Page:Africa by Élisée Reclus, Volume 2.djvu/152

 and so lashed by the winds are the currents of water running from the western waters into the sea of the Syrtes, that vessels sailing westwards would be unable to cross it were it not for the south-east winds, which usually blow off the Syrtes towards Malta, and thus assist them to double this dreaded headland. When the

sky is unobscured by clouds, a view can occasionally be obtained from this promontory of the coast of Sicily, and the horizon has often been seen illumined by a ruddy light caused by the eruptions of Mount Etna.

It is somewhat remarkable that on the coast of Tunis tempests are rarely