36o TRAVELS IN AFRICA, 
There are three fmall convents of Chriftians, Armenian, 
Greek, and Roman-catholic, and a few Jews. When the 
French, about 1790, were banifhed by Jezzar Paflia from his 
government, feveral retired to Jaflfe, where^their conful died 
the winter before I arrived. 
It fhall be only farther remarked, that the houfes in JafFe are 
neatly built with ftone, and that confiderable quantities of coral 
are found in the adjacent fea. 
Having hired two mules for myfelf and a Cypriote fervant, 
I proceeded to Rama, diftant about three hours. I had pre- 
vioufly taken care to get permiflinn from the agent of the con- 
vent at YafFe to travel to Jerufalem, a precaution here necefTary 
to prevent any difturbance from the Arabs. 
At Rama there is a fpacious and ftrongly built convent of 
the Francifcan order, a commodious edifice, and kept in excel- 
lent repair. The town is pleafantly fituated, and in a good 
foil. In its vicinity I obferved fome antient groves of olive 
trees. Between YafFe and Rama feven villages appear in 
fight. 
Having left Rama early in the morning of the enfuing day, 
"we entered the gate of Jerufalem about fun-fet. The ground 
between Rama and Jerufalem is rugged, mountainous, and 
barren. My fervant having loitered behind, was feized by fome 
Arabs, thrown from his mule, and pillaged. 
I muft 
