Merly the Boundary of the District of Borniio, Dividing It on the South from the Valteline. This Defile Was Narrow Enough To
THE MONTE STELVIO. 87 merly the boundary of the district of Borniio, dividing it on the south from the Valteline. This defile was narrow enough to secure the frontier by a wall, and the passage with a gate and chain. Upon leaving the country of Bormio, expressively called " il freddo paese," the river is recrossed, and the traveller descends into the Valteline ; the change is rapid to more genial vegetation than the pine and the larch: the chestnut is seen immediately below La Serra; and shortly after, the vine is observed to be extensively cultivated ; there is a strikingly rich and luxuriant appearance in the valley near Grosio. The river is passed and repassed before arriving at Mazza ; and from this place, seven or eight villages, with their church spires, enliven the rich scene. Near Tirano the valley widens, the road descends, crosses the river, passes through the town of Tirano, and traverses the valley to Madonna, a pleasant little town at the entrance to the valley of Puschiavo, which leads to the Engadine, by the pass of the Bernina. There is an excellent inn at Madonna; and the church is worthy of the inspection of travellers. From Madonna, the road continues, in its descent to Sondrio, on the right bank of the Adda, passing through numerous pic- turesque villages. Owing to the neglect of the embankments of the river in some places, the levels of the valley are become swamps, where reeds and grass grow rank, and the marshes are productive of malaria,— the sickly aspect of the inha- bitants evinces this; but their squalid appearance is height- ened by poverty, and few districts present a more miserable race of people, afflicted as they are with goitres and cre- tinism, the concomitants of filth.
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