As the boat approached the end of the canal he began to cast his eyes about him in quest of the well known felucca of the Calabrian.
Though the glory of Venice had departed, the trade of the city was not then at its present low ebb.

The port was still crowded with vessels from many distant havens, and the flags of most of the maritime states of Europe were seen, at intervals, within the barrier of the Lido.

The moon was now sufficiently high to cast its soft light on the whole of the glittering basin, and a forest composed of lateen yards, of the slender masts of polaccas, and of the more massive and heavy hamper of regularly rigged ships, was to be seen rising above the tranquil element.
"Thou art no judge of a vessel's beauty, Annina," said the gondolier to his companion, who was deeply housed in the pavilion of the boat, "else should I tell thee to look at this stranger from Candia.

'Tis said that a fairer model has never entered within the Lido than that same Greek!" "Our errand is not with the Candian trader, Gino; therefore ply thy oar, for time passes." "There's plenty of rough Greek wine in his hold; but, as thou sayest, we have naught with him.

Yon tall ship, which is moored without the smaller craft of our seas, is the vessel of a Lutheran from the islands of Inghilterra.