Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 1 2J
ture, together with a considerable number of marble and granite
columns, of the Corinthian order, and other architectural de-
corations.
The Greek and Armenian priests entertained us with coffee and
sherbet in their respective chapels. They told us that after the
French had landed in Egypt, the Turks had, on a plea of suspi-
cion that the monks in general were not entire strangers to the plans
and intentions of the enemy, searched their monasteries for arms,
papers, and other concealed effects, and had obliged them to seek
refuge in the building over the holy sepulchre. They had there
threatened to bring cannon against them, and put them to death,
in case
they should refuse to open the door of the
building, and
surrender themselves. In this alarming crisis they were providen-
tially saved by a Turkish santon, or fanatic, who took his station
on an elevated part of the city, and there harangued the Mussul-
meri in behalf of the ministers of the Christian Gospel, reminding
them that, having searched their monasteries, they had neither
found arms nor any other object which could lead to suspicion, and
recommending to them to desist, and permit the unfortunate priests
to return to their convents. The effect of this exhortation was,
that the multitude laid aside their sanguinary pursuit, and the
monks were permitted to return quietly to their homes. They
were not ungrateful for their deliverance, but collected a considera-
ble sum of money for the santon, which he with great delicacy re-
fused.
On our return we dined at the convent with the holy fathers, and
proceeded afterwards to the General's lodging, where the visit of
the Mufti, who came thither to his
pay respects, was shortly
after
announced. This personage, who seemed to carry terror and dis-
may in his countenance, told us, that it was impossible Jerusalem
should ever be taken, as there were seventy thousand prophets, on
the other side of the Dead Sea, ready to come forward for its protection
and defence. He also declared to us, that it was recorded
in the sacred
writings,
that the English and Turks had been friends
for more than a thousand years. He was not only supreme of the
church, but held the office of cadi, or judge.
On his departure we returned the visits of the Greek and Arme-
nian clergy. The Armenian church, a fine and elegant structure,
was ornamented by several good sciiptural paintings. The fathers
pointed out to us the spot where the head of St. James was depo-
sited, after he had been decapitated at Caissa,