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I T A L I A N S C E N E R Y , M A N N E R S , A N D C U S T OMS .
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PLATE yi lJ,
THE WASHING PLACE AT TORRE DEL GRECO.
T h e village near Na]>lcs cal led the Greek' s Tower , was, from the magni f icence of it's
buildings, and the number of it's iidiabitants, (ill lately, a place of considerable importance.
Standing at the foot of Vesuvius, tlie lava, in the terrible eruption of 1794, took it's direction
toward the village, passed over it, destroyed the houses, and, entering into the sea, formed a
cape near two miles in length.
Tlie name of Tower is of ancient date, as it was one of the seven towers of Na p l e s ; but
i t takes it's present appellation from a Gr e ek hermit, who settled there, and planted the first
cuttings of that vine, wdiicli produces the celebrated vin Greco, or Greek wine. It is supposed,
that the richness of the fields at the foot of the mountain is owing to the ashes thrown on them
by the different eruptions, and to the constant predomination of a sulphurous atmosphere.
To this cause is attributed the fine flavour of the wines produced at this place, for here likewise
is made the wine called ladtrymie Christ/.
The subject of the plate is a publ i c fountain, to which the women resort for the purpose
of washing their clothes. Th e linen is first soaked in cold water for twenty- four hours; it is
then put into an earthen vessel, resembling a flower-pot, and large in proportion to the
quantity to be washed ; over the top of the vessel is spread a piece of strong linen eloth, and
wood ashes, from four to si,\ inches deep, are laid uponit. Boi l ing water is then poured upon
the ashes, a gallon at a time. The water is passed through the ashes and the linen I'rom
five to seven times, according as the linen is more or less dirty. Th e linen is then left in the
same vessel to c o o l : the nes t day it is taken out, rubbed wi th a small quant i ty of soft soap,
and pressed against the stones of the reservoir where it is washed. "When wel l washed, it is
strongly twisted w ith both hands, to force out the water, and then hung up to dry.
In the country people prefer washing in the rivers; but in towns and villages publ ic fountains
serve frequently for this purpose ; and when not convenient on ac count of their form, are very
often made so and kept in order at the publ ic e.vpensc. Almos t every house has a washing,
place in the yard, built with bricks or stones, but it is troublesome to fill w;ith water, and of
course dispensed with where it is possible.
The Neapol i tan linen is the finest in I taly ; and the thread of Ga c t a the finest in the
world. M ith this thread are kni t such beaut i ful stockings as to be sold for five guineas a pair.
The fountain here represented is bui l t with the lava of Vesuvius. The hair of the women
IS enclosed in a net, which is the common costume of both sexes at Naples . Ladies of distmetion,
when in tlu:ir morning dresses, frequently wear nets wrought with gold aud silver,
which are purchased at a very high price.
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