The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1877-09-09
IN THE EAST.
malta AND IT'S DEFENsEs-THE LONG
ING EYE ITALY Is CASTING ON
THE ISLAND.
lin the Kgcan Sca-Syra, the Pirfeus ana
AtIaens-'rhe Greeks Mt Home.
Especial Correspondence OF the Demoorat.l

Especial Correspondence OF the Demoorat.l
ATHENS. Greece, Aug. IL. 1877.
To take steamer ut Liverpool for the
Toyant is not the speediest way to reach
III. But 1t ID the way TO put In the longest pos
tsibe stretch Of salt water between England and
Greece; and this was the controlling motive oil
my choice OF route 30 the Olympus" Of the
Gunard line, starting from Liverpool to Con-
stantinople the 26th ult.. had booked among her
six passengers, bound for various points ON the
way. a citizen of New Orleans. The run down
the Bay OF Biscay was pleasant. q fact that ap-
peared to strike every one as one of the most
extraordinary In natural history: accepted
however. with proper gratitude and com
placency. In five days and half we made
Gibraltar Staying there twelve hours. we
steamed on to Malta. where, having to discharge
coal, We were detained two days. giving one
ample opportunity ofseeng everything OF inter-
est on t 40 island.
THE HARBoR OF MALTA
is an exceptionally good one, resembling very
EaiIch that Of Havana. The Qualifications which
cover its entrance are something appalling to
look at. and / dare say, impossible of capture.
From the time Of La ValIette. the Grand Master
of the knights Of ST. John Of the sixteenth cen
tury, to the present day. those defenses have
been buildings and as the supply of stone is
very liberal on the island, the probability Is the
British engineers will continue constructing
moles, bastions, curtains and buttresses for all
she ages to come. Not that there Is the slightest
possible chance the place will ever be attacked
Though you are given to understand the
Italians cast longing eye upon 1t. as the Spun
inrds do on Gibraltar. to assure you OF his
sympathy with the English. n Maltese will
grayey give his opinion that he does not think
HAL rr,ttn
comfort. This In connection with the sup.
posed complications likely to arise out of the
present war between Russia and Turkey. The
commonly received theory in the East is that
Italy wishes to regulate her borders by extend
ing them into the dominions of Austria: that
to accomplish this she Is quito willing to en-
bark In O campaign against that power on any
pretext that may be fancifu enough to be
plausible. In that event she would naturally
find herself opposed by England and there
fore under the painful necessity of capturing
Malta.
But 1t Is quito out Of the question that any
nation, unless 1t be the Chinese. has men
enough to spare to fill up the harbor of La Val
fette.
Besides. its possession would have no more
effect on the Issue Of a campaign or the fate of
war than holding the great pyramid Of
valuable as coaling station and store house
OF supplies. Neither Italy, France or Spain
has any such need in the Mediterranean. In
decd. In these days of swift steam transporta-
ton, England herself could well afford to give
w Gibraltar and Malta without injury; Just as
she gave UP the Ionian Islands. after spending
millions of pounds on their Notifications.
The 18th inst we again turned our prov East
ward. and Friday, the 10TH we were
All ANCHOR OFF SYRIA
- city of Greece, on an island of that name
knew had re iched land of freedom at once
for piratieal looking native of copper color
put his head In my cabin through the window
as soon as 1t was light. by way Of expressing
his desire to be sociable and of manifesting his
native Willingness to take absolute charge of
me during the remainder Of my travels. Other
members Of this noble class OF boatmen re-
peated the process from time to time while
was dressing; each one apparently anxious to
put In his caveat for tho exclusive privilege Of
swindling me. But the first buccaneer carried
the day, and got about three times the fee he
should have received for boating me to the
Greek steamer lying near by. on which, was
to 90 to Athens.
SYRIA Is the centre of the trade In the Egean
French. Italian. Austrian and Greek steamers
are constantly coming and going. The place.
comparatively new. Is built Of stone on the
sides OF an amphitheatro OF hills. that rise 50
abruptly from the harbor it looks as If the
houses would slide into tho water with tho
smallest encouragement The city is modern
in every respect. The people look very much
like Italians. and the Italian language is
spoken quite freely. In the evening 1 had an
opportunity Of assisting" at u promenade in
one of the public squares. and of observing
the general style and appearance of the citi-
zens. The men were common looking enough J;
men generally are liable to that objection A
5ugar-loafed hat and cane seemed to be essen
tial to the get up of each one of the lords
You remember. in ancient Greece. citizen was
arrested and fined who appeared in public
without walking stick. Tho ladies'. who are
decidedly stout, are dressed just as ladies' are
with us. except they are given to perform on
higher heeled shoes than had supposed pos
sibe for any one out of circus company.
Icapnot say much for the beauty Of the ladies'.
though the children. romping about In high
glee at the freedom of being out late. were ex-
ceedingly lovely. Tho music Of the band was
tornenting to an awful degree. It Is u remark
able fact, the Greeks ancient or modern, never
excelled In music. / saw here I'm all his glory.
that great product Of tho nineteenth century.
LIVE NEwsBoY.
distinguished. as he is In America. for strength
eOf lungs and gentleness of manners. Though
the Greek Is somewhat lacking In that insinu-
ating style Of proffering his wares 50 well
known In New Orleans, OF thrusting them into
your lace and holding them there till yur sur
render and purchase. Time however. and the
lnDuenee OF strangers will soon impart this ad-
'ditional grace, and the newsboy of the Levant.
like him OF the West. will be one of those bene-
motors OF his race that everybody admires and
wants to nut monument over at once
The Eplanesos. a nice little Greek steamer.
was to start early Saturday morning. the 10th
inst. from SYRIA for tho Pirirus, tho port Of
Athens, and prompt Ito the minute she was
under way.
There were great many passengers on
board: nice-ooking, respectable people all