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so styled. It is much ruined, and the arena and seats are covered with turf, fruit trees, and vegetables, which have a pretty effect from the top of the arches. But the ground tier of arcades is nearly perfect, showing still the dens for wild beasts, and the stone troughs out of which they drank . . . In the side arches of this tier some chapels have been fitted up to some saints supposed to have suffered martyrdom on the arena of this amphitheatre . . .

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"Passing from hence to the temple of Jupiter Serapis, on the road are found some ruins of two temples. These are at present little more than shapeless masses of brick...

"The most interesting ruin at Pozzuoli, is what is called the Temple of Jupiter Serapis . . . It has been covered several times by the eruptions of the Solfatara, and is consequently in a very mutilated condition, but the volcanic cinders have been removed as often as they have fallen upon it. The marble pavement remains. We still see too, the walls of the forty-two chambers which formed the boundary of the temple, the circular elevation in the centre, for the sacrifices, the pedestals of columns and statues, four pillars standing erect, several lying on the ground, with friezes, imposts, capitals, and bases, the rings for binding the victims, and the vessels for receiving their blood... The two largest columns standing are at the entrance of the sanctuary, and are of Cipollino marble. These, as well as those which have been displaced and are prostrate on the floor, have been covered to a certain height by the sea water, and now exhibit a singular instance of the diligence of what is commonly called the sea worm, whose long shell has pierced to the depth of two inches into the marble, and covered a part of it with holes. . . A warm mineral spring covers the greater part of the pavement, which runs in principally at a corner chamber, supposed to have served for the purification of the priests. There is a small marble canal all round the chamber, as if for

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washing the feet. On our second visit to the temple, we found that the bishop of Pozzuoli had converted some of the chambers into baths of the mineral spring, for invalids; but they do not obtrude themselves disagreeably upon the eye, in contrast to the rest of the ruin. On the same side with the baths, a part has been laid out in an orange and lemon garden, which produced the most delightful effect. From hence the view of the ruin and its environs is particularly good.

"The cathedral of Pozzuoli stands on the site, and is partly composed of the ruins of an ancient temple

"In the gulf of Pozzuoli some ancient brick piers are seen, on two or three of which, arches still remain. These are part of a mole built to break the force of the waves, and to facilitate the shipping business, which flourished in the bright days of Puteoli. . . The mole was at one time paved with marble, and decorated at the entrance next the town with a triumphal arch. The astonishing stability of these brick piers, which have stood unmoved for ages against the violence of the waves, while those which have been displaced, were overturned by the force of earthquakes alone, naturally lead me to speak of the famous Pozzuolan cement, the principal cause of their firmness and durability

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"The ancients say of this cement . . . 'There is a sort of dust, which by its natural properties causes wonderful effects... This dust when it is mixed with lime, not only gives firmness to every sort of building, but renders solid and durable even those moles which are constructed under water in the sea.' -WILSON'S Tours on the Con

tinent.

"When we reach the water's side, we see stretching over towards Baie the remains of thirteen arches out of twenty-five originally built, belonging to Caligula's Mole. The ruins are plainly visible, standing in the water which flows in between each arch. . . Possibly on the spot where we are now standing, St. Paul landed ... What more interesting than to trace the progress of the

mighty Apostle on his glorious mission from this place to the Eternal City!

"Puteoli was an ancient Greek city, famous for its justice and its name was derived from the numerous hot and cold springs with which it abounded. The Romans saw its advantages for commercial purposes, improved the harbour, and made it a great naval station. Tacitus informs us that the monster, Nero,' indulged in aquatic excursions near Puteoli, which appears then to have been considered the most delicious region in the world."-WHITESIDE'S Italy.

1 The young reader may not know, that it was in the reign of the Roman Emperor Nero, that St. Paul suffered imprisonment and martyrdom at Rome. In his Epistle to Timothy, the Apostle calls him " the Lion," an appellation well describing his fierce and cruel character.— 2 Tim. iv. 16, 17.

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CHAPTER VIII.

ISLANDS OF THE MEDITERRANEAN.

SICILY.-Syracuse, Messina, Catania, Etna, Palermo, Marsala.

MELITA (Malta).-Valetta.

CRETE, or CANDIA.-Natural Productions of Crete-Hospitality-Cretan Cottage-Grottoes.

MITYLENE-CHIOS-SAMOS-TROGYLLIUM-MILETUS.

PATMOS.

EGEAN SEA.

Coos-RHODES-CNIDUS.

CYPRUS.-Paphos Salamis.

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SYRACUSE-MESSINA-CATANIA-ETNA-PALERMO-MARSALA.

SCRIPTURE NOTICE.

"AND landing at Syracuse, we tarried there three days."-Acts xxviii. 12.

"I sailed from Malta to Syracuse, where I landed after a prosperous and pleasant voyage.

"Sicily is greater in its extent than any other island in the Mediterranean, and is presumed at one time to have joined to Italy, but separated by the encroachments of the sea and the effect of earthquakes. Syracuse is pointed out as the place where the apostle Paul landed on his way to Rome. The harbour is six miles in length, and presents a beautiful prospect. I was delighted by hearing many of the Sicilians, who, when

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