Page:Travels & discoveries in the Levant (1865) Vol. 1.djvu/198

158 by the Greeks and Jews, who traded under the protection of the Knights. Throughout both the Castello and lower town, the streets have the same general character; the houses have flat roofs, and are built of stone throughout. At frequent intervals broad arches cross the streets overhead. (See Plate 10.) This mode of building was probably adopted to facilitate communication from point to point, and afford additional shelter from the fire of the enemy during a siege. The majority of these houses are cubical in form, and built in the simplest manner, without any architectural feature. Here and there bits of richly-sculptured façades may be met with. On the left of the bazaar is a building which bears the traditional name of Castellania, or Palace of Justice. On the fagade are the arms of the Grand Master D'Amboise, in a rich Gothic frame. The windows have lilies sculptured on their mullions and transoms. This building abuts on the wall which runs round the shore of the harbour. Near it is another, to which tradition gives the name "Admiralty." The entrance-door is under a pointed arch. This building is less richly ornamented than the Castellania. Nothing certain is known as to the original purpose of these two edifices.

In the Jews' quarter is a house which was probably the residence of some wealthy merchant, as it still contains a large room with a richly-carved ceiling. The remains of the church of St. Marc are near the Admiralty. Kottier gives a number of coats of arms copied in this church. The mosque of Suhman, situated a little to the