about midday
As they went on they saw crowds of peasants coming to work in the fields . These peasants lived in the hill country on the right , and had to walk a great distance to get to their place of labor , -- for to live on the marshes was impossible . Men , women , and even children were there ; and their pale , sickly faces and haggard looks showed how deadly were the effects of the noxious exhalations from this marshy soil . At about midday they reached an inn , which stood about half way over the marshes , by the road-side . David speculated much as to whether this place might or might not be the Forum Appii mentioned in the book of Acts as a stopping-place of St. Paul on his way to Rome ; but the others were too hungry to take any interest whatever in the question . They remained here nearly two hours , got something to eat , and then resumed their journey . _ The Pontine Marshes .