38 S*PRINGS ; RIVERS, CANALS, LAKES, 



gradually raised in the Laguna, by driving piles in the ground, and 

 building on them, 



The LAGUNA, or marshy lake, which lies between the city and 

 the continent, is five Italian miles in breadth, and too shallow for 

 large ships : by the attention of the republic it. is prevented from be. 

 coming a part of the continent, and from being ever frozen so as to 

 bear an army ; hence the city is inaccessible on this side. Toward 

 the sea the access is also difficult ; but the safe and navigable parts 

 are pointed out by piles, which, at the approach of an enemy's 

 fleet, may be easily cut away. Beside, as a considerable number 

 of men of war and gallics may be expeditiously fitted out for sea 

 from the dock, which contains vast quantities of naval stores, the 

 city is secure from any attack either by land or water, and is suffi. 

 ciently strong without fortifications. The fishes, which are caught 

 at the very doors of the houses, may be esteemed a good preserva- 

 tive against a famine, and the several canals leading to the city, be- 

 tweeti the sand banks and marshy shallows, are, at a vast expense, 

 kept clear of the mud and slime brought with the flood. The re- 

 turn of the sea is something later here than every sixth hour, and 

 it generally rises between four and five feet, keeping the water be- 

 tween the islands of the city in continual motion : but some of these 

 canals being very narrow, the mud is not so effectually carried off 

 as to prevent ill smells in hot weather. 



LAGO MAGGIORE, in the duchy of Milan, is a most extraordi- 

 nary lake, sixty-five Italian miles in length, in most places six 

 broad, and its depth about the middle eight fathoms. Toward 

 Switzerland it terminates in a canal that is of vast advantage to 

 commerce. The lake is every v\a> environed with hills covered with 

 vineyards and summer-houses, which above the vineyards are plan- 

 tations of chesnut-trees, the fruit of which is consumed in such 

 quantities, that when chesnuts are in great plenty, the price of corn 

 falls, especially at Genoa. Along tbe banks of the lake are fine 

 rows of trees, and walks arched with vine branches, especially near 

 the town of Alesco. This beautiful prospect is farther heightened 

 by large natural cascades falling from the mountains. 



Two leagues from Sesti the lake begins to widen, and on enter- 

 ing the bay appear the two celebrated Isola Bella and Isola 

 Madre j the former lately belonging to Count Borromeo, and the 



