70 
THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
Observations on the Geology of the 
Maltese Islands. 
by John H, Cooke. 
(continued.) 
Of the caverns that have been formed by the 
action of rain, wind, and the atmosphere, the most 
interesting and picturesque are those that occur, 
like the marine caves, in the highest and lowest of 
the series of the Maltese formations. These often 
take the form of mere excavations in the limestone 
escarpments, that have been worn out by wind 
and rain; but oftener still they occur as long ! 
tunnel-like apertures, that have either been formed 
along a softer vein of the rock by the action of 
underground water, or have had their origin in 
some fissure that has afterwards been enlarged by 
the combined action of air, rain, and running 
water. 
Of this latter class the “(Thar Hasan” cave may 
be considered as being typical. It is situated or. 
the southern coast of Malta, and it consists of a 
funnel shaped dilatation, with several fissures and 
smaller tunnels branching off from its extremities 
and sides. Three of these branches are of a size 
sufficient to allow of a person traversing them; 
but passage through the others is impracticable on 
account of its narrow dimensions. These larger 
branch fissures also ramify in various directions, ' 
and in several cases the ramifications return upon 
the main branch, and thus form circular and ellip- 
tical courses. 
There are three entrances to the cave, all of 
which abut, on the cliff face, but access is pract- 
icable to but one, that which forms the mouth of 
the main cave: the others can be approached only 
by making a detour of the branch fissures. 
The contour of the cave walls, and the irregular 
manner in which the projecting crags and bosses 
of the cave have been worn, as also the character j 
of the heavy yellow clay which covers the bottom j 
of the cave would seen to indicate that the pas- j 
sages owe their origin to the action of running 
water. Even in the summer time a copious supply 
of dripping water finds its way into the cave, while 
in winter a miniature stream, meanders onwards 
and precipitates itself over the cliff into the sea. 
Most of the w ? ater finds its way into the cavern 
through the numerous swallow holes with which 
the roof is perforated, and which are no doubt in 
connection with the surface. 
The cave commands a fine view of the Mediter- 
ranean; but considering the difficulty, not to say 
danger, that is attendant on obtaining access to it, 
it is questionable whether the pleasure that is to 
be derived from a visit is commensurate with 
the trouble and risk that must be incurred. 
Intermixed with the clay that strews the bottom, 
are larged quantities of recent bones referable to 
species of doves, gulls, bats, and rats such as at 
present find a slieleter and a home with-in its 
precints. 
Fragments of pottery, too, are abundantly strewn 
about; but they are all of an apparently rece. t 
type. 
The remoteness of its situation and these evi- 
dences of its having had occupants at some time 
or other, have been held by the country-people, to 
be of sufficient importance to entitle the cave to a 
prominent position in their legendary lore, but 
m this instance the reference is oi an historical, 
rather than of a supernatural character. The cave 
is supposed to have once served as a retreat for a 
notable Saracen sea-pirate, who continued to live 
in Malta for some time after the edict had been 
passed for the expulsion of his fellow-countrymen. 
In the valleys of Marsa-Scirocco, Uied-el-Hasel, 
Uied-in-Citta, Uied Siggieui, there are numerous 
caverns of a similar character, but none of them 
are as large as Ghar Hasan. 
Most of these caves owe their origin to the action 
of underground springs, the waters of which, after 
percolating through the surface strata have found 
a passage into the rock fissures, and, by enlarging 
them, have formed these cavities and tunnels. It 
is to these numerous underground excavations 
and the breaking in of their roofs that a large 
majority of the minor faults that occur in the 
Globigerina Limestone are due. 
One of the most remarkable of these depressions 
is that which occurs in the vicinity of the villages 
of Crendi, and which is known as “Makluba. ,: (*) 
It assumes the shape of a cylindrical hollow 
and forms the centre of what was once an elevated 
plain, that extended from Casals Sail, Monkar, 
and Agathe to the sea. 
(*) Makluha signifies, “ overturned U 
