Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1856-01-17


liar profession Of our guests.
My intercourse with my countrymen of the
interior had taught me that they almost all
like pinch of good snuff; so pulling out the
large, oblong black box, in which usually
carried good supply to humor this lit,le
weakness, offered it to our guests, who ap-
peared to enjoy the powdered weed. Then,
as knew that half-confdences only do harm
in such case, | pulled out my own little
snuff-box of gold, aud offered it to them, say
ing:
Try this this is better STILL
No, Signore, mile grazie, "a thousand
thanks) this is good enough for u.s.
And quietly put back the gold that glis-
tened in their eyes, without the slightest
movement on their part.
But,' said the one-srmed chief, EXCUSE
me: has your Excelleucy any powder to
spare,'
'Oh! yes. Here, bring out that large flask
of powder and pour out half of it on this piece
of paper for our brave friends here.'
So said, so done. Halt Of our reserve of
powder was made over to them, and it was
received with many thanks.
As the day was now coming TO close, we
rose to depart. Our mountain friends walked
on along with us, quietly conversing. AS we
were passing over small table-land, one Of
the chiefs stopped and said:
Come, let us fire at a mark. OF how many
points is this powder of yoursr
| ought perhaps to explain to you that our
mode of comparing the force of powder is 10
put some of it in small brass tube, which
answers as charge. The inside of this lit
tie tube is set with small p> ats at equal dis
tances, and with newly-purchased powder we
make several trials to find out what quantity
of powder gives most force to the ball.
4 told him it was of six points.
Then it must be very good
va trdtello o%ettani Ia merod,' (go, brother,
make me a target,) said he to II Monco, (the
maimed.)
We looked about US, but could not see either
any rock or any tree that would answer for
that purpose. Our one-armed friend, howev-
er, quietly paced off two hundred PAGES, and
then pulling down his woolIen cap over his
ears, and Strengthening up the top, SO as to
make of il a regular cone, terminating in
tuft, he stood upright, immovable as rock.
The other slowly raised his gun, appeared
to take careful aim, and fired.
Whereupou the target came walking quiet
ty towards US, and showed US, without any
emotion, where the bullet had cut away part
of the woollen tuft.
: 'Adesso, va tu fratelo mettermi la merca a
me-. (nOw, go you, brother, to make a target
for me-.
The other went off 10 the same distance and
turaed his back to US then taking off his Jer
retta, (cap,) he placed his feet about yard
apart, and turning the cap upside down, held
1t so that the tuft just appeared between his
legs.
In spite of our conviction that II Mosco must
be as good shot as the other, we could not
repress thrill Of horror at the thought Of
man with whom we had jus, broken bread
being exposed to such terrible danger.
But the oae-armed bandit was just as calm
and collected as he was while munching our
provisions. Supporting his gun on the stump
of his left arm, he pointed it at first to the
ground, then raising it gradually, so as to get
the true line of aim, he touched the trigger.
AS we saw the wool fly from the tuft, we
all breathed more freely, and saw with pleas
ure the second target come towards US as COM
posedly as the first.
There was no more shooting after that for
no one cared to measure himself with such
marksmen, and it requires men Of this temper
to manage 'branco di banditi.'
Some of these chiefs are indeed men origi-
nalIy of estimable character, whom the unen-
durable expressions of bad government have
driven 10 the mountains, and there is among
them generally rude sense of honor, so that
he who has drank of the same cup with them
is not only safe from all wrong on their part,
but may count upon their friendly Offices with
others.
Not long after the shooting-match, we came
as near the village, where we were making
villegiatura,' as it was perhaps wholesome for
our friends to come. Here the chief stopped
and as he courteously lifted his cap from his
head, thought they might still wish to levy
tribute upon US, and that it would be wiser to
forestall their demands.
'Are you in want of any money, my friend. |.
'Ohl no, Signore. You have given us
powder and tobacco, the two things most diff.
cult for us to obtain, and we thank you. We
are sorry that we cannot accompany you apy
further; but if you should be stopped or in
tertered with at any time, either by day or BY
night, among these mountains, just say Clay
ing his hand upon his breast) that Lu Zu Pept
(Uncle Joe) is your friend, and NO man will
harm you.'
We babe each other friendly 'ado,' ant
parted in peace.
have but to add that sLu Zu Pepe' is coun
try Italian for 'Lo Zio Giuseppe. The terms
Uncle and Aunt are applied to almost ev
cry man and woman in the villages, and We
| had already heard of sI,u I'm Pene, an the nos