Malta is the largest of a group of small islands situated in the middle of the Mediterranean. The aggregate area of the whole group is 121.8 square miles and the population is 314,369, with a density of 2,624 per square mile, one of the highest, if not the highest, in the world. The latitude is 350 N. and the longitude 140 E. The group of islands lies 60 miles south of Sicily and about 180 miles north of Africa and forms part of Europe. They enjoy temperate climate with an average annual rainfall of 21 .5 inches. Malta is the largest and most important of the islands. It is 17 miles long, 9 miles wide, with an area of 96 square miles. In its capital, Valetta, is the seat of the Government, and there is also the centre of the social, economic and industrial life of the Maltese archipela go. Gozo, which is the second largest island, is 9 miles l ong, 4i miles wide, and covers an area of 26 square miles. Comino, the smallest island of the group, is It miles long and