Note on Pavia.

1023.

The chimneys of the castle of Pavia have 6 rows of openings and from each to the other is one braccio.

[Footnote:  Other notes relating to Pavia occur on p. 43 and p. 53 (Pl.  XCVIII, No. 3).  Compare No. 1448, 26.]

Notes on the Sforzesca near Vigevano (1024-1028).

1024.

On the 2nd day of February 1494.  At Sforzesca I drew twenty five steps, 2/3 braccia to each, and 8 braccia wide.

[Footnote:  See Pl.  CX, No. 2.  The rest of the notes on this page refer to the motion of water.  On the lower sketch we read:  4 br. (four braccia) and giara (for ghiaja, sand, gravel).]

1025.

The vineyards of Vigevano on the 20th day of March 1494.

[Footnote:  On one side there is an effaced sketch in red chalk.]

1026.

To lock up a butteris at Vigevano.

1027.

Again if the lowest part of the bank which lies across the current of the waters is made in deep and wide steps, after the manner of stairs, the waters which, in their course usually fall perpendicularly from the top of such a place to the bottom, and wear away the foundations of this bank can no longer descend with a blow of too great a force; and I find the example of this in the stairs down which the water falls in the fields at Sforzesca at Vigevano over which the running water falls for a height of 50 braccia.

1028.

Stair of Vigevano below La Sforzesca, 130 steps, 1/4 braccio high and 1/2 braccio wide, down which the water falls, so as not to wear away anything at the end of its fall; by these steps so much soil has come down that it has dried up a pool; that is to say it has filled it up and a pool of great depth has been turned into meadows.

Notes on the North Italian lake. (1029-1033)

1029.

In many places there are streams of water which swell for six hours and ebb for six hours; and I, for my part, have seen one above the lake of Como called Fonte Pliniana, which increases and ebbs, as I have said, in such a way as to turn the stones of two mills; and when it fails it falls so low that it is like looking at water in a deep pit.

[Footnote:  The fountain is known by this name to this day:  it is near Torno, on the Eastern shore of Como.  The waters still rise and fall with the flow and ebb of the tide as Pliny described it (Epist.  IV, 30; Hist.  Nat.  II, 206).]

1030.

LAKE OF COMO.  VALLEY OF CHIAVENNA.

Above the lake of Como towards Germany is the valley of Chiavenna where the river Mera flows into this lake.  Here are barren and very high mountains, with huge rocks.  Among these mountains are to be found the water-birds called gulls.  Here grow fir trees, larches and pines.  Deer, wildgoats, chamois, and terrible bears.  It is impossible to climb them without using hands and feet.  The