m
no
pofilion, which extend as fai- as Monaco. I then defcendcd the eailem fide of the fame
mounUiiii for about a quarter of an hour, and followed the edge of another equally long
and ftccp, which condudbed me nearly to the town or village of Turbia, by a path which
is partly excavated in the rock, and partly as though fufpended above the fea, on the proj
e i t i ng ftrata of the mountain, which entirely overhang its bafe, againil which the waves of
the fea break with impetuous and tremendous found.
This part of tl\e road, thus elevated fifteen hundred feet above the fea, made me at once
experience an involuntary emotion of furprife and admiration, altliough I had previoiifly
been accuftomcd to fcramble on more formidable and ftupendous heights. I am therefore
induced to accoujit for this initantaneous impulfc to tlie extcniive and ninjeftic objects
wliicli furrounded me, and which were fo totally difFcrcnt to thofe feen in mountainous
countries, where the horizon is for tlie moft part raproche, or contradied, unlefs when
elevated on any of the mountains of the iirft order.
As this road, which is dreadfully bad and extremely narrow, widiout railing or prevention
whatever to proteft travellers in cafe of accident, is only a favourable fpccimen of the
one which leads from thence to Genoa, the diftance of which is about ninety-five miles, I
would recommend thofe who are deiirous of viiiting that city, to hire a feluca at Nice,
which generally performs tlie voyage in two days and a lialf.
Theic felucas are properly open boats, large enough to take in a poft-chaife, with a till
over the ilern to protect the paffengers firom the rain. They are clean and convenient, and
rowed by ten or twelve ftout men; but when the wind will admit of it, they lail it eafily in
half the time.
Thefe boats are commanded by a captain, or patron, who, for eight or ten zcquines, or
chequines (which is about equal to four guineas), will let you have the whole fchica to go
to Genoa, excluiive ofprovifions.
As I drew near Turbia, the furrounding country became lef? barren, and the mountains,
from being leis abrupt, admitted of more cultivation, their bafes being covered with olivetrees
as far as the fea; ilill, however, their fummits afforded but a defolate appearancc,
owing to the craggy and mutilated ftate of their flrata, and the immenfe pieces of rock
which covered their arid fides.
Tliis village is fituated on a fmall elevated but barren plain, wedged in between three
ftupendous peaks, on which are feen fcattered a few Hunted firs. It was formerly callcd
Villa-Martis, and pretends to have given birth to ^ l ius , or Publius Helvicus, who fucn
i i
!iii:i'iii![ I
jliiiiri
im.\
tallio i.
m
fViS-!f
pi-!!!)!!
i l l '