122, STUDIES OF NATURE. 



it confifts entirely of one white rock ; but that 

 rock is extremely rich in foreign wealth, from the 

 perpetual revenue of the commanderies of the Or- 

 der of St. John, the capitals of which are depofited 

 in all the Catholic States of Europe, and from the 

 reverfions, or fpoils, of the Knights who die in 

 foreign countries, and which find their way thither 

 every year. It might be rendered ftill more opu- 

 lent by the commodioufnefs of it's harbour, which 

 is fituated the moft advantageoufly of any in 

 the Mediterranean : the peafant is there, never- 

 thelefs, in a moft miferable condition. His whole 

 clothing confifts of drawers, which defcend no 

 lower than his knees, and of a fliirt without fleeves. 

 He fometimes takes his ftand in the great fquare, 

 his breaft, legs, and arms, quire naked, and fcorch- 

 ed with the heat of the Sun, waiting for a fare, 

 at the rate of one {hilling a day, with a carrlag..' ca- 

 pable of holding four perfons, drawn by a horfe, 

 from day- break till midnight; and, thus equipped, 

 to attend travellers to any part of the ifland they 

 think proper, without any obligation on their part, 

 to give either him or his beaft fo much as a draught 

 of water. He conducls hiscalafh, running always 

 bare-footed over the rocks before his horfe, which 

 he leads by the bridle, and before the lazy Knight, 

 who hardly ever deigns to fpeak to him, unlefs it 

 be to regale hun with the appellation of fcoundrel; 

 whereas the guide never prefumes to make a reply 



but 



