Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1907-08-23

WlLn0uL CulS ueFlce. viii tuio VIC
assembled about a So degree grade
for about mile when we again
disem barked and boarded an ordi-
nary surface traction car which
conveyed us another baIf mile.
Here we again disembarked, about
half way up the mountain, and
amid d great field Of cinders, Stag
and ashes.
From the time We STARTED up, We
had been passing through orange
groves, olive orchards and vine.
yards without number in as fertile
a country as the world contains
and as intensely cultivated, inter-
posed with comfortable looking
homes. These gradually pass
away, the slopes becoming more
and more precipitous, more rugged
and more interrupted with deep
and ,awning chasms. and wien |
landed at the station rs above de-
scribed, amid that wild field Of des-
oIation, | felt as did Alexander
Selkirk on his lonely island.
We hear persons say they would
not live around the base of Vesuvl-
us for all the gold Of California
and the Klondike, but here We see
them living not only around its
base but far up on its sides and
slopes, rs far as any vegetation can
grow.
We see the government spend.
ing thousands Of dollars building
high stone dams across the chasms
and gorges, one after the other
down the mountain, in order that
they MAY catch the loose ashes and
cinders which the violent rains
would carry down and cover up
the vegetation in the fertile helds
below and as soon as the wash has
filled mp the dam thereby produc-
ing q fertile spot, you see some one
cultivating it.
From where the car stopped we
find the ascent more strenuous. We
are solicited to take the advantage
of a ride up for the next mile or
two on some small horses and borros
kept there for the purpose at the
very moderate price of 81 30. We
declined for we did not like the price
and the size of the animals indica-
ted that we had better carry them.
We were met with guides here who
persistantlv pressed their services
on us,price 2 lire or SOC for the trip.
This price is charged the tourist
whether you go to the top or not.
By far the greatest majority lam
guish and despair and do not reach
|it. seemed to be the most popu
lar one of the party who got OF The
ear for was beseiged by guides. l
got the solution later. | was the
largest and latest looking one in
the bunch and they felt sure that
| would not get to the top. But
in that they were mistaken for |
had tramped over mountains be-
fore. Quite number did ride the
ponies and they seemed to get
along very well, mostly ladies.
Those who do not get employ
ment for their ponies generally
follow along behind leading them,
offering you their aid. They get
quite a number that way for whom
the climb proves too stiff. But up
the trail we go with our guide over
rugged and disrupted fields OF lava
Stag, ashes, dirt and rocks. Our
| path leads around into kind OF
sickle shaped valley, Arratro delCav-
allo, VII CT lies between Monte
Somma and Vesuyius. We pass
ever the great fields Of lava that
were thrown out in the eruption
of April 1905, 10 many places still
white hot and a poor looking indi-
vidual sitting there lights for you
your cigar and cooks a potato FOL
You by the fire for the sum OF lOc
The surface of these lava fields
! is chilled and cold so that nc
| inconvenince is experienced in
WALKING over them and these hOi
placed described are ASSURES OF
cracks from which the heat from
1.-THE inside of the great mass, 5OC
or go feet thick is escaping. Ii
is simply the process Of cooling