THE COASTS OF SICILY. 173 



Artese, combined the double functions of steward 

 and cook. It must be confessed, however, that few 

 persons had less claim to be regarded as a cook than 

 this unfortunate individual, who never could be 

 taught how to salt a dish of macaroni, or how to 

 stew a fowl in rice, without converting the materials 

 into a dish of hot water and sodden meat. He scarcely 

 had managed to learn how to boil our eggs at the 

 end of the season. Still, poor as his culinary talents 

 most undoubtedly were, we were obliged to content 

 ourselves with them. For the rest, he was honest 

 enough in his way, for, as far as we could discover, 

 he contented himself with a profit of cent, per cent, 

 upon all the purchases which he made on our 

 account. 



The duties confided to Carmel and Artese, gave 

 them a wonderful degree of importance in their own 

 eyes, and this superiority was admitted without much 

 hesitation by their comrades. There was even a 

 certain distinction established between the two, and 

 we were amused at the manifestations of the different 

 grades which existed among the members of this 

 hierarchy. Thus, for instance, if we asked Carmel 

 to bring us some sea-water, he would, without 

 vouchsafing a word, take the bucket, and in a 

 minute or two we would hear him call to his 

 companion, " O Pepe ! II Signor Grande," a title 

 by which the men designated M. Edwards, " il 

 Signor Grande, bol' agua di mar ! " " Bene," was 

 the reply of Artese, who, taking the bucket, went 

 downstairs as far as the outer door, from whence he 

 hailed the captain, giving his orders in the same 



