, 1860-06-13

DETAILS BY THE AFRICA.


AASAs<1
IL. Viollet-le Due communicates to tue Aoai
tear the following account Of the parts Of Sicily
into which Garibaldi's band have penetrated
From Marsa1a, two roads lead toward Paler-
mo; one in good repair, following the coast on
the north to Trapani, and from rTapani turning
suddenly to the east by Mount San Juliano.
crosses the defles to .Calataimi, redescends
towards the sea through Alcamo, and then pro-
ceeds right along the splendid vslley Of Faler-
mo. second road, less carefully attended to,
goes from Marsha TO Calatadmi Marsala only
possesses small port, and q roadstead not
very deep; on the land side it is defended by
old walls fanked with square towers. 1t Is
clear that troops dlsembarki0g at Marsala, m
open town on low shore, could not intend to
remain there an hour.
Ifthe Neapoiltan troops had intended to hold
the country, they would only hare to guard the
de6lss, which lead to Calatafrni. and, in that
case, even il the insurgents bad possessed
numerous artillery and regular troops, they
could not have advanced more than 1--WE miles
into the interior. As the:Neapolitans did not
defend the defiles Of Calatad1ni, they aban-
part Of the island. No obstacle preventing the
insurgents from presenting themselves before
the latter town, auy offensive return from Pal
ermo YVES impossible, or At least yery danger
Gus. The Insurgents possessing Calata6mi, are
masters Of TfapRni, Marsala. Mazzara, Castel
4EIgAuO, aUu even CEldEEA o4t lei Us S4RInlQ&
an in .tant this western part of the island. Al
caulo H. town situated on plateau in the
midst Of plain; it was formerly an Arab es-
tab!ishnent, as Its name indicates, aud is we'll
chosen to command several little ports, Of which
tile oeare.t aud most important is named Mag.
azinszz0.
Frou, Palermo to Alcamo is rather more than
- miles, ard from Alcamo to Calntafimi about
eight. To 10 from Palermo to Aicano wa fol-
lox one Of the most admirable valleys of Sicily,
in which there arc olive trees centuries old, sud
groves Of orange aud citron trees But on pHss.
ftng the height Which closea the valley to the
south the sceoe suddenly changes, and the ap.
Then, entering deep Rorees, we arrive at C4tat.
atmi, q town Of not 10000 Inhabitants, ~ sta
ted in the newspapers, but Of 1000 or 5000.
The town, which is Of wretched aspect, is dom
mated By castle now quite in ruins. From
this castle IN extraordinary country is seen,
tossed about by some terrible earthquake.
The Neapolitaus ought to have defended these
parts; not having done so, they have left great
advantage to the guerlllas. The latter, in fact.
without leaEiDg the mountains, can surround
Palermo, either by going to Bagaria on the
east, or in turning No"rea'e aud occupying the
Monte Pell 'erimo TO the west, they can COM
,nand the solitary plains Of Marsala aud Mara
ra. can possess themselves or Mount San Julia
M, which dominates Trapaui, can cut Oh all
communication BY land betyeen the town Of
Palermo. ard can cause the inhabitants Of Ira
mani to suIer dreadsu'iy from thirst by destroy
;nc the outy acqueduct which conveys them
wa.er from Mount Juliano. II the insurgents
be numerous, they can besides reach the valley
Of Castle Vetrano and Campo Belio to the
sou,b, and tue towns of Termini and Cefalu on
the north coast.
The place Of Decentralization Of Gariba!di's
bands was chosen with 70 much intelligence as
to cfdse US to suppose that he and his lieuten-
nnts will proft by all the advantages which the
nature Of the country affords. Trapani is q
pretty town formerly fortified, and has sort Of
citadel which commands the port If 1t werc
not far the want Of water, the town could easily
be defended on the land side, as 1t is only united
to tue plain by q tong""e Of land cut by salt
marshex. From Calata6mi to Trapaul the road
winds through irregular hills; aud on this road.
length Of upwards Of eighteen miles, ther. is
not q hrusc, not tree, not shrub. 1T dis
tarce Of two or three miles from Palermo md
all other creat towns, there ia scarcely any trace
of cu1tiyat1ou. The inhabitants are 70 borne
down by taxes on all they prod uce that they
abandon the soil, though it is perhaps the most
fertile in Italy, and the peasants contrivd to lire
On handful Of pulse daily