22 THIRTY- FIVE YEARS IN THE EAST. 



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 pa- 

 tient, whereupon he told me that, after having read mass, 

 he would come and conduct me to him. My lodgings be- 

 ing 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 hand- 

 some ladies, and not being shy, they displayed their 

 jewels and other ornaments, because I was come with »' 

 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- 

 bim, but that, instead of its producing the desired effect,, 

 he was tormented with pains that were no longer sup- 

 portable. 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, som^ years ago, by his sudden disappearance 

 from bis monastery, where it was supposed he was murder- 

 ed 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 s^i off for the desert, where a great 



