MALTA AND SICILY. 
161 
in the harbour when I crossed over from Sliema 
in the morning, that it was as much as four 
men could do to pull across; and on return¬ 
ing to the waterside about noon, I was 
informed that it was no longer safe to make 
the attempt, so I was obliged to walk round 
to Sliema, a distance of four or five miles in 
the soaking rain. 
The gale continued all the next day, with 
increasing violence, but with less rain. 
Nothing could exceed the grandeur of the 
scene at the point beyond FortTigne, where, 
from the violence of the wind, it was almost 
impossible to stand without some shelter or 
support. The heavy seas dashing against 
the opposite point of St. Elmo, appeared to 
rise in the air at least a hundred feet. Dur¬ 
ing the gale the atmosphere was so thick 
and hazy, that it was impossible to dis¬ 
tinguish any object at the distance of more 
M 
