MALTA, mina, an island in the Mediter ranean, belonging to Great Britain, with its de pendencies, Gozo, Comino and Corninetto, form ing the elevated portions of the plateau that ex tends northwestward to Sicily, 62 miles, and southward to Africa, 197 miles, and divides the Mediterranean into two basins. The Maltese group has a total area of 118 square miles, of which 91 square miles belong to Malta. Malta is of irregular oval 17 miles long, with a central. breadth of nine miles; its greatest eleva tion is over 750 feet. It is of limestone forma tion, and is deeply indented on all sides •except the south, where the coast forms a continuous and almost unbroken line. Of great strategical importance, it is very strongly fortified, es pecially Baletta, the capital, which is the head quarters of the British Mediterranean fleet and the principal naval and mercantile coaling sta tion in the Mediterranean. Since the recent regrouping of the British fleet consequent on the rise of Germany as a sea power and the concentration of the main battleship strength in home waters, Malta has declined to a more secondary place. The island is a valuable sanatorium for troops employed 4n the Orient. The climate is hot in summer, and enervating when under the influence of the humid sirocco blowing from Africa, but generally is mild and healthful. There are only a few small streams, but the springs are so numerous and copious that no deficiency of water is felt, and since 1880 an extensive system of waterworks has greatly im proved sanitary conditions. Malta has a bare, stony appearance owinglo the absence of trees. The soil is thin but remarkably fertile; and its fertility is increased by the skilful cultivation and the diligent toil of the inhabitants. Large crops of wheat and potatoes are raised, early varieties of the latter being largely exported to England; maize, barley, cotton, doves, oranges, figs, grapes, carob beans and peaches and other fruits are also grown. Filigree ornaments and a little cotton are manufactured. Sheep and goats are kept, with smaller numbers of cattle, mules, asses and horses. The language of the
people is a dialect of Semitic origin derived from the Carthaginian and Arabic tongues, with a strong admixture of Italian. The native population believe themselves to be of Phoenician descent. Italian is the language of the law courts. Most of the educated Maltese speak Italian, and some speak English; the peasantry as a rule know neither the one nor the other. The Maltese are a sober, industrious race of people, though quick-tempered and ignorant. They are proud of their island home — they love to call it the flower of the world"— and are devout Roman Catholics. The administra tion is vested in a govesnor and an executive council of which the governor is president, and there is also a legislative council, partly elective. The number of vessels entered in 1914-15 was 2,204, with a tonnage of 3,852,767. The im ports were valued at f2.069,817, and the exports f662,412. Pop. including British troops and their families, 228,534. Malta has great histori cal, archaeological and architectural interest. Saint Paul's Bay is accepted as the scene of the wreck of the Apostle Paul (A.D. 58), as recorded in Acts xxvii, xxviii. It passed successively through the hands of Phoenicians, Greek and Carthaginians, and was finally attached to Rome during the Second Punic War. Relics of these various occupa tions exist throughout the island. After the fall of the Roman Empire it was seized at dif ferent times by Vandals, Goths and Saracens. From the last it passed to Sicily, and followed its fortunes till 1522, when Charles V granted it to the order of Saint John of Jerusalem, the Knights of Saint John of Malta being distin guished during successive centuries for their bold defense of Christianity against Moslem assaults. In 1798 the grand-master surrendered Valetta without defense to Napoleon. Shortly afterward the inhabitants regained it and asked for a British protectorate, which was confirmed in 1814 by the Congress of Vienna. Consult Ballou,