Larissa, though standing in the lowest part of the plain, and subject to excessive heat in summer, is not considered unhealthy, which is ascribed to its being unconfined by neighbouring mountains, and therefore always well ventilated; nevertheless, as in the generality of Greek towns, the automn is selalom unattended with some degree of sickness and mortality.
[...] The softness of the Thessalian climate, compared with that of Epirus, seems to have had its effect upon the character of the inhabitants, who are more cheerful and civil than those to the west of Pindus, although living in the midst of poverty and the most grinding oppression.
Finding the Mitropoli too much like a Turkish kiosk for the present season, and that the inmates, although bearing the sounding titles of πρωτοσύνκελλος, οἰκονόμος, and ἱεροδιάκονος, are too ignorant of every thing beyond their walls to afford much assistance to my inquiries, I procure, not without some difficulty, an appartment at the house of kyr P., a medical practinioner. Though a native of the place, my host knows very little about it [...].
Mr P. asserts, that there are 8000 Turkish families in Larissa, instead of which probably they do not much exceed half that number. There are 300 or 400 Jewish houses, some of which are said to be among the richest of European Turkey, and about 400 Greek. Formely, there were many Armenian families, but the wisdom to withdraw to places where the Christians can pursue their trades in greater security.
