BOTANICAL INFORMATION. 641 
six days at sea, that being the usual period occupied in pass- 
ing from Valencia to Malaga. Starting before nightfall, we 
found ourselves next morning opposite Cullera, a small port 
where the people meant to take in rice, and where their delays 
compelled us to spend several hours. During the day we 
passed Denia and Xabea, situated in enchanting spots among 
mountains, and in the evening we doubled Cape St. Martin, 
whose verdant and beautiful sides, dotted with white cottages, 
contrast most pleasingly with its rocky and peaked summit. 
Once round this cape, the wind, here called Poniente, which 
was very high, and had favoured us while crossing the Gulf, 
became quite foul, and as night was approaching we hesitated 
whether to cast anchor among these rocky islets, which are 
the stronghold of Algerine corsairs, or to hold farther out to 
sea and proceed on our way. e fear of man for awhile 
prevailed over the fear of the elements, and we began breasting 
the stormy waves, which threatened to swallow up our frail 
little bark. Our situation grew critical; the puzzled sailors 
allset out vociferating contradictory orders, each giving his 
opinion unheeded by the rest; and finally they agreed to 
change our course, and to substitute a small sail for the large 
one, and endeavour to gain a little creek about two miles fur- 
theron. The waves were high, and we were tossed dreadfully 
about during the whole long and weary night, but the wind 
having dropped a little towards morning, we got round Cape 
Blanco, and by noon reached a small roadstead protected by 
the rock of Hifac. Passengers and sailors were alike ex- 
hausted with fatigue, and quite willing to wait till the vile 
Poniente should drop, and permit of our farther progress. 
ifac is a calcareous peaked rock, a miniature of Gibraltar, 
and, like it, runs out far to sea, being only joined to the land 
by a tongue of sand. Its height may be about 600 feet. 
The bay which it shelters affords good protection from the 
southerly winds; several small vessels were there before us, 
and some large ones soon came in; among them some royal 
Coast-guard ships: the national flag floated from every mast, 
322 
