Abbeville press. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1860-1869, 1867-08-23
ROMAN CAMPAGNA.


Campagna is the herds of cattle which are
bred there, and roam over its hills and
valleys. The oxen are estimated to num-
Der about SO 900, and magnificent beasts
they are, with their soh, grayish-white
skins, that, when we'll cared for, shine like
silk, their enormous spreading horns, meas.
urlng five and six feet in width, and their
large soft eyes. They are as docile and
obedient as they majestic and powerful
and adorned with scarlet ribbons or bands
as they slowly drag along the heavy wains
no one could fail to notice them for their
beauty. The peasants are very proud Of
them, and treat them with the utmost kind.
ness.
Buffaloes may also be seen in herds, here
and there. These beasts are still more
powerful than the oxen, and are used to do
all the heavy work. With their brutal
low heads and turned-up snouts, their short
angled legs, wiry coats of shaggy hair and
rugged semi-crcular horns, they present
very savage aspect; but, though sulky, they
submit to training, are very sagacious, and
will drag enormous loads. Their eye is
strangely melancholy and pathetic, and has
the look Of a creature which mourns over
its unhappy lot, and sorrows at its own ug.
Illness. But though ugly, they are emf
nentIy picturesque; and tuggiug along
through the hoo-deep sand of the coast
their rude carts laden with marble, traver-
tine, or stone, under tall stone-pines thatIe
back from the constant strain of sea gales,
or wallowing up to their belly through the
grass OF the Pontine marshes, they form a
very striking feature in the landscape. In
these marshes they are used at certain sea-
sons to clear the canals of the reeds, flags,
and aquatic plants with which the summer
has choked the stream. Driven into the
water, urged by drivers on either bank, who
goad them with long poles, they stumble
through the weeds, tearing them up with
their breasts and hoofs. and sometimes
with only their head and snout along blow
ing like hippopotamuses, and dragging
with them tangled masses of grass that
cling around their horns and broad black
noses. But though genera lily under control
their originally savagery will sometimes
break out under great irritation, and
they will attack their drivers, and trarnple
them to death ifthey can get at them. All
along the outer walls of Rome, at regular
intervals little pens are rallied off with strong
beams, to afford refuge to any pedestrians
in case they may chance to meet drove
of butfaloes or oxen.
The flocks of sheep on the Campagna are
estimated to amount to 100000. They
are tended by shepherds, who, in their poin-
ted hats, adorned with gay cords and tas-
aels, or the eye of a peacock's feather
their short jacket of undressed sleeps wool
their breeches of goats skin with the long
shaggy hair hanging from them-their skin
sandals and cioci laced over cloth under
leggins, which serve instead of stockings,
sro the modern type Of old Pan. At their
side they carry yellow gourd of water,
and in their pocket is stuffed wedge of
black bread and a few onions to lunch upon.
All day long, leaning upon their poles
which they~plant diagonally before them,
and spreading out their legs SO as to form,
a tripod, they stand watching the herds, OF
gazing vacantly into the air, or going fast
to sleep. A great white dog Of the 81. .Ber.
nard breed always accompanies them. He
is as intelligent as is master, thoroughly
knows his business, and does all the active
duty; keeping guard over the sheep, dri'
wing here and there, preventing them from
slrsyiug, and directing them in all their
courses. So savage are these dogs, that II
is always we'll to be armed with good
stick in ones excursions off the main road
into the heart of'the Campagna; for 10 case
the shepherd be out of the way, or asleep
they will instantly attack any one who ap
proaches near the flock. The sheep follow
after the shepherd, and are not driven be-
) fore him; aud at nightfall after bis dog has
gathered them all together, he leads them
to their fold. 1t is picturesque sight te
see them then, all flocking along over thu
Campagna, with the shepherd marching
gravely at their head. The fold, which i
movable, and pitched pow in one spot ans
now il another, is made of network o
twine, stretched upon stakes planted at g.
t quail distances the ground, and abou