THE COASTS OF SICILY. 151 



date and carob trees of the gardens of Olivezza or 

 La Flora were of gigantic dimensions. On this 

 prolific soil the olive grows to be a high and leafy 

 tree, while the cypress is as tall as our poplars. The 

 public walks are planted with citron and orange 

 trees : these trees too. form a forest extending from 

 three to four miles, between Palermo and Morreale, 

 and risino- alonn^ the first declivities of Mont Cucchio 

 and Mont Griffone, only cease where vegetable 

 mould has almost wholly disappeared, giving place 

 to the cactus and aloe, which in these climates may 

 be said to represent our brushwood and brambles. 



One of our first excursions in the environs of the 

 town was to visit the Grotto of San-Ciro, which 

 enjoys a certain amount of" reputation in the scientific 

 world, in consequence of having furnished palaeon- 

 tologists with some curious fossil bones. We left 

 Palermo by the Termini Gate, and following a road 

 which ran in the midst of rich gardens we passed 

 the Constable's Bridge, whose foundation is referred 

 to the reign of the sons of Tancred, and soon 

 found ourselves skirting the mountains which con- 

 stitute the eastern limits of the Conca d'Oro. While 

 we were pausing at the foot of Mont Griffone, 

 Prince Gragnatelli, one of the most distinguished 

 chiefs of the Sicilian opposition, who had served as 

 our guide in this short expedition, drew our atten- 

 tion to a vast and ponderous square building standing 

 in the midst of the plain. The windows were 

 narrow, like mere loopholes, and the doors low and 

 arched, and if it had not been for the thickness of 

 the walls, the building might have been taken for a 



L 4 



