38 FROM THESSALONICA, 
CHAP, thickly set together, that when viewed from 
the tops of the surrounding mountains, their 
appearance resembles that of a great city'. It 
is distant, in a direct line, not more than forty- 
five miles from Salonica, whence it bears 
north-east. Its fertility, now become a proverb 
over all Turkey, is mainly due to the annual 
inundations of the Strymon. Except towards 
the south, where this river makes its exit, the 
PLAIN OF Seres is surrounded in the manner 
here described ; having the highest ridges of 
auriferous PANGiEUS towards the east, Mount 
ScoMius towards the north, and Mount Cer- 
ciNA upon the west. This plain also produces 
silk, as its name implies ; a term, however^ 
equally applicable to cotton, or to 2xc^ fine flax* . 
The valuable work of Felix Beaujour, cited in 
the Notes, contains accurate statistical in- 
formation, concerning this wealthy district. 
The name has been variously and sometimes 
(1) Voy. Beaujour Tabl. du Comm. de la Grece, torn. I. p. 55. 
Paris, 1800. Belon mentions a town of Ceres, which he has described 
as the Cranon of the Antients, " Et arrivasmes premierement h Ceres, 
anciennement nommee Cranon, qui est vne autre grande ville," Stc. 
Les observations de plusieurs Singularitez, &c. trouv^es en Grice, Sic. 
par Pierre Belon du Mans, liv. i. fol. 55. Paris, 1555. 
(2) Te <r«gi*av, signifying silk or Jine flax, is of Hebrew extraction ; 
being taken from nij711U^. 
