A Steam Voyage down the Danube, Vol. 2 of 2 by Michael J. Quin

Bargaining -- Departure for Athens -- Voyage -- The Pireus -- Athens -- Vandalism -- The Parthenon -- Its entablatures -- Mysterious fire -- Curiosities -- Athenian improvements -- Road to Corinth -- Megara -- Thunder storm -- Isthmus of Corinth -- Cutting the isthmus -- Difficulties of the enterprize -- Levels of the seas -- Corinth -- Change of climate -- Vostizza.

While I was rambling among the mountains, the expected boat came in, and announced its departure again for Athens in the evening. The patron, however, as soon as he heard of my return, came to me, and expressed a wish at first that I should engage his vessel for myself alone, in which case he would sail immediately after sunset, when a land-breeze usually springs up. This was a regular attempt at imposition upon an Englishman, which impressed me with the conviction that some of my countrymen who have travelled in Greece must have conducted themselves as consummate coxcombs. Their highnesses would not condescend, forsooth, to make a voyage from Epidaurus to the other side of the gulph in a small packet, in which their precious persons were liable to be contaminated by the touch of a native Greek, or other passengers bound for the same destination. My new acquaintance was clearly of opinion that it was beneath my national dignity to reject his offer, the more especially as he proposed to place his vessel at my service for the moderate sum of one hundred drachmas!