24 TRAVELS IN BRAZIL. 



more abundantly in Croatia. About Pola itself the 

 limestone is without those fossile bones, indeed 

 almost without petrifications ; and towards the sea, 

 where it is inhabited and perforated by innumerable 

 mytili, frequently shews almost horizontal strata 

 from two to three feet thick. In general, only a 

 little mould lies over it. In former times, the 

 great stone quarries of Pola and Pirano furnished 

 materials for building the proud palaces of Venice. 

 The vegetation of this dry and rocky soil is by 

 no means luxuriant. The charms of the south 

 European Flora, to which that of Istria belongs, 

 do not consist in those thick and lofty forests, those 

 verdant pastures and rich meadows, that distinguish 

 the north. On the contrary, we are surprised at 

 the nakedness of the hills, and of the plains, desti- 

 tute of trees, with hardly any thing growing on 

 them but juiceless shrubs ; and, lastly, by the want 

 of general cultivation. The Philli/rea latifoUa, Erica 

 arborea, Buxus sempervirejis, Cistus LedoUy C. sal' 

 fifoUus, jimiperus Od^j/cedrus, Pistacia lentiscus, 

 Smilax and Arbutus TJnedo, form low, shadowless, 

 dry clumps, which cannot bear a comparison even 

 with our dry pine forests ; but the many plantations 

 of olives and laurels have an appearance of softness 

 and lustre, which corresponds with the mildness 

 and transparency of a southern climate. This 

 great transparency, and the beautiful azure of the 

 sky, were observed by us with pleasure in some 

 sun-shiny days during our stay, as infallible indi- 



