648 



ITALY. 



are the asp and viper. The taran- 

 tula, or poisonous spider of the 

 south, has been the subject of many- 

 fables ; its sling yields readily to 

 different remedies. The seaF 

 abound with fish and molluscae. In 

 the Gulf of Taranto is found the 

 shel. fish which affords the Tyrian 

 purple, so highly prized by the an- 

 cients. In these seas also the 

 Nautilus spreads its thin sail. 



7. Canals. It was in Italy, tnat 

 the great improvement of construct- 

 ing locks and sluices in canals, so 

 as to pass boats from one level to 



another, was first introduced. The 



The JVautilus. canals of Italy are in part intended 



for purposes of irrigation, and in 

 part for navigation. The former are numerous in Sardinia, the Lombardo-Venetian kingdom, 

 Tuscany, and the northern part of the Papal dominions. Of the latter, the principal are the 

 J^aviglio Grande., from the upper part of the Ticino to Milan, which has been continued from 

 Milan to Pavia by the Pavia Canal ; total length, 30 miles ; the Martesuna Canal., from 

 Milan to the Adda, 24 miles ; the Pisa Canal, from Pisa to Leghorn ; the Cento Canal, from 

 Bologna to Ferrara, 34 miles, whence it is continued to the main branch of the Po ; and the 

 canal from Modena to the Panaro. 



8. Roads. The mountain roads which connect France with Savoy, and Valais with Italy, 

 from the difficulties overcome in their construction, and the immense labor necessary in erect- 

 ing bridges, excavating tunnels, &c., rank among the greatest productions of human energy and 

 art in modern times. The road over Mont Cenis, which was formerly passed only on mules, or 

 in sedans, is 30 miles long, and passable by carriages ; it rises to the height of 6,775 feet. The 

 road over the Simplon, from the Valais near Brieg, (o Piedmont near Arona, rises to the 

 lieight of nearly 7,000 feet, and passes through six galleries or tunnels hewn out of the sock ; 

 one of these is 683 feet long. The road is 36 miles in length, and crosses many tremendous 

 precipices by means of bridges. The road from Bormio, in the Valteline, over the Stelvio 

 or Stilferjoch, forms the communicalion between Innspruck and Milan, and is the highest road 

 in Europe, reaching an elevation of upwards of 8,000 feet. Several other Alpine roads have 

 been constructed from France to Sardinia, and from the German into the Italian provinces of 

 Austria. 



9. Inhabitants. The Italians are descended from different nations, which, at various times 

 overran Italy, though they are now blended into one race. A few Greeks live on the coast 

 of the Adrialic ; there are Germans in Lombardy, Venice, &c., and Jews scattered over the 

 country ; but there are not probably 200,000 inhabitants who are not Italians. The Italians 

 are distinguished for their animated and expressive countenances, and they have very brilliant 

 eyes. They are generally of dark complexions, well formed, and active. The women have 

 black or auburn hair, and most of the requisites for beauty. Among the inhabitants are many 

 cripples and deformed ; for the poor in Italy suffer many hardships and privations ; but among 

 the lowest class, and especially at Naples, the human form is seen in its greatest perfection, 

 and the half-clad lazzaroni are the best models for a sculptor. 



In all the States of Italy there are the usual grades of European nobility ; and the individ- 

 uals are more numerous than those of the same class in any other country. In some of the 

 States of Italy all the sons of the nobility and their sons, bear the original title. Of course 

 numbers are indigent ; and many of them are known to solicit charity. 



10. Dress. The higher classes wear the common European dress. At Genoa, however, 

 females of all ranks, wear very gracefully, the mazzaro, a kind of shawl thrown over the head 

 and shoulders and folded round the arms. In Savoy the French fashions are generally fol- 

 lowed by the upper class ; but the common people all over Italy have their local peculiarities 

 of dress. The fashions vary even in small districts or towns. The shepherds wear the skins 

 of their flock, with the wool outward in summer, and inward in winter. These garments are 



