MOUNT ATHOS. 2f 
brethren in other parts of Gieece. They have chap. 
ofreat revenues ; and the contributions brought ^ 
to them by travelhng monks, especially by 
those of Russia, contribute to keep them rich, 
fat, and indolent. Studious pursuits are not 
very compatible with a state of society where 
every stimulus to industry is annihilated : the 
consequence is, that when any traveller gains 
admission to their libraries, and examines the 
condition of their books, he finds that they 
have never been opened ; that the leaves stick 
together; that worms fall out of their old 
wooden covers ; and that they are nearly 
hidden by dust. The monasteries themselves, 
according to their appearance as exhibited in 
the designs which Mr. Tweddell caused to be 
made of them, are like so many little fortresses 
in the midst of the most sublime solitudes; the 
mountain Athos being as craggy and rugged as 
one of the peaks of Caucasus. Although com- 
monly called Hagion Oros, its summit still 
bears the name of "AoriNA. The principal some ac- 
* ^ count of 
monasteries are those of Santa Laura, Batohedi, theMona* 
1-1 teries. 
Chiliadar, and Ihero ; each of which pays 
annually to the Turkish Government a rent of 
about ?, hundred dollars. But there are sixteen 
others, paying each half that sum, or somewhat 
less, according to their pretences of poverty ;, 
