DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.11636#0101
AND LOWER EGYPT.
75
CHAP. VI.
Meteorological observations—Galleys of Malta—
Political and philosophical glance at the Order of
Malta—Antiquities and idiom of the island of
Malta—Maltese dogs—Passage from Malta to the
island of Candia—Sailing birds—Arrival in Egypt.
During our stay in Malta, that is, for the
space of twelve days, the winds varied from north
to north-east, and prevented the sailing of all
vessels. It blew violently; the sea was in a dread-
ful state of agitation, and, what appeared very ex-
traordinary to the inhabitants, it rained incessantly.
They never have rain in the island at this season.
Persons worthy of credit declared, that for forty
years they had lived there, no rain had ever fallen
at the beginning of the month of June. Another
ground of surprise was, that these rains were ac-
companied by thunder-claps, though no such
thing is heard there in summer-time; whereas
they are very frequent and very violent in winter.
This bad weather, which, at this season, passed
for a phenomenon, brought in the galleys of the
Order. A salute of fifteen guns from the Atalanta
signalized their entrance into port, and the gal-
ley
75
CHAP. VI.
Meteorological observations—Galleys of Malta—
Political and philosophical glance at the Order of
Malta—Antiquities and idiom of the island of
Malta—Maltese dogs—Passage from Malta to the
island of Candia—Sailing birds—Arrival in Egypt.
During our stay in Malta, that is, for the
space of twelve days, the winds varied from north
to north-east, and prevented the sailing of all
vessels. It blew violently; the sea was in a dread-
ful state of agitation, and, what appeared very ex-
traordinary to the inhabitants, it rained incessantly.
They never have rain in the island at this season.
Persons worthy of credit declared, that for forty
years they had lived there, no rain had ever fallen
at the beginning of the month of June. Another
ground of surprise was, that these rains were ac-
companied by thunder-claps, though no such
thing is heard there in summer-time; whereas
they are very frequent and very violent in winter.
This bad weather, which, at this season, passed
for a phenomenon, brought in the galleys of the
Order. A salute of fifteen guns from the Atalanta
signalized their entrance into port, and the gal-
ley