Probably they were
formerly a part of the mainland, and were separated by some violent
convulsion of nature.
On the fourth day our range was extended, we were allowed to walk as
far as the hills surrounding the lazaretto under the care of a
guard. The remains of a temple stand upon these hills, fragments of
a wall, and a very much decayed column. The latter, which consisted
of a single piece of stone, was fluted, and, judging from the
circumference, had been very high. These ruins are said to be those
of the remarkably fine temple of Jupiter.
21st October. This was the day we were set at liberty. We had
ordered a small vessel the evening before which was to take us to
Athens early in the morning. But my fellow-travellers would insist
upon first celebrating their freedom at a tavern, and from this
reason it was 11 o'clock before we started. I availed myself of
this time to look about the town and its environs. It is very small
and contains no handsome buildings. The only remains of antiquity
which I found were traces of the floor of a room in Mosaic work of
coloured stones. From what I could see of the island of AEgina, it
appeared extremely barren and naked, and it does not show any
indications of having been once a flourishing seat of art and
commerce.
AEgina is a Greek island, about two square miles in extent, it was
formerly a separate state, and is said to have received the name of
AEgina from the daughter of AEsop. It is supposed that the first
money of Greece was coined in this island.
Our passage to the Piraeus occupied a long time. There was not a
breath of wind, and the sailors were obliged to row; we did not land
at our destination until nearly 8 in the evening. We were first
visited by the health-officer, who read through the certificates
which we brought from the quarantine very leisurely. There was
unfortunately nobody among us who was inclined to make it more
understandable to him by a few drachmas. Of course we could not
neglect going to the police-office; but it was already closed, in
consequence of which we dare not leave the town. I went into a
large fine-looking coffee-house to look for night quarters. I was
conducted to a room in which half of the window-panes were broken.
The attendant said this was of no consequence, it was only necessary
to close the shutters. In other respects the room looked very well
but I had scarcely laid down on the bed when certain animals
compelled me to take to flight. I laid down upon the sofa, which
was no better. Lastly, I tried an easy chair, in which I passed the
night, not in the most agreeable position.
