bushes of myrtle and mastic till we reached the
willow-city. It consists of about sixty perfect wigwams of one room each,
with no other light but what is admitted by the doorway, four feet high,
with here and there a glimpse that makes its way through the wattles.

The people having received notice of our visit had made a general-holiday,
and were all assembled, with lively good-humor in their countenances, to
greet our arrival. This in the first year that they have been left to
enjoy their lands in peace since the destruction by the Turks of their
little town, which stood at about half an hour's distance. Some of them
possess property in land and cattle, and all live on the produce of their
own farms, and produce their own clothing. These simple-hearted people
show their good sense by avoiding all lawsuits, so common among the
Greeks. They choose one upright old man, with two assistants, to govern
them, to whose judgment they submit, and the greatest punishment is to be
shut up for two or three days in a solitary room in the convent.

The wigwam where we alighted was soon filled with visitors. We were served
with coffee by our hostess,--an interesting woman, with much expression of
mildness in her countenance. After conversing awhile with the villagers,
and satisfying their curiosity as well as we could, I thought it a
suitable time to bring about the primary object of our visit, and inquired
who among them could read. A young man came forward who had been educated
in the school at Santa Maura; we gave him a New Testament, and he read the
greater part of a chapter in the Gospels. Those who were in the room
listened with surprise and attention, and many without looked eagerly in
at the doorway to hear what was going on. This was probably the first time
they had heard the gospel in their own language. We gave them a few copies
of the New Testament and some tracts, for which they hardly knew how to
express their gratitude; and we requested the reader to continue the
practice he had commenced.

When this scene of interest was over we took a turn round the other huts.
They are situated on the side of the hill, among myrtles, and command a
delightful view of the valley. We passed by the common oven, and on
looking in saw our dinner preparing. The table was spread in the
hospitable wigwam which we first entered, a clean white tablecloth and
napkins on a large board, with cushions around on boxes for chairs. The
repast consis