would be opened. A little after another report was spread, &c'. Here we find the gates were fhut, and continued to be shut against them, but it was owing to fome alarm, which afterwards appeared to be a violent disturbance raised in Jerufalem out of fpite to the Chriftians. The butting of the gates of Jerufalem, did not appear to them to be extraordinary; but the refufing to let them in, when the return of the pilgrims could not but be expected about that time. Nehemiah also was in a state of alarm, when he gave such strict orders concerning the gates of Jerufalem; as were alfo the people of Jericho, who shut their gates immediately after their messengers were sent out of the city 2. But the gates of Suez were shut all night in a time of peace: and fo Rauwolff found the gate of Tripoli fhut, when there was no particular alarm, about an hour after fun-fet, when he arrived at it', which was opened to him through the intereft of the European merchants of that city. The real state of things seems to be, that many of their caravanferais are without the walls of their cities; that many private families refide in unwalled towns, to whom their friends may repair at midnight, without difficulty: and that as to towns with gates and bars, which are shut up all night, they ufually take care, fo to regulate their times of journeying, as to get there before their gates are fhut, or not 'till they are opened, or on the point of being fo. OBSERVATION LXV. As we read the book of Tobit, it may poffibly feem very ftrange to us, and by no means confonant to the customs of the East, that when his fon Tobias and his angelic, but difguited companion came to Ecbatane, to the houfe of Raguel, Sarah, Raguel's daughter, fhould be reprefented as meeting them, and, after faluting them, as bringing them into the houfe, who appeared to her to be perfect Prangers. Tobit vii. 1. But perhaps this may be removed, and the book might be written by one that lived in the Eaft, and was acquainted with the customs there, if we confider, that though they appeared to be quite ftrangers, yet they were fomehow understood to be Jews', for Raguel immediately calls them brethren, v. 3; and though the Turkish women are now kept, with great care, out of fight, the ancient jewish females Either by their language, or by their different drefs. The Jews that inhabit Media, and it's neighbouring provinces, are diftinguifhed now by turbants or bonnets of a ditierent colour from thofe of other religious profeffions, and other marks, mentioned by Chardin, tom. 2, p. 307. had had more liberty, and even have to this day, in these countries. When Dr. Chandler first landed in Afia, he was received by a Jew, who had connexions with the English nation, and carried to his house, where he was agreeably received and entertained, and, among other circumftances, he tells us, that the daughter of this Jew faluted him, by gently kiffing his hand. The daughter of Raguel might then be supposed to have treated these ftrange Jews in the fame manner, though the term that is made use of is by no means fo determinate, and only expreffes that the faluted them with affectionate pleasure'. Perhaps Jacob's kiffing Rachel, at their first interview, is to be understood after the fame manner; but I much question whether the kiffes of the harlot, mentioned Prov. vii. 13, are to be supposed to have been equally modeft. OBSERVATION LXVI. The caravanferais of the Eaft, in which travellers lodge, differ, it should feem, from thofe in which the merchants refide for a confiderable time, in that thefe laft have doors to Εχαιρετισεν. 2 Gen. 29. II. R 3 their their feveral chambers or rooms, which the others have not', in which cafe, it must be particularly base to take advantage of fuch an unguarded fituation, and of those that fojourn in them, namely ftrangers, perhaps even fellow-travellers. To circumstances of this nature then I fhould fuppofe it is, that the fon of Sirach refers, when he says, "Be ashamed . . . of “theft, in regard of the place where thou fojourneft, and in regard of the truth of God "and his covenant *." All theft is iniquitous, and confequently shameful; but it may be attended with circumftances of aggravation: a truth which all feel. It is mentioned as an alleviation of the crimes of a celebrated free-booter in the reign of Richard Ift3, that though he robbed the rich, he was kind and generous to the poor; fo those that rob at a fire are detefted as the worft of villains, because of the diftrefs of such a time, and the inability of the sufferers to guard entirely against fuch depredations. It is of this comparative kind of shamefulness that this ancient Jewish writer is evidently speaking, and in particular of theft in a place of fojourning. Which feems to be explained by the nature of the present Eastern caravanferais. To guard against this, Niebuhr tells us, that Voy. de Chardin, tome 1, p. 147, 148. in Arabia, where the houses for lodging travellers are called fimjeras, and fometimes manfales, in the evening the door, and there is only one, is fhut, and in fome places notice is given in the morning, before it is opened, that travellers may examine whether they have loft any thing'. In the fimferas of Arabia nothing is to be had, in common, but coffee, rice, bread, and butter. This coffee is explained by a preceding page to be nothing but a preparation from the hufks that inclofe the coffee berries; and the bread is faid to be made of durra, which is a fort of coarfe millet; along with camel's milk or butter. This kind of milk is faid there to be ropy, for if the finger is taken out of it, after having been dipped into it, it draws out in a long thread. But in one of thefe manfales, when the master of it underftood that they were Europeans, he would have killed a sheep for them, if they would have stayed, and actually caused wheaten bread to be made for them, and cow's milk to be brought, when he perceived they were not accustomed to camel's milk +. The caravanferais of Perfia have, it is faid, better accommodations oftentimes, their keepers commonly felling to travellers what is wanted for the horses, and what is moft wanted for themselves, as bread, wine, (in those 1 Voy. tome 1, p. 314. 3 P. 250. In the fame page. In the fame page. R 4 places |