DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6095#0097
SICILY AND MALTA. 79
The Sicilian ladies marry at thirteen or
fourteen, and are sometimes grandmothers
before they are thirty.—The Count Stetela
presented us a few days ago to his cousin,
the Princess Partana, who he told us had a
great number of children, the eldest of
which was a very fine girl of fifteen. We
talked to the princess for half an hour, not
in the least doubting all the time that she
was the daughter, till at last the young
lady came in ; and even then, it was not
easy to say which appeared the handsomest
or the youngest. This lady has had twelve
children, and is still in her bloom ; she
assured mc that she never enjoyed more
perfect health than when she was in child-
bed ;—that during the time of her pregnancy
she was often indisposed, but that imme-
diately on delivery she was cured of all her
complaints, and was capable of enjoying
the company of her friends even more than
at any other time. I exprelTed my surprise
at this very singular happiness of their cli-
mate
The Sicilian ladies marry at thirteen or
fourteen, and are sometimes grandmothers
before they are thirty.—The Count Stetela
presented us a few days ago to his cousin,
the Princess Partana, who he told us had a
great number of children, the eldest of
which was a very fine girl of fifteen. We
talked to the princess for half an hour, not
in the least doubting all the time that she
was the daughter, till at last the young
lady came in ; and even then, it was not
easy to say which appeared the handsomest
or the youngest. This lady has had twelve
children, and is still in her bloom ; she
assured mc that she never enjoyed more
perfect health than when she was in child-
bed ;—that during the time of her pregnancy
she was often indisposed, but that imme-
diately on delivery she was cured of all her
complaints, and was capable of enjoying
the company of her friends even more than
at any other time. I exprelTed my surprise
at this very singular happiness of their cli-
mate