SIROCCO. 261 



Carob. too, is exceedingh' sensitive to a low temperature 

 as is pro\'ed l3\' its liner development in a warmer climate. 

 Xo larger and more Inxuriant specimens can be found 

 anywliere on the Riviera than on the stretch of coast 

 between \^illetranche and San Remo, 



To strangers it appears remarkable when, towards 

 spring, the usualh' hot and dr\- Sirocco on the Ponente 

 is accompanied b\' snow. This seldom happens unless 

 the high mountains of Corsica are heavih' laden with 

 snow. It is not, however, real sno\A" that I alls then but 

 sleet, whicli is here called "neige de Corse", 



Scarceh' an^- deciduous trees are to be seen along 

 the tract of land from \'illefranche U) San Remo. We 

 are therefore less forcibh' reminded of winter here than 

 further south — even at Naples. There the Fig and 

 \'ine predominate and Posilipo in March appeared to us 

 almost barer than the Rhme valle\' which we had recentU' 

 left. The nights \\-ere bright with moonlight no\\-, and 

 the mountains shone with a magic glamour; they formed 

 a grand amphitheatre, and their serrated summits showed 

 like line lace-^vork against the sk\', while deep down 

 below twinkled the lights of Mentone. 



This full moon was to usher in Easter. In the evening 

 we went down to the shore to watch it rise. All was dark 

 on the rocks and sea, and solitude and silence reigned 

 supreme. The wide sea la\- slumbering before us. Above 

 us stretched the vast dome of heaven, almost black, but 

 sprinkled with untold stars that were reflected from the 

 surface of the deep in silvery- streaks. Nature seemed 

 in a state of tension, as though awaiting an event about 



11* 



