THE BRITISH CONSUL.

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schools. But this subject I shall have occasion to notice hereafter.

Since our visit to Jerusalem, two events have occurred there, worthy of the attention of the religious world, and of all who desire the restoration of the kingdom of Judah. The first of these, insignificant as it may appear to some, yet even in a political point of view, of vast importance to others, is the establishment of a British Consul in the holy city. This may in truth be hailed by all who have the interest of Jerusalem at heart, as a work bright with promise, and will, it is to be hoped, be one of enduring benefit. Soon, I trust, will our trans-Atlantic brethren send their stars and stripes to flutter in amity beside that banner which has so long braved the battle and the breeze, and now floats as the protective emblem of our nation from the walls of Jerusalem. He is the first, and as yet the only authorised Christian representative, since the Crusaders were driven from its battlements.

The second interesting and important event that has taken place is that of the deputation sent out by the church of Scotland, consisting of Dr. Keith and other eminent ministers of that church, to inquire into the state of the Jewish people in Jerusalem; and not only may we anticipate most valuable information as the result of their investigations, but it is cheering-though but in accordance with the spirit of the times-to see the interest that is felt and increasing through

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THE LATIN FATHERS.

out the whole Christian world in behalf of the scattered seed of Abraham.

In addition to the Jews and Mohammadans that inhabit Palestine, some of whom may be always found in Jerusalem, the several religious sects may be divided into Latins or Roman Catholics, Greeks, Armenians, Copts, Maronites and Abyssinians, native Christian Arabs, Syrian Christians who dissent from some of the tenets of all the preceding sects, Druses and Metouailes. Most of these denominations may be recognised by the peculiarities of their dress. That of the Latins is a simple brown habit, girt with a white knotted cord round the waist, from which hangs a rosary and crucifix. Their heads are shaven at the back part only, and they, as well as all the friars in the holy city, wear their beards long; a small black skull cap barely covers the crown of the head; a hood is attached to the collar of the dress which hangs down behind, but can be worn up in wet weather; and rude sandals clothe the feet. Notwithstanding all their privations, fasting, and want of necessary comforts, many of the monks were as fat and portly as aldermen. Seven years is the period they are required to spend in Palestine; and during this time they visit most of the convents and holy places; but heartily do they wish for the completion of their penance, (for such it is to many,) and long to return to the sunny shores of Spain or Italy.

Their convent is an immense establishment, and its

roof commands one of the most splendid views of the city. The number of monks there at the period of our visit was but forty-five, who were a mixture of Spaniards and Italians.

Not the least interesting, and decidedly the most curious part of the building is the pharmacy, to which we were invited by the father who presided over the compounding department, a sprightly, intelligent, and loquacious Andalusian, who took great delight in displaying to us his array of bottles, jars, and pill-boxes, remarking as he went along upon the sanative efficacy of each, and the miraculous cures they had effected. The laboratory was a perfect curiosity, and such as I dare say could not be found at present in Europe. Retorts, alembics, and other chemical instruments of the antique fashion used in the halcyon mystifying days of alchemy and astrology, &c., such as no doubt were often used by the professor of the times of the first Crusades to search for the philosopher's stone or the elixir of life. With these were mingled the relics of sundry skeletons—awful looking chirurgical instrumentsgrim monsters and musty specimens in natural history:

"A tortoise hung,

An alligator stuffed, and other skins

Of ill-shaped fishes,"

with divers amulets and charms. All these, together with the dark gloomy vaulted chamber and its

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THE SCAMMONY TRADE.

ancient furniture, afforded a strong contrast to the laboratory of modern times, worked by steam and lighted up with gas. The stock of medicines was, however very good; and as some of the brethren devote themselves to the study of medi cine, and do much to alleviate the diseased of all classes and persuasions, it is really a most valuable establishment in that country; although the knowledge of those persons in medicine and surgery is just in that state in which we received it from the monks about three centuries ago.

Another singular part of this monastical establishment is the warehouse, to which it is expected that all travellers will pay a visit and purchase some of the sacred merchandise it contains. Were I to detail the vast quantities of amulets and beads, the tons weight of mother-of-pearl ornaments, and the stores of crosses of every shape and size that we saw in these apartments, I fear my readers might say I was exceeding even a traveller's license. We were truly astonished at this immense stock of holy

*I procured some good specimens of scammony from the Medicus of the convent; and received much valuable information regarding its culture and manufacture. Aleppo and Damascus are still the great marts of this valuable drug, though it grows all over Palestine, and particularly well about Bethlehem. The trade is still in the hands of the Jews, who purchase it from the Arabs; and I have good reason to believe that very little of it finds its way into this country, unadulterated with clay and resin. The price in Jerusalem is six piasters, not quite 1s. 6d. an ounce. This is worth inquiring into by our druggists.

ware. There are upwards of 700 men engaged in one branch of these manufactures at Bethlehem, and several thousand pounds worth of this trumpery are yearly forwarded to Europe, having been first sanctified and endowed with peculiar virtue, it is said, by being rubbed upon the holy sepulchre, hearing mass in the Latin church, and being blessed by the Superior of the convent; I hope, for the sake of those that put faith in such wares, that they all may enjoy these advantages.

The Greeks are the most numerous of any of the sects of Christians in Jerusalem, and enjoy a larger share of Turkish patronage, as well as a greater number of holy places, than the others. Some time ago, however, their convent was in rather distressed circumstances, and the monks were obliged to pawn their plate and decorations to a Jew, one of the few rich ones in the city. I understood that this person was also the creditor of a late illustrious lady, whose case was but a short time since before the English public. This man of money claims to be a subject of the British crown; and when one of our consul-generals visited the city a few years ago, a most extraordinary scene took place in the hospice of the Latin convent; the box, containing the pawned articles, was unsealed in his presence, and its valuable contents actually put up to auction; but, as there were no bidders, the ornaments were replaced, and still remain in the possession of the Hebrew.

Notwith

VOL. II.

2 c