CHAPTER XXIX

The homeward journey.—Ravenna.—Brindisi.—The Straits of Messina.
—The Sirens.—Lipari Islands.—Palermo.—Syracuse.—Mount
Etna.—Tunis.—Sardinia,

Departing from Venice we coafted along Italy to a
city called Ravenna, a very ancient place, and from
there we came to Rimini which belongs to the Count
of Urbino da Malatefta. We then went to Pesaro
and Fano, two fine cities, and arrived at laft at Ancona,
which is of the patrimony of the Church. We sailed
thence for the port of Brindisi, which is as fine, or
finer, than any I have seen. It is in the territory of
Apulia, which they call Tierra di Lavoro. The next
day we departed, and after doubling the Cape of
Spartivento, and sailing to the right, as we had a favour¬
able wind, we came that evening to the island of
Sicily, and we lay out at sea until the following day.
We then came with good weather through the Straits,
leaving Calabria, which is in the Kingdom of Naples,
on the right, and Sicily on the left, and after much
labour, by reason of the ftrong currents thereabouts,
we anchored at the city of Messina. These Straits,
according to the poets, were the home of the Sirens.
They say that Naples and the island of Sicily were at
one time joined together and formed one country,
and that an earthquake broke off this island. Here
the sea is deeper than anywhere else.

They say, also, that there is a species of fish in these
parts, formed like a woman from the waift upwards,
and below like fish, and these creatures live in the
depths where the firft movements of the wind can be
noticed, and when they feel the motion, if it is very
ftrong, they know that a great ftorm is brewing, and

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