. Danger of Mariners in tie Vicinity of Scylla. 1 5 



channel, and is regulated, as in other places, by the periodical elevations and dcpreflion 

 of the water. Where the flow or current is accompanied by a wind blowing the fame 

 way, veffels have nothing to fear, fince they either do not enter the ftrait, both the wind and 

 the ftream oppofing them, but call anchor at the entrance; or, if both arc favourable, en- 

 ter on full fail, and pafs through with fuch rapidity that they fcem to fly over the water. 

 But when the current runs from fouth. to north, and the north wind blows hard at the 

 fame time, the fliip which expected eafily to pafs the ftrait with the wind in its ftern, on 

 its entering the channel is refifted by the oppofite current, and, impelled by two forces in 

 contrary directions, is at length dalhed on the rock of Scylla, or driven on the neighbouring 

 - fands ; unlefs the pilot fliall apply for the fuccour neceflary for his prefervation. For, to 

 give afliftance in cafe of fuch accidents, four-and-twenty of the ftrongeft, boldeft and moft 

 experienced failcrs, well acquainted with the place, are ftationed night and day along the 

 ihore of Meflina ; who, at the report of guns fired as fignals of diftrefsfrom any veflel, haf- 

 ten to its affiftance, and tow it with one of their light boats. The current, where it is 

 'ftrongeft, does not extend over the whole ftrait, but winds through it in intricate meanders, 

 with the courfe of which thefe men are perfectly acquainted, and are thus able to guide 

 the ftiip in fuch a manner as to avoid it. Should the pilot, however, confiding in his owa 

 Ikill, contemn or neglefl this affiftance, however great his ability or experience, he would 

 run the moft imminent rilk of being fliipwrecked. In this agitation and confli£l of the 

 waters, forced one way by the current, and driven in a contrary diredlion by the wind, it is 

 ufelefs to throw the line to difcover the depth of the bottom, the violence of the current 

 frequently carrying the lead almoft on the furface of the water. The ftrongeft cables, 

 though fome feet in circumference, break like fmall cords. Should two or three anchors 

 be thrown out, the bottom is fo rocky that they either take no hold, or, if they ftiould, arc 

 foon loofened by the violence of the waves. Every expedient afforded by the art of navi- 

 gation, though it might fucceed in faving a fliip in other parts of the Mediterranean, or 

 even the tremendous ocean, is ufelefs here. The only means of avoiding being daftied 

 againft the rocks or driven upon the fands in the midft of this furious conteft of the winds • 

 and waves, is to have recourfe to the flcill and courage of thefe Meffinefe feamen. 



In proof of the truth of this aflertion, I might adduce many inftances related to me by 

 perfons deferving of credit. But I was myfelf an eye-witnefs to the fituation of a trading 

 veffel from Marfeilles, which had one day entered the Strait by the mouth on the north 

 fide, at the time that I was on a hill looking towards the fea. The current, and a north 

 wind which then blew ftrong, being both in its favour, the veffel proceeded under full fail 

 into, and had paffed one half of the Strait, when, on a fudden, the Iky became overcaft 

 with thick clouds, and violent gufts of wind arofe, which in an inltant changed the direc- 

 tion of the current, and turned up the fea from its bottom. The mariners had fcarcely 

 time to hand the fails, while the furious waves broke over the Ihip on every lide. Whether 

 they merely followed the pradtice ufual with fliips in diftrefs, or whether they were ac- 

 quainted with the laudable cuftom of the Meffmefe, I cannot fay; but they fired two guns j 

 immediately upon which one of the barks employed on this fervice haftened to the affift- 

 ance of the diftreffed veffel, and, taking it in tow, began to make every exertion to carry it 

 fafely into the harbour. 



If I had ten with fear and fliuddering the danger of the failors on board the veffel^^ 



which . 



