On our way up we met a singular procession coming down.
It consisted of a low large cart drawn by two oxen, and attended by several lay brothers and peasants, in the centre of which was seated an enormously fat brother of the order, whose white-robed bust with immense flowing white beard, emerging from a quantity of red wraps and coverings, that concealed the lower part of his person, made an extraordinary appearance.

He was being brought down from the Sagro Eremo to the superior comfort of the convent, because he was unwell.
At the Sagro Eremo--the sacred hermitage--is seen the operation of the Camaldolese rule in its original strictness and perfection.

At the convent itself it is, or has become, much relaxed in many respects.
The Camaldolese, like other Carthusians, are properly _hermits_, that is to say, their life is not conventual, but eremitical.

Each brother at the Sagro Eremo inhabits his own separately built cell, consisting of sleeping chamber, study, wood-room, and garden, all of microscopical dimensions.

His food, exclusively vegetable, is passed in to him by a little turntable made in the wall.