Page:Archaeological Journal, Volume 11.djvu/16

4 south-east point of the empire, was drawn out to the length of 4080 Roman miles. The public roads were accurately divided by milestones, and ran in a direct line from one city to another, and with very little respect for the obstacles either of nature or private property. Mountains were perforated, and bold arches thrown over the broadest and most rapid streams. The middle part of the road was raised into a terrace, which commanded the adjacent country, consisted of several strata of sand, gravel and cement, and was paved with large stones, or, in some places, near the capital, with granite. Such was the solid construction of the Roman highways, whose firmness has not entirely yielded to the effort of fifteen centuries." We have no reason, however, to suppose that the Maiden Way was constructed on so extended or so expensive a scale, although we must look upon it as forming part of that great chain or network of roads which extended from the Wall of Antoninus, between the Firths of Forth and Clyde, to Jerusalem.

The surface of the country through which the line passes northwards from Birdoswald is, in general, exceedingly irregular, and yet finely diversified. A large portion of it is mountainous, and much of the land barren, or at least only covered with heather, and yet it exhibits many scenes that are beautiful and romantic. In some places the hills rise in wild confusion, begirt with vast ranges of huge rocks towering up in rude and fantastical shapes, in the midst of which are torrents thundering down deep and narrow glens, and forming beautiful cascades as they are precipitated over the impending rocks. In other places, the prospect is enlivened with the cheering diversity of gently rising hills and winding vales, which are termed in the dialect of the distinct fells and gills (or ghylls), presenting a most delightful landscape of verdant plains and rural beauty. The ridge of hills by which the country is traversed is of considerable elevation, being sometimes styled the British Alps, or Apennines, and forming the backbone of England. These hills are mostly composed of white freestone, interspersed with numerous thick beds of limestone and ironstone, and small seams of coal. There arc several veins of lead, some of which are lying almost close to the surface. The district also abounds with sulphureous, chalybeate, and petrifying springs.