Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1923-06-27

fp,esred by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington, d. c.
Malta, the British island in the mid
Mediterranean, to which the deposed
sultan Of Turkey was taken when
British man-of-War rescued him from
COnstantinople, is barely 10 miles
long and 10 miles wide-little more
then point of land in Europe's most
StOged sea. But it's excellent stra-
teglc position midway between Italy
and northern Africa, between France
and Egypt between the straits of
Gibraltar at one end and the Oar
daneIles, the Levant, and the Suez
canal at the other, has given it an i'm
pOrtant place in the history of one
after another of the great sea-faring
nations that have dominated the COM
merce of the world
History proper starts in Malta
with the visits of the Phoenician trad
ers about B. G. 1900. On the Gigan-
tia at Coco is an inscription in
PhOenician lettering, the usual script
IN the Mediterranean until the advent
Of Greek or Latin characters.
The ships Of Tarshish found Malta
a valuable port of call, and in this
fact lay Malta's fate. In common with
all Islands, its whole prosperity has
depended on the goodwill of the rul-
Ing sea power, from the days of Tyre
to the very present hour. Greeks, Car
thagnianS, Romans, Vandals, Arabs,
Normans, Spaniards, Turks, British
all in succession held power in Malta
by reason of their fleets.
It is doubtful If the Punic domina-
ton affected the characteristics of the
Maltese race, as this was probably
only ruling and trading caste, few
IA number. 1t is likely that during
This time or in early Roman days the
custom Of burial in hillside caves was
adopted. Thousands of these tomb
caves exist In them is generally
found an urn full of broken human
homes, with flat plate placed over
The mouth and a clay lamp on the
plate. Bottles of food and water were
also placed in the tomb. Beautiful
glass vessels of iridescent blue, pur-
pie and green are also frequently found
IN these graves.
The capital of Malta was situated
Iar from the cOast-about six miles
On the highest land, the present
Notable. Here, outside the city walls,
were eXcayated the catacombs which
extend to considerable distance.
At Notable was the seat of the
holnan governor. His residence has
oeen recently eXcavated and many in
leTeStlng relics found. In A. D. 60
o. Paul was shipwrecked in the bay
no" Known by his name. st. Paulo and
o. PUBLIC are very prominent names
IN the ecclesiastical history of the is
iand, and to this day the activities of
o. Paul in Malta are recited in great
detail
Held by Many Nations.
Alter the fail of Rome Malta be-
zane subject to the various powers,
g1'lI hnaIly the Arabs, who also ruled
o'c'F' TOOK possession. In A. D. 1000
l0unt Roger Of Normandy, having
l0Nquefed Sicily, landed at Malta and
eAacJeo tribute from the Arabs. An
inscribed stone over the entrance to
'ort st. Angelo records the Norman
,l.osE and several beautiful Norman
USuHd'nss are still to be seen at
Notable.
me Arabs finally left Malta about
:. ~ T. 100, having exercised rule over
} r'e Island for nearly 400 years, doubt
,SSs facilitated by their language,
"u'cA is closely akin to Maltese.
purlng the next three centuries
.u"''a did not figure largely in his
"'}' 1t lacked agricultural resources
suu wac periodically ravaged by the
SOuma09ers Of Turkish fleets, who
,G'"Sseo the unfortunate inhabitants
sI'o slavery, while the famine and
p'as1e often followed in their wake.
J., IL 125O the population of the island
o,u not excel 25,00O and was probably
..SS"S'oerably less. In that year great
o~'"se occurred. Charles V of Spain
S,o'lIed the islands of Malta and
s nglo' together with the town of Tri-
TO1' IN Africa, to the Order of st.
YUM OF Jerusalem, afterward known
as the Knights of Malta.
III 'he early Eleventh century PHI
s"'oage to the holy places at Jerusa-
81 wa" a very arduous and danger
W., 1> undertaking and many pilgrims
rom exhaustion. A hospital was