The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-02

Cldnpcu SpdCc, tucIc are HO plaZdS Vi
other vacant places, except the espla.
made. The streets, criss-crossing in the
most perplexing manner, have hardly
width enough for two laden mules to
pass each other. They are as void OF
every kind of vehicle as those of Ven
ice, and almost as unsavory as it's
canals. The dwellings, built of the
! same material as the rock on which
they stand, are all snow-white; and as
walls and towers are also. white, the
general effect of the shadeless place in
this sunny latitude, with the sparkling
sea in front and the dazzling sky above,
is binding at MONDAY. Every morn
ing nearly the whole population pours
down the inclined plane with their
beasts of burden, to work in the coun-
+, try, miles away, because, of course, on
the barren cliffs there are no gardens
or other vegetation. The churches of
Bonifazio are worth visiting. Sainte
Marie Majeure, with it's wide porch
and flying buttresses, is of Pisan con-
struction. San Dominique, with its
pieced octagonal tower, is of the Thir-
teenth century and belonged to the
the Templars. San Francisco the new
est of all was begun in 1898.
If the weather permits, you should
by all means visit some of the sea-
wrought caverns in the chalky cliffs.
The largest grotto, called La Dragon
eta, is just beyond the lighthouse and
easily accessible. 1t is in two parts,
one like an ante-chamber, its gigantic
dome cut in half and fringed with
stalactites. Through this the boat
enters the second cavern, which is
lighted from above by an aperture,
said to be in the exact form of the out
line Of "a map of Corsica. The effect Of
color here, from the deep, translucent
blue of the sea, the bright red of the
water-line, and the chalky whiteness
above, is most striking. In this still
and silent retreat, fish congregate by
millions. 1t is not safe for mortals to
venture far inside, not only on account
of the crumbling walls, but because of
the uncertain Mediterranean currents
which may send huge pillows rolling in
at any moment. Steering out of this
grottO, you soon reach the open Strait,
which seems to be the bluest blue that
can possibly be imagined. Presently
you see directly in front huge pyra-
midal rock, rising with double front to
meet the rush of waters. This glorious
facade, named Monte Pertusato, is a
triumphant specimen of Natures archi-
tectural skill. On either side are mas
sive buttresses of lime and sandstone,
furrowed by the waves; and between
them rises the lofty span of a colossal
arch towering up toward the white
battlements of Bonifazio. This is the
natural portal to grotto of unparallel-
ed magnifcence, called Soto al Fran
cisco. You cannot get in with boat,
but rowing as near as safety will allow,
you see wonderful Stalactites hanging
from a lofty, vaulted roof, over tran
quill waters of unknown depth, stretch
ing away into darkness in the very
heart of the cliff. Farther around to
the eastward a long stretch of coast is
undermined by curiously shaped vaults,
into which raging pillows force their
way Among them is the grandest
cavern in Europe perhaps the grandest
of its kind in the world Its entrance
is gigantic Ssalactite arch, into which
the water boils unanimously dashine
clouds of white spray high against the
vaulted walls. Just to listen to such
enough. The Italian is the only Ian
guage which furnishes a word to imi-
tate the sound: it is rimbomba-but
only Italians can give it the proper
ring. Beyond this imposing entrance
cave succeeds cave, each larger an6
loftier, farther into the bowels of the
earth than even the bravest Bonifaian
has dared to go.
With our usual good fortune we, fell
in with party of English ladies and
gentlemen at BonifaZio, who were tour
ing the Mediterranean in a private
yacht; and very joyfully accepted al
invitation to accompany them in a
cruise around Sardinia,-the sister-is
land of Corsica. Though these two
largest islands of the Mediterranean
next to Sicily, are separated only by a
strait SO narrow that school-boy could
leap across from one to the other
they are as different in scenery, climate
geological formation and the character
of the people as if oceans divided them
Sailing down the eastern coast of Sar
DINA, you see bold headlands and ranges
of cliffs, with little bays between them,
varied by long stretches of lagoons and
marshes-the same, probably, whose
deadly miasmas have given the big is.
land such an unenviable reputation that
it is seldom visited for any purpose by
Europeans. FANNIE B. WARD.
CAsToRIA.
| p..,. H. a Thu Kind V0l HavA AlWays Rnudhi