noon
The houses are balconied , lofty , and spacious , with terraces on the roofs , whence , in clear weather , Etna is visible ; and where , in the cool of the evening , the inhabitants may enjoy the refreshing breeze from the sea , and behold it , in its intense blueness , dotted with white sails gliding in all directions over its surface . It is full of fine churches , the towers of which rise above the flat roofs of the palace-like houses , the whole surrounded by a broad walk , and a fringe of ramparts bristling with cannon . It is to that part of the fortifications facing the mouth of the Great Port that I particularly wish to conduct the reader . It was some four hours or so past noon when the boat of a British man-of-war ran in alongside the landing-place at the fort of Nix Mangiare stairs , and out of her stepped two persons , whose blue jackets , adorned with crown-and-anchor buttons , and the patches of white cloth on their cohars proclaimed them to belong to the exalted rank of midshipmen in the Royal Navy . But many might envy the free joyous laugh in which they indulged , seemingly on finding themselves on shore , and the light elastic tread with which they sprang up the long flight of steps before them , distancing , in a moment , several civilians and soldiers of various ranks , who , puffing and blowing , with handkerchiefs at their foreheads , were toiling upwards , while they arrived at the summit without even giving way to a gasp , and as cool , apparently , as when they landed . Their ears , as they went up , were saluted by -- '' _ Yah hassare , carita _ -- Nix mangiar these ten days , sar -- Mi moder him die plague , sar ! mi fader him die too , '' and other pathetic cries and similar equally veracious assertions , from numerous cripples , deformed creatures , and children of all ages , in rags and tatters , who endeavoured to excite their compassion by exhibiting their wounds and scars .