still another, Casal Zebbug, the
"Village of Olives." A simple but very appropriate system of
nomenclature.

There are three islands in the Malta group: Malta, Gozo, and Comino, the
two latter being so small as to be of comparatively little importance,
and the circumference of the whole, judging by the scale of the maps,
must be less than a hundred miles. The trade of the place is small,
though it exports some fruits, olives, and laces, the latter a
specialty. Visitors always leave more or less money in exchange for
small mementos of the island, and thus aid in the support of the various
fancy goods stores, photograph, and jewelry shops on the Strada Reale.
The Palace of the Grand Knights of Malta, whose interesting story has so
long entered into history and romance, is the most inviting object to
the traveler,--in its associations quite as interesting as any modern
palace. One enters the lofty corridors with a throng of historical
recollections crowding upon the memory. It is a large stone building,
rather imposing in its exterior, and within is divided into roomy
vestibules, picture-galleries, banqueting hall, hall of justice, hall of
council, chapel, and several other state apartments. The council chamber
is hung in Gobelin tapestry of great original cost and beauty, imported
from France nearly three centuries ago. These remarkable hangings are
crowded with colossal figures representing scenes in India, Africa,
Europe, and America, in the latter of which were some manifest
crudities. The whole is in a singularly good state of preservation, both
as regards color and texture.

The Armory of the Knights is a large hall in the same building, wherein
is preserved the armor and weapons as worn by them in actual service,
besides specimens of guns and cannon of very peculiar mechanism. Here,
too, is an interesting series of portraits, representing the various
Grand Masters of the order of St. John. Some of the fire-arms challenge
attention, from the fact that they so closely resemble designs and
samples to be seen in Venice, showing that the principle of the modern
revolver was born and partially carried out centuries before the
ingenious American, Colonel Colt, perfected a weapon which has since
become universal. The same remark will apply to the principle of
breech-loading fire-arms, examples of which may here be seen three
hundred years old. One very singular cannon was observed, actually made
from closely woven rope, s