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THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC MAGAZINE 



Photograph by W. A. Griffiths 



TOMB OF GRAND MASTER CARAFA IN ST. JOHN'S CHURCH, 

 VALLETTA : MALTA 



This cathedral was built in 1573-77. The interior was elahorately 

 decorated as the Temple of Fame for the Order of the Knights of 

 St. John. The chapels were dedicated to the nine nations of the 

 order ( sec page -(5,0. 



Langue of most of its revenue, and a 

 similar fate soon befell the other sec- 

 tions. 



In the course of the next few years 

 the Order sank and for a time dwindled 

 into oblivion. The Order still exists in 

 England and works in conjunction with 

 the St. John's Ambulance Society and 

 British Red Cross Society, all of which 

 rendered magnificent service during the 

 World War/ 



In 1798 the wheel of Fate again 

 brought Malta into prominence. Na- 



poleon, profiting by 

 the temporary absence 

 of the British fleet 

 from the Mediterra- 

 nean, seized the island 

 on his way to Egypt. 

 He expelled all mem- 

 bers of the Order, 

 confiscating their 

 property and also that 

 of the Church. 



It is related that 

 the solid silver gates 

 of the Sacramental 

 Chapel of the Cathe- 

 dral of St. John were 

 hastily painted over, 

 in the hope of escap- 

 ing notice, but in vain. 

 They were, however, 

 redeemed at a great 

 price, together with 

 the twelve silver stat- 

 ues of the Apostles. 



HOW THE HISTORIC 

 CROZIER WAS SAVED 



The historic crozier 

 that had been brought 

 from Rhodes escaped 

 the enemy by being 

 thrown into a cistern 

 by the verger. The 

 priests afterward ac- 

 cused the verger of 

 having stolen it, re- 

 fusing to believe his 

 statement ; but even 

 on his deathbed he 

 persisted in his story, 

 and so the cistern 

 was drained and the 

 crozier found. 

 After Napoleon's departure a governor 

 was appointed to rule on behalf of the 

 French Republic. Soon afterward the 

 British fleet returned and won the Battle 

 of the Nile over the French. Then 

 the Maltese arose against the French gar- 

 sison, which was blockaded by the Brit- 

 ish. After a gallant defense, lasting two 

 years, the garrison finally was forced by 

 famine to surrender. 



After peace came Britain proposed to 

 restore the island to the Order of St. 

 John, but the piteous appeals of the Mai- 



