48 2 NEW A TLA NTIS. 



gold, both the stalks and the grapes, but the grapes are daintily enam 

 elled ; and if the males of the family be the greater number, the 

 grapes are enamelled purple, with a little sun set on the top ; if the 

 females, then they are enamelled into a greenish yellow, with a crescent 

 on the top. The grapes are in number as many as there are descend- 

 ants of the family. This golden cluster the herald delivereth also to 

 the Tirsan, who presently delivereth it over to that son that he had 

 formerly chosen to be in house with him, who beareth it before his 

 father, as an ensign of honour when he goeth in public ever after, and 

 is thereupon called the son of the vine. After this ceremony ended, 

 the father or Tirsan retireth, and after some time cometh forth again 

 to dinner, where he sitteth alone under the state as before ; and none of 

 his descendants sit with him, of what degree or dignity soever, except 

 he hap to be of Solomon s House. He is served only by his own 

 children, such as are male, who perform unto him all service of the 

 table upon the knee, and the women only stand about him, leaning 

 against the wall. The room below his half-pace hath tables on the 

 sides for the guests that are bidden, who are served with great and 

 comely order ; and toward the end of dinner, which in the greatest 

 feasts with them lasteth never a bove an hour and a half, there is a 

 hymn sung, varied according to the invention of him that composed it, 

 for they have excellent poetry, but the subject of it is always the praises 

 of Adam, and Noah, and Abraham ; whereof the former two peopled 

 the world, and the last was the father of the faithful : concluding ever 

 with a thanksgiving for the nativity of our Saviour, in whose birth 

 the births of all are only blessed. Dinner being done, the Tirsan 

 retireth again, and having withdrawn himself alone into a place where 

 he maketh some private prayers, he cometh forth the third time to give 

 the blessing, with all his descendants, who stand about him as at the 

 first. Then he calleth them forth one by one, by name, as he pleaseth, 

 though seldom the order of age be inverted. The person that is 

 called, the table being before removed, kneeleth down before the chair, 

 and the father layeth his hand upon his head, or her head, and giveth 

 the blessing in these words : &quot; Son of Bensalem, or daughter of l&amp;gt;cn- 

 salcm, thy father saith it, the man by whom thou hast breath and life 

 spcakcth the word ; the blessing of the everlasting Father, the Prince 

 of Peace, and the Holy Dove be upon thee, and make the days of thy 

 pilgrimage good and many.&quot; This he saith to every of them : and 

 that clone, if there be any of his sons of eminent merit and virtue, so 

 they be not above two, he calleth for them again, and sayeth, laying 

 his arm over their shoulders, they standing, &quot; Sons, it is well you are 

 born ; give God the praise, and persevere to the end :&quot; and withal 

 delivereth to either of them a jewel, made in the figure of an ear of 

 wheat, which they ever after wear in the front of their turban or hat. 

 This done, they fall to music and dances, and other recreations after 

 their manner, for the rest of the day. This is the full order of that 

 feast. 



By that time six or seven days were spent, I was fallen into strait 

 acquaintance with a merchant of that city, whose name was Joabin ; 



