The Challis messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1912-current, 1923-07-11

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington. D. c.
Malta, the British island in the mid
Mediterranean, to which the depose,
sultan of Turkey was taken. when
British man-Of-war rescued him from
Constantinople, is barely 15 mile
long and 10 miles wide-little NOR,
than a point Of land In Europe's mos
stored sea. But its excellent stra
tegic position midway between Ital.
and northern Africa, between France
and Egypt, between the straits Of
Gibraltar at one end and the Oar
danelles, the Levant, and the Sue1
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
q 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
thaginians, Romans, Vandals, Arabs,
Normans, Spaniards, Turks, British
all in succession held power In Malta
by reason of their fleets.
1t is doubtful If the Punic domina-
ton affected the characteristics of the
Maltese race, as this was probably
only a ruling and trading caste, few
In 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
bones, with fiat plate placed over
the mouth and clay lamp on the
plate. Bottles of food and water were
also placed in the tomb. Beautiful
glass vessels of iridescent blue, pur-
8
In these graves.
The capital of Malta was situated
far from the coast-about six miles
on the highest land, the present
Notable. Here outside the city walls,
were excavated the catacombs which
extend to a considerable distance.
At Notable was the seat of the
Roman governor. His residence has
been recently excavated and many in
teresting relics found. In A. d. 60
st. Paul was shipwrecked In the bay
now known by his name st. Paulo and |
st. Public are very prominent names |
In the ecclesiastical history of the is
land, and to this day the activities Of |
st. Paul in Malta are recited In great |
detail.
Held by Many Nations.
After the fall of Rome Malta be-
came subject to the various powers,
until finally the Arabs, who also ruled
Sicily, took possession. In A. d. 1890 |
Count Roger of Normandy, having
Sicily, landed at Malta and
exacted tribute from the Arabs. An
inscribed stone over the entrance to
Fort st. Angelo records the Norman
and several beautiful Norman
buildings are still to be seen at
Notable.
The Arabs finally left Malta about
A. ID. 1850, having exercised rule over
the island for nearly 400 years, doubt
less facilitated by their language,
which Is closely akin to Maltese.
During the next three centuries
Malta did not figure largely in his
ory. 1t lacked agricultural resources
md was periodically ravaged by the
Of Turkish fleets, who
ragged the unfortunate inhabitants
nto slavery, while the famine and
plague often followed In their wake.
In 1880 the population Of the island {
lid not excel $4,000 and was probably
less In that year a great
hange occurred. Charles V Of Spain
,ranted the islands Of Malta and {
iozo, together with the town Of Tri- 6
'oli, In Africa, to the Order of st.
ohm Of Jerusalem, afterward known
g the Knights of Malta. h
In the early Eleventh century pill t
rimage to the holy places at Jerusa- s
EN- was very arduous and danger s
us undertaking and many pilgrims n
led from exhaustion. A hospital was 1,