Page:Travels from Aleppo to the city of Jerusalem, and through the Holy Land, in the year 1776.pdf/22

Rh Egypt. It stands on a high rock, with steep ascents on every side, except on the north. It is surrounded with a deep valley, which is again encompassed with hills. The city at present is about three miles in circumference: The walls and fortificatiousfortifications [sic] seem to be very ancient; but the private buildings are mostly very mean, and thinly inhabited. The resort of pilgrims hither only render it considerable; and the accommodating them with lodgings and provisions is the chief business of the inhabitants. For the protection of the pilgrims against the Arabs, and to receive the tritute exacted of them, a Basha always resides here with a guard of Janizaries. As to the particular places in and about Jerusalem, we have already described them.

We being resolved to set forward in the morning, the father guardian came and gave us his blessing, and sprinkled us with holy water, and taking our leaves, the fathers shewed great affection to us, weeping, and expressing their desires to enjoy our company longer, and our desires were as much to be nearer home, to have an account of our friends.

We departed, our muleteers having provided horses, intending to take Emmans in our joursey, but night coming