Up until a century or so ago, a good percentage of the people of Cottonera were seafarers and their long sailing voyages frequently lasted months on end. These sailors’ safe return was an occasion for rejoicing – both for their families as well as for the people of their locality.
Owing to these circumstances, for many years St Louis Bastion was popularly known to the people of Cottonera as is-Sur tal-Pażan or Tal-Bxajjar – the Harbinger’s Bastion. This was because every day a harbinger would pace up and down the bastion, stopping at intervals to scan the horizon for the return of a galley, schooner, barque or brigantine. Whenever he identified a vessel and somehow ascertained whether any of the returning crew hailed from Cottonera he would hasten to see that the good news reached the crewmember’s families, relatives, or friends. He would also immediately advise il-Musu – the leader of a popular quartet known as il-banda ta’ Musu, to be present for the much awaited home-coming. For a mere skud (8c3) or half-crown (12c5), the returning seamen would be greeted with a polka and other well-known pieces. Indeed this was a joyful experience for the loved ones of such seafarers although it was also a disappointing occasion for those whose relatives failed to appear for some reason or other. |