4 The Gardens of the Sun. [ch. i. 



to watch the silvery dolphin as they follow each other 

 in line and play around the bows of the ship, at times 

 leaping clear out of the water. The velocity of these 

 creatures is wonderful ; they gambol around a ship, and 

 keep up alongside without any apparent effort. A few 

 black and white sea-gulls are the only aerial visitors, 

 except that now and then flying fish are seen skimming 

 the surface of the blue water with their glistening wings. 

 In some places they may be seen by the hundred, rising 

 in flocks from the water, to escape their enemies below. 

 They fly for a distance of two or three hundred yards, 

 rising and falling in a sinuous manner ; and occasionally 

 they dip into the crest of a wave for a moment, to moisten 

 their wings, which enables them to prolong their flight. 

 Many were washed or flew on board during the night, 

 and were very delicate in flavour. The sailors say they 

 fly at the lights, and thus fall on deck, which may be the 

 fact, as it was only after dark that any were caught in 

 this manner. Some specimens were sixteen inches in 

 length, but about half that size appeared to be the 

 average. 



We caught a passing glimpse of Galita and Malta on 

 our way. Both were once little more than barren rocks ; 

 indeed, Galita is so still; but Malta has been improved 

 by cultivation, and now yields much of the early vege- 

 table produce brought to the Paris and London markets. 

 Tradition hath it that formerly vessels trading to Malta 

 were obliged to bring a certain quantity of earth with 

 them, so anxious were the Maltese to improve their tiny 

 farms. 



Port Said was our first stopping place ; and, after a 

 fortnight afloat, we were glad to see the lighthouse, like 

 a yellow speck on the horizon. We went ashore, and 

 saw the town, which stands close to the sea-beach, and 



