THE ISLANDS OF SARDINIA AND CORSICA. 13 



We were accompanied by a Sard interpreter named 

 Meloui, who besides his native language, namely Sard, 

 knew but a few words of Italian, and described him- 

 self as " gran cacciatore e preparatore d'animali 

 diversi." The wind obstinately continuing to blow 

 we found ourselves next morning at Terranova, hav- 

 ing passed our destination without having been able 

 to disembark. As we were passing Tortoli during the 

 night, I went upon deck and found the steersman 

 gesticulating, and altogether it was clear that " some- 

 thing was up." At last I found that the wind had 

 extinguished the binnacle light. I lost no time in 

 bringing assistance, when, upon re-lighting the lamp, 

 the ship's head was found to be pointing north-west, 

 or nearly straight ashore, with land not more than 

 four or five miles distant. 



At the little inn called " Locanda PAvvenire," at 

 Terranova, we passed the time pleasantly enough, ex- 

 cepting during the night, when some late arrivals 

 commenced thumping the floors with what sounded 

 like ponderous brickbats, apparently annoyed at find- 

 ing the best apartments already occupied ; finally we 

 left in another steamer of the Florio Company for 

 Tortoli once more, which was reached at midnight, 

 after calling at Orosei and Siniscola. We then drove 

 for two miles to the village, while some bullock carts 

 were hired for eight francs to take the luggage on to 

 Lanusei ; and, after sleeping in an inn for a couple of 

 hours, we left at six o'clock in the morning for the 

 same place in a small diligence which goes thither 



