448 



THK NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 





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Photograph by Flelene Philippe 



T 1 1 1 v FORTIFICATIONS OF VALLETTA ARE PARTLY HEWN IN THK ROCK 



Enthroned above its harbors, the chief seaport of the Maltese group of islands is one of the 

 most picturesque cities of the Mediterranean. 



sea. Many changes occurred, until Malta 

 emerged as part of a mighty continent. 



Dimly is seen Africa joined to Spain, 

 Tunis, Sicily, Malta, and Italy, their 

 shores washed by fresh-water lakes in 

 which disported elephant, hippopotamus. 

 crocodile, and land tortoise, until the 

 floods descended and the earth was 

 moved, turning the lakes into salt seas 

 and forming the island of Malta. 



PREHISTORIC MEN OF MALTA LEFT THEIR 

 MARK IN CART RUTS 



In the caves of Malta, notably that of 

 (mar Dalain, are to be found the rolled 

 fossil teeth and bones of the great and 

 pigmy elephant, two species of hippo, 



petrified remains of stag, bear, and wolf, 

 all welded into a solid mass. 



As the vertical section of these de- 

 posits is examined, there appears toward 

 the top the first signs of man-worked 

 flints, sling-stones, neolithic pottery, and 

 human bones. Thus is found the first 

 trace of man in Malta. 



Whether "Drift Man"' was ever an in- 

 habitant of Malta is a moot point for 

 academic discussion. In a hilltop exca- 

 vation, the underground galleries of Hal 

 Saflieni, the ceilings of some of the rooms 

 are covered with red clay paintings of 

 spiral design suggesting a connection 

 with the period of the painted caves of 

 the Pyrenees (see also page 471). It is 



