CLAUDA is the name of a small island off the south coast of Crete (Candia), about zo miles to the south-west of Cape Matala, the most south ernly point of Crete, where its coast slopes away in a north-west direction and forms a bight, which has Clauda for its seaward boundary. This island, which is about 7 miles long and 3 broad, occupies a prominent point in the voyage of St. Paul, as narrated in Acts xxvii. (see verse 16). Its west shore, which trends in a north-west direction, and is prolonged by ' some rocks adjacent,' would afford the advantage of comparatively smooth water for some twelve or fifteen miles' (Adm. Pen rose's MS. in C. and H.'s St. Paul, ii. 336) to a ship caught,' as St. Paul's was, with a tempest uous wind 'from the north-east. Accordingly, under the lee shore of Clauda were those skilful precau tions of hoisting in the boat,' undergirding ' [or frapping] the ship,' and making her snug by lowering the gear' (Smith's Voyage, etc., of St. Paul [ad ed.] p. rob), taken, which kept the ship from foundering under the pressure of a fortnight's gale in Adria,' and preserved her for the rough remedy of a wreck on the island of Melita. The
Greek name of the island appears in several forms; KNatik or KX0.154 in most MSS. and versions ; but KaiZa in Cod. Vat. and Lachmann ; and Kathlth and Pavabs in Suidas ; while Ptolemy and Hiero cies call it liXaiMos. Pomponius Mela, and Pliny, designate it Gaudos, which is in fact its present Greek name—Gaudonesi, or island of Gaudos, which has been Italianised into Garza, not, of course, to be confounded with the somewhat larger island of the same name close to Malta. Mr. Brown was informed upon the spot that the island still retained its ancient name, Chlauda, or Chlau da Nesi,. XXai38a, or liXavaa. Nqaos' (see Smith's Voyage, etc., p. 93). Pococke, Description of the East,. vol. ii. pt. I, p. 24o, gives an account of the isle and its inhabitants ; he also says the road for shipping is on the north.'—P. H.