TATION

CHAPTER VIII.

DEPARTURE FOR NABLO US-ATHARUS-PLAIN OF ESDRAELON-NAZARETH-MOUNT TABOR -INUNDATION LATIN CONVENT-COLUMNS OF THE ANNUNCIATION-MIRACULOUS SUS. PENSION-RUINS-HOUSE OF JOSEPH AND MARY-FLIGHT OF THE HOLY HOUSE TO LORETTO -APPARENT SECURITY OF THE MONKS — CHARACTER of the Monks — REVENUE OF THE CONVENT JOSEPH'S WORKSHOP-THE TABLE OF OUR SAVIOUR-CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICITY-SYNAGOGUE WHERE CHRIST PREACHED-SITE OF THE TOWN - ROCK OF PRECIPI- MARKS ON THE STONE EXPENSE OF THE CONVENT AND OF THE CHRISTIAN ESTABLISHMENTS IN PALESTINE POPULATION QUIT NAZARETH SEPPHOUS, OR SepPHORIS - JEWISH UNIVERSITY-TREACHERY OF THE INHABITANTS-FREQUENT REVOLTTHE HOUSE OF JOACHIM AND ANNA-DESTRUCTION OF THE PLACE IN A.D. 339-FOUNTAIN OF RENDEZVOUS-ARCHBISHOPRIC OF SEPPHORIS-CAUSE OF ITS DECLINE-SHEFAMEARPROSPECT OF THE VILLAGE-SIGHT OF ACRE-ANCIENT CITY OF ZABULON-INUNDATION OF THE PLAIN - ROMAN ROAD-PALUS CENDOVIA SANDY SOIL EXPORTATION OF SAND TO GENOA AND VENICE- CROSS THE RIVER BELUS-ENTER ACRE-CONFUSION OF THE TOWN - LATIN CONVENT — HOSPITALITY OF THE Monk - KINDNESS OF THE BEY, REPRESENTING THE DIVAN EFFENDI - DIFFICULTY OF PROCURING MULES RUINS AND DEVASTATION OF THE PLACE - MOSQUE, PALACE OF ABDALLAH PASHA, FOUNTAINS, &c.— REPAIR OF THE PRINCIPAL BREACH- - ARTILLERY RESTORATION OF ACRE BY DJEZZAR PASHA-DEFENDED BY SIR SIDNEY SMITH AGAINST BUONAPARTE-POPULATION-POSITION -FRAGMENTS OF ANCIENT ARCHITECTURE-ROADS BETWEEN ACRE AND JERUSALEM.

LEAVING Nablous at half past 9 A. M., we proceeded along a mountain road, through a tract of which dreariness and monotony were the principal characteristics, for six hours; when we arrived at a small village called Atharus, where great fatigue, in spite of the shortness of our day's journey, made repose unusually grateful.

Quitting this place at 8 the following morning, we continued to travel for a short time among the mountains, but soon began to descend into a succession of small plains, which bore marks of cultivation, extremely agreeable to an eye wearied with contemplating the sterile uniformity of the

hills. We now entered the Plain of Esdraelon, keeping on our right Mount Tabor, which, however, I could hardly perceive from the thick state of the atmosphere. From the appearance of the sky I despaired of reaching Nazareth without experiencing a heavy shower; but we were fortunate enough to reach the gates at 4 P. M., tolerably dry, although we had been surrounded with water for some time, and had found considerable difficulty in crossing the various streams which were swelled by the rain.

As we crossed the plain our horses were frequently up to their bellies in mud and water.

Immediately on our arrival at this memorable town, we proceeded to the Latin Convent, which is situated on the eastern side. On presenting ourselves, we were received by one of the fathers with great distrust and dislike, as he took us for Turks; nor were his suspicions destroyed by our assurances of our real character of English travellers.

An interview, however, with the Superior set all right again, and from him we received every attention. The continuance of the bad weather, and the state of the roads, which were impassable from the swollen streams, gave us full leisure to examine Nazareth, by confining us for three days, a period for investigating the antiquities, rather too long for the interest believed to be attached to them.

The great curiosity (with the usual miraculous legend attached to it) are two granite columns, standing in front of the altar of the church, which the monks assert occupy the identical spots which the Virgin and the Angel occupied at the Annunciation.

The column of the Virgin has been broken away at the bottom, in such a manner that the shaft remains suspended from the roof. This is deemed miraculous, and, of course, undeniably proves the authenticity of the holy spot; for you are told that the pillar cannot be supported in any way. There can, however, be no doubt as to the nature of its attachment to the roof. On inquiring how long the column had so remained, we re

ceived the characteristic answer, "Ever since the time of the Annuciation!" This broken column bears the reputation of healing all kinds of diseases, though a railing which surrounds it proves that the fear of infection has been stronger than superstitious reverence.

The Latin Convent is a spacious and convenient building, which has been repaired about a century ago. The ancient structure is supposed to have been the work of the Empress Helena, to whom may be ascribed so many of the convents and churches in the Holy Land. A good number of fragments of columns, capitals, &c., show tolerably well the style of architecture, which differed but little from other structures of the same date.

Within the Convent we were shown the house of Joseph and Mary, and a cavern divided into several compartments, to which are attached the titles of the parlour, bed-room, and kitchen of the mother of Jesus; and here the greatest miracle was related, namely, the Flight of the Holy House to Loretto; to confirm my belief in which, the monks showed me the place from which it was removed. From the apparent sincerity of the monks, the openness of their manners, and the simplicity with which they related their miracles, I have no doubt that these good Fathers most implicitly believed the truth of what they related.

This impression was agreeable after having witnessed the knavery of so many friars in relating, without a blush, miraculous accounts, of which it was quite impossible they could believe a single syllable.

The house of Joseph and Mary occupies in length nearly the breadth of the church, the interior of which, as well as the columns, are tapestried with rich silk, which produces a glowing and almost gorgeous effect.

The broken column is probably the effect of Turkish avarice, which has at some time committed this injury in a search for treasure, supposed to be buried beneath it.

In the convent is an establishment of fifteen monks, who are mostly either Spaniards, or of Spanish extraction. The interior of the building is kept