The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-05
Malta and tho aIn,toSo-r.

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Special Correspondence Of he Mtdltgelctr.
VAllrrrA, MALTA, Fob. 9.-The Latin
races dwelling to tho north Of tho
mediterranean and all those OF oriental
extraction to tho south and east, look
upon tho English occupation OF tho
leland OF Malta and tho two contiguous
lesser islands OF Comino and Coco IN
much tho samo spirit MS they regard
tho occupation OF Gibraltar by tho
English.
1liat is in an evil and ~vengeiul spirit.
Tho fact could have no clearer illustra.
than in the sentiments expressed by
the captain OF tho coaster upon which
! mado my way from Majorca to Malta,
and by tho only other passenger besides
myself upon the odd little brigantine
upon which we sailed.
My companion passenger came aboard
at Tunis where we touched to land
Majorcan vino, making up our part
cargo OF vino for Malta with T'unisian
hides and wheat in curious little brown
sacks which wero tied in the middle
and slowed away in the hold criss-cross,
as YOU would lay %dumb-bells each upon
the other.
Our crew comprised six half naked
and barciooted Maltese sailors with
cotton trowsers, crimson scaris, GER
tainly thirty feet long wound about
their waists, ugly sheath-knives in
these. and no other clothing whatever
save tiny taaseled caps resting jauntily
upon the crisp and curly hair OF their
hard little heads. They were little,
wiry fellows, the best sailors in the
world, it is said, with swapping beady
eyes, sharp, short noses, thick lips,
splendid teoth, and altogether as merry
and su%nny-natured u lot as You could
find sailing upon any sen.
The captain was OF Spanish extraction
and Maltese birth. Flo had been q fish
erman OF Naletta; had saved his money;
had got an aduCation at the FREQ Eng
fish schools Of Malta; and from the vo-
cation of port pilot had come to own
tho craft which he commanded. In his
little cabin were many good books,
both in Spanish and English, and his
surroundings in his tiny sea home were
as pleasant, and certainly moro evident
OF education, refinement and good taste
than you will often find in cabins OF the
most p%retentious American sailing ves-
sells.
His wife, Teresa, and nine children,
the latter grading in size from an in
FAINT in arms to a lad of eleven as regu-
larly as q set OF ten pins, and nearly as
naked, cooked for and waited upon US,
lending a hand at light seamcn's duties
whenever required with wonderful
agility, adding pleasantly to the pic
turesqueness Of the everyday life OF the
tiny vessel, and providing those blessed.
est OF oil sounds at sea, the voice OF
woman and the prattle OF children,
Ceaseless, tunetul and winsome as ever
make melodic the sunniest home OF
city, hamlet or vale.
THE PEOPLE.
Not the least picturesque object on
board our brigantine was our other
passenger, who with the dried hides,
which he resembled in visage, had been
taken on at Tunis. Flo was a Tunisian
merchant trading between Tunis and
Malta. We all treated him with much
consideration because his flowing robes
and white burnoose. which took up q
good deal OF room, gave this otherwise
measly looking man q most important
appearance, and, unc0nsciously, I pre-
sumo, because he owned the hides and
wheat. Then, too, he was very bland
and agreeable, o peculiarly OF all Mos
lens when they are found one mile away
from home.
You will notice this characteristic if
you travel much about the Meditera-
mean. In their own homes, streets and
shops there arc no more i'm periously
grave, imperturbablc and sodden hui
mans than Turk, Arab and Moor. But
let them once turn their faces towards
Christian ports and profit, and their
manner and bearing at once change.
They seem to have suddenly become
ready-greased with graciousness for all
trade and social exigencies. Their
striking habiliments no longer comport
with their reputed dignity OF character.
The bags III their heads and their ample
robes and sandals suggest the harlequin.
Neither Yankees nor Jews are a match
for them in the subtle shuiilings and
d~iploinacies Of trade. In fact thoy are
the "Oily GGmmons' of the Medilcrra-
mean.
In tho lons, l%anguorous days and
glowing evenings OF our lazy sailing
they were both, tho Maltese captain and
the Tunisian merchant, moro to mo than
weeks OF dcsultory meetings OF their
kind in their own lands. They were
both intelligent, companionable, and
both spoke English ilucntly. Their
true feelings and opinions came gradt-
ally and surely out OF the confidential
companionship sea voyages universally
lmDel. They represented, in hereditv,
education and feeling the implacablo
and endless religious and race war be.
tween the people Of the Crescent and
the Cross. The fo%refathers OF each had
! doubtless been slain defending tho bn-
ners OF one or the other. They typiied
Christian Europe pitted against 1nldel
Africa and Asia.
But all race and religious hatred was
blent in q common hatred OF the Eng
lish masters OF Malta.
To reach the sentimental reason OF
this l constantly espoused the English
cause. To the Maltese captain | pointed
out his own successful career, and re-
minded him delicately that he would
have remained M ignorant and i'm
poverished fisherman but for the very
English rule which no resented.
Isl, 81, senor," he would sadly reply;
"but | would not have had the devil Of
greed set to work in my heart. I am
now moro hungry for q great ship than
l was at first for a little telucca."
"But has not the condition OF your
100000 fellow countrymen Of tho islands
bnen vastly innrovah2