On the Soil, Productions, ^c. of Palestine. 215 



Arabic, though, with slight exceptions, they are probably all descend- 

 ants of the old inhabitants of Syria. They are a fine spirited race 

 of men, and have given Mohammed Ali much trouble in subduing 

 them, and still more in retaining them in subjection. They are 

 said to be industrious for orientals, and to have the right elements 

 for becoming, under better auspices, a civilized intellectual nation. 

 I believe, however, it will be found impracticable to raise any people 

 to a respectable, social, and moral state under a Turkish or Egyptian, 

 or any other Mahomedan government. The inherent vices of the 

 religious system enter, and, from their unavoidable connections, must 

 enter so deeply into the political administration, that any reform in 

 government or improvement in the people beyond temporary alle- 

 viations of evils too pressing to be endured, cannot reasonably be ex- 

 pected. 



The Turks and Syrians are about at the maximum of the civili- 

 zation possible to Mahomedans of the present time. The mercan- 

 tile class is said to be little respected, and generally to lack integrity. 

 Veracity is held very lightly by all classes. The people are com- 

 monly temperate and frugal, which may be denominated oriental vir- 

 tues. Their situation, with regard to the physical means of comfort 

 and subsistence, are, in many respects, favourable, and under a toler- 

 able government would be almost unequalled. As it is, the Syrian 

 peasant and his family fare much better than the labouring classes 

 of Europe. The mildness of the climate, the abundance of land and 

 its fertility, with the free and luxuriant pasturage that covers the 

 mountains and the plains, render it nearly impossible that the 

 peasant should not be well supplied with bread, fruit, meat, and milk. 

 I have already had occasion to repeat the declaration that this people 

 almost always appear well clothed. Their houses, too, though often 

 of a slight construction and mean appearance, must be pronounced 

 commodious, when compared with the dark, crowded apartments 

 usually occupied by the corresponding classes in Europe. Agricul- 

 tural wages vary a good deal in different parts of the country ; but 

 I had reason to conclude that the average was not less than three or 

 four piasters per day. With all these advantages, population is on the 

 decline ; so active and destructive are the vicious tendencies of the 

 reigning system of religion and government. Polygamy, military 

 conscription, unequal and oppressive taxation, forced labour for the 

 rulers, general insecurity of property, and the consequent discourage- 

 ment of industry, are probably the principal causes of this deplora- 

 ble result. There are other causes of depopulation which are inse- 

 parable from general ignorance and barbarism. One of the most 

 destructive, and, at the same time, most latent, is probably the want 

 of medical knowledge and skill. There are no well taught physicians ; 

 and in the hands of the ignorant pretenders, who always thrive under 

 such circumstances, diseases come armed with a fatal malignity un- 

 known in civilized countries. The plague often sweeps, unchecked, over 



