Indeed the interiour parts of the island are in general mountainous, though interspersed with fruitful valleys; but have a peculiar grand appearance, and inspire one with the genius of the place; with that undaunted and inflexible spirit, which will not bow to oppression. As Homer says of Ithaca:
Τρηχὲὶ ἀλλ' ἀγαθή κουροτρόφος.
Strong are her sons, tho' rocky are her shores.
The great division of Corsica, is into the di qua, and the di la dei monti. The country on this side and the country on the other side of the mountains; reckoning from Bastia. By the mountains is understood, that great range of them which rises beyond Aleria, and stretches across the island, intersecting it however by no mean, equally; for, the country di qua is a third more than that di la. Another old division of this island was, to suppose a line drawn from Porto Vecchio, to the gulf of San Fiorenzo; and the division upon the east, was called banda di dentro, The side within; and that on the west, was called banda di fuori, The side without. I never could learn the meaning of this division farther, than that, I suppofe, those who inhabited
