to watch the silvery dolphin as they follow each other
in line and play around the hows of the ship, at times;
leaping clear out of the water. The velocity of these-
creatures is wonderful ; they gambol around a ship, and
keep up alongside without any apparent effort. A few
black and white sea-gulls are the only aërial visitors,,
except that now and then flying fish are seen skimming
the surface of the blue water with their glistening wings.
In some places they may be seen by the hundred, rising
in flocks from the water, to ,escape their enemies below.
They fly for a distance of two or three hundred yards,
rising and falling in a sinuous manner ; and occasionally
they dip into the crest of a wave for a moment, to moisten
their wings, which enables them to prolong their flight.
Many were washed or flew on hoard during thé night,
and were very delicate in flavour. The sailors say they
fly at the lights, and thus fall on deck, which may he the
fact, as it was only after dark that any were caught in
this manner. Some specimens were sixteen inches in
length, but about half that size appeared to be the
average.
We caught a passing glimpse of Galita and Malta on
our way. Both were once little more than barren rocks ;
indeed, Galita is so still; but Malta has been improved
by cultivation, and now yields much of the early vegetable
produce brought to the Paris and London markets.
Tradition hath it that formerly vessels trading to Malta
were obliged to bring a certain quantity of earth with
them, so anxious were the Maltese to improve their tiny^
farms.
Port Said was our first stopping place ; and, after a
fortnight afloat, we were glad to see the lighthouse, like
a yellow speck on the horizon. We went ashore, and
saw the town, which stands close to the sea-heach, and
by the entrance to the canal, with which it is contemporaneous.
Behind, as far as one can see, stretches
the arid desert itself. The old Arab town of square, flat-
B3ÏPT1AN VYAÏBB-COOLEB.
topped houses, is nearly a mile away to the right. The
new town consists mainly of shops and hotels, with the
exception of the consular residences, the hospital, and
post-office.
I visited the hospital, with the young Irish ship’s doctor