I TAL IAN S C E N E R Y , MANNE R S , A N D CUS TOMS . 85
PILATE XH.
INTERIOR OF A HOUSE AT FONDI.
T h e drawing from which this plate has been taken was made at Fondi, tjie first town witliin
the frontiers of the kingdom of Naples as you go from Rome. I t is the interior of a
house, where some poor people are seated at table, eating foknda, which is nothing more than
hasty pudding, made with the flour of Indian corn, the common grain of Amer ica, and of
some parts of Italy and Gennany.
A boiler, of the form of that which lies near the chimney, is filled with water, and suspended
over the fire by a crook, which in the present instance is simply a stick. When the
water is near boiling, the flour is gently sliaken into it with the left hand, and constantly
stirred with a stick in the right, to prevent it from forming lumps. AVhen it boils, all that is
necessary to be done is, to continue stirring it for some time.
The poor people eat it with salt only; and the peasants of almost every part of I taly begin
their dinner, which is at sunset, with the poktula; called farinata when made with wheat
flour, and polenda di castague when made with the flour of chesnuts, which is sometimes
used ; hut Indian corn is reckoned the most nutritious. The table is well cleaned, and they
generally pour the polenda upon it, which they consider as the speediest means of cooling it
Persons who are richer or more delicate have it spread on a napkin. I t is here represented
on the bare table, and the family seated round eating it with wooden spoons. I t is, however,
often served up in an earthen pan, such as that which the young woman, the principal
figure in tiie plate, holds in her hands.
A description of the costume of this woman will give an idea of that of the country people
in general. The hair is dressed in a ^yhinrsical, though not inelegant fashion ; it being
ended, and the curls intermixed with ribands of dillerent colours. The gown is generally
blue, and Ijordercd with a ditferent colour. Over the shoulders is worn, instead of a handkerchief,
a picec of red cloth, with a border of a diflerent colour, and fastened to the shoulder
by ribands. 'I'herc are no scams at the sides of the gown, so that the shift may be plainly
seen. The sleeves are likewise of a difierent colour. Their shoes are simply a sole, cut to
the shape of the foot, and sometimes only a square piece of leather, fastened on with a cord
twisted round the leg as far up as the knee.
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