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

J 14
TRAVELS IN ASIATIC TURKEY,
olive, pomegranate, almond, and mulberry-trees, are interspersed,
the latter being destined for the nourishment of the breed of silk
worms, which are a great source of revenue to the inhabitants, a
considerable manufactory of silks being carried on at Scio, as well
for home consumption as for exportation. A great part of the
island is still in an uncultivated state, owing to the rocks which are
bad condition of the soil.
every where interposed, and the general
To supply, therefore, the wants of a
very considerable population,
amounting from forty to fifty thousand souls, whose consumption
far exceeds the produce which the land is, by every industrious exertion,
made to afford, the inhabitants are under the necessity of
importing both corn and cattle from Anadoiia, and from the other
adjacent countries.
Having returned to the convent to take leave, we partook of the
refreshments which were offered to us by the
holy fathers, and de-
parted for Sew. The convent of Nehahmonee bestows lodging
and entertainment during three days on all who, on their travels,
solicit that indulgence, without any inquiry being made relative to
the religion they profess. We were told that three hundred per-
sons reside within this sanctuary, which is so extensive that it appears
like a small village. Of this number forty are priests who
perform mass, and administer to the other duties of their sacred
calling ; while the caloyers, or lay brothers, who are the most nu-
merous, cultivate the lands assigned to them by the convent, and
are furnished with a lodging, together with a daily allowance of
provisions and wine. On the demise of these lay brothers the
lands revert to the convent, which beside, takes possession of all
the property they leave behind. They are allowed to marry ; but
in this case cannot become priests, should they even be without
issue, although the priests themselves are not bound to the
strictly
observance of celiblcv. When the latter marry, they wear a white
fillet round the rim of the black cap which forms a part of their
costume.
In our return homewards we passed near the valley in which is
situated the hospital appropriated for the leprous subjects of all
the islands of the Archipelago. As we purposed, however, to visit
it at a more convenient opportunity, it will be described in another
place.
It was six in the evening before we reached our habitation
at Scio.
We visited on the 2d the houses of several of the principal Greek
inhabitants of Scio. They are capacious, lofty, well built, and