Page:Thirty-five years in the East.djvu/62

22 administered to him on the eve of his nuptials. Although somewhat moved v^ith compassion, I could not help laughing at this account, and I desired to see the patient, whereupon he told me that, after having read mass,he would come and conduct me to him. My lodgings being opposite the convent, he very soon returned, and we repaired to the residence of the newly-married pair. It was one of the largest Christian houses in Damascus,, and the family of the goldsmith was one of the richest of that country. In the large court-yard and in the saloon through which I had to pass, I saw a great many handsome ladies, and not being shy, they displayed their jewels and other ornaments, because I was come with a priest, and consequently appeared to be also a Christian,, in spite of my Turkish costume. In a corner of a large room, I found the unfortunate bridegroom cowering and lamenting over his pains; he had only one servant with him. He told me he had taken only a third part of the majoon (electuary) which Padre Tomaso had given him, but that, instead of its producing the desired effect, he was tormented with pains that were no longer supportable. I immediately gave him a few pills (a com- pound of opium, camphor, and ipecacuanha), and also ordered him to take almond-milk, ad libitum, which did him a great deal of good, and I afterwards effected the cure of his original complaint.

The aforesaid Father Tomaso (a Piedmontese, I believe) is the same individual who created a great sensation in Europe, some years ago, by his sudden disappearance from bis monastery, where it was supposed he was murdered by the Jews, on which occasion some hundreds were massacred at Damascus.

According to the annual custom, there came from Constantinople, the Surra-Emini (leader of the pilgrims), with thousands of Musselmans, who united themselves at Damascus with the pilgrims coming from Bagdad and Persia. At the expiration of the Ramazan (Lent), the Pasha of Damascus set off for the desert, where a great