TJie Garden in its Glory 



ancient custom, patterns are formed of lines 

 and circles, often of lighter coloured stones. The 

 effect is pleasing, and a good solid path is the 

 result. If it is laid in cement it is free from 

 the trouble of weeds, but wanting the slight 

 "give" of the natural earth it is not so agree- 

 able in use. The public roads are paved in 

 the same way with large cobble-stones, or with 

 chipped blocks of quarried rock, which, if rough 

 and unpleasant for wheeled vehicles, are very- 

 suitable for the sledges drawn by oxen, which 

 are the staple means of transport in the island. 

 Hundreds of miles of country roads are so 

 paved, representing in the aggregate an enormous 

 amount of labour. With the retaining walls, 

 the paved paths, and the cemented channels for 

 irrigation purposes, the building of a garden is 

 almost as serious a matter as the building of 

 a house. To these must be added the outer 

 walls — hedges or fences are not the fashion 

 except for humble properties — and a solidly 

 built tank for storing water. It is no wonder 

 that the mason's trade is a very important one, 

 and that the craftsmen exhibit a high pitch of 

 efficiency. The "maestro" is usually a very 

 intelligent and obliging workman ; his work as 



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