162 A SPRING TOUR IN PORTUGAL. 



the viaduct is carried on arches, not only across the ex- 

 tended bed of the river, but for a considerable distance 

 over the plain, on the southern bank, which is often inun- 

 dated, when the Lima is swollen by heavy rain from the 

 mountains. It derives its name ' Vianna ' or * Viana ' from 

 a corruption of the original title Diana, to the worship of 

 which goddess this town on the extreme west was once as 

 addicted as was the more renowned city Ephesus in the 

 eastern portion of the Eoman Empire : and it received in 

 latter years the distinctive addition do Castello from the 

 strong fort which commands the entrance of the river, and 

 at the same time protects the city ; and which did good 

 service to the Government in the last insurrectionary 

 troubles, of which this unhappy kingdom has borne its full 

 share. 



There are several interesting churches here, which de- 

 serve the attention of the architect ; but for these I will 

 again refer my readers to the Handbook, which exhausts 

 all that can be said on this head. There is also a primi- 

 tive fish market on the quay, which is worth a visit from 

 the icthyologist, as well for the copious supply and the 

 variety as for the strange forms of some of the fish, which 

 he will meet with here ; but, indeed, Portugal is es- 

 pecially favoured in this respect, and the whole coast 

 swarms with fish, while many of the rivers contain aii 

 abundant and apparently inexhaustible supply of the 

 species which frequent fresh water. 



We found good accommodation at the Hotel Viannense, 

 and after strolling about the town and its outskirts, w^e 

 began to make enquiry for a diligence, to convey us on the 

 following day to Oporto ; but we found, to our dismay, that 

 the two public coaches which daily plied between this 

 town and the northern capital left Vianna late in the 

 afternoon, and travelled all night, as is so generally the 

 case in southern countries. Now, this did not at all meet 



