GORGE OF THE LOUP. 297 



St. Jeannet the luggage van of our train was tilled with 

 baskets which emitted a strong perfume. They evidently 

 contained RosemarA- and Th\mc, and as the luggage 

 \'an was in front of the train we now tra\-elled in a 

 scented atmosphere and must have left behind us a long 

 trail of perfumed air. The old town of Ventium, the 

 dark gre\ \'ence of toda^', Duce inhabited bv the Ligurian 

 Nemesii, which I had hitherto onlv seen from a distance, 

 now hu' at my feet. Then the line continued, crossing 

 the valle\-s on liioii bridges, or windinu- alono- the mountain 

 side on narrow ledges. Looking inland we saw the deep 

 ravine of Cosson, with the ]iicturesc|ue hamlet of Tourettes- 

 SLU-Tjoup o\-erhanging it at a great height: to the south- 

 east hn' the sea glittering in the sunshine. ^V bold \'iadLict 

 crosses the Loup, wliose romantic gorge is much visited 

 from (jrasse. A\ onderful are the foaming cascades that 

 dash down the steep rocks into the dejjths below. The 

 train reaches the old town of Le liar b\' a long bridge. 

 This town was once a Roman Post, .\gain we move 

 on, and Grasse and the wide plain ol the Siagne suddenh' 

 come into view. 



CHAPTER X. 



Grasse lies on the steep slope of Roca\'ignon. It 

 is well protected from the north, and its gardens are the 

 hio-hest on the Riviera in wln'ch Palm trees thrive. The 

 greater jiart ol the town still retains its mediaeval aspect. 

 Its streets wind up the slope, while shorter cuts are made 

 hv steep steps. The opposite buildings are bound together 

 bv buttresses as though ti) pre\'ent their slipping do^vn 



