

PREFACE. 



The information derived from those who visit various provinces ot 

 the Turkish empire is of a very different nature from that which is 

 collected in travelling through paits of civilised Europe. In the 

 former case, we not only become acquainted with a people whose 

 habits, institutions, religion, policy, and usages, are entirely opposite 

 to those which we find in Christian Europe ; but from researches 

 connected with the geography and natural history of these countries 

 we are able to explain many passages of the sacred writers, as well as 

 of other ancient authors ; the customs * also and modes of life which 



• Travellers who have visited parts of Syria and Egypt make frequent mention of 

 customs and habits of life similar to those wliich prevailed in the time of the writers of 

 the Old and New Testament; but no one, before Captain Light, ever pointed out a 

 singular opinion still existing in the East, and which was common in Palestine 1800 years 

 ago, respecting the use of saliva in certain diseases of the body. See the account in this 

 volume, p. 421., of the person at Ibrim in Nubia applying for a cure of the head-ache; 

 and of the woman at Hermonthis in Egypt, who requested C. Light to spit on her eyes. 

 " How far spittle was accounted wholesome for weak eyes," says Lightfoot, in his Hebrew 

 and Talmudical exercitations on John ix., " we may learn from the following tale relating 

 to R. Meir." We shall extract a part of it. " Is there ever a woman, said Rabbi Meir, 

 among j'ou, skilled in muttering charms over eyes? the woman said, R. I am not skilled ; 

 however, saith he, do thou spit seven times on my eyes, and I shall be healed." See 

 Mark viii. 23. and vii. 33. 



The passage from Capt. Light's Journal should be inserted in any future edition of 

 Harmer. 



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