-
Articles/Ads
Article Untitled Article ← Page 3 of 6 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
Hermitage , but keep the direct line to the bay ; more especially as the majority wtere sceptical as to the fact of St . Paul ever having resided there .
The day was yet young when we reached our destination ; having accomplished the distance from Valetta within two hours , including three stoppages—twice to right the little German , who , as ill fortune would have it , had the only unmanageable horse of the party , and again , to effect an exchange between him and the colonel .
St . Paul ' s Bay is about three miles in length and two in breadth , decreasing towards the interior . The coast round the harbour is rugged and rocky , but the cliffs gradually sink to a low sandy beach at the centre : to the north-west of the entrance is a small island , called Selmone . A tower and other fortifications in the vicinity , serve to defend the bay , raised for that purpose by the knights of Malta . A small chapel is built npon the supposed site where the
barbarians lib a fire to warm the shipwrecked crew . I stood for some time looking intently to seaward over the blue waves with their narrow fringe of white , that stole softly rippling on the beach , and thought long and deeply . It was strange to stand on the scene of the Apostle ' s shipwreck , the story of which is so familiar to every Englishman from his earliest years ; it seemed to give a sudden reality
to facts before , not doubted , but vague , dreamy , traditionary . I was thus musing when Miss P joined me , and stood for some time in silence , as if she too felt the influence of the spot . " Eor my part , " she exclaimed suddenly , "I firmly believe that this was the scene of the shipwreck . Don't you , Mr . ?" " Firmly , " I replied . " In spite of all learned doubts . "With
me , the immemorial tradition of the natives on the subject is one strong proof ; and , besides , whichever wind Euroclydon may be , according to the captain or Herr Muller , St . Paul informs us that it ' arose against them . ' JNTow , as they were sailing down the Mediterranean from Syria , it must have come from the west , and such a wind could never have driven them up to the other' Melita / which
is far up the Adriatic , off" the coast of Illyria . " " And , " said Miss P -, " it is well known , that at that time the whole of the sea between Greece , Italy , and Africa , was known as Adria . " " Exactly , ' I replied . "In short , here and nowhere else did the apostle of the Gentiles land ; so we may indulge our
imaginations as much as we like . " After rambling about , eating a substantial repast , and discussing whether or not we should continue our ride to the grotto of Calypso , which is about six miles from the bay , and from whence a beautiful coup-d ' oeil , including the island of Goro , which lies to tho north-west ,
may be caught , the majority of votes were for returning , for which I was not sorry , as 1 wished to glance at the quarantine harbour , and we were to sail at sunrise next morning . Our ride back was of tho hottest . It is no exaggeration to say , I expected to find the skin on my back blistered , or presenting an appearance like a roast loin of
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Untitled Article
Hermitage , but keep the direct line to the bay ; more especially as the majority wtere sceptical as to the fact of St . Paul ever having resided there .
The day was yet young when we reached our destination ; having accomplished the distance from Valetta within two hours , including three stoppages—twice to right the little German , who , as ill fortune would have it , had the only unmanageable horse of the party , and again , to effect an exchange between him and the colonel .
St . Paul ' s Bay is about three miles in length and two in breadth , decreasing towards the interior . The coast round the harbour is rugged and rocky , but the cliffs gradually sink to a low sandy beach at the centre : to the north-west of the entrance is a small island , called Selmone . A tower and other fortifications in the vicinity , serve to defend the bay , raised for that purpose by the knights of Malta . A small chapel is built npon the supposed site where the
barbarians lib a fire to warm the shipwrecked crew . I stood for some time looking intently to seaward over the blue waves with their narrow fringe of white , that stole softly rippling on the beach , and thought long and deeply . It was strange to stand on the scene of the Apostle ' s shipwreck , the story of which is so familiar to every Englishman from his earliest years ; it seemed to give a sudden reality
to facts before , not doubted , but vague , dreamy , traditionary . I was thus musing when Miss P joined me , and stood for some time in silence , as if she too felt the influence of the spot . " Eor my part , " she exclaimed suddenly , "I firmly believe that this was the scene of the shipwreck . Don't you , Mr . ?" " Firmly , " I replied . " In spite of all learned doubts . "With
me , the immemorial tradition of the natives on the subject is one strong proof ; and , besides , whichever wind Euroclydon may be , according to the captain or Herr Muller , St . Paul informs us that it ' arose against them . ' JNTow , as they were sailing down the Mediterranean from Syria , it must have come from the west , and such a wind could never have driven them up to the other' Melita / which
is far up the Adriatic , off" the coast of Illyria . " " And , " said Miss P -, " it is well known , that at that time the whole of the sea between Greece , Italy , and Africa , was known as Adria . " " Exactly , ' I replied . "In short , here and nowhere else did the apostle of the Gentiles land ; so we may indulge our
imaginations as much as we like . " After rambling about , eating a substantial repast , and discussing whether or not we should continue our ride to the grotto of Calypso , which is about six miles from the bay , and from whence a beautiful coup-d ' oeil , including the island of Goro , which lies to tho north-west ,
may be caught , the majority of votes were for returning , for which I was not sorry , as 1 wished to glance at the quarantine harbour , and we were to sail at sunrise next morning . Our ride back was of tho hottest . It is no exaggeration to say , I expected to find the skin on my back blistered , or presenting an appearance like a roast loin of