^v>^. Modern State of Charyhdis. ■ 1 7 



From the authorities here adduced, it is evident that Charyhdis has hitherto been con- 

 fidered as a real whirlpool, by both ancient and modern travellers who have given any ac- 

 count of it. 



As I was therefore fo near to this celebrated place, I determined to endeavour to afcer- 

 tain, if poflible, what it really is. It is diftant from the (here of Meflina about feven hun- 

 dred and fifty feet, and is called by the people of the country Galofaro, not from the agita- 

 tion of the waves as fome have fuppofed, but from xahoi and ^afo? ; that is, the beautiful- 

 toiver, from the light-houfe eredled near it for the guidi-nce of veflels. The phenomenon 

 of the Calofaro is obfervable when the^current is defcending ; for, when the current fets in 

 from the north, the pilots call it the defcending rema*, or current ; and when it runs from the 

 fouth, the nfcendtng rema. The current afcends or defcends at the rifing or fetting of the 

 moon, and continues for fix hours. In the interval between each afcent or defcent, there 

 is a calm which lafts at lead a quarter of an hour, but not longer than an hour. After- 

 wards, at the rifing or fetting of the moon, the current enters from the north, making 

 various angles of incidence with the flicre, and, at length reaches the Calofaro; This 

 delay fometimes continues two hours. Sometimes it immediately falls into the Calofaro, 

 and then experience has taught that it is a certain token of bad weather. 



As I was afiured by the pilots mod experienced in this pradical knowledge, that there 

 was no danger in vifiting the Calofaro, I refolved to avail myfelf of the opportunity. The 

 bark in which I made the excurfion was managed by four expert mariners, who, perceiving 

 me fomewhat intimidated as I approached the place, encouraged me, and aflured me they 

 would give me a very near view of the Calofaro, and even carry me into it without the 

 leaf! danger. 



When I obferved Charyhdis from the fhore, it appeared like a group of tumultuous wa- 

 ters ; which group, as I approached, became more extenCve and more agitated. I was 

 carried to the edge, where I flopped fome time to make the requifite obfervations, and was 

 then convinced beyond the fhadow of a doubt, that what I faw was by no means a vortex, 

 . or whirlpool. 



Hydrologlfts teach us, that by a whirlpool in a running water -wt are to underftand 

 that circular courfe which it takes in certain circumftances ; and that this courfe, or Yevo- 

 lution, generates in the middle a hollow inverted cone, of a greater or lefs depth, the Inter- 

 nal fides of which have a fpiral motion. But I perceived nothing of this kind in the 

 Calofaro. Its revolving motion was circumfcribed to a circle of at mofl an hundred feet 

 in diameter ; within which limits there was no incurvation of any kind, nor vertiginous 

 motion, but an inceflant undulation of agitated waters which rofe, fell, beat, and daflied on 

 each other. Yet thefe irregular motions were fo far placid, that nothing was to be feared 

 in palling over the fpot, which I did ; though our little bark rocked very much from the 

 continual- agitation, fo that we were obliged conftantly to make ufe of our oars to prevent 

 its being driven out of the Calofaro. I threw fubftances of different kinds into the ftream. 

 Such as were fpeclficaliy heavier than the water funk, and appeared no more ; thofe which 



* I have obferved that at Medina, as well as in other parts of Sicily, words of the Greek language, wliich was 

 once that of this ifland, are ftill retained. Thus the word rema derived from /««;*«, a flowing, or ftream, is 

 ufcd to fignify the current of this ftrait. 



Vol. II. — April 1798. D were 



