balza

One of the ravines of which I have spoken -- the "balza," they call it at Volterra -- has plowed a deep chasm on the north side of this mountain, and is every year rapidly approaching the city on its summit.

Seeing Europe with Famous Authors, Volume 8 Italy and Greece, Part Two

The balza began to move; slowly at first, for the current under the bushes was very slight.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

Its fat and flesh yielded enough to fill every spare vessel our travellers had got; and, when all were filled, the balza was pushed off, and they continued their voyage without any fear of short rations for some time to come.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

At one glance Don Pablo saw that it would be a terrible calamity, should these creatures gain a lodgment on the balza.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

A balza raft was built out of large trunks of the _Bombax ceiba_, which, being light wood, was the best for the purpose.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

The balza was brought close in on the upper side of the promontory, so as to be out of the current; and then all landed and made their preparations for passing the night.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

In fact, in a few minutes after, the troop appeared upon some tall trees that stood on the edge of the creek, not fifty yards from where the balza was moored.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

One night they had pushed the balza up an "igaripe" for a hundred yards or so, where a dry bank gave them an opportunity of landing.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

The balza had been brought to the bank, and they were just mooring it, when something out on the water attracted the attention of Leon and

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon

Had they not done so -- in other words, had they gone to sleep, leaving the balza where it was during the night -- they would have awakened in the morning to find their stores completely destroyed, their labour of a year brought to nothing in the space of a single night.

The Forest Exiles The Perils of a Peruvian Family in the Wilds of the Amazon