It is, however, with much difficulty that we obtain an insight into the manner[1565] in which the inland traffic of Greece was carried on in the earlier ages; but it is probable, that, as in India, Egypt, and Arabia, great fairs were held on some convenient spot, whither the sellers and buyers resorted from all the countries around. That this was the case in many places we know. There was, for example, a monthly fair held at Aleision,[1566] near Amphidolis in Eleia, on the mountain road from Elis to Olympia, to which all the peasants of the neighbourhood resorted. Among the Romans smaller fairs or markets were held every nine days, and were thence called nundinia.[1567] On these occasions the rustics intermitted their usual employment and repaired to the city, as well to furnish themselves with what they needed, as to learn what new laws or regulations might have been promulgated in the interim. ----- Footnote 1565: Plat. De Rep. ii. t. vi. p. 79. 84. See in Mons. Thiersch Etat. Actuel de la Grèce, t. ii. p. 74, a somewhat detailed description of the internal trade of modern Greece. Footnote 1566: Strab. viii. 3. t. ii. p. 151. Footnote 1567: Columel. i. Præf. ii. 1. Dacier, in Fest. i. p. 501. ----- The Epidamnians, who, as Müller[1568] observes, “retained much of ancient custom, paid great attention to the intercourse with foreigners,” and held great annual fairs, which were frequented by the neighbouring Illyrians. By this is meant, strange as it would seem, that they sought to cut off all such intercourse. For, as Plutarch[1569] relates in his Greek Questions, the people of Epidamnia living in the vicinity of the Illyrians, and observing, that such of their citizens as associated with them grew corrupt, and fearing innovation, elected one of their chief citizens to conduct the necessary intercourse and the barter which took place annually at a great fair. This officer, called Poletes, acted as broker-general for his fellow-citizens. ----- Footnote 1568: Dorians, ii. 223. Footnote 1569: Quæst. Græc. 29. Var. Script. t. ii. p. 317. Cf. Steph. de Urb. voce Δυῤῥάχιον, p. 316, sqq. Palmer. Descrip. Græc. Antiq. p. 73, sqq. 118, sqq. Pausan. vi. 10. 8. ----- CHAPTER IX. COMMERCE OF ATTICA.