Part I. Travels into the hEv ant. 
CHAP. u. 
O/Meffina. 
TH E Town of Meffwa lies on that fide of Sicily which looks to Rhegio^ in MefmA. 
Italy, from which it is but Threefcore Miles diltant. Ic is fituated in the 
place where the Town of Znnde ftood, and had the Name of Aïejfma, from Zmde. 
the Mejfinians of Pelopnefus, who built and inhabited it j it hath a fafe Harbour, 
made fo by Nature, which would feem to have been meafured with the Com- 
pafs, fo round and proportioned it is. On the Shoar, round this Port, there 
are feveral fair Palaces of uniform Building, which offer a pleafanf Profpedl to 
thofe that enter the Port, but they have not been continued. At the end of the 
Mole, whicl? (huts in this Port, there is a Tower to fecure the Entry ; much 
about the middle of the faid Mole ftands another Tower, on the top of which 
there is a great Light kindled every night, to let Ships out at Sea know where 
they are. This is but a kind of a melancholy Town, though the Streets be fair 
and large 5 in viewing of it, I faw written over the Door of the Cathedral 
Church,in pretty large ancient Characters, (BiaU'-^^ZVC^ a 9^tïXim ; when the 
Frefich became Mailers of Sicily, Mejjhm was the firft place that furrendred 
unto them, and that the memory of it might be preferved, they caufed that 
Infcription to be made. Before this ftatcly and large Church, there is a great 
Square or Piazza, with a Theatre in the middle of it, where the Vidory of 
Lefanto is reprefented on Brafs, and a ^azen Statue of Don John of Jufiria 
ftands.The Novitiate of the Jefuites fta r ds upon a Hill higher than any placeof 
theTowni and feeing the Vk'holeTown and Harbor may befeen from the Gardens 
of it,i readily embraced the offer that ajefulie made me ofcarrying meto them: 
Having pafs'd through fome fpacious walks, he led n^s ro a very high Garden, -, 
from whence he Ihewed me Scylla and Charibdis^ which heretofore rendred that cLrMis. 
Streight fo dangerous, that all that pafs'd it thought thecilelves certainly lofl. 
Scylla is a Rock,pretty near a Caftle, on tho'Jtdian ShGar,over againft the Fhare 
of Mejfim *, this Caftle is called Scyllio^ from whence that Rock hath had the 
Name of Scylla. As for Chanbdis, it is near and oppofite to the Port oï Mef- 
fifia, but is not dangerous but when two contrary Eddies meet,which making 
Veflels turn round for fome time, fuck them down to the bottom without 
remedy : To avoid them, one mull keep as near, or as far off of the Port as 
poiTibly can be, for the danger is in the middle, betwixt the Port and the Land 
of Italyy on the other fide. Though the greateft danger be in that place, yet 
the Port is not free from it, for the Jefuite told me, that it hath fometimes 
happened, that a Ship being got into the Harbour, and having faluted the 
Town, hath been carried out again by the airrents, and call away in fight of 
the place. The old Proverb, hictdit in Scyllam cupens vit^tre Charibdim^ was 
not laid without reafon ; for when Men have avoided the danger of one of thefe 
Rocks, they may very eafily fall upon the other, if they have not a care : The 
Fable which faid, thdtChanbdis and Scy/^? were two Sea Monllers, furrounded 
with Dogs that barked, has its original from the great noife thefe Waters 
make , by beating and clalhing one againft another ; fo that , efpecially 
when they beat againft Scylla, one would think it were the barking of great 
Dogs. Now to prevent the cafting away of Ships in thofe PalTages , the 
Mejfmefes have always a great many Pilots purpofely in readinefs, and payed 
by the City, of whom there is always one ftanding Sentinel upon a high ^'''ots hired 
Tower; and when Ships, or other Veffels, finding themfelves in imminent dan- ^J.'^*^ 
ger, fire a Gun, thefe Pilots fail not to put off in their Boats and affift them. ^' 
The Jefuite led me into another Garden higher than the reft, hard by which 
there is a Baftion that Commands the Town, and all that Houfe of the Jefuites -, 
B 2 he 
1 
