NOTRE DAME DE BON PORT. 



403 



A paved road leads down 

 from Notre Dame de Bon -Fort 

 in the direction of the town of 

 Antibes. The cobbles of 

 this road have become so 

 smooth and slippery in the 

 course of time, from the 

 feet of the pilgrims who come 

 here on the 8 th of June, 

 that it is only with dif- 

 1 ficulty that one can keep 

 a foot-hold on them. Now 

 and then a woman ma^' be 

 seen kneeling before one of the shrines, 

 otherwise it is ver\' solitar\- here in spring. 

 No devotee comes awa\' from the shrine with- 

 out sticking into the wire trellis a few 

 evergreen twigs or tlowers culled from the 

 Mat[uis. Half wa^' up a foot-path turns to 

 the left along the slope. We now pass under 

 the shade of fine old Evergreen Oaks, the 

 remains of an extensive grove, where it is 

 cool and refreshing even on hot da\'S. 

 One is quite withdrawn from the world 

 here, and can pass hour after hour 

 without seeing a human creature. Now 

 and then a branch stirs or a bird hops 

 up and looks surprised at the intruder. 

 The old fortified town of Antibes (Fig. 

 p. 1) would be well worthy- of preservation as 



