MALTA AND SICILY. 
121 
made many trials in some bays on the coast, 
which are well suited for dredging, having a 
fine sandy bottom, quite free from rocks or 
other obstructions. 
But though we have hitherto met with 
but little success in dredging, the hopes of 
obtaining some shells by this means has 
induced us to visit several parts of the 
coast, which we should not otherwise have 
seen. We had one very pleasant water ex¬ 
cursion to St. Paul’s Bay, which is generally 
supposed to be the spot where St. Paul was 
shipwrecked. 
I believe that few persons now entertain 
any doubt that Malta is the ancient Melita 
mentioned in the Acts; one or two writers 
on this subject have, however, contended 
that St. Paul was shipwrecked on an island 
now called Meleda , which is situated in the 
Gulf of Venice, on the coast of Dalmatia. 
