1828.] The Cave of Har Hassatt. 613 



the ground became slippery from dew or sea spray., and the slight step 

 wound about a turn in the rock, where a single unsteady look or move- 

 ment might have been attended by fatal consequences. At last we were 

 at the mouth of the cave. Its position had been well described, as being 

 mid-way between the base and the summit of the rock. The sea roared 

 beneath us,, perhaps imprisoned in some natural excavations like this one, 

 whose floor might be the ceiling of another, still more awful and inacces- 

 sible. From the entrance, a vast number of galleries, stretched away by 

 different ramifications into the bosom of the earth. These were soon 

 without a ray of light ; and, for this reason, the central and principal one 

 which we attempted to penetrate, became almost instantly impervious. 

 Our guide took us along a side corridor, through which we groped our 

 way in damp and darkness, till at a distance a fresh gleam of light 

 assisted our progress to its further end. There we found a smaller 

 mouth, fronting the sea on one side, and terminating on the other in a low 

 arch, where are still to be seen the indications of a door with its hinges 

 and fastenings. And this was the sanctuary of the recluse. Within 

 were discernible the rude couch of stone, the lamp and its receptacle, 

 with many other of those devices, which, though multiplied by wonder- 

 workers till they are worthily deemed fabulous, existed certainly before 

 us, as the ancient substitutes for more costly comforts, accommodated to 

 the wants of the hermit. From the opening of the archway, a vast and 

 glorious view of the Mediterranean presents itself, and no port could have 

 been better chosen as the scene of romantic and superhuman adventures. 

 As we loitered on this interesting ground, a thousand visions naturally 

 occurred to us, as the probable incidents in the life of one who could so 

 utterly cast off the world, and betake himself to a nook in the desolate 

 rock, companioned only by the sea-gull. The very access to his abode 

 was likely to have remained for ever unknown. The old priest himself 

 had resided in the neighbourhood from the time of his childhood, and 

 the secret which he had from his father, was now shared by few, if any. 

 But the marvellous tales which threw a lustre on the fabulous character 

 of him whose heroism and monument were now before us, seem to have 

 no historical foundation. The true account is probably that which I 

 have already quoted. Har Hassan is recorded as being the tenant of this 

 cave, by the laborious historian Abela * ; and it is justly inferred, that he 

 was rather a man of sorrow than of blood, from a very singular tablet 

 that was discovered not many years ago, and translated from the Coptic 

 by a Frenchman, at the command of Buonaparte. I should not have 

 deemed this little history of our pilgrimage worth relating, had it not 

 appeared a proper preface to this remarkable document. For its authen- 

 ticity I have other warrant than that of the priest who first indulged me 

 with an inspection of it. For, upon comparison with a different version, 

 done in English by an officer of rank on the island, I find as near a con- 

 cordance as the two languages will admit. Having thus vouched for 

 its genuineness, I cannot think any comment necessary to advance its 

 character for singularity and beauty. It ran as follows : 



" In the name of the compassionate and merciful God ! May God be 

 propitious to the prophet Mahomet ! 

 " Peace and blessing attend his family ! 

 " God is supreme and eternal. 



* Vide his learned work, " Malta lllustrata." 



