Narrative of a voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe and along the shores of the Mediterranean, including a visit to Algiers, Egypt, Palestine, Tyre, Rhodes, Telmessus, Cyprus, and Greece. With observations on the present state and prospects of Egypt and Palestine, and on the climate, natural history and antiquities of the countries visited / By W.R. Wilde.

  • Wilde, W. R. (William Robert), 1815-1876.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Narrative of a voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe and along the shores of the Mediterranean, including a visit to Algiers, Egypt, Palestine, Tyre, Rhodes, Telmessus, Cyprus, and Greece. With observations on the present state and prospects of Egypt and Palestine, and on the climate, natural history and antiquities of the countries visited / By W.R. Wilde. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    APPEARANCE OF THE COUNTRY. with very indifferent ships.” We must recollect that the Sidonian colonists spread themselves chiefly along the African shore, and crossed over toTartessus in Spain by the pillars of Hercules ; Car- tago being probably their first settlement in Europe, except Greece. It is sometimes called the “ Iron Tower,” and near it, about a mile and a half from the town, one of the embarkations of the English troops took place. On our way to it we saw an old Moorish castle upon a rock, not far from the shore, and north¬ west of the town. From thence we passed over a wide un¬ cultivated common covered with innumerable land shells, a small and very beautiful species of the common helix; with a great variety of small motley green lizards, and grasshoppers of all hues, chirping and springing about in all directions in the warm sun¬ shine. The Datura Stramonium grows here and there in great luxuriance, and was then in both flower and fruit, and also a small shrubby daphne, with a white flower, and reddish berry. The meadow saffron (colchicum autumnale) flourishes here in great profusion, the hills about the light-house being literally covered with it, and as it is now in full blow, its light pink flowers pro¬ duce a very gay, lively appearance; and the charming bella¬ donna lily lends its graceful form to beautify nature’s verdant carpet. The soil, which is of a light and sandy character, is principally cultivated with Indian corn. On the morning of the 2nd of October we set forward to view the memorable field of Corunna, accompanied by old George Daboish as our guide. Before we proceed further, we must intro¬ duce this personage to our readers. His history is remarkable— by birth a Russian—an Italian by descent—married to a Spaniard —and, although naturalised in Spain, claiming England for his country. Few men in his condition have seen more of what is termed life. He has with truth, “braved many a rough sea’s storm” in his day—and often been the very sport of the element he made his home. At an early age he was bound to the master of an English merchant-man trading to the Black Sea; out of which he was, shortly after, pressed on board a British man-of- war ; from this he took French leave at Cork, and having travelled across the country for some days, alone and pennyless, he found himself at what he not inaptly calls “the mutiny of Vinegar Hill.” Shortly afterwards he re-entered the merchant service, and some years subsequently was wrecked returning from the West Indies