LIFE IN AN ISLAND. 89 



thread of pathway, closely bordered by the bristling 

 wheat or the heavy stalks of the Gran Turco under 

 which imposing title maize is grown in Italy and 

 its communications, more or less practicable, with the 

 shelf above and the shelf below. Here and there 

 precious olives give the sweetest shade shade which 

 is at once a particular and a general advantage not 

 only refreshing the wayfarer, but softening with 

 tranquil tones of grey the brilliancy of the land- 

 scape ; and vines run everywhere like the lizards ; 

 and dewy crops of flax, all starred with blue blossoms, 

 wave softly about in the breeze. If anywhere an 

 ambitious landholder covets a hedge for his posses- 

 sions, he finds the prickly pear ready to his hand, 

 standing about in all kinds of corners, like the gro- 

 tesque but faithful dwarf of medieval story. And 

 over homely cabbages and huge artichokes, and the 

 heavy-blossomed spikes of the lupin, from which 

 comes the large white feve so popular in these regions, 

 fall abrupt blotches of shadow from the fig-trees, upon 

 which the green figs push out, blunt and shapeless, 

 among the half-developed leaves. As for the oranges, 

 they have gardens to themselves, where they hang all 

 the year round in delicious gradation the blossoms 

 on one bough, the ripe fruit on another, hanging like 

 golden globes among the shady leaves. As you pull 

 down the richest bough hanging heavy with oranges, 

 you can make a long arm and reach, if you are so 

 wanton, blossoms enough to crown a bride. And 



