DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4099#0501
462 LEAVE MESSINA.
having finished his tour in Greece; and being desirous of visiting
the few parts of Italy which were then accessible to the English tra-
veller, he accompanied me to Civita Vecchia. It is with the deepest
regret that I recal to mind the many amiable qualities of that
accomplished and classical traveller, who is now no more.
TO CIVITA VECCHIA.
On the 12th of August we set sail in a merchant vessel of Trieste,
named II Redivivo. We steered by the Lipari Islands, and at night
saw the curious effect of the burning volcano at the island of Strom-
boli. The vicinity exhibits another insular rock called Stromboletto.
We were becalmed for some days in sight of these islands, and in the
day-time only distinguished the smoke from the volcano, though the
flame was visible in the night. During our voyage we caught se-
veral turtles. While the weather is excessively hot, and the sea
perfectly tranquil, the turtles come to the surface of the water to
bask in the sun, and fall asleep. They are seen at a considerable
distance, like a speck upon the smooth surface of the sea: the boat
is then put out, and the sailors row as gently as possible towards
the turtle, in order not to disturb its slumbers. One of the men then
catches hold of one of the hinder fins of the animal, and pulls it into
the boat, turning it on its back, and thereby rendering it perfectly
helpless, as Oppian ' beautifully expresses :
1 IlalicuUcks b. .5. v. 392.
having finished his tour in Greece; and being desirous of visiting
the few parts of Italy which were then accessible to the English tra-
veller, he accompanied me to Civita Vecchia. It is with the deepest
regret that I recal to mind the many amiable qualities of that
accomplished and classical traveller, who is now no more.
TO CIVITA VECCHIA.
On the 12th of August we set sail in a merchant vessel of Trieste,
named II Redivivo. We steered by the Lipari Islands, and at night
saw the curious effect of the burning volcano at the island of Strom-
boli. The vicinity exhibits another insular rock called Stromboletto.
We were becalmed for some days in sight of these islands, and in the
day-time only distinguished the smoke from the volcano, though the
flame was visible in the night. During our voyage we caught se-
veral turtles. While the weather is excessively hot, and the sea
perfectly tranquil, the turtles come to the surface of the water to
bask in the sun, and fall asleep. They are seen at a considerable
distance, like a speck upon the smooth surface of the sea: the boat
is then put out, and the sailors row as gently as possible towards
the turtle, in order not to disturb its slumbers. One of the men then
catches hold of one of the hinder fins of the animal, and pulls it into
the boat, turning it on its back, and thereby rendering it perfectly
helpless, as Oppian ' beautifully expresses :
1 IlalicuUcks b. .5. v. 392.