Page:Life in the Old World - Vol. II.djvu/345

Rh anew. Amongst the population, which is said to be wholly of Greek origin, we saw many remarkably handsome, very regularly beautiful countenances. We induced, by means of good words and money, a couple of women to dress themselves in their holiday attire, which we had heard praised for its splendor. The rich gold embroidery, and the beautiful silk stuff, were the most remarkable parts of it. It was Sunday, and nearly all the women we saw had white cloths round the head, put on in a peculiar but very becoming manner. The upper part of the town lies very high, and the view thence is glorious.

There is here also a prison for political offenders, amongst whom are now a number of priests, because many of the lower order of priesthood in Naples, and even in Rome, took part in the revolution of 1848. As regards the treatment of these prisoners, a circumstance has here been related to me, which I will not repeat in writing, because I am not sure of its truth; but if it be true, it is sufficient to explain the King of Naples' fear of ghosts.

Amongst our pedestrian excursions, I will merely mention that to the town of Forli, during which we saw a good deal of the island. It is well cultivated and populous. The people are themselves the possessors of their small farms, and are all very well off, when the vintage is good. After the failure of several years, owing to the disease of the grape, the present promises to be a good season, and the clusters increase daily in size and beauty under the hot sun. One sees, not unfrequently, handsome young men and women, at the little picturesque homesteads, under the