The Nooks and By-Ways of Italy; Wanderings in Search of Its Ancient Remains and Modern Superstitions

This historic book may have numerous typos, missing text or index. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. 1868. Not illustrated. Excerpt: ... III. I Begin to be alarmed respecting the result of my journey, as I have three times met one of those omens which the Italians consider of dire import. Tou will laugh when I tell you that this is the third morning that I have had a priest in his canonicals crossing my path, but I assure you that the people of this country look upon such an event as "no canny." Why they should regard the priest in this light, to whom they are so subservient, I know not, yet such is the case. I had a clean and comfortable bed, a luxury of no common occurrence unless you are received by a private family, and I rose in good spirits, ready to encounter the fatigues of another day's pleasure. The breakfast of the Italians is light--a cup of coffee generally, with a glass of a kind of liqueur, called rosolio, made from the fig; this was served up to-day, and shortly after sunrise I bade my host adieu, with a thousand thanks for the hospitality with which I had been received. Nothing could exceed the kindness of the whole family; and when my host learned that I intended to examine the ruins of the ancient city of Velia, he gave me a letter to a friend, Don Ervasio Passaro, who resided in .its vicinity. The younger part of the family accompanied me about a mile out of the village, and we parted with great regret. Before leaving the village I paid a visit to the priest Pietro Zammarella, who has collected a small museum of antiquities, coins, cameos, and seals. There was a seal more particularly which had been found at Baise, and which was the nearest approach to printing that I had seen. The letters were raised as in our type, and when covered with ink gave the name as distinctly as it is now seen on this paper.* DEGREES This means, no doubt (Si gillum), Sex(ti) Pompo(nii) Valentis, "the seal...