MOUNT ATHOS. 23 
basons, ewers, dishes, plates, candlesticks, and chap. 
incense-pots of precious metal, are not to be » 
reckoned, many of which are of pure gold, or 
of silver gilt. They have crosses of a vast 
bigness, edged with plates of gold and studded 
with precious stones, from whence hang strings 
of oriental pearl. The covers of their books 
of the Gospel, Epistles, Psalters, and Missal, 
are often embossed with beaten gold, or 
curiously bound up with cases of gold, or 
silver gilt, or plain silver." Among the antient 
Heathens, every suppliant who approached the 
altar, overwhelmed by the magnificence of the 
external ceremonies, felt that his devotions 
were incomplete unless he left behind him 
something, however humble, as a vow, were it 
only a handful oijlour and salt; and, consistently 
with the Pagan character of the Greek religion, 
as it is now professed, independently of the 
gifts made during the splendid ceremonies 
which are exhibited by the monks of Mount 
Athos upon the high festivals of the year, the 
common procession (j'la-o^og) which takes place 
in the time of divine service is conducted with 
such state and pomp, that the poorest devotee 
finds himself unable to depart without paying ofThdr 
some token of his adoration. The skill of ^'^^^' 
legging is no where practised with more 
