OP LOCHABER. 



19 



from Tivoli. The river running through the valley nearly retains 

 its ancient name, being there called the Aniene ; but as it ap- 

 proaches Tivoli, it takes the more modern appellation of the 

 Teverone. Subiaco is an Italian corruption of Sublaqueum, 

 by which name it was anciently known. Following the course 

 of the river upwards from Subiaco, the mountains, which are 

 part of the Appennines, and of very considerable height, begin 

 to close around, confining the bottom into a narrow glen ; and 

 in about half-a-mile after leaving the town, the valley is obser- 

 ved to be blocked up all at once, by an immense wall of rock, 

 perhaps 100 feet high, crossing it at right angles, (see Plate VII. 

 fig. 1. and fig. 4. A). This appears rent perpendicularly from 

 top to bottom in the centre, as if by some unaccountable con- 

 vulsion, presenting a chasm, which is only 12 or 15 feet wide, 

 and which it is quite impracticable to enter, as the bottom is 

 filled by the river, which is, indeed, very much confined in its 

 passage through it. This natural barrier of rock, is perhaps not 

 less than an hundred yards in thickness, and although it is 

 quite perpendicular towards Subiaco, it has a slope towards 

 the other side, which faces up the river. The sketch of it, 

 (Plate VII. fig. 1.) was drawn from an outline done by my 

 friend from recollection, and is sufficiently accurate to give 

 some notion of this singular rock, at least as far as regards 

 the present purpose; and the perpendicular section of it, 

 (Plate VII. fig. 2.), supposed to be made on the same line 

 with the ravine, gives an idea of both its steep and its 

 sloping side. The plan of the valley, (Fig. 4.), although it 

 is drawn from a mere sketch from memory, by the same gen- 

 tleman, will illustrate the description. Having got beyond the 

 rocky wall, (marked A, fig. 4.), the glen to which I wish to 

 solicit attention, is found to be deep and narrow, and about a 

 mile in length. The river Aniene runs along in the bottom, 

 and the mountains on either side rise immediately from its 

 margin, and, with a very sudden arid steep acclivity, as is re- 



c 2 presented 



