226 FROM CONSTANTINOPLE, 
CHAP, plain, and to the village of Dragoelu, inhabited 
. hy Bulgai-ians, where we hd.\ted for dinner. In 
Drasosiu. ^j^g plain around this village, and the whole way 
hence as far as Shumla, the land is cultivated 
like a garden. The increasing appearances of 
industry, and of its blessed companions, health 
and cleanliness, began to suggest to us that we 
were leaving Turkey, as the blighting influence 
of its government was becoming gradually less 
visible. In descending to Dragoelu, the eye 
may be said to revel in the delightful prospect 
which this change exhibits. As far as the 
sight extends, but at a great depth below the 
traveller, rich plains are seen, spreading be- 
fore the view all the wealth of husbandry 
in its utmost abundance. The mountains are 
cultivated even to their summits, and covered 
with vineyards, and the plains with planta- 
tions of fruit-trees, growing among the green 
corn : being now in blossom, their gaudy 
flowers, above the deep verdure of the fields, 
exhibited the most cheerful smiling aspect 
imaginable. 
After having taken our refreshment, we pro- 
ceeded along the valley, and over a level 
country, with broad and good roads, four hours 
sfrnmia. farther, to Shumla. One hour before we reached 
