, like seas, overspreading 
the greater part of it. They are productive of great advantages, 
containing fish, large and small, of different species, and very 
numerous; of which they afford a most plentiful supply to the 
neighbouring villages, and to Thessalonica.' Ounvo; iv uiffai. x,. t.X. 
" The next day we reached the Strymon, about ten hours distant 
from Klissala. I passed the river at its mouth, in a triangular ferry- 
boat, flowing with a quiet even course. Basil, in a letter to Gregory 
of Nazianzus, speaking of the river, says ; ' The Strymon Jhivs so 
' gently, and its waters are so quiet, that it scarcely appears a river,' — 
ff^oXamri^tu piv/^ari -re^iXifiva^av. Epist. 19. At a little distance were 
some small vessels riding at anchor, which had come to take in 
cargoes of corn. The mountains to the north-east are connected 
with Paugeus (placed by Dio Cassius,47) near to Philippi, in which 
the gold mines were worked ; giving to Philip and his son Alexander 
a revenue equal to three millions of our money, annually. 
" Some ruins of Roman work, near the mouth of the Strymon, mark 
probably the site of Amphipolis ; a colony from Athens, and a city of 
importance in the Peloponnesian war. From this place the Athenians 
drew 
