Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Particulars Relating To The Island Of Malta.
CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE ISLAND OF MALTA .
THE fortifications of Malta are indeed a most stupendous wort . All the boasted catacombs of Rome and Naples are a trifle to the immense excavations that have been made in this little island . The ditches , of a vast size , are all cut out of the solid rock . These extend for a great many miles , and raise our astonishment , that so small a nation has ever been able to execute themOne side of the
. island is so completely fortified by Nature , that there was nothing left for Art . 5 The rock is of a great hei ght , and absolutely perpendicular from the sea for several miles . On this side there are still the vestiges of several ancient roads , and the tracks of carriages worn deep m the rocks . These roads are now terminated by the precipice , with the beneathand shew to
sea — a demonstration , that this island was in former ages of a much larger size than it is at present ; but the convulsions that occasioned its diminution are probably much beyond the reach of any history or tradition . It has often been observed , notwithstanding its very great distance from Mount ^ Ettia , that this island has generall y been more or less affected bits and it is
y eruptions , probable that on some of these occasions a part of it may have been shaken into the sea . It is frequent for one half of Mount . / Etna to be clearly discernible from Malta . The distance is reckoned nearly two hundred Italian miles . The inhabitants assert , that in great eruptions of that mountain , the wdiole island is illuminated ; and from the reflection of the waterthere
, appears a great tract of fire in the sea all the way from Malta to Sicily . The thundering of the mountain is likewise distinctly heard . The two Islands of Malta and Gozzo contain about a hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants ; the men are exceedingly robust and hardy , and frequentl y row ten or twelve hours withoufinter--missionand withouteven appearingto be fati guedThe shi galleys
, . ps , , galliots , and other vessels belonging to Malta , as well as the fortifications , are supplied with excellent artillery ; and the people have invented a kind of ordnance of their own , unknown to all the world besides .
The rocks are not only cut into fortifications , but likewise into artillery , being hollowed out in many places in the form of immensemortars . —The charge is said to be about a barrel of gunpowder , over which they place a large piece of wood , made exactly to fit the mouth of the chamber . On this they heap a great quantity of cannon ballsshellsand other deadl materialsand when '
, , y ; an enemys ship approaches the harbour , they fire the whole into the air . It is pretended that this produces a very great effect , making a shower for two or three hundred yards round sufficient to sink any vessel whatever .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Curious Particulars Relating To The Island Of Malta.
CURIOUS PARTICULARS RELATING TO THE ISLAND OF MALTA .
THE fortifications of Malta are indeed a most stupendous wort . All the boasted catacombs of Rome and Naples are a trifle to the immense excavations that have been made in this little island . The ditches , of a vast size , are all cut out of the solid rock . These extend for a great many miles , and raise our astonishment , that so small a nation has ever been able to execute themOne side of the
. island is so completely fortified by Nature , that there was nothing left for Art . 5 The rock is of a great hei ght , and absolutely perpendicular from the sea for several miles . On this side there are still the vestiges of several ancient roads , and the tracks of carriages worn deep m the rocks . These roads are now terminated by the precipice , with the beneathand shew to
sea — a demonstration , that this island was in former ages of a much larger size than it is at present ; but the convulsions that occasioned its diminution are probably much beyond the reach of any history or tradition . It has often been observed , notwithstanding its very great distance from Mount ^ Ettia , that this island has generall y been more or less affected bits and it is
y eruptions , probable that on some of these occasions a part of it may have been shaken into the sea . It is frequent for one half of Mount . / Etna to be clearly discernible from Malta . The distance is reckoned nearly two hundred Italian miles . The inhabitants assert , that in great eruptions of that mountain , the wdiole island is illuminated ; and from the reflection of the waterthere
, appears a great tract of fire in the sea all the way from Malta to Sicily . The thundering of the mountain is likewise distinctly heard . The two Islands of Malta and Gozzo contain about a hundred and fifty thousand inhabitants ; the men are exceedingly robust and hardy , and frequentl y row ten or twelve hours withoufinter--missionand withouteven appearingto be fati guedThe shi galleys
, . ps , , galliots , and other vessels belonging to Malta , as well as the fortifications , are supplied with excellent artillery ; and the people have invented a kind of ordnance of their own , unknown to all the world besides .
The rocks are not only cut into fortifications , but likewise into artillery , being hollowed out in many places in the form of immensemortars . —The charge is said to be about a barrel of gunpowder , over which they place a large piece of wood , made exactly to fit the mouth of the chamber . On this they heap a great quantity of cannon ballsshellsand other deadl materialsand when '
, , y ; an enemys ship approaches the harbour , they fire the whole into the air . It is pretended that this produces a very great effect , making a shower for two or three hundred yards round sufficient to sink any vessel whatever .