THE COASTS OF SICILY. 201 



andria, where they constitute an important article of 

 commerce. 



The day after our excursion to Segesta, we left 

 the little harbour of Castellamare, which had proved 

 so unpropitious for our researches; and scudding 

 rapidly along the western shore of the gulf, directed 

 our course to Santo- Vito. The aspect of this shore 

 presented very little to attract our attention. A 

 compact calcareous rock advanced its sharply-pointed 

 ledges to the water's edge, or raised its rugged sides 

 above the waves. Here and there we could discern 

 a deep grotto or cave, but we could see nothing 

 within, save some fine groups of orange-coloured 

 Caryophyllia3 ; and this sight, far from attracting us, 

 invariably led to the reiteration of the order to 

 advance, for experience had taught us that the pre- 

 sence of these lovely polypes proclaimed the most 

 complete sterility in all other respects. Occasionally 

 the wall of rocks, along which the Santa Rosalia 

 was slowly making her way, disclosed an irregular 

 fissure, which served as the entrance to some little 

 cale, with a sandy or shingle bottom. These in- 

 dentations, however insecure they seemed against 

 the effect of storms, were always commanded by one 

 or more towers erected upon some rugged eminence. 

 The number of these edifices, which we had first 

 regarded as lighthouses, excited our curiosity. On 

 questioning our men, we learnt that they were 

 works of defence erected to protect the neighbour- 

 hood from the attack of pirates from the African 

 coast, who, stimulated by the vicinity of the shore, 

 or influenced perhaps by the traditions of the past 



