164 
LETTERS FROM 
of the sea drives over the country lihe fine 
rain, and as far as it reaches produces a sad 
effect on vegetation, especially on the peas 
and beans, which become black and withered. 
We passed a field of beans a mile or two 
inland, which had suffered greatly from this 
salt sprinkling, and it is sometimes felt as 
far as Citta Vecchia, which cannot be less 
than five miles from the sea. 
Since my last letter we have continued 
our dredging operations, but have met with 
very little encouragement. I am almost 
ashamed to make any more attempts, for I 
can see that even our boatmen are amused 
at our want of success. We have obtained 
permission of the superintendent of quaran¬ 
tine to dredge in the harbour opposite our 
house; but after having scraped the bottom 
over thoroughly from one end to the other, 
we have added only a few insignificant 
