The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-04-03

the fat roofs. and from every other possible
projection or level, until the entire island is
network Of rude appliances for complete
Irrigation.
But the results are wonderful Two
and often three crops are raised every
year, and from May until October when
the untitled surface of the island is as
white a bakers oven ard quiyering
with heat within these pleasant homes and
these walled fields. where the outward
aspect is SO hard and forbiddng. there are
endless wimplings Of water, marvellous up
leapings 0f vegetables. fruit and grain, and
the matchleSs melodies Of birds.
All these Maltese farm homes are very
Interesting and many are unique and
picturesque. They are all matchlessly
clean, and are given unusual freshness by
the constant applications Of the house
wives OF a preparation Of the pumice
stone, Of a pale ecru color, Of the consist
ency of whiteWash, 10 the stone floors,
walls and ceilings. The granary, pens for
animals and housing for fowls are all
part of the abode usually at convenience
in the first Stury, the family sleeping in the
apartments above; but such extraordinary
care is universal among the peasant
farmers, that every such apartment / ever
CHANGED to enter was at least as sweet and
cleanly as 4 geDtewoman'S bOudor.
Many of the walls leading from the rear
/. Of the court are covered with MOSES and
vines. Often the old Moorish nora or water
wheel stands silently or creaks dismally
near the abode. Here and there near the
home VIII be found the ancient treadmill of
the Bible times on which all the wheat and
barley of the island Is trod out by oxen or
cows. Against the walls will hang tre-
mendons gOurds, quaint old farming imple-
ments, or huge sleeves with rawhide instead
OF wire screens, as ali the grain is removed
from the chat in this primitive way.
There Is DO rustic courtShlp in Malta save
of the sheepeyes sort along the Sabbath and
Saints days lanes as they all repair together
for mass at the casals or villages Then
the women wear the faldetta or black cloak
like scarf. The hereditary custom is 10
cover the face with this. Bat they do not
until after they are wed and are mothers,
which is often at - ana IA years of age.
There are no curious conditions here pre-
cedBg marriage, except that the lover
must be able 10 rent a bit Of ground and
purchase donkey and two goats or sheep
as the milk of the island is furnished by
the latter animals. and he must solemnly
pledge that he Will never deprive his be-
tf0thed the life right of attendance at the fes-
rivals OF St Peter Pauls. st. John and ST.
Gregory, which are respectively celebrated
at Citta Vecchia. Valetta and Casal Zeitun
And this is not much to ask by pretty
women who never wears shoes, is never
from home on any other occasion, who holds
her picturesque household bravely together.
and who, before she Is 10 years of age and
often grandmother, will bea- her hus band
all the way from dozen to two-scOre happy,
hopeful progeny.
One feature of Maltese rustic life will
always remain with me as a strange but
pleasant memory. This is their Arab
chants. These have been handed down
from the Berber and Moorish invaders OK
many centuries ago, and. like the gypsy lan-
guage, are preserved vocally. But count
less chants are imprOvised, and the hest
tant and then OutbursIing character of these
adds impressiyely TO their weird effect
Men, women and children chant under all
circumstances and conditions | have heard
1t TO that extent from surrounding workers