ts ornaments and its treasures, so that the rich marbles,
bas-reliefs, and mosaics are almost confusing in their abundance. The
floor is closely ornamented with inlaid marble slabs, which cover the
tombs of the most distinguished Knights of the order of St. John.

The famous Dome of Mosta, a hamlet some three or four miles from
Valetta, was pointed out to us. It seems curious that this village
church should be crowned by a dome larger than that of the Pantheon or
St. Peter's, but such is the fact. It is built of the yellow stone of
which the whole island consists. We did not visit Mosta, but were told
that it was a small and miserable place. The story of the church is
this: An ancient edifice of the same character stood upon the spot, but
a new one of larger dimensions was needed to accommodate the people. It
was essential that it should be on the same site, but the old one could
not be removed until the new one was ready. To meet this difficulty the
modern structure was built over the old one, and so this remarkable dome
was erected without scaffolding within. Its proportions did not seem
particularly fine, but the size is most remarkable. It may be mentioned,
however, that Malta has some ten or more beautifully-formed domes,
looming up into the azure which hangs over the Mediterranean.

We were told that snow is not known in Malta, but that ice sometimes
forms during the coldest nights of winter, though only in thin layers,
the climate appearing to be very similar to that of southern Italy. It
was early in March, but the trees were in full bloom, and a pleasant
appreciation has led the citizens to plant and cultivate fruit trees and
flowers in abundance. Among the fragrant blossoms, quick to catch the
eye, were those of the peach, pear, orange, and apple. Indeed, Valetta
seemed to be clothed in blossoms, and in the case of the orange-trees
the ripe fruit was also to be seen in rich yellow plumpness. There must
be a prevailing refinement of taste in this island city, otherwise the
abundance of flowers offered on the Strada Reale would not find
purchasers. Several kiosks were observed erected along the main
thoroughfare, whose occupants were busy making up button-hole bouquets,
as well as arranging larger ones in picturesque combinations. There is a
place near the harbor named Casal Attand, that is, the "Village of
Roses." Casal, in Maltese, signifies village; and there is also Casal
Luca, the "Village of Poplars;" and