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

126 TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
which the sacred writings have recorded, are in this way built over
and preserved.
The inhabitants of Bethlehem consist, for the greater part, of
Greeks, Armenians, and Arabs converted to Christianity. Among
its population but few Turks are to be found. The dress of the
men, like that of the neighbouring peasants, is extremely simple,
and consists of a long white chemise, or frock, with a girdle fast-
ened round the waist. Very few of the poorer sort, whether males
or females, wear shoes. The women are dressed in a blue che-
mise, with a cotton belt or girdle, and cover the head with a long
white veil, which flows looselv down the back. Their complexion
is very dark, approaching almost to black. They are very labori-
ous, and submit to every description of drudgery. They are be-
trothed as soon as they come into the world; and marry at the ear-
ly age of twelve vears.
Bethlehem standing on an eminence, and on a chalky soil, is
justly considered by the inhabitants as possessing a very salubrious
air; in proof of which, I observed but few among them who had a
sickly appearance. There were indeed some cases of ophthalmia,
but very rare. The sides of the mountain on which this town is
situated were, as well as the summit, interspersed with fine vine-
yards, banked in with stones, which must have cost a prodigious
labour to the cultivators. The grapes they yielded were remarkably
large, and finely flavoured. In addition to these we saw figs, pomegranates,
and an abundance of olives, on which fruits the inhabi-
tants, in a great measure, subsist. In the vallies some corn is produced;
and the bread made from it is of an excellent quality. The
dews, which fall in great abundance, are highly favourable to the
vegetation in general.
As we had to return in the afternoon, the visits of the Greek and
Armenian patriarchs, it was somewhat late before we quitted Beth'
lehem, insomuch that we did not reach our convent at Jerusalem
until seven in the evening. I brought away with me from the
former of these places, several chaplets, or strings of beads, made
from a fruit brought from Mecca, dyed of a red colour, and cros-
ses, and other trinkets made from a pearl oyster, which the inhabi-
tants procure from the Red Sea, and which they manufacture into
these curious articles with ereat address.
On the 1 9 th at eleven in the morning, we left the convent at
Jerusalem, on our way to the Mount of' Gliies, situated at about
a mile's distance from the walls of the city. Our attention was then