Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/161

Rh the wine which it produced. It also carried on an extensive trade in sponges, which were raised by divers. So much was this calling recognized as peculiar to the island, that by one of its municipal laws no youth was permitted to marry until he was able to penetrate to a certain depth of water, and to remain there during a specified length of time. Its shipwrighta had also achieved a wide reputation, and their light craft were celebrated throughout the Mediterranean for excellence both under oar and sail. On the summit of its most considerable height in the island, the Grand-Master erected a post of observation, whence intelligence of any approaching danger might be conveyed to Rhodes, either by signal fires or by one of its swift boats. The smallest of the islands was assigned as the private domain of the Grand-Master, and although there is some doubt in the matter, the general opinion appears to be that it was the island of Patmos. Within a few miles of Cos was another island named Nisyrus, in which was a hot spring of medicinal water, and also an excellent harbour. It abounded in delicious fruit of every description, and its advantages as a residence were so apparent that it soon grew into a place of importance. A considerable town sprang up, ornamented with columns and statues made of the porphyry with which it abounded. Eventually it rose to be a bishop’s see, subordinate to the archbishop of Rhodes.

Having, in consequence of this personal inspection, taken such steps as he deemed necessary for the security of his government, Villaret returned to Rhodes, trusting to enjoy a period of repose after the lengthened struggle in which he had been for so many years engaged. His hopes were not, however, as yet destined to be realized. The Saracens whom he had expelled from Rhodes had fled to the court of Osman, or Othman, a Turkish prince at that time the ruler of Bithynia in Cappadocia, as also of much adjacent territory. This prince beheld with extreme jealousy the establishment of a foe so redoubtable as the Hospitallers had always proved themselves to his nation and religion, in such close proximity to his own dominions. It was not difficult, therefore, for the Rhodian fugitives to persuade him to attempt the task of expelling the white cross knights from their new home.