MALTA, or Melita, a famous Island in the African Sea. ‘Tis thought its Name Melita was occasioned by the great Quantity of Honey that was found there formerly. Its Length is from East to West, and its Breadth from North to South. Its Circumference is about sixty Miles, or twenty Leagues. This Island is ascribed to Africa by the Geographers, because if we draw a Line from East to West, it will be found to be included in the African Sea. Its Soil is stony and barren, yet it bears excellent Fruits, Melons and Cotton. Saint Paul suffered Shipwreck upon the Coast of Malta, and with his Companions was very well used by the People of the Island, who gave them Shelter, and lighted a Fire for them, to dry them by. But Saint Paul taking up a Faggot of Twiggs to throw into the Fire1, a Viper that lurked therein feeling the Heat of the Fire, seized Saint Paul by the Hand, who without any Fear presently shook it into the Fire. The People that were by observing this, said to one another, “Surely “this Man must be a Murderer, and the “divine Vengeance still pursues him, tho’ he “has escaped Shipwreck.” They expected every Moment to see him fall down dead; but finding that nothing of this happened to him, they changed their Sentiments of him, and began to take him for some Deity.
Publius the Governor of the Island received them very courteously, and treated them handsomely for three Days. His Father being sick of a Fever, and of a bloody Flux, Saint Paul went to see him, and laying his Hands on him healed him. Then all the People of the Island, who had any Sick belonging to ‘em, brought them to Saint Paul, who restored them to Health. When Saint Paul and his Company sailed from thence, the People abundantly supplied them with every Thing necessary for their Voyage. We are assured2, that since the landing of Saint Paul at Malta, there is no longer found any Vipers, or other venomous Animals; and that if any are brought thither from other Places, they die presently, especially in the Place where Saint Paul was bit, which is a Cave there. From hence are carried every Day Earth and Stones, to drive away venomous Creatures, and to serve as Preservatives and Remedies against the Biting of Scorpions and Serpents. It cannot be said that this is any natural Property of the Countrey, because when Saint Paul landed there, there were Vipers, and the Inhabitants seeing him to be bit, expected he would have fallen down dead: So that this cannot but proceed from that particular Blessing that Saint Paul left behind him in this Island. A Traveller assures us, that it is customary for little Children there to handle Scorpions without any Danger. Several of the Maltese were converted at the preaching of Saint Paul3, and the House of Publius, the first Bishop of Malta, was changed into a Church. Saint Paul continued there three whole Months.
A Native of this Island being a Religious belonging to la Charité, has sent me Information, that Malta was an antient Colony of the Carthaginians, and had always spoke the Language of Africa, as it continues to do to this Day. That for this Reason those of Saint Paul’s Company, who were all Greeks or Latins, called the Maltese, Barbarians. That the Romans never introduced their Language among this People; that still the ordinary People speak Arabick; that at Vallette they speak Italian, because of the Knights who have their Abode there, but that the Countrey People understand not this Tongue; that indeed at Vallette there are two Greek Parishes, but they are for the Grecians who quitted Rhodes along with the Knights, and followed their Fortune to Malta; that notwithstanding all the Revolutions to which this Island has been exposed, it has always preserved the Catholick Religion in its Purity, from Saint Paul’s Time down to the present Age.
Besides which he acquaints me, that the Place where Saint Paul came ashore, is a Neck of Land washed by the Sea on all Sides, lying to the North of the Island, and extending towards the West, and has ever since been called Saint Paul’s Road: That there is a Tradition in the Island, that Saint Paul was really bit by a Viper, and that when he shook it off into the Fire, he cursed all the Vipers of the Island, and all that have been seen there since are without Poison; for some are still found there, but not dangerous. Some of ‘em out of Curiosity have been sometimes transported into Sicily, and immediately upon their Arrival have become as venomous as others; and being then carried back to Malta, have presently lost their venomous Quality.
To this he adds, that Multitudes of petrified Vipers, and other Serpents, are found daily at Malta, as also the Tongues, Eyes, and Bowels of Serpents, all of which have the Faculty of preserving such from the biting of poisonous Animals, as carry any Pieces of these about them. And as for those that have none, if they should happen to be bit by a Serpent, they may be certainly cured if they do but take a little of the Powder of one of these Petrifactions, mingled in a little Water. Or else they need but take a little of the Scrapings of the Stones of the Cave, where Saint Paul lodged. And this cannot be owing to the Climate of the Countrey, because before Saint Paul arrived at Malta, their Vipers and other venomous Creatures were of as poisonous a Nature, and as dangerous as in other Places. As to the Situation of the Island, see the Plan which we have caused to be made of it.
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