3 i4 TRAVELS TO DISCOVER 



hill, which is furrounded entirely with rows of the oxy- 

 cedrus, or Virginia cedar, which grows here in great beau- 

 ty and perfection, and is called Arz *. There is nothing 

 adds fo much to the beauty of the country as thefe churches 

 and the plantations about them. 



In the middle of this plantation of cedars is interfperfed, 

 at proper diftances, a number of thofe beautiful trees called 

 Cuffb, which grow very high, and are all extremely pictu- 

 re fque. 



All the churches are round, with thatched roofs ; their 

 fummits are perfect cones ; the outfide is furrounded by a 

 number of wooden pillars, which are nothing elfe than the 

 trunks of the cedar-tree, and are placed to fupport the edi- 

 fice, about eight feet of the roof projecting beyond the wall 

 of the church, which forms an agreeable walk, or colonade, 

 around it in hot weather, or in rain. The infide of the church 

 is in feveral divifions, according as is prefcribed by the law 

 of Mofes. The firll is a circle fomewhat wider than the 

 inner one ; here the congregation lit and pray. Within this 

 is a fquare, and that fquare is divided by a veil or curtain, 

 in which is another very fmall divifion anfwering to the 

 holy of holies. This is fo narrow that none but the priefts 

 can go into it. You are bare- footed whenever you enter the 

 church, and, if bare-footed,youmay go through every part 



of 



* Lndolf, in his di&ionary, fays, this word, in Htbrew, fignifies any tall tree. In this, how- 

 ever, he is miftaken. The tranflators did not, indeed, know what tree it was, and fo have faid 

 this to cover their ignorance ; but Atz is as exclufively the oxy-cedrus, as is an oak or an elm 

 "■vhen fo named. Arz is indeed a tall tree, but every tall tree is net Arz, which is the V« 



ginia berry-bsarir.g cedar, 



