Page:A History of the Knights of Malta, or the Order of St. John of Jerusalem.djvu/347

Rh thorns; St. Veronica and the handkerchief; and lastly, the crucifixion. To the east of this crypt stood the church itself, of which only the ruins of a portion remain, but from these it may be seen that the building was grand and important, being probably richly sculptured and ornamented. It consisted of two long naves separated by a row of fluted columns whose capitals carried the vaulted roof, which was groined. Behind the nave, and connected with it by a small door, are the remains of the sacristy, also divided in two. From traces still to be seen it may be gathered that the building was constructed so as to serve for purposes of defence.

During the two centuries in which the knights were settled in Rhodes, the manufacture of faience was much encouraged. This pottery is still greatly sought after, and is known as Lindos ware. It partakes somewhat of the character of Majolica. It is supposed that it was introduced into the island by Persian prisoners, who were employed at this work instead of being chained to the oar of a galley. One of these dishes of Lindos ware bears the inscription in Persian, "O God, how long shall we remain in this land of exile?” which seems to corroborate the supposition. Cotton stuffs, embroidered in silk, were also a staple trade of the island. The cotton and silk were both produced there, and the embroidered material in the form of curtains, cushions, and other furniture was much prized. It was supposed that the silkworms were fed on brilliantly-coloured flowers, thereby imparting to the silk natural dyes, which resisted the fading influences of light.

It is impossible now to trace the principles of government adopted towards the native population. It can only be surmised that since no tradition remains of dislike to the memory of the knights, their rule was probably fairly lenient. It must, of course, be assumed that, living as they did in a condition of constant warfare, the island was more or less in a permanent state of siege. Still the people apparently flourished under a government which, if rigid, was at all events tolerably just. In the absence of any more direct testimony, we may argue favourably from the fact of the extraordinary fidelity of the