16

HISTORY OF MALTA.

cisterns: that wood was so scarce as to be sold by the pound;which forced them either to use cow-dung dried in the sun, orwild thistles, for dressing food: that the capital of the country,named Citta Notabile, was situated upon a rising ground in thecentre of the island: that the greatest part of the houses were un-inhabited ; and the circumference not more than one thousand threehundred and three paces: that the miserable walls which surroundedit were open thirty paces in breadth: that there w r ere neither ports,bays, nor coves, on the western coast of the island: that the shorein that part was full of great rocks and shoals; but that on theopposite coast there were many points or capes, with indentures inthe form of bays or coves, in which ships might anchor: that therewere two spacious and very good ports in the island, capableof receiving the largest fleet; but with no other defence thana small castle, named St. Angelo, which was partly in ruins—itswhole artillery consisting of one small cannon, two falcons, and afew iron mortars : that the island contained about twelve thousandinhabitants, of both sexes; the greatest part of whom were poorand miserable, owing to the barrenness of the soil, and the frequentdescents of corsairs, who, without the smallest sentiment of com-passion, carried off all the unfortunate Maltese w ho happened to fallinto their hands;—in a word, that a residence in Malta appearedextremely disagreeable—indeed, almost insupportable—particularlyin summer.

As to the island of Goza, called by the inhabitants Gaudisch,the commissioners reported, that it w r as only divided from Malta by