The northwestern bulletin-appeal., 1925-06-20
ISLAND PARADISE
IN MEDITERRANEAN


Well Known to Tourists.
washington.-Europe most recent
tornado. coming hard on the heels Of
that In the Mississippi valley. struck
the Spanish island Of Majorca, q hun
dred miles south of Barcelona In the
Mediterranean, demolishing several
villages.
"Majorca Is an island paradise not
very well known even to Spaniards,
and almost wholly missed by the
stream Of outside tourists that courses
through other parts Of the Mediter-
ranean, Italy, and to q less extent
through the Spanish mainland" says
bulletin from the Washington head
quarters of the National Geographic
society. But the beauties and de-
lights of the island are beloved Of its
own people who have an intense local
patriotism.
Cleaning Marble Peaks.
"The island is almost square, about
forty miles along each side. and lies
as though hanging by a cord from the
eastern end Of the Pyrenees by one
corner. Thus a corner points in each
Of the cardinal directions, while the
sides are exposed to the northeast, the
northwest. the southwest and the
southeast.
"Along the northwest side which
faces Spain Is q high mountain range
whose loftiest peaks, nearly a mile
high, bear patches Of snow In winter.
But even In the summer their tops
are cleaning white. for they are Of
marble and the crests Of many are
devoid Of vegetation. The lesser peaks
and shoulders are clad In a mantle
Of dark green pines, while lower are
groves Of Hex and Towering shrubs.
On the gentler slopes Of this north
ern coast and In its valleys, man has
placed vineyards and orange and olive
groves. The whole panorama, sweep
ing from the blue sea through vary
ing green's to the shining-white peaks,
makes a picture Of Incompatible love-
illness.
Lo~Iands Q Vast Orchard.
1T is south Of the mountains that
MaJorca's garden spot Is found, and
the fertile plain that sweeps of from
the foot of the range to the hills that
rim the southeastern side of the Is
land Is called just that, the 'Huerta.'
This level region supports many thou
sands Of acres Of almond and apricot
trees, and In the spring Is q vast sea
Of blossoms.
palma, the capital Of Majorca, lies
In broad bay that indents the south
western side of the island just south
Of the high mountains. A city has
existed there probably since the days
of Carthage, when colonlsts from that
African empire occupied Majorca; but
there Is little evidence now of any
thing but Spanish influence. Scat
tered about the city are numerous
interesting old palaces of the leading
island famllies-one at least for al
most every street. The population Is
about equal to that of Mobile, Ala,
or Portland.
"Majorca, like the Spanish main
land, was overrun by the Moors. For
500 years they held the island with
Palma (then Mallorca) a fourishing
Moorish city. 1t was thorn In the
side of the Spanish Christian king
dom, however, for the Majorcan
Moors became piratical in the Twelfth
century, and no Christian ship was
safe. King Jayne 1 of Aragon Or
ganized a strong expedition which
sailed from near Barcelona In 1929,
and after siege, captured Palma.
Soon the whole island was subdued
and divided among Jayme's knights
and soldiers
"The Spanish Majorcans followed
In the footsteps of their Moorish
predecessors In so far as developing
nautical ability was concerned As
traders, they rivaled the Genoese for
time, and once dominated the west.
ern Mediterranean, controlling Sicily,
Sardinia, Corsica, Malta and the Ba-
learics. Palma had a great dockyard
for galleys. In the middle Of the
Fourteenth century more than $4,000
sailors and 40 vessels were In the
MaJorcan service. The Majorcan navy
constituted one Of Christendom's
chief bulwark's against the ravages Of
the Barbary pirates.
Europe's Leading oeographers.
During their prime as merchant
shippers, the Majorcans were famous
as the leading geographers Of Europe.
They invented crude but effective in
struments of navigation, and drew the
most reliable charts then known. One
Of the most valuable old maps In ex-
istence Is In museum In Palma.
Drawn by Majorcan In 14S9, II was
once owned by Amerigo vespucci. II
Is remarkably accurate depletion Of
the Mediterranean; the Atlantic coast
Of Europe and Great Britain as far
north as Jutland; and the Near-E East,
Including the Persian Gulf and the
RED sea.
"One Of the interesting sights of
Palma Ia the old exchange building,
near the harbor. where great mer.
camille affairs were conducted In the
| 0ld dayo an thav vv.r~ L. A. -