154 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE RIVEK LIMA AND VIANNA. 



PoNTE DO Lima is a small town of no architectural pre- 

 tensions, but of true Portuguese type ; with lofty houses, 

 extremely narrow tortuous streets, and all to baffle and 

 keep out that persistent intruder, the scorching sun. It 

 is situated, as its name implies, on the banks of the Lima, 

 and also commemorates the remarkable fact that it pos- 

 sesses a bridge across that stream, which is indeed an 

 honourable peculiarity in this country. It is said, more- 

 over, to be placed in the centre of the most beautiful 

 scenery for which the Lima is distinguished, and some 

 authors have been so carried away with ecstacy at its 

 position, as to declare that language fails to describe its 

 charms. 



In my humble opinion these are somewhat exaggerated 

 sentiments of approval ; and it is enough to say that the 

 town is pleasantly placed on the margin of a very pretty 

 river, whilst the verdant hills which slope away from its 

 banks, and the rugged mountains in the background, com- 

 plete the picture very satisfactorily. 



We had hoped to strike the river at a much higher 

 point, by taking the diligence to Os Arcos, but we were 

 deterred by the impossibility of ascertaining, with any 

 degree of certainty, whether, in the event of there being- 

 no road from that point to Ponte do Lima, which was also 



