180 
LETTERS FROM 
branches we found abundance of the helix 
melitensis, and clausilia tuherculata; the 
latter were unusually large and beautiful. 
While employed in collecting these shells, 
some peasants came up to us, and seemed 
desirous of seeing what we were in search of. 
On exhibiting the contents of our baskets, 
they informed us by signs that these snails 
were unfit for food; and as from our igno¬ 
rance of their language we had no means of 
explaining that we wanted them for any 
other purpose, and as we still persisted in 
collecting all we could find, they no doubt 
informed their friends at home that they had 
met with a couple of very foolish obstinate 
fellows. The large garden-snail is a common 
article of food with the Maltese. 
Here and there we saw a few olive-trees 
which are evergreens, not unlike willows in 
their growth, but with the leaves of a darker 
green. 
