Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/264

214 "He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost and with fire."

Every Rliodian peasant on the day of his patron saint makes five loaves, called Pentarthi, which he cuts into small pieces and offers in church for the benefit of the poor. At a marriage, after drinking a health, they fling the glass down behind them; if it does not break, it is a bad omen.

Crossed knives are placed over the door of the house to which the bride is conducted, to keep off the evil spirits.

  , June 20, 1853. I lately an unexpected visit from my friend Mr. Finlay, of Athens, the well-known author of the "History of the Byzantine Empire." Just after I had installed him in my house, we got an unexpected opportunity of making a trip to Scio, in a Turkish steamer going with despatches to the Governor-General of the Archipelago, and so started forthwith, accompanied by Mr. Alfred Biliotti. As our steamer only made six knots an hour, we did not reach Cos till the day after we had left Rhodes. Touching there for an hour, we then went on to Scio, where we were most hospitably and kindly entertained by the British vice-consul, M. Vedova.

His account of Scio was not very encouraging. All its ancient glories seem to have departed. Trade there was none; British ships or subjects none;