The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1889-03-07
AT THE ISLAND OF MALTA.
The Mediterranean! Stronghold.-ValI
and Her Palaces.-The Glory of the East
-Knightly Rellcs.-Life in Malta.

The Mediterranean! StrOnghOld.-Va ValIetta
and Her Palaces.-The Glory of the East
-Knightly Relics.-Life in Malta.
VALLETTA, Malta.
Almost as old as its hills are the stor-
les that are told of the great wealth and
glory of Malta, of which its geographic
cal position made it the center in the
civilization of the past, when the Knights
of ST. John intrenched themselves here
and held high carnival within its terri
tory. To be sure they have passed away,
but on every hand there remains much
to remind us of this people when at the
height of their glory. We are confront
ed with the sublime. fact that the knights
are dead, but rich inheritance has come
down to us.
| cannot. perhaps, spend "a few mo-
monts more interestingly than in look
ing with you over the island, and in
noting the relics of the old civilization
which time has spared. Everywhere
may be seen the remnants and the ruins
of its past, in temples!and palaces, and
in deserted capitals and catacombs.
Malta is the merest dot on the map of
the world hardly seventeen miles long
and nine miles broad, lying midway in
the Mediterranean near Sicily, with a
delightful semi-tropical cl mate, COM
paraively fertile soil, and arge and
contented population. The land is low
and rugged, the ridge of hills that runs
across the island having an elevation at
its highest point of about five hundred
feet. The situation is admirable for de-
fense, and has been intrenched with
strong fortifidations and batteries.
Our war-ship rounded the island at
night, and approached Valletta from the
eastward. The harbor, which the
morning revealed to us as a scene ofun-
usual activity, is one of the finest IN the
world, consisting of two inlets of un-
equal size. The one on the left known
as the great harbor, which is reached
through narrow entrance guarded on
either side by strong Notifications, is
used by English men-of-war and mer-
chant steamers while the smaller one is
devoted to war vessels of other nations
and to ships whose stay is prolonged.
In the latter the Juniata was anchored,
where she lay for time with the city
before her, fair sky above her, and
with the clear waters dotted with sails
all around her, the center of beautiful
panorama.
Valletta is the fortified capital of the
island, and is situated on its northeast
ern side, resembling, as some one has
said, huge turtle stranded upon reef.
1t is built upon a high and narrow
tongue of land that projects into the
harbor, dividing the water in two parts.
1t is beautiful city even as seen from
shipboard, that impresses one with
sense of its superior intrenchment and
power of resistance.
The principal streets traverse the city
lengthwise, parallel with the surface of
the water on gradually ascending, levels
forming a succession of terraces walled
with stone, and presenting to one in
either harbor the appearance of solid
mass of houses that rises from the wat
er's edge to the height of two hundred
feet The TRAVERSE streets are narrow
and steep, and are nothing more than
flights of stone steps. The buildings are
of stone, which seems to be the only
natural product of the island, and are
compact and massive, many of which
are magnificent structures, In point of
architecture. it is claimed, Valletta ri
walls any of the capitals of Europe.
Turn where you may, you are con-
fronted with some historical site, me-
mortal or building. Here is the old pal
ace of the Grand Masters, towering
above its surroundings and occupy ng
an entire square. You marvel at its
mammoth proportions, its massive walls
and its impressive solidity. The palace
is in fair state of preservation. and in
part is used for the residence of the gov
ernor Of the colony. You may enter the
court, pass through the corridors, mount
the stair-cases and visit the chambers
and council rooms.
A large hall, known as the armory, is
devoted to an immense collection of
arms and armors, that were worn or
captured by the Knights, and of trophies
of war and tournament. Here are bat
tie axes that would cleave q giants
skull, helmet weighing forty pounds
'ha' none but giant could wear, swords
with golden hilts set with diamonds, a
breech-loading gun and rope-made
cannon that was taken from the Turks.
AT the foot of the stairs stands the great
carriage of state, an antique vehicle, in
which, it is said, Napoleon rode at the
head of his army when he took posses
sion of Malta.
The Council Chamber of the Knights,
colossal in its size with lofty ceilings
and marble floors, is hung with the
most beautiful and finely woven tapes
tries that are covered with figures of
men and animals, representing scenes
in various parts of the world. In the
corridors may be seen figures of fknights
and men-at-arms in full armor, bearing
upon their shields the escutcheons Of
the Grand Masters from the founding of
| their order.
Throughout the city and island are
many fine buildings that were used for
hospitals and inns. of which one was set
apart for each nationality. Most of
these are in ruinous state, and are
used by the inhabitants for ordinary
purposes, some of them being trans
formed into club houses and bah rooms,
and others made to serve as residences
and warehouses.
Of the churches, which were made the
feature of the age, that of st. John re-
mains the most striking and magnificent.
1on enter the portal with the feeling
that the past is looking down upon you.
The interior is handsomely decorated,
the ceiling and walls containing many
beautiful paintings of Biblical scenes
and characters. The floors consist ofin-
laid slabs of marble, bearing the crests
and coats-of-arms of the Knights who
were buried beneath them. The orna-
ments of the altar are made of solid gold
and silver, many of which were carried
away by the French early in the century.
The old capital of Malta. formerly
called Medina, but now known as Citta
Vecchia, situated few miles from the
city, although in ruins and we'll nigh de-
serted so tar as place can be aban-
dohed IN a densely peopled island, Is an
object of interest'to which you are like
ly to be directed. The way leads you
along a hard and stony road. which is
fenced in by high stone walls entirely
shutting off the view on either side. The