Abbildungen der Seite
PDF
EPUB

SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.

SCYLLA and Charybdis, according to the fables of the poets, were two sea monsters, whose dreadful jaws were continually distended to swallow unhappy mariners. But, foregoing any particular reference to the fictions of poets, we rather present the following more interesting particulars, selected from the narrative of a visit made to this celebrated spot by the Abbè Lazzaro Spallanzani, of Pavia.

"I first proceeded," says the Abbè, "in a small boat to Scylla. This is a lofty rock, distant twelve miles from Messina, and rises almost perpendicularly from the sea, on the shore of Calabria, and beyond which, is the small city of the same name. Though there was scarcely any wind, I began to hear, two miles before I came to the rock, a murmur and noise, like the confused barking of dogs, and, on a nearer approach, readily discovered the cause. This rock, in its lower parts, contains a number of caverns, one of the largest of which is called by the people there, Dragara. The waves, when in the least agitated, rushing into these caverns, break, dash, and throw up frothy bubbles, and thus occasion these varied and multiplied sounds. I then perceived with how much truth and resemblance of nature Homer and Virgil, in their personifications of Scylla, had portrayed this scene, by describing the monster they drew, as lurking in the darkness of a vast cavern, surrounded by ravenous barking mastiffs and wolves.

"Such is the appearance of Scylla. Let us now consider the danger it occasions to mariners. Though the tide is almost imperceptible in the open parts of the Mediterranean, it is very strong in the straits of Messina, in consequence of the narrowness of the channel; and is regulated, as in other places, by the periodical elevations and depressions of the water. When the flow or current is accompanied by a wind blowing the same way, vessels have nothing to fear, since they either do not enter the strait, both the wind and the stream opposing them, but cast anchor at the entrance; or if both are favourable, enter in full sail, and pass through with such rapidity, that they seem to fly over the water. But when the current runs from south to north, and the north wind blows hard at the same time, the ship which expected easily to pass the strait with the wind in its stern, on its entering the channel is resisted by the opposite current, and impelled by two forces in contrary directions, is at length dashed on the rock of Scylla, or driven on the neighbouring sands, unless the pilot shall apply for the succour necessary for his preservation. In order to give assistance, in the case of such accidents, twenty-four of the strongest, boldest and most experienced sailors, well acquainted with the place, are stationed night and day along the shores of Messina, who, at the report of guns fired as signals of distress from any vessel, hasten to its assistance, and tow it with one of their light boats. The current, where it is strongest, does not extend over the whole strait, but winds through it in intricate meanders, with the course of which these men are perfectly acquainted, and are thus able to guide the ship in such a manner as to avoid it. Should the pilot, however, confiding in his own skill, contemn or neglect this assistance, however great his ability or experience, he would run the most imminent risk of being shipwrecked. In this agitation and conflict of the waters forced one way by the current, and driven in a contrary direction by the wind, it is useless to throw the line to discover the depth of the bottom, the violence of the current frequently carrying the lead almost on the surface of the water. The very strongest cables break like small cords. Should two or three anchors be thrown out, the bottom is so rocky that they either take no hold, or if they should, are soon loosened by the violence of the waves. Every expedient afforded by the art of navigation, though it might succeed in saving a ship in other parts of the Mediterranean, or even the tremendous ocean, is useless here.

[ocr errors]

Charybdis is situated within the strait, in that part of the sea which lies between a projection of the land named Punta Secca, and another projection on which stands the tower Lanterna, or the lighthouse, a light being placed at its top, to guide vessels which may enter the harbour by night. On consulting the authors, who have written on Charybdis, we find that they all suppose it to be a whirlpool. The first who asserted this was Homer, who represented it as a monster, which three times a day drank up the water, and as often vomited it forth.

Charybdis is distant from the shore of Messina about seven hundred and fifty feet, and is called by the people of the country, Calofaro, not from the agitation of the waves, as some have supposed, but from the beautiful tower, that is, from the lighthouse erected near it, for the guidance of vessels. The phenomenon of the Calofaro is observable when the current is descending; for when the current sets

in from the north, the pilots call it the descending rema or current; and when it runs from the south, the ascending rema. The current ascends or descends at the rising or setting of the moon, and continues for six hours. In the interval between each ascent and descent, there is a calm, which lasts at least for a quarter of an hour, and not longer than an hour. Afterwards, at the rising or setting of the moon, the current enters from the north, making various angles of incidence with the shore, and at length reaches the Calofaro. This delay sometimes continues for two hours. Sometimes it immediately falls into the Calofaro, and then, as experience has taught, it is a certain token of bad weather. When I observed Charybdis from the shore, it appeared like a group of tumultuous waters, which as I approached became more extensive and more agitated. I was carried to the edge, where I stopped some time to make the requisite observations, and was then convinced, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that what I saw was by no means a vortex or whirlpool. Hydrologists teach us, that by a whirlpool in a running water, we are to understand that circular course which it takes in certain circumstances; and that this course or revolution generates in the middle, a hollow inverted cone, of a greater or less depth, the internal sides of which have a spiral motion. But I perceived nothing of this kind in the Calofaro. Its revolving motion was circumscribed to a circle of, at most, one hundred feet in diameter; within which limits there was no incurvation of any kind, nor vertiginous motion, but an incessant undulation of agitated waters, which rose, fell, beat and dashed upon each other. Yet these irregular motions were so far placid, that nothing was to be feared in passing over the spot, which I did. I could not, therefore, but conclude, that at that time there was no whirlpool-I say at that time, since the case might be very different when the sea is tempestuous. I therefore made inquiry relative to this of the pilots, those especially, who, from their tried experience, were appointed to give assistance in storms to foreign vessels, and who had frequently seen Charybdis in its greatest fury. The following is the substance of the answers they gave me. When the wind and the current are contrary to each other, and both in their greatest violence, especially when the south wind blows, the swelling and dashing of the waves within the Calofaro is much stronger, more impetuous, and more extensive. It contains three or four small whirlpools, or more, according to the greatness of its extent or violence. If at this time small vessels are driven into the Calofaro by the current or the wind, they are seen to wheel round, rock and plunge; but are never drawn down into the vortex. They only sink when filled with water by the waves beating over them. When vessels of a larger size are forced into it, whatever wind they have, they cannot extricate themselves; then sails are useless, and after having been for some time tossed about by the waves, if they are not assisted by the pilots of the country, who know how to bring them out of the force of the current, they are furiously driven upon the neighbouring shore of the Lanterna, where they are helplessly wrecked." This then may serve to give some idea of Scylla and Charybdis.

SELFISHNESS. Few people are aware who have not subtilely pierced into the complicated motives of the human breast, that the hatred of selfishness may itself become a selfishness as base if not so monstrous as the selfishness on which it pours its burning curses. For what is selfishness but the grudgingly keeping to ourselves that which we ought graciously and gracefully to communicate to others with an open-handed hospitality? Now, what does it matter whether this unmanly avarice clutch and cling to and monopolise the money in our pockets or the ideas in our brain? Indeed, I know not whether the avarice of the idealist is not the most dastardly and detestable of the two. Your common-place miser merely keeps from his fellows the golden image of an earthly monarch, the idealist withholds from them the most beautiful image of the Deity.

TIME AND SPACE.-Railroads and steam navigation have brought the most distant countries into close proximity. In six months we can now accomplish a tour which occupied in the last generation as many years. Economy of time is a multiplication of existence in the same ratio. The value of life is not to be estimated by duration, but by the industry and achievement which can be compressed within a given period. When the poet wrote in such raptures of the invention of letters, which enables disconsolate lovers to "waft a sigh from Indus to the Pole," what would he have thought had he lived to see the electric telegraph, by which these little endearing communications may be interchanged at the distance of hundreds of miles in a few seconds?

[merged small][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][merged small]

SCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS.

SCYLLA and Charybdis, according to the fables of the poets, were two sea monsters, whose dreadful jaws were continually distended to swallow unhappy mariners. But, foregoing any particular reference to the fictions of poets, we rather present the following more interesting particulars, selected from the narrative of a visit made to this celebrated spot by the Abbè Lazzaro Spallanzani, cf Pavia.

"I first proceeded," says the Abbè, "in a small boat to Scylla. This is a lofty rock, distant twelve miles from Messina, and rises almost perpendicularly from the sea, on the shore of Calabria, and beyond which, is the small city of the same name. Though there was scarcely any wind, I began to hear, two miles before I came to the rock, a murmur and noise, like the confused barking of dogs, and, on a nearer approach, readily discovered the cause. This rock, in its lower parts, contains a number of caverns, one of the largest of which is called by the people there, Dragara. The waves, when in the least agitated, rushing into these caverns, break, dash, and throw up frothy bubbles, and thus occasion these varied and multiplied sounds. I then perceived with how much truth and resemblance of nature Homer and Virgil, in their personifications of Scylla, had portrayed this scene, by describing the monster they drew, as lurking in the darkness of a vast cavern, surrounded by ravenous barking mastiffs and wolves.

"Such is the appearance of Scylla. Let us now consider the danger it occasions to mariners. Though the tide is almost imperceptible in the open parts of the Mediterranean, it is very strong in the straits of Messina, in consequence of the narrowness of the channel; and is regulated, as in other places, by the periodical elevations and depressions of the water. When the flow or current is accompanied by a wind blowing the same way, vessels have nothing to fear, since they either do not enter the strait, both the wind and the stream opposing them, but cast anchor at the entrance; or if both are favourable, enter in full sail, and pass through with such rapidity, that they seem to fly over the water. But when the current runs from south to north, and the north wind blows hard at the same time, the ship which expected easily to pass the strait with the wind in its stern, on its entering the channel is resisted by the opposite current, and impelled by two forces in contrary directions, is at length dashed on the rock of Scylla, or driven on the neighbouring sands, unless the pilot shall apply for the succour necessary for his preservation. In order to give assistance, in the case of such accidents, twenty-four of the strongest, boldest and most experienced sailors, well acquainted with the place, are stationed night and day along the shores of Messina, who, at the report of guns fired as signals of distress from any vessel, hasten to its assistance, and tow it with one of their light boats. The current, where it is strongest, does not extend over the whole strait, but winds through it in intricate meanders, with the course of which these men are perfectly acquainted, and are thus able to guide the ship in such a manner as to avoid it. Should the pilot, however, confiding in his own skill, contemn or neglect this assistance, however great his ability or experience, he would run the most imminent risk of being shipwrecked. In this agitation and conflict of the waters forced one way by the current, and driven in a contrary direction by the wind, it is useless to throw the line to discover the depth of the bottom, the violence of the current frequently carrying the lead almost on the surface of the water. The very strongest cables break like small cords. Should two or three anchors be thrown out, the bottom is so rocky that they either take no hold, or if they should, are soon loosened by the violence of the waves. Every expedient afforded by the art of navigation, though it might succeed in saving a ship in other parts of the Mediterranean, or even the tremendous ocean, is useless here.

66

Charybdis is situated within the strait, in that part of the sea which lies between a projection of the land named Punta Secca, and another projection on which stands the tower Lanterna, or the lighthouse, a light being placed at its top, to guide vessels which may enter the harbour by night. On consulting the authors, who have written on Charybdis, we find that they all suppose it to be a whirlpool. The first who asserted this was Homer, who represented it as a monster, which three times a day drank up the water, and as often vomited it forth.

[ocr errors][merged small]

in from the north, the pilots call it the descending rema or current; and when it runs from the south, the ascending rema. The current ascends or descends at the rising or setting of the moon, and continues for six hours. In the interval between each ascent and descent, there is a calm, which lasts at least for a quarter of an hour, and not longer than an hour. Afterwards, at the rising or setting of the moon, the current enters from the north, making various angles of incidence with the shore, and at length reaches the Calofaro. This delay sometimes continues for two hours. Sometimes it immediately falls into the Calofaro, and then, as experience has taught, it is a certain token of bad weather. When I observed Charybdis from the shore, it appeared like a group of tumultuous waters, which as I approached became more extensive and more agitated. I was carried to the edge, where I stopped some time to make the requisite observations, and was then convinced, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that what I saw was by no means a vortex or whirlpool. Hydrologists teach us, that by a whirlpool in a running water, we are to understand that circular course which it takes in certain circumstances; and that this course or revolution generates in the middle, a hollow inverted cone, of a greater or less depth, the internal sides of which have a spiral motion. But I perceived nothing of this kind in the Calofaro. Its revolving motion was circumscribed to a circle of, at most, one hundred feet in diameter; within which limits there was no incurvation of any kind, nor verti ginous motion, but an incessant undulation of agitated waters, which rose, fell, beat and dashed upon each other. Yet these irregular motions were so far placid, that nothing was to be feared in passing over the spot, which I did. I could not, therefore, but conclude, that at that time there was no whirlpool-I say at that time, since the case might be very different when the sea is tempestuous. I therefore made inquiry relative to this of the pilots, those especially, who, from their tried experience, were appointed to give assistance in storms to foreign vessels, and who had frequently seen Charybdis in its greatest fury. The following is the substance of the answers they gave me. When the wind and the current are contrary to each other, and both in their greatest violence, especially when the south wind blows, the swelling and dashing of the waves within the Calofaro is much stronger, more impetuous, and more extensive. It contains three or four small whirlpools, or more, according to the greatness of its extent or violence. If at this time small vessels are driven into the Calofaro by the current or the wind, they are seen to wheel round, rock and plunge; but are never drawn down into the vortex. They only sink when filled with water by the waves beating over them. When vessels of a larger size are forced into it, whatever wind they have, they cannot extricate themselves; then sails are useless, and after having been for some time tossed about by the waves, if they are not assisted by the pilots of the country, who know how to bring them out of the force of the current, they are furiously driven upon the neighbouring shore of the Lanterna, where they are helplessly wrecked." This then may serve to give some idea of Scylla and Charybdis.

SELFISHNESS. Few people are aware who have not subtilely pierced into the complicated motives of the human breast, that the hatred of selfishness may itself become a selfishness as base if not so For monstrous as the selfishness on which it pours its burning curses. what is selfishness but the grudgingly keeping to ourselves that which we ought graciously and gracefully to communicate to others with an open-handed hospitality? Now, what does it matter whether this unmanly avarice clutch and cling to and monopolise the money in our pockets or the ideas in our brain? Indeed, I know not whether the avarice of the idealist is not the most dastardly and detestable of the two. Your common-place miser merely keeps from his fellows the golden image of an earthly monarch, the idealist withholds from them the most beautiful image of the Deity.

TIME AND SPACE.-Railroads and steam navigation have brought the most distant countries into close proximity. In six months we can now accomplish a tour which occupied in the last generation as many years. Economy of time is a multiplication of existence in the same ratio. The value of life is not to be estimated by duration, but by the industry and achievement which can be compressed within a given period. When the poet wrote in such raptures of the invention of letters, which enables disconsolate lovers to "waft a sigh trom Indus to the Pole," what would he have thought had he lived to see the electric telegraph, by which these little endearing communications may be interchanged at the distance of hundreds of miles in a few seconds?

[merged small][graphic][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][ocr errors][merged small]
« ZurückWeiter »