Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-05-13
FAR OFF SAVANNAHIAN.
OFF GIBRALTAR AFTER NINE
TEEN DAYS ON THE OCEAN.

1T the Capital of MaICa-Intem
pcrauce a sad Curse Among the
Inhabitants.
PALERMO, SICILY, April 21.-Not lit
tie glad we're We, after nineteen days
passage across the roll ny Atlantic, TO see
the famous Rock OF Gibraltar looming uI
in the twilight OF the Lords day, March
-. and very pretty the heights ofthe town
(nestling at the base and extending up one
side) appeared, as we for an hour thread
ed among the numerous coal hulks to find
an anchorage depth. After the Doctors
visit the next morning, we all sped on
shore, having about mile to row. The
day was lovely and the scene most ami
mating and novel, so many nations being
represented with their diverse styles OF
costume. The Rock, as every one knows,
is joined to Spain by Il narrow strip OF
land, but belongs to England and is an
impregDable fortress, and is always
heavily garrisOned, at this time hav-
coats were visible on all sides.
You behold also the Olve-skinned ma
tives, the women of the working class,
with gay-cOlOred or VIII te silk 'kerchieis
tied over the head, and Spanish ladies
with black lace gracefully adjusted, then
others, Enthusiastically English and of va
riOus grades in society, with bOnnets.
Many officers of Her Majesty's troops in
their military undress, and quite sprink-
ling of MOors and Turks in their plctur-
esque costumes, and we noticed some
Berbers in their peculiar large white
wide-spreading garments, and that some
carried burdens underneath. which gave
them very odd, inflated appearance.
The streets are very narrow and were
quite full OF people, the day being lovely.
The town certainly boasts of no beauty in
architecture, but is so limited in space
that it has no opportunity to display
itself; some of the streets are mere mar
row lanes, without a pretense of sidewalk,
and the offices and stores very small, the
merchants and other business
men very courteous and gentlemanly,
and they need TO be walking pOlyglots
for they have to do business In five or six
different languages, including the Arabic.
We saw some heavy draws drawn by
mules, but most of the carrying seemed
to be done on d0nkeys, though horses
were no. scarce and carriage hire cheap.
We engaged a hack for an hour for the
the very modest sum of 37%c. The
streets we're very clean and we were as
sured that the town is so healthy that no
epidemic can live in it, and that during
the time of cholera in Sicily aud other
eastern cities last year % cases were
brought to the Rock Some died and
some recovered, but never was the disease
impaired to any one else there, but great
cleanliness was observed, the streets
being daily washed and the sewers two
or three times flushed also daily. We
found that one OF the hotels (the Royal
had a restaurant, and got plain butsuD-
stantial dinner of delicious steak for
about half a dollar each. We were told
that rents were high, and. judging from
the city's limited space, it must be so.
We drove through some lovely public
gardens, in which a military band was
playing, and found some of the trees only
Just out in leaf. but all varieties of gera-
NUNS in bloom and grown into large
bushes. covering many feet, and the call a
lily abundant and full OF its exQuis te
blossoms. Crimson borders garnlshed
many beds, formed OF a large handsome
flower similar to the China aster. Hello
tropas were also abundant, hut perhaps
the browning glory OF its productions were
the century giants, which grew to i'm
mense proportions and formed
for some distance hedge.
But blue flag is waving from the top OF
the Rock. which warns us that the Brin-
steamships, is approaching. So, having
our passages engaged to Malta, we has
ten to look up our baggage and get on
board.
Settled in the new temporary home 70
be occupied whilst 964 miles more OF our
journey are trayersed, we anchored last
night about 8, after journey of {, $3.50
mites. Tonight we start anew at the
same hour. In little less than four
days, spent on one of the finest and
most comfortable ships anoat, we land al
! Valletta, the capital of Malta, amidst a
babel of tongues, and ascend street OF
steps, our baggage following us on the
heads of four porters. A few words OF
| English and jargon composed of many
| languages { but chiefly that of Arabic,
! and spoken in no other country on the
| glohe) greet our ears, We make our
way along narrow streets, with
firm. hard roads, and soon reach
our hotel, situated IN the best
street, whose width is perhaps that of our
| narrowest in Savannah. But we ascend a
marble staircase. after Jraversing a
| long hall lined with plants and shrubs,
and soon select our apartment, opening
! from the inuer court on the second floor,
and finding that the walls are stone and
| the floors stone and marble, have a de.
| lightful sense of security from our bett
] nor IN nOtei IlIe--ure. In the gallery,
from which our room opens. we see all
around handsome stone vases, with
shrubs and PLANTS among them--some old
friends we recognize and many new Il
our vision. Opposite are some fine gar.
dens belonging to the municipal palace
Palms, orange and lemon trees, with q
species OF fir, very tall and ha dsOme. and
lovely vines. mass of violet blossoms
attract our notice. Later we walk thrOug I'll
the armOry and council chamber OF the
palace. In the former are complete suits
Of armOr belonging To various centuries
and in the latter wonderfully fine tapes
tries. OF course we visited the famOu.
church Of st. John, belonging TO the old
Knights Of Malta. Its beautiful mosaic
floors and columns Of divers -cOlored
marbles aud paintings form attraction
enough FOR hours, but there are worship
ers present and we shorten our visit. The
city Of Nalletta contains very many
churches. among them one Episcopal and
two chapels OF ease for the use OF the
military, and lately has been completed a
beautiful little editice belonging To the
Methodist Epi scopal church, in cOnnec
ton with which is ''Sailors Home" well
managed and patrOnized. We learned
tbat intemperance had BEEN IN Malta q
sad curse, but several lodges Of the |. o.
/ t.. Z. had sprung up, as also blue
ribbon society, aud had been pr0duc-
tive OF much good. The natives
OF Malta are Roman Catholics, and have
a. 49,