of  any  country  varies  with  tlie  vegetation.^  An  argument  has  even  been
built  on  the  supposed  fact  that  the  disease  of  Pubhus  is  unknown  in  the
island.  To  this  it  is  sufficient  to  reply  by  a  simple  denial.^  Nor  can  we
close  this  rapid  survey  of  objections  without  noticing  the  insuperable
difficulties  which  lie  against  the  hypothesis  of  the  Venetian  Meleda,  from
the  impossibility  of  reaching  it,  except  by  a  miracle,  under  the  above-
related  circumstances  of  weather,*  —  from  the  disagreement  of  its  sound-
ings with  what  is  required  by  the  narrative  of  the  shipwreck,*  —  and
from  the  inconsistency  of  its  position  with  what  is  related  of  the  sab-
sequent  voyage.*

To  this  part  of  the  voyage  we  must  now  proceed.  After  three  months
they  sailed  again  for  Italy  in  a  ship  called  the  Castor  and  Pollux.®  Syra-
cuse was  in  their  track,  and  the  ship  put  into  that  famous  harbor,  and  staid
there  three  days.  Thus  St.  Paul  was  in  a  great  historic  city  of  the
West,  after  spending  much  time  in  those  of  greatest  note  in  the  East.
We  are  able  to  associate  the  Apostle  of  the  Gentiles  and  the  thoughts  of
Christianity  with  the  scenes  of  that  disastrous  expedition  which  closed  the
progress  of  the  Athenians  towards  our  part  of  Europe,  —  and  with  those
Punic  Wars,  which  ended  in  bringing  Africa  under  the  yoke  of  Rome.
1  Some  instances  are  given  by  Mr.  Smith.
^  It  happens  that  the  writer  once  spent  an
anxious  night  in  Malta  with  a  fellow-travel-
ler, who  was  suffering  precisely  in  the  same
way.
