62
that part of it which adjoins the olive wood is con-
sidered, by the inhabitants, to be still more sickly
than the parts adjacent to the lake ; both the wood
and lake are fruitful sources of disease, the marks
of which many of the inhabitants bear in their sallow
countenances and emaciated condition. The houses
are mostly constructed of wood, which affords bad
security against the weather, either in summer or
winter. The situation of the town is beautiful,
although the health of the inhabitants is compro-
mised for this, together with other trifling advan-
tages accruing to the inconsiderable commerce
which they carry on. One long street runs up
through the centre of the town, of tolerable width,
and generally straight; a church or regular stone
house appearing at intervals, with a few fountains
and vine alcoves in front of the houses, give it a
better appearance upon entering it than one would
expect to find from a more distant view. The
smaller streets and lanes, with the suburbs, are
wretchedly dirty and unwholesome; the fine names
with which they are ornamented by a conspicuous
board, placed upon the tottering angle generally of
some miserable wooden habitation, are no less
extravagant and ridiculous. The “ Largo del
limite della Sanitz,” as coming within the
precincts of the office of health, forsooth! is a
filthy yard in the rear of a few cabins, which
is constantly flooded over with stagnating water and
liquid mud. Another square is called “ Largo di
that part of it which adjoins the olive wood is con-
sidered, by the inhabitants, to be still more sickly
than the parts adjacent to the lake ; both the wood
and lake are fruitful sources of disease, the marks
of which many of the inhabitants bear in their sallow
countenances and emaciated condition. The houses
are mostly constructed of wood, which affords bad
security against the weather, either in summer or
winter. The situation of the town is beautiful,
although the health of the inhabitants is compro-
mised for this, together with other trifling advan-
tages accruing to the inconsiderable commerce
which they carry on. One long street runs up
through the centre of the town, of tolerable width,
and generally straight; a church or regular stone
house appearing at intervals, with a few fountains
and vine alcoves in front of the houses, give it a
better appearance upon entering it than one would
expect to find from a more distant view. The
smaller streets and lanes, with the suburbs, are
wretchedly dirty and unwholesome; the fine names
with which they are ornamented by a conspicuous
board, placed upon the tottering angle generally of
some miserable wooden habitation, are no less
extravagant and ridiculous. The “ Largo del
limite della Sanitz,” as coming within the
precincts of the office of health, forsooth! is a
filthy yard in the rear of a few cabins, which
is constantly flooded over with stagnating water and
liquid mud. Another square is called “ Largo di