Many houses had been completely torn down, and the crops, and even the loose alluvial earth swept away; as we glided by each dreary scene of devastation, another yet more dismal would appear in its place.
This continued till we reached Melnick, where the trees become higher, and groups of houses peer forth from among the innumerable vineyards.
Opposite this little town the Moldau falls into the Elbe.

On the left, in the far distance, the traveller can descry St.George's Mount, from which, as the story goes, Czech took possession of all Bohemia.
Below the little town of Raudnitz the hills gave place to mountains, and as many enthusiasts can only find those regions romantic where the mountains are crowned with half-ruined castles and strongholds, good old Time has taken care to plant there two fine ruins, Hafenberg and Skalt, for the delectation of such sentimental observers.
Near Leitmeritz, a small town with a handsome castle, and a church and convent, the Eger flows into the Elbe, and a high-arched wooden bridge connects the two banks.

Here our poor sailors had difficult work to lower the mast and the funnel.
The rather pretty village of Gross-Czernoseck is remarkable for its gigantic cellars, hewn out of the rock.

A post-carriage could easily turn round in one of these.

The vats are of course proportioned to the cellars, particularly the barrels called the "twelve apostles," each of which holds between three and four thousand gallons.