The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1908-04-10
Valetta, Malta, Feb. IA, 1908

Valetta, Malta, Feb. IA, 1908.
The trip through the Mediterranean
after delightful stops made in Spain,
and one in Algiers, was near the AZ
rican coast, and we passed in sight
of the ruins of ancient Carthage,
once the proud enemy of Rome. the
steamer blew her whistle at an unu-
sual hour to bring all on deck when
we passed St. PauPs Bay, the place
of the Apostles notable shipwreck.
L am not surprised at the stormy voy-
age the great preacher had; for ours
was likewise rough, and sailors tell
me they scarcely ever see it smooth.
The bay above mentioned is near to
Valetta, and is on the island of Malta,
or Mileta as it is called in the Bible.
The whole of Malta, which is IS
miles long and miles wide, is bar
rem of trees, which cannot exist long
on account of the great hurricans.
Acts, 27tn chapter, will tell you.
These storms were called long ago
by the Grecian name euroclydon. Yet
the smaller vegetation is luxurialt
and on account of the mild climate
three crops year are made (Not yet
up to the Pecos Valleys record on
alfalfa.-Ed.)
There is a Maltese proverb which
says, Malta is the flower of the
world" and in history and romance
this is nearly true. The island has
been so closely identified WITH war
and Biblical history, and has so much
at present that is u1surpassingly
unique, that the tourist will spend
many days of profit and interest here.
According to a romantic myth Malta
was once occupied by race of giant
Cyclops, half human and half di-
vine" Here also lived, it is supposed,
the nymph Calypso, the daughter of
Atlas, who was the enslaver of Odys-
seus, and her cave is pointed out in
all seriousness.
But in real history, Malta. historic
with soldier, priest and knight, was
discovered by the Phoenecians, that
ancient seafaring nation whose home
was in the narrow strip of land in
Palestine now the seat of modern
Tyre and site of ancient Sidon. Malta
was taken by the Romans in 259 B.
c., and from them it was wrested by
the vandals in 534 A. D; while the
sturdy Arabs took possession in $40
and held 1t for nearly 500 years as
a Mediterranean port, and not until
the Knights of st. John had conquer
ed them did they cede the island to
Charles v. of Spain, and he in turn
gave as a friendly act the coveted
island to the Knights. They held IL
in strong and warlike possession until
Napoleon conquered, Malta in 1900
AID in the same year it was ceded
to England in whose possession il
has since remained.
The Knights of st. John are better
known in modern history as the
knights of Malta. The beginning o
their history is like this. Some mer
chants obtained permission to bulk
house for themselves and stranger
passing through in Jerusalem. Thi
was done, and afterward they bull
a hospital, and they as Knights wer'
first called "Hospitallers. They wer
appointed oficially as a military ord
er, ald six years later defeated tn
Turks at Antioch and Acre. The
moved to the island of Cyprus an
finally, in 1910. to the island @
Rhodes, and for 200 years were know
as the knights of Rhodes" On tn
above named island the Turks agai
besieged them n 1872 for six month:
and the Knights finally agreed to su,
render on condition that Malta wd
granted them as a, possession, whi$
was done under Charles ". Of Spat
and ever after this date they wdr
known n history by the nafn
knights of Malta" Here again fh
Sultan Of Turkey laid siege in be
son with 13S vessels and 10000 men
but the Turks were finally repy1se
with loss Of $4,000. while the gatial
knights lost 260 knights and f.0C