136 
LETTERS FROM 
silkworms. In the spaces between the 
trees the cotton-shrub was growing. It has 
much the appearance of a currant-bush, but 
at this season of the year has neither leaves 
nor blossoms. We climbed over the low wall 
of the plantation to gather a few dead cotton- 
pods that were still remaining on some of 
the shrubs, not supposing them to be of any 
value to the owner; but this was an offence 
which even Maltese civility could not tole¬ 
rate, and a man at a distance expressed his 
disapprobation in a very angry tone. 
From the plantation we walked along the 
south-shore to the spot which has been fixed 
upon by Maltese imagination as that where 
St. Paul first preached on the island. Here 
is a rough monument, on which is a small 
image, and underneath is this inscription : 
“ Omnes gentes venient et glorificabunt 
nomen tuum. Psal. lxxxvi. A.D. mdccxxv.” 
