Journal of a Tour in Greece and the Ionian Islands (Volume 1); With Remarks on the Recent History--Present State--And Classical Antiquities of Those Countries (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1842. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... " ' Who brought thee, stranger, to the sea-girt land Of Ithaca ? -- and from what foreign strand ? ' ' At dead of night, while fast asleep I lay, Phaeacian seamen bore me on my way, From Scheria's isle, in ship tHat oft before Hath men transported to this rugged shore.' " On the morning of the 21st we sailed for Ithaca, in the Ionian government steamer. This island is not of sufficient importance to make an immediate communication with it, in ordinary cases, an equivalent for the time occupied by so great a deviation from the direct course to Argostoli, the seat of government of Cefalonia. The packet, therefore, does not call at Vathy, the capital and chief port of Ithaca, unless when bearing despatches of more than usual urgency for that place. The present voyage happened to be one of those exceptions, and we had the prospect of reaching our destination not long after nightfall; but, owing to the weather and other incidental causes of delay, our arrival did not take place till past midnight. The party on board comprised a small reinforcement of troops for the island of Paxo, under the command of an ensign, and several officers belonging to the 53d regiment, then distributed in detachments among the four islands of Paxo, Sta Maura, Ithaca, and Cefalonia. The day was cloudy, with a gale of wind in our face and a heavy swell, and the distant land was enveloped in mist; so that there was an end, for the present, of all further enjoyment of the beauties of the Ionian sea. On approaching the southern extremity of the channel, we discover Paxo at no great distance to the right. In front, the long massive promontory of Sta Maura or Leucadia was indistinctly visible. To the left, on the shore of Epirus, was pointed out the rugged rock of Parga, whose destinies excited s...