The Mellette County pioneer. [volume] (Wood, Mellette County, S.D.) 19??-1971, 1923-06-22

prepared by the National Geographic So
ciety, Washington, ID. c.
Malta, the British island in the mid
Mediterranean, TO which the deposed
sultan OF Turkey was taken when a
British man-of-war rescued him from
Constantinople, is barely - miles
long and 10 miles wide-little more
than q point Of land in Europe'S most
stored sea. But it's excellent stra-
tegic position midway between Italy
and northern Africa, between France
nj Egypt, between the straits of
Gibraltar at one end and the Oar
CEnelleS, the Levant, and the SueZ
e2nal 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
Ihoenician 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 tie goodwill Of the rul-
ing sea power, from the days Of Tyre
to the very present hour. Greeks, Car
thaginians, Remains, Vandals, Arabs,
Normans, Spaniards, Turks, British
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 Il 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 fun Of broken human
bones, with a fiat plate placed over
the mouth and Il 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
far from the cOaSt-abOut six miles
IN 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. ID. GO
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. ID. 1890
Count Roger Of Normandy, having
conquered Sicily, landed at Malta and
eyacted tribute from the Arabs. An
inscribed stone Over the entrance to
Fort st. Angelo records the Norman
victory, ard several beautiful Norman
buildings are still to be seer at
Notable.
The Arabs finally left Malta about
A. d. 1870, having exercised rule we
the island for nearly Acc 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
tory. 1t lacked agricultural resources
and was periodically ruvaged by the
commanders Of Turkish fleets, who
dragged the unfortunate Inhabitants
into slavery, while the famine and
plague often followed In their wake.
In 1880 the population Of the island
did not excel $4,000 and was probably
considerably less. In that year a great
change occurred. Charles V of Spain
granted tie islands Of Malta and
Coco, together with the town OF Tri-
poll, in Africa, TO the Order of st.
John of Jerusalem, afterward known
as the Knights Of Malta.
in the early Eleventh century a pill
gIimage to the holy places ut Jerusa-
lem was n very arduous and danger
Gus undertaking and many pilgrims
died fro-u exhaustion. A hospital was