Trajan's bridge. 313 



CHAPTER XV. 



Trajan's bridge — skela gladova — passage of rapids — 



alt-orsova auarantine mehadia miseries of a 



german wagen hungarian peasant's dress temes- 



var administration of justice amusing quarrel 



hungarian inns — arrive at pest — conclusion. 



Near Skela Gladova, are the ruins of a very 

 magnificent Roman bridge over the Danube, 

 which at this part is rather less than a mile in 

 width. The two buttresses which are still in 

 existence on each side, the whole of the bridge 

 itself having bowed its gigantic head to time, and 

 the undermining influence of the rapid stream of 

 the river, are splendid evidences of its pristine 

 magnificence. This bridge, which had originally 

 twenty-one arches, was built by the Emperor 

 Trajan, on his conquering the Dacians, and adding 

 their country to the Roman Empire. It is con- 

 structed of a mixture of stone and Roman brick. 

 Near this, are the ruins of Sempronium, an old 

 Roman town, and close by, a neat-looking laza- 

 p 



