Page:Domestic Life in Palestine.pdf/391

384 But this interesting harem was not my only school. I mingled at the same time with European and native Christians, and especially with the Sekhali family, and with devout Jews, who kindly helped me to understand all the laws, and the fasts, and the feasts which they observed. The Oriental Christians are unhappily very bitter in their hatred of the Jews. They generally treat them with great contempt, and make a merit of avoiding association with them; but they agree with the Moslems in admitting that the Jews throughout the East are, as a body, remarkable for the purity of their lives, the simplicity of their manners, and the strictness with which they observe their religious services. They are, however, notorious for the quarrels which take place among themselves, and for the noisy disputes which sometimes arise between the representatives of the different congregations or communities. The Jewesses, especially of the Ashekenazi communities, are renowned for their domestic virtue and industry,

On October 5th my brother started for Beirût on business. I remained at Hâifa, and then more than ever I found how very kind and thoughtful my neighbors of all classes were; especially I thank the French Consul, M. Aumann, and his family, for the friendly and active sympathy which made me feel that I was not alone, although there was no one in the town who could speak an English word to me.

Nearly all the Moslem ladies of Hâifa took the opportunity for visiting me then, and the Governor and the members of the town council called several times to see if they could serve me in any way.

On the 10th of October, early in the morning, a boat was lost in a whirlpool within sight of Hâifa. The day was very sultry, and in the evening the sea was perfectly calm, and the air heavy. After spending a few hours with the French Consul and his family, in their moonlit and marble-paved court, I went home, and notwithstanding the almost suffocating heat, I slept soundly, till I was roused