Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1892-03-06
NOW THE NAL TESE.
From Palma to Malta on a
Maltese Brigantine.
WAKEMAN'S WANDERINGS.
Typical Tunisian Merchant and HIS
TRANSFORMATIONS Morning Scene
In the Harbor of Valetta-In
PARKWAY Lands.
Copyright, 1852 by Edgar L. wateman.J

/
| The Latin races dwelling to the north OF
! the Mediterranean and all those of Orienta
extraction TO the south and east, look upon
the English occupation of the island of
Malta and the two contiguous lesser islands
Of Comino and Coco in much the same
spirit as they regard the occupation of
Gibraltar by the English
That IS IN an evil and vengeful spirit
The fact could have had no clearer illustra-
ton thanin the sentiments expressed by the
captain of the coaster upon which 1
made my way from Majorca to Malta and
by the 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 Maiorcan
wine, making uD our part cargo of wine for
Malta with Tunisian hides and wheat in
curious little brown sacks which were tied
IN the middle and slowed away in the hold
crlss- cross, as you would lay dumb-bells
each upon the other.
Our crew comprised six half-naked and
bareTooted Maltese sailors with cotton
trousers, crimson scarfs certainly thirty
feet long wound about their waists, ugly
sheath-knives in these, and no other cloth
ing whatever save tiny tasseled 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
teeth, and altogether as merry and SUNNY
natured lot as you could find sailing upon
any sea.
The captain was of Spanish extraction
and Maltese birth. He had been a fisher
man of Valetta; had saved his money: had
got an education at the free English schools
OF Malta; and from the vocation of port
pilot had come TO own the craft which he
commanded. In his little cabin were many
good books, both in Spanish and English.
aud his surroundings in his tiny sea nome
were as pleasant, and certainly more evident
of education, refinement and good taste than
you Will often ind in cabins of the most
pretentious American sailing vessels.
His wife, Teresa, and nine children, the
latter grading In size from an infant in
arms TO Lad of eleven as regularly as a set
OF ten pins, aud nearly as naked. cooked
tor and waited upon US, lending a hand at
light SeamenS' duties whenever required |
with wonderful agility, adding, pleasantly |
to the picturesqueuess of the everyday life !
ot the tiny vessel, and providing those |
olessedest OF all sounds at sea- the voice of /
woman and the prattle of children, cease |
ess,' tuneful and winsome as ever make /
neiodic the sunniest home of city, hamlet |
1r vale.
Not the least picturesque object on board
our brlgantiue was our other passenger.
VINO with the dried hides, which he re-
iembled in Visage, had been taken nm AT
runis. He was Tunisian merchant trad
ng between Tunis and Malta. Wa ALI
reated him with much consideration he
auSe his flowing robes and white bur
loose, which took up good deal of room.
ave this otherwise meas " looking man
most important appearance, and. uncon-
clouSly, presume, because he owned the
ides and wheat Then, too. he was very.
land and agreeable, a peculisritv Of ali
loslems when they are found one mile
way from home.
You will notice this Characteristic II yo,
ravel much about the Mediterranean. In
aelr own homes, streets and shops there
re no more lmperiously grave, imperturba-
ie ana sodqen humans than Turk, Arab
nd Moor. But let them once turn their |
ices towards Christian ports and urofit
90 thelr manner and bearing at once |
lange. They seem to hare suddenly ba-
lme ready-greased with graciousuess for
/ trade and social exiginciss. Their
rlKlng haoilaments no longer comport
I'm tneir reputed dignity Of character.
9e o5Es On tnelr heads and their ample
'oeS and SANDALS suggest the HARLEQUIN.
either Yankees nor Jews are a match for
em III the subtle shufffiugs and diploma
es Of trade. In fact they are the aOiIv I
ammons" Of the Mediterranean. /
In the long, languorous DAYS aud glowing | {
enings OF our lazy sailing they were both, '
: Maltese captain and the Tunisian ner- I
ant, more 70 me than weeks Of desultory | 2
settings Of their kind IN their own lsuds :
icy were both intelligent, companionabie, | f
d both spoke English huently. Their '
. fesilngs ans opinions came gradually o
1 surely out OF the confidential compsn-
ship sea voyages universally inpel. Il
ey represen ted, in heredisy, education
I feeling the implacable and endless re- I.
ions aud race war. between the peepls Of 81