AND LOWCR EGYPT. 63 



other name but that of Saint Paul's earth. They 

 make tablets of it, on which they impress the image 

 of the apostle, holding a serpent in his hand ; these 

 are exported to different countries of Europe, and 

 more particularly to Spain and Italy. It is from 

 this sort of preparation, that it has received in 

 commerce, as well as the other earths and boles to 

 which they communicate various impressions, the 

 name of terra sigillata (sealed or stamped earth). 

 It passes, at Malta, as a wonderful remedy in 

 many diseases, and as an infallible specific against 

 fevers ; but all its properties are reducible to one^ 

 that of furnishing a gentle sudorific. 



The common people are not satisfied with as- 

 cribing qualities almost supernatural to the earth 

 of Saint Paul's grotto; they maintain besides that 

 its mass underwent no diminution, whatever the 

 quantity extracted from it. It is in the eyes of the 

 Maltese a constant miracle operated by Saint 

 Paul ; accordingly the earth which bears his name 

 is considered as a sacred substance in that island, • 

 Assuredly it docs not appear to undergo any sen- 

 sible diminution. This easy reproduction may be 

 attributed to the humidity of the grotto, and to 

 the earth's want of consistency. In order to un- 

 deceive those who affirm that it loses nothing of 

 its bulk, it would be sufficient to point out to 

 them the clearly apparent cavities formed by the 



edge 



