The Roia is about twelve yards wide, and abounds with
speckled trout. Were a road made from Breglio, along the side of the
Roia to Ventimiglia, it might turn the commerce of Turin to this last
place instead of Nice; because it would avoid the mountains of Braus and
Brois, leaving only that of Tende; that is to say, it would avoid more
than half the difficulties of the passage. Further on, we come to the
Chateau di Saorgio, where a scene is presented the most singular and
picturesque I ever saw. The castle and village seem hanging to a cloud
in front. On the right is a mountain cloven through, to let pass
a gurgling stream; on the left, a river, over which is thrown a
magnificent bridge. The whole forms a basin, the sides of which are
shagged with rocks, olive trees, vines, herds, &c. Near here I saw
a tub-wheel without a ream; the trunk descended from the top of
the water-fall to the wheel in a direct line, but with the usual
inclination. The produce along this passage is most generally olives,
except on the heights as before observed; also corn, vines, mulberries,
figs, cherries, and walnuts.
Pages:
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291
292
293
294
295
296