AND LOWER EGYPT. 75 



CHAP. Vf. 



Meteorological observations — Galleys of Malta — 

 Political and philosophical glance at the Order of 

 Malta — Antiquities and idiom of the island of 

 Malta — Maltese dogs — Passage from Malta to the 

 island of Candia — Sailing birds — Arrival in Egypt, 



During our stay in Malta, that is, for the 

 space of twelve days, the winds varied from north 

 to north-east, and prevented the sailing of all 

 vessels. It blew violently; the sea was in a dread- 

 ful state of agitation, and, what appeared very ex- 

 traordinary to the inhabitants, it rained incessantly. 

 They never have rain in the island at this season. 

 Persons worthy of credit declared, that for forty 

 years they had lived there, no rain had ever fallen 

 at the beginning of the month of June. Another 

 ground of surprise was, that these rains were ac- 

 companied by thunder-claps, though no such 

 thing is heard there in summer-time; whereas 

 they arc very frequent and very violent in winter. 



This bad weather, which, at this season, passed 

 for a phenomenon, brought in the galleys of the 

 Order. A salute of fifteen guns from the Atalanta 

 signalized their entrance into port, and the gal- 

 ley 



