Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume XI.djvu/77

MALTA 69 200 N. of Tripoli in Africa; area, about 145 sq. m. ; pop. in 1872, 143,799, exclusive of the . The area of Malta proper is about 100 sq. m. ; pop. about 130,000. There are neither lakes nor rivers in the island, and no forests or brushwood ; and most of the surface is a calcareous rock exposed to the winds from the African deserts, and but thinly covered with an artificial soil, chiefly brought from Sicily. This is, however, by careful cultiva- tion made to yield abundant crops of cotton, grains, beans, and grass, and excellent fruits, of which the orange, olive, and fig are re- nowned. In summer the heat is excessive day and night. The sirocco prevails especially in autumn, and there is little land or sea breeze. But in winter the climate is delightful. The atmosphere is so clear that at all times of the year the summit of Mt. Etna may be distinctly seen during the rising or setting of the sun, al- though at a distance of 130 m. The E. portion of the island contains all the towns and villages, and is separated by a ridge from the TV. part, which, although less densely settled, is well cul- tivated, and abounds with the wild thyme and other odoriferous plants, attracting bees, which furnish excellent honey. There are about 25,- 000 head of live stock, including about 6,000 cattle. Cotton is the staple product, and gives rise to an extensive manufacture of cotton goods. The cabinet work of Malta enjoys a high reputation. Soap, leather, macaroni, and iron bedsteads are manufactured to some ex- tent. The goldsmiths are noted for their ele- gant workmanship, and the Maltese artisans are generally able and intelligent. They are excellent seamen, and their services are in great demand in the Mediterranean. But the bulk of the people are either employed in ag- ricultural labor or in stone cutting. The isl- and of Gozo or Gozzo, about 9 m. long and 5 m. broad, lies N. TV. of Malta, and is separa- ted from it by a channel 3 m. wide. It is sur- rounded by a belt of rocks and shoals, with openings leading to several small harbors. The interior is very rocky and hilly, with a thin soil, which however is very fertile. Grain and fruit are raised in abundance ; but the most im- portant crop is cotton, much of which is spun on the island. There are salt works at Port Maggiore, on the S. side, and an alabaster quar- ry in the northwest. The highest point of land is near the centre of the island, and is crowned with the fort of Rabato. The principal town is Rabato (pop. about 2,000), and there are several villages. The island contains a great natural curiosity called the Giant's Tower, and several Roman monuments. Comino, about 2 m. long and 1^ m. broad, lies in the channel between Malta and Gozo. The surface is very hilly and the coast deeply indented. The principal settlement is Santa Maria. The Mal- tese are derived from an Arabic stock ; it is probable, however, that the Arab conquerors have been mixed up with the previous Punic population. Greek is supposed to have been in ancient times the medium of conversation of the higher classes, as English is at the pres- ent day. The present common language is the lingua franca, a patois of the Arabic, mixed with Italian and other languages. The com- plexion of the Maltese is almost as dark as that of the natives of Barbary. The dress of the working classes is a short loose waistcoat, covering a cotton shirt, short loose trousers, woollen caps in winter and straw hats in sum- mer, and a kind of sandals resembling those of the ancient Eomans. The women are of dark complexion, and are small, delicate, and generally graceful, and wear in the streets a black veil (faldetta). The dress consists most- ly of a cotton shift, blue striped petticoat, a corset with sleeves, and a loose jacket cover- ing the whole. Drunkenness is almost un- known, and the people, although coarser in their appearance, are less vindictive and im- pulsive than other races of southern Europe. They are fond of poetry, especially in the rural districts, where the taste for improvisation prevails extensively. In music they prefer noisy instruments, as the tambourine, mando- line, and particularly the bagpipe, which ac- company the national dances. They marry at an early age. Many of them seek employment in the Levant, where they are however exceed- ingly unpopular on account of their crafty and treacherous nature, and they are generally em- ployed only in the meanest labors. The fami- lies ennobled by the knights of Malta have dwindled down to a small number ; and the few which remain are not very affluent. The national religion is Roman Catholic, under the direction of a bishop and more than 1,000 priests, the church property being considerable. The number of Protestants is about 5,000, whose places of worship consist only of a few chapels. Education is promoted by the uni- versity of Valetta, colleges at Citta Vecchia and several other places, and about 50 public and 100 private schools. The value of im- ports paying duty in 1871 was $37,400,000 ; of exports, $37,500,000. The number of steamers arrived in 1871 was 1,737, tonnage 1,466,000; of sailing vessels arrived, 2,954, tonnage 519,000; total number of vessels, 4,691, tonnage 1,985,000. The direct trade with the United States is inconsiderable, but a large number of American vessels are en- gaged in the trade of foreign countries with Malta. A new government grading dock, ca- pable of receiving the largest men-of-war, has been recently opened, and new submarine telegraphs have been laid connecting Malta with Algiers and Alexandria. The hydrau- lic lift dock, completed in 1873, is of great benefit to commerce, especially to the steamers of the India route, as by means of it vessels can be repaired without discharging their cargo. The revenue in 1870 was 158,630 ; expenditures, 171,788 ; public debt, 79,202. Malta is a crown colony, the local govern- ment being conducted by a governor who is