This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1888. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER II. THE MEDITEBHANEAN COLONIES AND CYPBTJS. The three dependencies of Gibraltar, Malta, and Cyprus, Chaptk are well placed for commanding the trade of the Mediterranean and the route to the East and Australia. Gibraltar is at the Western opening of the inland sea. Cyprus is at its Eastern extremity, nearer than any other of the Levantine islands to Egypt and the Suez canal. Malta is in the centre, half-way between Gibraltar and Cyprus, and near the coasts of Italy and Tunis,--the two points in the circle of the Mediterranean which in old days justified the advantages of their natural position by giving to Rome and Carthage pre-eminence over their neighbours. The distance by sea from Plymouth to Gibraltar is 1050 Distances nautical miles; from Gibraltar to Malta 980; from Malta to Port Said about 940,and to Cyprus rather under 1000 miles; and from Cyprus to Port Said 250 miles. The land route from England to Gibraltar is through France and Spain. Malta is reached from Marseilles, Naples, or Sicily, in four to five days from leaving England. Marseilles, Trieste, or the Italian ports of Venice or Brindisi, are the ordinary starting-points for Cyprus, the whole journey from England to that island usually taking not less than ten days. Sf.ction The history of these three dependencies has followed their "geography. They have been in past times points at which Europe and the East, Christianity and Mohammedanism, have met. And, if they have now passed into the hands of a Christian power from the North of Europe, their present owner has, beyond all Western nations, an interest in the East, and has become the sovereign of a large multitude of Mohammedan peoples. GIBEALTAE. History. A Certain amount of romance attaches to the possession of Gibraltar apart fr...