The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1879-01-30

the underground passage led. The
floor is 6 feet below the ground level,
an outer stone stairway leading down
to the door. The top of the first story
wall is covered by stones dressed level,
forming a walk all around the building
four feet wide, inside of which the up
per story wall is continued up 81 feet
thick, the floor of which is the leveled
up surface of the arched ceiling below
This upper room is lighted by narrow
Sits or openings in the wall, and is or
namented by carvings on the walls and
mosaic work on the floor. In this
room is tablet of African marble Is
by "a inches, polished but without in
cription. The roof is 80 feet in di-
ameter, and consists of single stone
4 feet thick, rounded up to the center
outside and inside. This stone has
been cracked across one side, and the
legend says it was done by thunder
bolt while the ii a emperor WAS trem-
bling inside, by way # reminding him
that human ingenuity could not pro-
tect him from the wrath of Heaven.
A ballustrade of marble columns origi-
nally surrounded the walk on the wall,
the broken fragments of which have
been gathered and preserved. Pro-
jections in the wall under the cornice
indicate that roof bad covered this
walk originally. Two massive stone
stairways supported by arches lead to
the second floor, which has no interior
| connection with the first floor
a careful study of this structure, its
location, &c., will lead practical per
son to discredit the legend OF its pur-
pose, and give it the new name of the
Summer house" Of the emperor, in
the midst of his ornamental gardens,
to which he and his family could
safely retire, secretly, at their pleasure
without fear Of the hand Of the assas-
sin which has ever been lifted up
against Roman rulers. The under
ground passage is no longer accessible,
having fallen in at many places.
There are some half dozen very
richly ornamented churches in this city,
two Of which are over 1909 years old.
In one there is granite Byzantine
column feet in diameter 10y feet
high, supporting Il marble coffin OF a
celebrated Christian celebrity. 1t
formed Il part OF II pagan temple 1000
years ago. Here also is an arm chair
OF good proportions carved ont OF Il
solid marble block, and embellished
with rich carvings. 1t was taken
from the ruins of the palace OF Theo-
dosius. On the wall is a very old
painting that represents an ancient city
and harbor that once existed within
three miles of Ravenni. Some old
ruins are all that are now left to mark
the location. 1t was said to be de-
stroyed by tidal wave, and Ravenna
was built on higher ground to take its
place.
One of the oldest and best churches
is said to have originally been an arena
for the combats OF wild beasts. Its
construction gives color to this story,
as it is circular in form and has a very
capacious gallery resting upon arches,
from which the view of the floor below
is good. The massive pillars of this
church are faced with the most rare
and beautiful marbles, and ornamented
with mosaic work. Within the grounds
of this church is the tomb of Placida,
enclosed in building, the inside of
which is in the shape of cross, and
ornamented with MOSAIC work, paint
ings, carvings, &c.
There are many other things here
worthy of description but | will defer
that till another time. The city is en-
closed by wall Is feet high with for
titications at three of the angles. There
are four gates, guarded by military,
who are also charged with the duty of
collecting tariff upon all kinds of
provisions, fuel, goods, &C., that enter
the city. All strangers entering are
visited at their stopping place by an
officer who notes their names, business,
description of their person, their nation
ality, place of residence, &c The city
is some four miles from the sea, with
which its harbor connects by cut
channel deep enough to float a vessel
of 10 feet draft. Lines of vessels run
between this city and Trieste, Venice,