beauty. The hills before us, which in the broad glare of day presented only a bright burning glare painfully flashed back on the eye, now came out in every variety of green, grey, and brown; and the foliage of the olive trees, which in the mid-day sun shows a dull ugly white, mixed with a pale, dusky, withered green as the leaves turn one side or the other with the wind, appeared to change their colour altogether, and shone out in one green. unmixed and rich olive On looking back, just after the sun set behind the mountains, at the head of the bay of Salamis, an appearance came out which, for the few moments it lasted, was a beauty and a wonder, of which it is impossible to convey a correct conception. The sun was set on the far side of the mountain. The side next us assumed a deep violet purple ; and this glorious light appeared to come through the upper part of the mountain, as if the mountain, in its upper half, had been semi-transparent, and permitted the sunlight to come through it. Hold your hand, with the fingers pressed closely together, pointing straight upwards, between your eyes and a bright lamp, with no other light coming on your eyes, and you will, on a very small scale, and "longo intervalle," get an idea of what I would wish to convey. The phenomenon probably arises from the atmosphere above acting as a prism, decomposing the rays of light, and throwing down the purple rays on the near side of the mountain. On another evening, as we stood on the Acropolis, instead of the transmission of the purple light, a blaze of bright sun-light came down the side of the mountain near us as if some mighty mirror had been high above and had caught the upward flash of the setting sun, and flung it down on the dark side of the mountain next us. My explanation may be, and probably is, wrong, as I am not learned in the laws of light; but I have endeavoured to convey a faithful description of the phenomenon which I saw, and which the learned in this matter may be able to explain. 66 On another occasion, looking at sunset from the sea, a phenomenon similar to that first described was observed. The crest of the mountain, behind which the sun was setting, was well defined as an irregular chalk line; but at some distance below this the amber purple light began, and gradually increased in intensity to the base of the mountain. Where I should have expected the greatest darkness, at the base of the mountain, there seemed to be a great luminary cloud, through which you could not at all distinguish the mountain. This only existed directly opposite to us, and directly under the setting sun. The excursion was delightful, and the evening brought its equal pleasure in society at the Rev. Dr. and Mrs. Hill's, whose kindness and attention will be long remembered by us. 86 CHAPTER IV. "And taking him they brought him to Areopagus, saying, May we know what this new doctrine is which thou speakest of? "But Paul standing in the midst of Areopagus said, Ye men of Athens, I perceive that in all things ye are too superstitious. "For passing by and seeing your idols, I found an altar also on which was written, To the unknown God. What therefore you worship without knowing it that I preach to you." FIR-RUSSIAN CHURCH PRESENTATION ΤΟ HER MAJESTY SIR THOSMAS WYSE-DINNER AT THE LEGATION. SATURDAY, AUGUST 31.—We gave the next morning to the Acropolis, bringing our |