The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1901-05-16

oo0A IONcIS VI lOiIy SOuGuuoS. Ine
forests are full Of cartridges and many
kinds of birds; and the barren plateaus
are literally alive with hares and wild
boars-the latter fattening upon the
long, fibrous roots of the aspodel,
whose beautiful yellow flowers flourish
where nothing else will grow. Were it
not for its undeserved reputation for
unhealthfulness, Sardinia would be
thronged with sportsmen from all parts
of Europe. The story has gone abroad
that its climate is deadly for foreigners.
The truth is that from June till Octo-
Der the coast districts of the south
east should be avoided, on account of
malaria; here called intemperie, which
resembles double distilled combina-
ton of Roman fever Michigan ague
and Santiago calentura. The strange
thing about it is that while adults who
have become seasoned to the marshy
districts can remain in them with i'm
punity the whole year through, chill
dren and new corners invariably fall
victims to intemperie; and then the
matter of life or death is question of
survival of the fittest. But this occurs
only in a small portion of the island
and during the few months above
named. The malaria is caused by over
flowing mountain torrents in spring
time, which bring down immense guam
titles of vegetable matter to ferment
and decompose in the coast lagoons.
: Northern and central Sardinia remain
exceptionally salubrious the year
around, with dry, transparent atmos-
| phere and really delightful climate.
Owing to the latitude the winters are
never severe, even in the mountains:
and the summer heat is less excessive
than that on the neighboring coast of
Italy. Especially during December and
January the traveller finds here the
very perfection of weather. February
is apt to be month of continual rain.
| Spring manifests itself with full lux
uriance toward the end of March; and
from that time till midsummer nobody
need complain of the healthfulness of
| Sardinia.
Not the least important part of this
too long neglected country is the small
isletS that cluster close around it, like
buds on the parent stem. There are
hundreds of them, from the size of a
blanket to a respectable farm; and
though comparatively few of them are
| fit for cultivation all are of some use,
as pasture ground, salt-beds, OF the
homes of fishermen. The largest and
most fertile island, and naturally most
populated, is San Antioco, on the south
ern coast of Sardinia, where it forms
the western wall of the gulf of Palmas
So very narrow is the deep sea passage
which separates it from the mainland
that it is crossed by Roman bridge
and an ancient aqueduct. San Antioco
is only about eight miles long by three
wide; but it supports three or four
thousand people, the majority of whom
turn their honest pennies in the time
honored occupations of smuggling and
wrecking.
The Buccinari islands, on the north
east of Sardinia, are rocky, waterless
and barren, but of considerable import
ance, as commanding the Strait of
Bonifazio. They have no land worth
| 1tiyotinn
tie, but are famous hunting grounds for
goats and rabbits Chief among the
Buccinari, are the historic islets of
Maddalena and Caprera-the latter ia
nous as Garibaldis' home in exile. The
Italian patriot bought the island and
built home on it, early as 1854, and
twenty years later it became his prison.
During his ill-starred attempt to stir up
revolt in the Papal States he was
wounded and taken prisoner at Asina-
lunga and soon afterwards was Danish
ed to Caprera and forbidden to leave it
without express permission from the
italian government Here he spent the
evening of his life in contented sim
plicity, and died in June of 1882. 1t is
characteristic of the Latin tempera-
ment that after his death, the italian
nation made Saint and hero of him,
gave him the most imposing funeral
that could be devised and honored his
memory in every possible way. Our
last glimpse of Sardinia was of the
little home in which the modest patriot
spent so many years. A garden of
artificial soil surrounds the house and
from great rock behind it may be had
a beautiful prospect of shining sea and
encircling mountains. A few years
after Garibaldi's DEATH his family coded
Caprera to the State, on condition that
a hospital for seamen be erected upon
it and the home of the original owner
be forever preserved.
FANNIE B. WARD.