1868 . ] 
A WALK THROUGH THE VIA GELLIA. 
279 
caught, too hungry to be driven off. Now we try to remember that we 
should return good for evil, and never retaliate except in self-defence. But 
it really was unendurable. What was to be done ? Luckily we bethought 
us of our pipe. We filled, lighted, and blew a cloud upon them fast and 
furious. The battle was but for a minute: as suddenly as they had 
appeared they were gone. We arose, and with a hearty laugh pursued our 
journey, thinking to ourselves, “ When a man gets a holiday but seldom, he 
cannot afford to let it be spoilt by trifles.” 
Hitherto we had scarcely quitted the road, being content with the 
numbers of species of plants growing by the wayside. But what are yon 
small red berries here and there rising above the leaves of some dwarf 
plant, and glittering in the sun ? Strawberries ? Yes, Strawberries ! and 
very nice they are, too. They have not the flavour of “ British Queens,” but 
their slight agreeable acidity is very refreshing. We only wish they were a 
little bigger. Once off the road, once on the hillside, and we find objects of 
fresh interest in quick succession—birds, insects, geological specimens, 
which we admire, examine, and covet, but are obliged to dismiss. Descend¬ 
ing again into the road we tread over immense breadths of Lily of the 
Valley of a vigour that a grower for exhibition might envy. Ah! what 
is this ? A toll-gate ? Truly so. But here, as in most rural districts, 
bipeds pass free. On we go without let or hindrance. Oh! the pleasures 
of pedestrianism, of which this is only one example. No railway extortions 
to combat, no trains to meet or rather to wait for, no coachmen or ostlers 
to fee, no ’busses to cram into ;—on we go, turn to the left and commence 
the ascent of the mountain road to the mining village of Middleton. 
“ Only a mile, sir,” says the toll-keeper, but a tough mile, rayther .” We 
push on. To the right is a bank still strewed with flowers, differing some¬ 
what from those w T e had found in the valley below, though generally we 
could only note those seen from the roadsides, not having time to explore the 
recesses, heights, and depths of the hillsides. On the road to Middleton 
we met with wild Raspberries, which we tasted and found very acceptable 
under the circumstances. On the left of the road we are ascending is a 
deep ravine, bottomed by the Via Grellia along which w T e have just passed 
The white road lies basking in the sunshine. The sides of the ravine are 
clothed with various forest trees—Ash, Mountain Ash, and Maple seeming 
the most abundant, the Ayrshire Rose and Hawthorn being also plentiful 
in places. As we ascend the species and number of plants seem fewer, and 
w r e altogether miss those kinds which delight in moist situations. The 
views from this road alone would repay a long walk or ride, but there are 
richer splendours in store for us. Middleton is at length reached, and 
one face of the Black Rocks is prominently in view. Middleton struck us 
as a village of poor dusky houses, but without any signs of deep poverty. 
