Page:Great Neapolitan Earthquake of 1857.djvu/68

30 and tyranny, of Saracen and Lombard conquerors, of middle-age superstitions and barbarism, and of a people condemned for ages, by misgovernment to an unprogressive state of ignorance and poverty, in the midst of the richest bounties of nature.

The towns owe their elevated position, primarily beyond doubt, to the necessity for defence and security in ancient times; but an universal belief exists that this elevation secures them against malaria, as it certainly relieves them in the summer from the unbearable reflected heat and pent-up air of the valley bottoms. These advantages, however, seem dearly purchased at the cost of difficult accessibility, even were proper road approaches made to them.

No roads whatever, suited to wheel traffic, exist throughout the kingdom, except the five great military ways, and these are perfectly unconnected by branches, with any but a few great towns: hence all produce has to be carried by mules, or by hand; and journeying off the military road can only be accomplished in the same way, or on foot.

It results from the perched positions, of almost all these towns that they are exposed to the severest effects of every earthquake shock. They are rocked as on the tops of masts. Padula is a good example of the larger and less ancient class of these towns (Photog. 14).

The style of building in these provincial towns, is much the same as has been already described of the cities, but poorer and humbler. The houses are seldom under two stories, rarely exceed three. The huts of the poorest classes (the land labourers and shepherds) are but one story, huddled together in utter confusion; and the chief difference in point of masonry, in these country towns