378

LIFE OF COLONEL MACERONI.

a spice of outlawry about them, but on what account I didnot learn. These three brothers, whose names were Matteo,Marco, Luca, were all so exceedingly alike that it was nextto impossible to distinguish one from the other. They wereall considerably above six feet high, elegantly and athleti-cally proportioned, with long curly hair of a deep red,which had all the lustre of bright copper wire. Two ofthem were, in fact, twins, the third only thirteen months or '

so older than the others. :

While I used to be fishing at my post, these three men, i

always inseparable, would frequently come by in their \

Londra ’s, two in one, the other alone, but both close together. j;

Arrived opposite to me, they always made a stop, and, )

squatting on the edge of their punts, entered into conversa- *

tion on politics, of which they were most curious inquirers. '

Innumerable were their questions about England—the con-stitution—the power of the King—the omnipotence of Par-liament , &c., and I was really astonished at their remarks.

Our meetings generally ended by my giving them a little >

fine English gunpowder for their priming, or for an import- ,

ant shot at a boar, in exchange for which they would give ,

me a hare, or a brace of cocks, or a joint of deer or boar. ;

All these people have an exalted idea of the excellence andwholesomeness of a drop of “ English rum,” as they call it, 'and I always endeavoured to gratify them with a draught ofthe cordial. This could be done at a very small expense, as ?

the best bi'andy at Naples (superior to French ) costs only 1

about sixpence a quart. Rum was, at the same time, at j

least five shillings a bottle. But I gave them their own ]

brandy, which they took for rum, and prized it and the j

donor accordingly. The only use that these temperate men j

make of spirits is, in cold weather, to take a glass little j

bigger than a thimble the first thing in the morning, which j

they think very beneficial.