MALLORCA, or MAYORCA, an island belonging to Spain, in the Mediterranean, the largest of the Balearic group, lies between N. Lat. 39° 16' and 39° 57', E. Long. 2° 20' and 3° 30'. Its shape is that of a trapezoid, the vertices of the angles being directed to the cardinal points. Its length, from Cap de Pera to Grozer, is about 60 miles; and its breadth, from Palma to Alcudia, about 33. The N.E. portion of the island is very mountainous, the S.W. portion more level; though there occur in the latter isolated peaks of considerable height. The highest peak of the island, Puig Major d'en Torrella, has an elevation of 5120 feet above the level of the sea. The climate of the different districts varies considerably; the western partido, Palma, enjoying a much milder temperature than the central and eastern partidos, Inca and Manacor, as its surface is also more wooded and picturesque. It contains the towns of Valdemoza and Soller, which attract many strangers by the geniality of the air. The heats of summer are tempered by the sea breezes, while the northern coast is visited in winter by very violent gales. The coast facing the continent is generally steep, flatter towards the E., and indented with capacious harbours, that of Palma, the capital, being the largest.

The rocks of this island are limestone, and the mountains present the picturesque appearances usually remarked in that formation. There are quarries of marble, of various grains and colours, those of Santagry, in the partido of Manacor, being especially celebrated; and there are some mines of lead, iron, and cinnabar.

The inhabitants are almost wholly devoted to agriculture, and most of the arable land in the island is under cultivation. The mountains are terraced, and the old pine woods are fast disappearing and giving place to the olive, the vine, and the almond tree, fields of wheat and flax, or to orchards of figs, oranges, &c. Much saffron is also grown. The oil harvest is very considerable, averaging 650,000 gallons yearly. The wines are light, but excellent, especially the Muscadel and Montana. Mules are used in the agriculture and traffic of the island. The oxen are small, but the sheep large and well fleeced. There is abundance of poultry, and of small game. There is not much industry beyond that engaged in or immediately dependent upon agriculture. A good deal of brandy is made and exported. Very superior woollen and linen cloths are made. The silk-worm is reared, and there is a considerable manufacture of silk. Their cabinet-work is celebrated.

In 1846 the population amounted to 179,753. There are two cities, Palma and Alcudia; Palma is an episcopal see. The largest remaining towns are,—Lluchmayor, Campos, Santagry, Inca, and Pollenza, anciently a Roman colony. The inhabitants are industrious and hospitable, and prude themselves much on their loyalty and orthodoxy. Castilian is spoken by the upper and commercial classes; the lower and agricultural employ a dialect resembling that of the Catalans, with whom also their general appearance and manners seem to connect them.

The early history of the Balearic Isles is obscure. The origin of the name itself is doubtful, some deriving it from the Phoenician god Bal (Baal), others connecting it, through the Greek, with their celebrated skill in the use of the sling. The Balearic singers were useful auxiliaries to the Carthaginians, and contributed to the victories of Trebia, Thrasymenus, and Cannae. But it was their piracies which drew on them the Roman vengeance. About 123 B.C. they were subjected by Q. C. Metellus, who established a Roman colony at Pollenza, introducing Iberians, and erecting an aqueduct 6 miles in length, the remains of which still exist. Metellus also introduced the Roman tongue, and the cultivation of the olive. By the Romans the two principal islands were called Major and Minor, whence their modern names. In A.D. 423 they were taken possession of by the Vandals, and in 708 by the Moors. The Balearic Isles became a separate Moorish kingdom in 1009; which, becoming extremely obnoxious for piracy, was the object of a crusade directed against it by Pope Pascal II., in which the Catalans took the lead. This expedition was frustrated at Makallah the time, but was resumed by Don Jaime, King of Aragon, and the Moors expelled in 1232. During their occupation, the island was populous and productive, and an active commerce was carried on with Spain and Africa. Don Jaime conferred the sovereignty of the isles on his third son, under whom and his successors they formed an independent kingdom up to 1349. Thenceforth their history is that of Spain. In 1521 an insurrection of the peasantry against the nobility, whom they massacred, took place in Majorca, and was not suppressed without much bloodshed. In the war of the Spanish succession all the islands declared for Charles; the Duke of Anjou had no footing anywhere save in the citadel of Mahon. Minorca was reduced by Count Villars in 1707; but it was not till June 1715 that Majorca was subjugated. When the French invaded Spain in 1808, the Mallorquins did not remain indifferent; the governor, D. Juan Miguel de Vives, announced, amid universal acclamation, his resolution to adhere to Ferdinand VII. At first the Junta would take no active part in the war, retaining the corps of volunteers that were formed for the defence of the island; but finding it quite secure, they transferred them successively to the Peninsula to reinforce the allies. Such was the animosity excited against the French when their excesses were known to the Mallorquins, that some of the French prisoners, conducted thither in 1810, had to be transferred with all speed to the island of Cabrera, a transference which was not effected before some of them had been killed.

MAKALLAH or MACULLAH, a town on the S. coast of Arabia, N. Lat. 14° 31', E. Long. 49° 6', 300 miles E.N.E. of Cape Aden, and about the same distance S. of March. The town stands on a narrow projecting ledge of rocks, in the centre of a bay of the same name. Its appearance, as seen from the sea, is very grand, and it is defended by six square towers on the height above, as well as by walls. The bay affords very good shelter for vessels, being protected on the S.E. by a promontory bearing the same name, at the distance of 4 miles; and towards the W., there is a reef forming a secure harbour, much frequented by coasting vessels. Immediately behind the town rise a series of limestone cliffs to the height of 300 feet, beyond which is a lofty mountain called Jebel Gharrah, 1300 feet above the sea. The town is chiefly composed of huts, along with a few stone houses and two mosques. A considerable traffic is carried on here; for, besides supplying vessels with provisions, it exports gum, hides, senna, &c.; and imports cotton, lead, and iron from Bombay, and sheep, calves, honey, and slaves from Kosseir and Berberah. The inhabitants of this town are very varied; for besides the native Arabs, who do not comprise more than half of the population, there are Banyans, in whose hands most of the trade with India is; Karachies from the Persian Gulf; Sahawili from the E. coast of Africa; and Somali from the coast opposite Aden. Pop. estimated at about 4500.