travels

HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. 11In cases of capital punishment, the military governorawarded it. Witnesses, or confession of the feet, were necessaryfor conviction: the latter was often extorted by thebastinado on the soles of the feet, inflicted with thongs ofhide twisted with metal, and the hand drawn back in givingthe blow, by which the flesh was lacerated. For slight offencesthe cadi had the power of ordering the bastinado onthe back with the palm-branch: both punishments were generallyinflicted at night. Death to the natives was by hanging.The military were either decapitated, or thrown intothe sea in a sack.The third of March, celebrated as the eve of the prophet'sbirth-day, was a grand festival of the Mahometans. I accompaniedMr. Lee, and the male part of his family, atnight, round the bazars, that were illuminated by the commoneastern lamp, formed of a small tumbler, partly filledwith water, on which a sufficient quantity of oil is poured,and in the centre of which is fixed the lighted wick. Theshops, except those selling sherbet, were all cleared of thdrwares, fitted up with boards, on which were carpets andcushions, level with the windows. They .were filled withgroupes of Arabs and Turks, in their best dresses. Thegreatest tranquillity reigned. The variety of costume, thegravity of the company, which was not at all disturbed byour presence amongst them, and the theatrical appearance ofc 2ΚΥΠΡΙΑΚΗ ΒΙΒΛΙΟΘΗΚΗ