IX THE LAND OF THE BORA. 13 



recollections of Malta. The two bathing estab- 

 lishments are excellently managed, and it is a 

 capital idea to be able to follow up one's bathe by 

 lunching at a table close to the sea. In fact, 

 especially as the hoat was very great, one would 

 willingly have spent the whole day at one of these 

 places, had they only provided a decent reading- 

 room in addition. But literature is not an Italian 

 want ; nor, I may add, are comfortable lounging- 

 chairs. 



The heat and drought had lasted over two 

 months, we were told, so we were decidedly un- 

 fortunate to have to go aboard, as we did after 

 dinner on Wednesday, in the most terrific rain. 

 Being wet through, we thought we could do no 

 better than turn in, which we did. I woke at the 

 familiar sound of the siren, and, though I did not 

 look at my watch, I fancy we sailed fairly punctu- 

 ally. "Now," thought I, "it is a clear ran to 

 Dalmatia." 



Between six and seven I was on deck, and found 

 the steamer, Barion by name, going about ei^ht 

 knots among an archipelago of barren-looking 

 Dalmatian scoglie. This word is applied equally 

 to the large islands and to the little ones, and even 

 to the mere reefs. The sea was dead calm, and 

 the morning bright and hot, so that there was no 

 reason to suppose that we should meet with the 

 .slightest difficulty during the remainder of our 



