THE COASTS OF SICILY. 191 



fato, merged by gradually decreasing slopes into the 

 plains of Partinico, whose fields, covered with rich 

 harvests and dense woods of olive trees, extended to 

 the very edge of the water. To the west the eye 

 rested on Mont Baida, which rose abruptly from the 

 shore, extending its chain of arid rocks as far as 

 Cape Santo Vito, whilst at the extremity of the gulf, 

 Mount Inici seemed to rise in sullen grandeur from 

 the bosom of the waves, scarcely leaving a strip of 

 land broad enough to support the little town, which 

 is crowded together at the foot of its grey uncovered 

 sides. 



The wind had fallen, and, with a less rapid but 

 more regular motion, we were borne onwards by 

 the measured strokes of our oarsmen. The slow rate 

 at which we were approaching Castellamare enabled 

 us at our leisure to observe the curious spectacle 

 which had struck us on our first arrival in Sicily. 

 To the verge of the horizon the sky was intensely 

 clear, not even a streak of mist being visible in the 

 deep azure vault on which we gazed : yet around 

 Mount Inici, about a third of the way from its 

 summit, fleecy masses of ever changing clouds were 

 resting on the sides of the mountain, some disappear- 

 ing for an instant only to be re-formed at an- 

 other point; while others again, rising like some aerial 

 veil from the rocks below, which seemed to have 

 created them, floated away in circling wreaths, and 

 soon vanished from view. 



The general laws of physics afford a ready solu- 

 tion of this phenomenon, which certainly seems, at 

 first sight, somewhat difficult of comprehension. 



