Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles. 407 



have also been discovered, so that the fistulas solidas of the inscription 

 may possibly refer to pipes of this metal. 



It is remarkable that the pipes of terra cotta which have been 

 found agree precisely with the description given by Vitruvius (Archi- 

 tura, lib. viii. cap. vii. no. 51). The aqueduct itself is constructed 

 according to the principles handed down to us by this author ; for it 

 is carried along a horizontal line, at the level of the acropolis, to a 

 distance of about 7 kilometres ; thence it descends, skirting the 

 mountain, until, after reaching its lowest point, it proceeds once 

 more horizontally for about 500 or 600 metres, and finally reascends 

 (see Vitruvius, ibid. no. 50). Thus the total length of the siphon 

 amounts to 5 or 6 kilometres. All attempts to find the specus of the 

 aqueduct have been unsuccessful ; for the demolition of these works 

 — caused in the first place by the barbarians, and afterwards by 

 peasants— has been enormous ; the foundations alone have escaped 

 destruction. The metals discovered, however, appear in many 

 cases to indicate that the conduit was of a mixed kind; it is possible 

 that it was formed of different kinds of substances, corresponding 

 to the different heights to which the water was raised ; for a large 

 portion of the water was arrested at half the above height. Con- 

 structions in mortar, of great beauty and solidity, have been found, 

 and it appears probable that the Romans were in the habit of 

 strengthening their pipes, externally, by imbedding them in this mor- 

 tar (in Italian, calce-struzzo). 



A field was also discovered under which still exists a magnificent 

 and complete system of drainage, by means of long lines of terra- 

 cotta pipes. These pipes have a mean diameterof 0"45 of ametre, their 

 length being 1*T0 metre, and their thickness 0*025 of a metre. At 

 present they are filled with a water-sediment and with clay ; their 

 depth under the present soil is 2*50 metres, but it is evident that, 

 originally, this depth was less and has since been increased by new 

 soil. The ends of the pipes overlap each other about 4 centi- 

 metres only. No cement was used at their junctions ; but spaces of 

 about 1 centimetre were left, in order, probably, to facilitate filtra- 

 tion. This field was probably the one used for military exercises, to 

 which reference is made in the same inscription as being one of the 

 interesting works of Betilienus. 



We have here, therefore, a complete system of drainage, resembling 

 the modern one, but constructed twenty centuries ago, and still in 

 a state of perfect conservation. The utility of these works and the 

 merits of the man of genius who constructed them are proved by the 

 esteem in which he was evidently held by his fellow citizens. He 

 was twice elected censor, a statue was erected to his memory, 

 and his son was exempted from military service. 



As before observed, water is again about to be conducted to the 

 town of Alatri. The success of the modern conduits employed at 

 Anagni, where the water rises at one bound to a height of 221 metres 

 under the action of force-pumps, leaves no doubt whatever of the 

 ultimate success of the projected constructions, where the new con- 

 duit will have a length of from 14 to 15 kilometres, and where the 

 half of this space will be under a pressure of from 6 to 12 atmospheres. 



On a more recent visit I found several ancient flint weapons 



