Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/320

330 the mountain, and these seemed this night to be numerous.

We proceeded along the Chiaja, which takes its name from the patron-saint saint of Naples, (Santa Lucia, a young martyr), and saw its peculiar market.

A number of small wooden stands are placed in rows along the shore, each one of them with its lantern, by the light of which one sees quantities of a peculiar production of the sea, called Frutti di Mare, strung up in an ornamental manner. These are consumed by amateurs, standing or sitting at tables near the shore. This market, with its buyers and sellers, made a very picturesque foreground to the dark background of heaven and sea and the threatening mountain which colored both with its crimson flames.

There were some very splendid bits in the illumination, especially the church of St. Francisco (a kind of imitation of St. Peter's at Rome) and the buildings of the caserne, where the movable columns of light produced a good effect. The royal castle stood desolate and gloomy. In the front of the façade is a whole park of artillery with a double row of cannon. The same are also seen on many of the roofs of the houses with their muzzles turned towards the castle as if to attack it. The king himself, and his family, kept themselves out of the way at Gaeta. The people are very quiet, and were not numerous in the streets; the night was pleasant with a fresh sea wind, Vesuvius being the hero of the nocturnal show.

June 1st.—Thou who hast accompanied me to the home of eternal snow, accompany me now to that of eternal fire, to the burning realm of Pluto and Loke!