78 WEATHER IN THE IONIAN ISLANDS. 



ern sun. Domenico is one of those exceedingly 

 cautious persons that never Uke to hazard their 

 reputation for infaUibihty by risking a too de- 

 cided opinion. If he says ^* speriamo/' the sports- 

 man may proceed ; but if the word " cattivo " once 

 escape his Ups, depend upon it no boat will cross 

 the channel for twenty-four hours at least. Both 

 coxswains, both rejoicing in the same name, have 

 been consulted the day before, and, though rain- 

 ing what we should call in England cats and 

 dogs, one did not hesitate to say, " speriamo," 

 and the other to hazard an opinion that we might 

 get ourselves ready for our contemplated expe- 

 dition. 



The weather in the Ionian Islands, during the 

 winter season, is as uncertain and variable as 

 any in the world. Half an hour sometimes suf- 

 fices to change the aspect of the heavens from a 

 brilliant sky and a scorching sun to a gale of 

 wind from the southward, with torrents of such 

 rain as those only who have been accustomed to 

 tropical climates can form any idea of; and often, 

 a miserable, wet, dreary, soaking morning is suc- 

 ceeded, almost as if by magic, by an afternoon 

 with a bright, clear, and cloudless sky, with 



