348 FROM THE CAPITAL OF THE BANNAT, 
is not understood, even by the lower orders. 
Their pronunciation of Latin ought, therefore, to 
be considered as hkely to resemble the Roman : 
and that it really does resemble the Roman pro- 
nunciation, may be proved by a curious specimen 
oi Hellenistic Latin preserved by Constantine Por- 
phyrogenetes, in his Ceremonial of the Byzantine 
Court \ We had no sooner left Dorogh, than we 
saw the town of Gran, with its fortress, upon a 
hill ; resembling, upon a smaller scale, by its 
upper and lower town, the acropolis and city of 
Athens. The road lay through a most fertile val- 
ley : indeed the whole of this district, owing to 
the abundance of its productions, the beauty and 
grandeur of its scenery, and the flourishing state 
of its inhabitants, is almost unparalleled. In the 
midst of the numerous gardens and orchards, 
we saw abundance of cherry-trees, and vine- 
yards everywhere. The old citadel of Gran 
stands upon a high limestone rock above the 
Danube ; commanding the river so effectually, 
that it might easily prevent the passage of a 
single boat. The approach to the town is 
(1) Seethe very interesting "Travels of Mr. Hubhouse, in Albania 
and Greece," Let. 33. p. 551. Lond. 1813. It is also given by 
Mr. Harris, in his "Philological Enquiries," p. 298. Lond. 1781. 
In the work whence Mr. Harris derived it, published with Notes by 
Leichius and Reiskius, there are many other traces of the HelUnislie 
Latin, 
