MALTA AND SICILY. 
251 
journey. It was drawn by three mules 
abreast, and a boy was stationed behind to 
take care of our luggage. This was slung 
under the body of the carriage, in a strong 
net made of rope, and as it almost touched 
the ground, our heavy boxes were very useful 
as ballast for the ricketty vehicle. The 
roads were much better than we had ex¬ 
pected to find them, but we experienced 
jolting enough to make us feel great anxiety 
for the safety of our shells, and bottles of 
animals preserved in spirits; however, they 
have escaped with but little injury. 
For upwards of twenty miles our road lay 
over lava, but of so old a date that it has 
now become a fertile soil, covered with vine¬ 
yards and olive plantations. This change is 
brought about both by the slow decomposi¬ 
tion of the lava itself, and by the formation 
of vegetable earth, from the decay first ol 
