JOTTINGS FROM A TRAVELLER’S JOURNAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume IV, Issue 1002, 17 November 1883, Page 2

JOTTINGS FROM A TRAVELLER’S JOURNAL.

[SPECIALLY WRITTEN FOR “ THE ASHBURTON GUARDIAN. ”] CHAPTER XXL—(Continued.) Pompeii—A Melancholy Interest —The Villa of Diomedes—Sad Thoughts The Streets and Houses—The Museum—lts Contents—An Unexpected Meeti'G—Two Wanderers—An Interesting Excursion Ended. But it is impossible to describe minutely the numerous dismantled shattered structures that stand mute but eloquent witnesses of the terrible catastrophe. Our guide was very civil sud attentive. He spoke English sufficiently well for us to understand and appreciate his explanations of the nature and uses of the various remains temples, theatres, private dwellings, and shops of tradesmen and artisans. In one street he drew our attention to a bakehouse with ovens and mills for grinding corn ; in another he pointed out a tavern with the tables still standing from which the affrighted customers arose and fled when disturbed in their carousals by the c’oinniehcement of the volcanic storm. He led us along the Strada dei Sepoleri, or street of tombs, where the dead wers buried. The villa of Diomedes .‘attracted special attention. It differed materially in construction from the houses in the more central parts of the city. There were terraces and a garden, and a vaulted cellar. A melancholy interest is attached to this ruin. The bodies of a number of women and children were found here ; they had provided themselves with a supply of food, and fled to this vault hoping, no] doubt, to remain there in safety until the danger was over. Too late, alas ! they discovered the insecurity of their hiding place- They were found with their heads enveloped in wrappers—an expedient they adopted to avoid suffocation from the penetrating dust and ashes. The supposed proprietor of the house was found at the garden gate, with the key in his hand already inserted in the lock, and immediately behind him a domestic or slave, carrying money and various articles of value. Can we not almost realise the agonising struggles of the man as he vainly endeavoured to turn the key. Impossible ! approaching death had deprived him of the requisite muscular power. He could not escape the impending doom. While my travelling companion's attention was taken up by some other object of interest, the guide, unperceived by her, beckoned me to follow him into a house, the character of which was but too p'ainly declared by a piece of sculpture over the door. Tho motto originally inscribed under the lascivious emblem has been removed. It was Hie habitat felicitas. On the interior walls of. the house, in the different chambers, were remains of frescoes of the most obscene description, a pictoral commentary on the- Apostle Paul’s verb d de cription of the unnatural vices to which even the cultured heathen of the period were addicted. The streets of tho city are narrow, with causeways on each side. The central roadway is paved with largo blocks, and at intervals stepping stones are so placed that the wheels of passing vehicles would avoid them, but foot passengers could use them in crossing from one side »o the other, the roadway being considerably depressed. Ruts worn in the stones by wheels are still plainly visible, and in some places marks are discernable on the stepping stones made by the horses in passing over them. Many of the indications of city life, common in our day are to be seen at Pompeii. Partially obliterated notices, in red letters, of elections, and solicitations for votes in favor of popular candidates, and on some of the stuccce I walls squibs and caricature drawings, just such as idle boys, and street loafers of tie present day are wont to scribble on the vacant spaces in our modern cities.

It ia easy to distinguish the shops in the commercial quarters of the city from the buildings that were occupied as private houses. These latter, differ in size, but have a general resemblance in construction and internal arrangement. The following description may serve to give an idea of the prevailing plan. The approach frem the street is usually by a narrow passage called the vestibulum, an inner court or quadrangle which gave light to the several rooms. This court is generally surrounded by a covered way, and in the centre is the impluvium or reservoir for water. Beyond the court was the tablinum or large room devoted to general business. Then the peristylum or inmost court, sometimes enclosed with columns, and a flower garden with fountain in the centre, and all around the apartment for family use. The upper rooms were usually set apart for domestics and slaves, and communicated with tbe kitchen, cellar, and other offices. Decorative painting was the common mode of ornamentation, varying in extent and style according to the means and taste of the owner or occupant. But every house was more or leas embellished ia this manner, and it has been well said that it is hardly possible to imagine a gayer ot more richly decorated city than Pompeii must have been in its palmy days. Many of the beat and most perfect of the wall paintings have been removed to the museum at Naples. I have already referred to some of them in relating my visit to that institution.

I must not omit to mention the local museum which is or. the right side of the passage from the Porta Marina. It contains some interesting casts of objects found in course of excavating—models of doors, windows and shop fittings. And in glass cases aro preserved casts of human bodies, and the carcase of a dog. The attitudes, of the figures are painfully suggestive of the agonies endured at the moment of death.

Before I take leave of Pompeii I must relate an incident practically illustrating a remark often made by persons when they unexpectedly meet acquaintances in places far away from their usual homes, “.the world, after all, is very; small.’’ Often when travelling from Sydney to Parramatta, had I seen a well-known wealthy citizen, whose hpnae is on. the Parramatta river, occupying a seat as passenger in the same suburban train. I did not know that he was, like myself, a wanderer on the face of the earth, but when I approached the ruins of the temple of Isis at Pompeii, whom should > X see but this well : known individual with some members of bis family, standing motionless on a fragment of stone, while a photographer was taking a picture of the group.

Artis s of this class frequent the ruins for the purpose of affording visitors an oppoii tunny of obtaining pictorial souvenirs of the visit. We exchanged the ordinary civilities, and expressed our mutual wonder at meeting thus unexpectedly in this secluded spot. Thus ended our excursion to Pompeii: a most interesting day ; the only drawback being the unpropitious weather at the outset, and the cold temperature that continued from morning till night. Viator.