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page 41
It not only causes in most of the inhabitants an unpleasant sensation
and great lassitude, but sometimes, when it is of long continuance, has
still more pernicious effects on the body, producing great relaxation
of the nerves, corruption of the juices, dysentery, putrid fevers, &c.
The plague, which was brought in 1813 from Alexandria to Malta, and
continued to rage nearly a whole year, carried off a great number of the
inhabitants, especially of the lower class; and this distemper was found
to be no less fatal here than in the Orient. Of the last hundred who were
attacked, only four survived. (1) During our stay the thermometer was at 26º 00' of Reaumur, which
with a N.N.W. wind, we did not find oppressive when walking out; but if
it had been accompanied by the sirocco it would perhaps have obliged us
to return to the city. Dolomieu (2) observes very justly, that the nature of the wind produces a great difference
in the external warmth and that which is felt at Malta. In the harbour
the thermometer was, at eight o'clock in the morning, in the air 13°(dm;
of Reaumur, in water from the surface of the sea 12°dm; and from a
depth of twenty-four fathoms 12° dm; in the evening at eight o'clock,
in the air 11° dm; 74'; at three in the morning in the air 8°
dm; 4', and in the water 12° dm. The specific gravity of the sea
water was rather less here than in the Adriatic sea.
page 42 ---geology---leaving Malta---
The formation of the whole island, as far as we examined it, has no trace
of lava, and consists of a recent marl or tufa-like limestone of late
origin; in some parts very soft, in others firm, and the fracture showing
a fine grain, of a whitish or yellowish colour, and mixed both with numerous
particles  of mica, and with small, nay, microscopical shells (now and
then a few some lines in length), or with shark's teeth. The shells are
chiefly of the species of Mytilus and Cardium, and
seem, if we may be allowed to judge from the examination of a few specimens,
to be of kinds that are still to be found alive. Besides these petrifications,
which are very common in the grotto of St. Paul for instance,
the island is said to abound in Terebratulites, Belemnites, &c. The
same stone furnishes the admirable materials for building used in the
island. The limestone rock is covered either with loose stones, sand,
and dust, here and there converted by manure into garden ground, or by
a good rich red clay, and lastly, in part by mould imported from Sicily. The contrary wind which had hitherto detained us
at Malta, changed,
in the night of the 30th , to a faint S.E., and the frigate lost no time
in leaving the harbour.
 
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