Customs and Traditions of Palestine illustrating the manners of the ancient Hebrews ... Translated by T. G. Bonney

Preface

. The information contained in the following pages, relative to the manners and customs of the present inhabitants of Palestine, has been collected by the Author during a residence of eight years in that country. In preparing those parts of the work which treat of the former inhabitants of the land, he has been greatly aided by M. Munk's ' Palestine ' (' Description Geographique Historique et Archeologique'), and is also occasionally indebted to ' Le Pelerinage a Jerusalem par le Pere Laorty- Hadji.' Some of the Arab legends in Chapter in. have already appeared in a little book entitled 'Trois Ans en Judee;' as, however, they were supplied to M. Gerardy Sain tine by the Author, he conceives that he has a right to use them. His chief aim throughout the work has been to give as faithful a picture as possible of Arab

PREFACE.

. IV life in Palestine among both the Fellahin, or in habitants of the settled districts, and the Bedawin, or nomad races, and to point out more especially the numerous coincidences in manners, customs, traditions, and laws, between them and the Hebrews. No one can reside for any lengthened time or travel much in the country without being struck by the numerous traces still remaining of its former pos sessors, and the remarkable tenacity with which these memorials of the past are rooted in its present occupiers. He cannot allow this volume to go forth to the world without expressing his gratitude to his kind friends, the Rev. J. E. B. Mayor, University Librarian and Fellow of S. John's College, and the Rev. G. Williams, Fellow of King's College, for the assistance which they have rendered in preparing this work for the press. TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter I. Of The Domestic Animals

The Ass, and its uses, 2. Clipped ears, 4 The Ass with the Hebrews, 6. Legends, 7. The Pig, its flesh useful, 9. The Pig in modern and ancient times, 10. The Dog, 12. Canine republics, 12. The Mule, 15. Legends, 16. The Camel, and its habits, 17. Sometimes revengeful and vicious, anecdotes, 19. Used by the Hebrews and by the Arabs, 20. The Horse, the Arab's friend, 23. Blood-horses, 24. Their treatment, docility, and sagacity, 25. Mode of sales, 28. The Horse used by the Hebrews, 31.

Chapter II. Animals Not Domesticated

The Crocodile, traditions of its occurrence in Palestine, 33. Search for Crocodiles in the Zerka, 36. The Hyæna, 39. Superstitions about it, 39. The chase, 41. Use of the carcass, 42. The Wild Boar, 42. The Jackal, its habits, 43. Anecdote, 44. Serpents, 46. Manner of cooking them, 46. Anecdotes of serpents in Jerusalem, 47. Venomous serpents, 48. Modes of curing their bite, 49. Serpentworshippers and charmers, 49. Bees, honey, and milk, 50. Abundant in former times, 51. Honey still abundant iu places, 53. Grasshoppers and locusts, eaten for food, 54. Anecdote of Latin priest, 55. Locust-bread, 55. Ravages of locusts, 55. The locusts' enemy, 56. Flies, &c, 57. Palestine infested in old times, and at the present day, 57. Roger's account of the Bargash, 58. Other pests of Palestine, 59. VI TABLE OF CONTENTS.

Chapter III. Certain

ARaIB LEGENDS, AND INCIDENTS CONNECTED WITH THE BIBLE. Arab Legends, 61. The wolves of Kebab and the foxes of Samson, 62. The threshing-floor of Joshua the Bethshemite, 63. Imam Aaly, 64. The Tomb of Moses, 67. Author's device for obtaining admission, 69. The Ramadhan kept by our Saviour, 70. The Green Prophet, or the Prophet Elias, 72. The Monument of Absalom, 74. Right of the Jews to the keys of Jerusalem, 75. The Ark of Noah, 77. The Melon field of Elias, 79. The field of Chick-peas, 79. The Olives of Sodom, 79. The Salt of Abraham's pool, 80. The Creation of man (Campus Damascenus^, 80. Legend of Adam and Eve, 81. The Dead Sea and the Statue of Salt, 81. The East Wind, 82. Showers of Salt, 83. Experiment made by the Author, 84. De Saulcy's Explanation of the death of Lot's wife, 85. Patristic testimony to the Column of Salt, 85. Legend of the Temple of the Jews, 86.

Chapter IV. Customs And Habits Common To The Arabs With The Ancient

JEWS, ILLUSTRATED BY ANECDOTES. Customs common to Hebrews and Arabs, Bakhshish, 88. The Missionary and his congregation, 88. Disputants, 89. The Wounded Arab and his Brother, 90. The Labourer's tools, 91. Excuses for asking Bakhshish, 90. Bakhshish among the Hebrews, 91. The Inns in the Villages, 92. Names, how given, 95. Heaps of stones, 95. The Poor, 96. Among the Hebrews and in Palestine, 97. Mohammedan charities, 99. Anecdoteof Abu-Ghush, 99. Wakuff, 101. Peculations of the managers, 101. Hebrew Wakuff, 102. Buried money, 103. The Mohammedan Effendis and the Hebrew Elders, 104. The rapacity of the Effendis, 107. Their devices for extorting gifts, 108. A Khadi and an Effendi cheated by a Greek Catholic, 110. The Santons in Palestine, their characters and pretensions, 112. Prophetic powers of the Santon of the Mosque of the Ascension, 113, and of a Santon of Ascalon, 114.

Resemblance to the Prophets' 115. Santon Daud, 115. His funeral, 116. Journey to the Jordan and Dead Sea, 119. Anecdote of an American expedition, 120. TABLE OF CONTENTS. VII

Chapter V. The Houses And Their Appurtenances

Hebrew and Arab Houses, 122. Building materials, 123. Fittings and furniture of Hebrew and Arab houses, 124. Terrace-roofs, 127. Garments worn by the men in times past and present, 130. Dresses of the women, 134. The girdle, 13S. The hair, 139. Oath on the beard, 140. Shaving off the beard, anecdote, 141. Ornaments of various kinds, 142. Painting the eyes, 147. Staining the hands, 148. Mirrors, 149. Perfumes and unguents, 149. Tattooing, 150. The Baths, 151. The Food and Cookery of the Hebrews, 153. Mode of making Bread among the Arabs, 154. The Meat of the Hebrews and of the Arabs, 156. Vegetables, 158. Drinks, 159. Leather-bottles, how made, 159. Earthenware jars, 160. Drinks of the Arabs, 161. Meals, 162. Customs of the Jews at table, 162. Description of an Arab dinner, 164. » -

Chapter VI. Contrast Between The Social Position Of The Women Among The

ANCIENT JEWS AND MODERN ARABS. Social position of the Women among the Hebrews, 168. Their present position in Palestine, 170. In the harems in the towns, 171. In the country, 172. Price of a daughter and betrothal among the Hebrews, 174. Marriageable age, 176. Marriage ceremonies, 176. Birth of children, 177. Price of a daughter among the Arabs, 179. Betrothal, 180. Ceremonies in the country with the Greek Christians, 181. Presents after betrothal, 183. Marriage-presents, 184. Preparations for the wedding and games, 185. The marriage ceremonies, 186. The processions, 187. The wedding-feast, 188. Presents after the wedding, 189. Birth of Children, 190. Their rearing, 191. Translations of Songs sung at weddings and births, 192. A Latin wedding, 196. TABLE OF CONTENTS. VIII

Chapter VII. The Chiefs Of The Nomad Tribes And Of The Villages

WITH THEIR SCRIBES. The Fellahin and the Bedawin, 200. The Sheikhs, 201. The Hebrew ' Elders,' 202. Political organization of the Bedawin, their Sheiks, 203. The Chiefs of the Fellahin, 205. The Scribes, 206. Administration of Justice with the Hebrews, 207. With the Arabs, 208. Scenes at an Arab Court of Justice, 209. Different kinds of Oaths, 210. Cities of Refuge, 211. Rights of Sanctuary among the Arabs, 212. Penalties among the Hebrews and Arabs, 215. Corporal Punishment, 217. Lex talionis, 217. Anecdotes, 218. Fines, 219. Imprisonment, 219. The Price of Blood, 220. Laws and Customs relating to it, 222. Laws concerning Adultery and similar crimes, 228. The punishment of an Adulteress, 229. Laws concerning Accidents, 230. Injuries, 231. Anecdote shewing the cost of a kiss at Hebron, 232. Laws concerning Robbery, 234.

Chapter VIII. The

ARaIB MODE OF PAYING A DEBT. The Laws concerning Debtors, 235. The Jews wrongfully suspected of Child-murder, 237. Anecdotes, 238. Customs of the Arabs during a time of Mourning, 240. Specimens of Funeral Dirges, 244. Travellers attacked by Robbers, 246. Contracts of Sale among the Hebrews and the Arabs, 249. Arab Doctors, their knowledge of Surgery and Medicine, 251. Furniture of an Arab tent, 254. Camp of Bedawin, 254. Food of the Bedawin, 255. The Pasha's Bashi- Bazook, or irregular cavalry, 257. Their numbers, discipline, &c, 258. The Infantry, 262. The Artillery, 263.

Chapter IX. Of The Dissensions And Strife In Palestine

Dissensions in Palestine; the Yemeniyeh and Keisiyeh, 264. Legend of their origin, according to the Arab scribes, 264. Anecdotes of the effects produced by the existence of these parties, 268. Mode of summoning Allies in time of War, 270. An Arab Battle, 271. Abu-Ghush, 271. The Ravages of War in Palestine, 273. Quarrels of the Christian Sects, 275. The Schools, 275. Proselytism and Dissensions of Rival Sects, with instances, 276. Conclusion, 280. ERRATA. Pa°-e 17, line 13, for earless read almost earless „ 86, note, for Allalius read AUatius „ go, line 15, for Aboogoosh read Abu-Ghctsli „ 159, not c 2, for Nepoiianum read Nepotianni* OF PALESTINE.

Chapter I. Of The Domestic Animals

Amongst the domestic animals of Palestine are the ass, the pig, the dog, the mule, the camel, and the horse. These are of such value to the Arab that they occupy a higher place in his esteem than they are wont to do in that of other nations. From the moment of birth until they are sold, killed, buried, or eaten, they are constant members of the family circle, sharing with the bipeds the tent and the desert, the cottage and the field; companions alike in rest and in labour, in plenty and in poverty. In youth they play with the children and women; and equally with them are guarded, nourished, and beaten by the master of the house, who however shews much partiality in venting his brutal anger, and spares the beasts, not because they are irrational creatures, but through fear that ill-treatment of them may conduce [CH. I. 2 to his own loss.

Hence it follows that in Palestine these animals are very docile, gentle, and intelligent, and seem to have established a kind of sympathy and league of mutual support with the human race. If any one, disposed to attribute to animals the possession of reason rather than of instinct, were to travel through the length and breadth of Pales tine, he would certainly find many arguments in favour of his theory, and perhaps would even come to the conclusion (not far from the truth) that the brutes were more intelligent than the men. I at least could not contradict him, as I have formed nearly the same opinion, after an intimate acquaintance with both the ,ene and the other, during several years. To speak the truth, I have ever found the beasts obedient and ready to do what I wanted; they have refreshed, aided, and carried me; while the Arabs have robbed me by their demands for bakhshish, and plagued my very life out.

If then they were such pests when endeavouring to be courteous, what would they have been if insolent 1 It is therefore to the animals which have so often been useful and faithful companions on my numerous excursions that I feel bound to render this tribute of gratitude. THE ASS. Some surprise may be felt at my giving the first place to this quadruped, but I have no hesitation in doing so. It was the first creature that did me a service in Palestine; for it carried me to Jeru salem, a journey of twenty-eight and a half miles, CH. I. j THE DOMESTIC ANIMALS. 3 and proved that it was no degenerate descendant of its ancestors, which had borne the patriarchs on their long wanderings1. On disembarking at Jaffa, a few days before the Easter of 1854, I was unable to find any other means of transport, owing to the great concourse of travellers and pilgrims, all, like me, journeying to the Holy City.

Under these cir cumstances, I preferred accepting the services of an ass to waiting a day in a filthy town. I had indeed already in Egypt formed a high opinion of this animal, not only from its spirited aspect and its speed, but also because it was not disdained by the viceroy and the dignitaries of his court, who may truly be said to use asses of more or less intelligence for every purpose. It is hardly too much to say that if all the asses were taken away from the country of Pharaoh, not a man would be left ! Thus the reader may see that I had no scruples in being seen thus mounted on an ass, as I felt sure that there were plenty of them in Palestine, and that if I avoided their society I should have to lead a very solitary life. When the animal which I had hired made its appearance, I observed that it Avas without a saddle, and had only a miserable pad of carpet strapped on its back.

Undeterred by this I mounted, consoling myself with the reflexion, that very likely Abraham had no better3. After I had taken my seat, the driver handed me an iron-shod goad, informing me Gen. xiii. 26. xliv. 3. 13. xiv. 23. Gen. xxii. 3. I — TRaIDITIONS. [pB. I. 4 that it was to remind the ass to go quickly ; he too was furnished with a stick, which he wielded with such address as to shew by the first blow what practice he had had in arousing the animal from its meditations to a sense of its duty. I did not admire these "stimulants," and made no use of the one en trusted to me, beyond giving the Arab a sly poke whenever he causelessly ill-treated the patient ani mal. So I arrived pleasantly at Mount Sion, not stiff from want of exercise, as I had walked a good part of the way, and being without stirrups had used my heels to quicken the pace of my steed, and save it a shower of blows from its master.

I must not forget to mention that I also learned the language of the pair, which afterwards stood me in service. But every rose has its thorn; and I had good reasons to lament that the ass had not taken a bath, and the carpet had not been beaten before I mounted, for I was obliged to become an involuntary collector of a number of ravenous insects. Notwithstanding, I frequently availed myself of this mode of travel ling, finding it useful and economical, especially when speed was of no importance, and I was anxious to examine the country, and not afraid of disagree able company, of an ambush, or of insult. The ass that carried me from Jaffa had his ears clipped, and on asking the reason I received the following answer : " It is our custom, when an animal is found trespassing, to clip a piece out of the ear, beginning at the tip, and going down one edge."

So the amount of mutilation that the ear has suffered marks the obstinacy of the transgressor, who, less shrewd than his owner, stupidly suffers himself to be cap tured and tormented. Those which are marked in this way are always to be rejected, as it shews that they are without the sagacity and speed which would enable them to escape this barbarity. Were their Arab lords treated in the same manner, I have no doubt that the greater number would be marked once at least, as soon as they began to walk, and not a few of the adults would have no ears left. What then are the characteristics of the ass ? Much the same as those which adorn it in other parts of the East — namely, it is useful for riding and for carrying burdens ; it is sensible of kindness and shews gratitude; it is very steady, and is larger, stronger, and more tractable, than its European congeners; its pace is easy and pleasant; and it will shrink from no labour, if only its poor daily feed of straw and barley be fairly given.

If well and liberally supplied, it is capable of any enterprise, and wears an altered and dignified mien; apparently forgetful of its extraction, except when undeservedly beaten by its masters; who, however, are not so much to be blamed, because, having learnt to live among sticks, thongs, and rods, they follow the same system of education with their miserable dependents. The orientals in some respects recompense the ass for the contempt in which he is held in Europe. The wealthy feed him well, deck him with fine harness and silver trappings, and cover him, when his work is done, with rich Persian carpets. The [CH. I. 6 poor do the best they can for him, steal for his benefit, give him a corner at their fire-side, and in cold weather sleep with him for more warmth. In Palestine all the rich men, whether nomads or chiefs of villages, possess a number of asses, keeping them with their flocks, like the patriarchs of old'.

No one can travel in that country, and observe how the ass is employed for all purposes, without being struck with the exactness with which the Arabs retain the Hebrew customs. In the Old Testament we find that the ass, although included in the list of unclean2, was highly esteemed among the domestic animals; as would naturally happen with an agricultural people in a mountainous country, where, before the reign of So lomon, horses were but little used. Abraham3 and Jacob4 possessed many of them ; Saul5 was anointed king of Israel while in quest of his father's asses; David6 when king had an officer appointed expressly as their inspector; Job7 before his calamities had five hundred asses, and afterwards a thousand. They were also used at that time for riding. Mounted on one, Abraham8 journeyed into the land of Moriah to sacrifice his son; Balaam9 was riding one, when, on his way to Moab, he met the angel, and heard arti culate words apparently proceeding from the ass's 1 Gen. xxiv. 35. xxxii. 15.

Job i. 3. xiii. 12, &c. 2 Exod. xiii. 13. xxxiv. 20. Levit. xi. 3. 3 Gen. xii. 16. xxiv. 35. 4 Gen. xxx. 43. xxxii. 5, 15. 5 1 Sam. ix. 3, 20. jr.. 1. 6 1 Chron. xxvii. 30. 7 Job i. 3. xiii. 12. " Gen. xxii. 3. ■ Numb. xxii. 28. mouth; Abigail' travelled in the same way when she went to soothe the anger of David. The Hebrew rulers2 chose "white asses" to carry them, and the great men among the Arabs still prefer animals of that colour. References to their employments in agriculture, transport, and other purposes, are fre quent in the Bible3. The Hebrews were forbidden to yoke together an ox and an ass in ploughing4 ; probably for a merciful reason, because the nature, habits, and strength, of these animals are so different that the sluggish ox tires down the ass, and goads it with its horn to work.

This prohibition however is now disregarded by the Arabs. So much was the as's used in Palestine that the laws of Moses5 order that it should enjoy the seventh day's rest, and even the decalogue6 mentions it. The ass was also used in war7, and its flesh eaten in time of famine8; nor is it now rejected by the Arabs in cases of necessity. From the New Testament we learn that it turned the mill-stone9, and all will remember the time when Zion, according to the prophecy of Zecha riah, welcomed her King, "lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass10." Those who explain to the faithful everything which is found in Palestine, tell us that the ass possesses all i Sam. xxv. 18, 20, 23. Judg. v. 10. 3 Josh. ix. 4. 1 Sam. xvi. 20, &c. 4 Deut. xxii. 10. Exod. xxiii. 12. 6 Exod. xx. 17.

Deut. v. 21. 7 2 Kings vii. 7. Isai. xxi. 7. 9 S. Matt, xviii. 6. (Greek). 2 Kings vi. 25. lu Zech. ix. 9. S. Matt. xxi. 5. S. Mark xi. 1, &c. [en. I. 8 its good qualities as a kind of miraculous gift, be cause it aided in warming the Infant Jesus in the manger at Bethlehem, carried the Holy Family on their flight into Egypt and return to their own country, and was always used by Jesus and His apostles. Any one who asserted that the ass in Palestine and Egypt is stronger than the same animal in Europe, because it does not suffer from the cold and the rain, would be in danger of being considered a heretic. On one occasion, as I have heard, the ass furnished a relic. About ten years ago, or rather more, a Russian monk (certainly not a learned man), when on a pilgrimage in the Holy Land, found the leg-bone of an ass, which he took back with him to Russia, and exhibited as a part of the animal that had carried the Holy Family on their flight into Egypt.

For some time this deception gained him many alms from the poor and ignorant, but at length he paid the penalty of his hypocrisy. I cannot vouch for the truth of this story, but it was told to me by some Greek monks, who, though not more scrupulous about relics, are far shrewder and cleverer in their impostures. I could not have believed it, had I not seen with my own eyes numerous absurdities and follies committed by the oriental pilgrims, many of which are quite as bad as this. Here I conclude my remarks upon the ass, by recommending it (with undipped ears) to all who wish to visit and examine the country at their ease. THE PIG. How often has the flesh of this animal supported me, especially during the earlier part of my stay in Palestine, before I had learnt to like the mutton and the goat's flesh !

I give the preference to this meat because it has often saved me time, by rendering a fire unnecessary, and freed me from importunate, dirty, and unsavoury guests, who used their hands for spoons, knives, and forks. A little piece of bacon laid conspicuously upon the cloth that served me for a table, was always my best friend ; without this talisman I should never have freed myself from unwelcome company, at least without breaking all the laws of hospitality by not inviting the chiefs of my escort or the guides to share my meal ; a thing neither prudent nor safe in the open country. There fore, on the contrary, when thus provided, I pressed them with the utmost earnestness, to eat with me, but of course never succeeded in persuading them ; and so dined in peace, keeping on good terms with them, although they did call me behind my back "a dog of a Frank" for eating pork.

Besides, I had then no fear of my stores failing, as 1 always took care to carry a stock large enough to supply the real wants of my party. So a piece of bacon was of more service to me than a revolver, a rifle, or a sword, and I recommend all travellers in Palestine to carry bacon rather than arms; for the latter are often stolen, the former is never. [CH. I. 10 Pigs are seldom found in the possession of the Mohammedan Arabs, who only keep them for com merce, but they are common with the numerous convents of the different Christian communities and the Arabs attached to them, the former keeping them for their own consumption, the latter for trade; so that the pigs are a part of the family, who live and grow fat together with them. Though they are not so intelligent as those that listened to S. Antony preaching in the Thebaid, still they play with the children, and understand the language of their mas ters; besides they do not disdain to gambol, with a certain grace, with the fowls, dogs, cats, asses, and horses, and are decidedly more sociable in their habits than their European brethren, which are superior to them in size and spirit.

There are now no herds of swine in the country, as it is without wood, and unfitted to support them, and the Arabs prefer to use the scanty supplies of acorns for themselves; so that they do not attend to the increase of the swine ; for the meat is ill suited to the climate, and the population chiefly consists of Mohammedans and Jews, who do not eat it, and Christian Arabs, who are not fond of it. The pig was not generally eaten by the ancient Jews any more than by the present, as it belonged to the class of unclean animals'. It is not mentioned among the flocks and herds of the patriarchs, but we know that swine were in the country, and that at times the laws were not scrupulously observed. Levit. xi. 7. Deut, xiv. 8. We find the followinss words in Isaiah1: "I have spread out my hands unto a rebellious people... that provoketh me to anger continually to my face... which eat swine's flesh ;" and again2, " They that sanctify themselves... eating swine's flesh and the abomination and the mouse, shall be consumed to gether, saith the Lord."

A large herd of swine, consisting, according to S. Mark, of two thousand, is mentioned in the Gospels3 as feeding near Gadara, not far from the Lake of Tiberias. Josephus4 also informs us that in this part of Decapolis were Gadara and Hippos, Greek cities which Augustus separated from the kingdom of Herod, after his death, and added to the province of Syria : there were indeed Jews in them, but in no great number. This part of the country is still suited for nourishing herds of swine, but owing to the want of spirit of the inhabitants in all matters of commerce, no attempts are made to introduce them, and the unsettled state of the country would make it difficult for the mer chants to escape being robbed. The Koran6 forbids all Mohammedans to eat pork, and the Arabs of Palestine, especially the nomads, are most faithful followers of the behests of the Prophet on this point. 1 Isai. lxv. 4. * Isai.

Ixvi. 17. 3 S. Matt. viii. 30. S. Mark v. 11, 13. S. Luke viii. 32 4 Ant. xvii. 11. § 4. 6 II. 175; v. 4. [CH. I. CUST02IS AND TRADITIONS. 12 THE DOG. The dogs of Palestine differ much in their nature from those of every other country, and especially from those of Europe. Their coats are of a ruddy brown, with the hair short ; in appearance they closely resemble the jackal, the fox, and sometimes the wolf. Scars, which are by no means ornamental, shew that they do not live a peaceful life, and there are but few unmaimed in ear, or eye, or tail. Not many are free from leprosy or mange, and nearly all are insufferable from their ill odour, and are infested with all kinds of vermin. We can therefore understand that the Mohammedans, like the Hebrews of old, scrupulously avoid contact with them, and consider them as unclean.

Still, however, we must observe that their contempt for these unfortunate brutes is rather apparent than real ; for, although they will neither touch them, nor admit them into their houses, yet they are always surrounded by them in the towns and villages, since dogs frequent the piazzas and cemeteries, and every place of resort in the open air ; so that in the East we soon understand the simile of the Psalmist1, "For dogs have compassed me." The dogs in Palestine at the present day have, generally speaking, no masters, but form a kind of perfectly independent republic (except a few who are in bondage); they live on the alms of the public, feeding on the refuse thrown out into the open streets and the dirtiest offal of the sewers. Psalm xxii. 16. In former times, as now, there were vagrant dogs in the streets of oriental cities.

Elijah1 said unto Ahab, "Him that dieth of Ahab in the city the dogs shall eat ;" more merciful than the rich man of the parable, they licked the beggar's sores2. Dogs, even in Palestine, when well treated, are intelli gent, faithful, and far more trustworthy than Arab servants, who sell themselves to the highest bidder, and so will betray their master for a reward. They do not desert their duties for a piece of bread, nor become deaf, dumb, and blind, at the sight of money, but soon compel the incautious seducer to retire with the marks of their teeth. Hence now, as in former times3, they are employed by the nomad tribes, by shepherds, and by husbandmen, to guard the camp, the flocks, and the crops ; and woe betide the nightly visitor who comes to examine the house which they are watching.

The members of the canine republic, however, have the streets and fields for their dwellings, and pass the night in wandering about in search of food, being so carnivorous as to devour every kind of carrion and every dead body, even though it be of their own race : thus shewing themselves worthy descendants of those who lived with the ancient Jews. Then they ate "the flesh torn of beasts in the field4", they licked the blood of Naboth5, and devoured the corpse of Jezebel6. Many 1 1 Kings xxi. 24; see also ver. 19 and xxii. 38. 2 Luke xvi. 21. 3 Job xxx. 1. Isa 3 Job xxx. 1. Isai. lvi. 10. 4 Exod. xxii. 31. 6 1 Kings xxi. 19, 24. 0 2 Kings ix. 35, 36. TRADITIONS. [CH. I. 14 other passages in the Bible shew us that the man ners and customs of this race have undergone no change. In Jerusalem, and in the other towns, the dogs have an organization of their own ; they are divided into families and districts, especially in the night time, and no one of them ventures to quit his proper quarter ; for if he does, he is immediately attacked by all the denizens of that into which he intrudes, and is driven back with several bites as a reminder.