Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/365

358 Nicolayson repeated to us in English some of Mr. Hefter's principal remarks. Then the Third Psalm was sung in Hebrew, in alternate solo and chorus, to a very ancient Oriental melody, which was sweetly echoed by the rocks and bills around—rocks and hills which had very likely been trodden by David himself. The bright wild goldfinches in the trees above us joined loudly in the song.

After this, the company separated into little groups. Some wandered to the vineyards, where the well-trained vines were laden heavily with fruit. Others went to see the spring, and we rested by the stream, enjoying the sound of the rippling water, which flowed along just outside the guest-chamber.

I induced a peasant-boy to let me take his portrait. He sat on a rock opposite to me, half in the sunlight and half in the shade. He wore a red and yellow shawl as a turban, and a coarse white linen shirt, with a red leather girdle. On his finger he displayed a large silver ring with a small blue stone in it, as a defense against evil eyes and necromantic arts.

Some Arab sheikhs from Hebron came to Urtâs to settle some business. They seemed very much surprised to see so many strangers there.

When the shadows began to lengthen, the guests assembled, and the table was spread with fowls, and various Italian and Eastern compositions. The chief dish was a fine lamb, stuffed with rice, raisins, pistachio-nuts, pine seeds, and spice, roasted entire, in a hole dug in the ground for the express purpose. The garden had furnished abundance of vegetables, and ears of maize or Indian corn, which were boiled whole. The great attraction of the dessert was a pyramid of ripe peaches, the "first fruits" of the orchard.

Several appropriate and interesting speeches were made, and Mr. Graham, after speaking of the beauty of the valley in particular, and the natural fertility of the whole country, said, "Although there are so many waste places