The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-03-26
lcopYniditr, 1892, NY EDGAR L. wAEEAAN.l


VALErTA, MALTA, Feb. 25.-Tho visitor
to, Malta Is long whilo in firing OF tho
historic, architectural and social attrac.
lions OF Valetta, especially in tho sunny
winter tmo when day and night seem
filled with an endless round OF brilliant
scenes and gaysty. But il interest in
tho splendid old city OF tho Knights
should begin to wanc, there wonld still
DO found an extraordinary charm in tho
casy-mado excursions to various points
Of interest in Malta and tho adjoining
islands, and q most pleasing study OF tho
peasantry undor their curious condi.
tons Of environment. y
From Valetta ono can reach tho re-
motest points in Comma and Coco,
even by row or sail boats, with donkcys
Tor tho interior lettering, and return 10
the city within daylight hours; and us
to Malta itself-whoso length is no more
than eighteen miles with mi extreme
breadth OF less than twelve-Ihave often
walked from Valetta to Fort st. Lucian
the ancient capital OF the island, TO st,
Paul's Bay, and to sunny, silent Ding.
lion tho extreme southwestern coast,
arriving still in time for Maltese
breakfast which, II not meal OF dainty
perfection, always possesses the uristo-
cratic quality Of interminable delay.
Tho coast scenery Of western Malta
and all of Coco is very beautiful in
deed, while occasionally it reaches pos.
tive grandeur. For the Bible student
there arc the scene OF the shipwreck Of
st. Paul and several places made famous
by the apostles stay upon the island.
For the simply, curious traveller there
are the many ruined summer palaces OF
the Grand Masters, ancient and inter.
esting fortalices and palaces of tho In.
QUESTION. The antiquarian will dis
cover larger number OF prehistoric re.
mains than upon any other equal area,
with catacombs as fine as those OF SYRIA
cuse and greater than those OF Rome.
Biologists find extraordinarily favor
able conditions for researches, owing
to the bare, denuded condition OF tho
island, with its rocky scaslores and
noble cliff exposures, And naturalists
haunt the islands in winter for studies
OF it's rich and winsome tenantry Of mi
gratory birds.
The most beautiful examples of coast
scenery are TO be found upon Coco. 1t
is so near that days excursion in n
little ic!ucca, manned by two or three
picturesque, and necessarily chattering
boatmen, will give one continuous
feast OF changeful scene, and almost u
complete survey OF all coast points OF
interest The shores OF Malta are COM
pletcly lined with fishermen or women
und children gathering scaweed for en-
riching the scant soil OF the island, and
every little cove is alive with color and
soundful with song.
Even in winter the sparkling and
phosphorescent waters OF the Mediter-
ranean are hero blanu and warm to tho
touch, and the young Maltese dsport
in the waves during their arduous labors
like bevies of playful seaiowl; while the
most dangerous cliffs and prccipices are
SO crowded with them in their quest for
eggs, the young OF the seafowl inhabit-
ing the crannics OF the cliffs, and for the
Various forms OF vegetation which are
stored with misery care for fuel and
manure, that, at some distance, the
blending OF coiors OF costume with the
grays and greens OF the island crags,
often gives the curious illusion that the
scawall, are ailamc with gigantic tropi-
cal flowers. s.'.
Coco, which is called Gaudisch by the
native Maltese, contains no town, al
though the tiny island, which is but six
miles broad and eight miles long, is
thickly inhabited. 1t has six villages or
casals. These with tho outlying farms,
for it is very fertile island and under
the highest degree OF cultivation, are, or
were i'll the old times. protected by an
ancient though massive fort called Ra-
bato. 1t is most picturesquely situated
at u great elevation in the center OF the
, island. From its walls, with field
glass, have looked upon tho splendid
panorama Of Malta with its terraced
fields, its old walled villages, its massive
palaces, and the far white city OF Eelet-
ia; to the north viewed Sicily with the
elistening como OF Etna above its dark
and slender thread OF horizon line; and
seen to the southwest, like purple dots
upon the sbimmering Mediterranean
blue, tho lonely islets OF ,Linosa and
lampodnsa. half way to the Tunisian
chores OF Africa.
THE TOPOGRAPHY.
The topography OF GOA is very beau
tifu!. 1t is charmingly diversified by
hill and dale. Many OF it's sunny val.
leys a-c natural and artificial gardens OF
wondrous luHuriance. have nowhere
seen their equal, save in those marvel
ous garden wales behind beautiful
Palermo in Sicily Tho shores present,
save at q very few points, perpendicular
sea walls; and on the western and north
western coasts they often rise straight
from tho waters edge to 4 height OF
over 1000 feet. These abound in caves
OF great size and splendor; their sides
and brows are tho haunts OF myriad sen
fowl; their heights here and there show
stunted and lonely PAINS; and the air
about them with tho sky above are often
almost white with millions OF the slowly
sailing and e&ouisitcly beautiful little
Auriatic gu!ls. q.
l cannot vouch for the emotions OF
others, but as liirst tramped over the
heights OF Nasciar. descending into the
VALLEY beyond, and saw spread before
mo the Bay OF St. Paul. a sense Of awe
mingled with glorious elalion came
with :lle stiffness and beauty OF tho spot
whore tho heroic apostle was ship
wrecked. The bay, which is about two
miles long and ono in breadth, is sit
uated on the northern coast OF Malta,
and is hardly distant brisk two hours
walk from the city OF Falctta. Count.
less excursions AFRO made hithcr by
water from Multu's capital. and oitcn