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LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

can only be executed by men accustomed to the work.The circular spot on which the pag'liara is to be built iscleared of reeds, and loads of reeds are laid to raise thefloor above the water line in the rainy season. Sand is thenlaid on until the reeds are bound and covered. In thecentre of the [floor is a square fire-hearth, composed ofbrick and mortar, raised about a foot above the rest. Thefabric is made of vertical posts, and others form the roof.The walls are very compactly made of reed hurdles above afoot thick, and near the ground earth and mud is dex-trously applied. In the interior, a kind of Ottoman, orbroad seat, three feet from the ground, extends all roundand constitutes the bedstead. Wooden benches roundthe fire, a saucepan, kettle, and a few other necessaryutensils, form the furniture of the cabin of one of the poorerof these Pantanari. But the greater portion of their pegsand cupboards are occupied by their guns and fishing tackle,of which they have a pretty good store. Besides, at least,a couple of good ordinary fowling-pieces, they all have aduck gun, called there “ Mojana,” which they fire lyingdown on their faces in their little punts. With one of these,a man whom I knew once killed thirty-seven geese at oneshot.

Bartolomeo was one of the finest looking men I ever saw;at least six feet five inches high, broad and muscular inproportion, a fine open, benevolent countenance, with verylarge eyes, beautiful long black curly hair hanging on eachside his neck, which was bare, the embroidered collar of hisshirt being turned over the collarless blue velvet jacket. Hehad two sons, one eighteen, the other twenty, years of age,and both the very image of their father, equally tall, thoughnot yet so robust. One of the sons always stayed with him;the other was with the mother, who lived near A versa, andwent to and fro upon his parent’s business. Bartolomeo’s

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