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columns in pairs, the capitals of which are of the Co- 
rinthian or composite order; the summit of the cupola 
is open, and forms an aperture of thirteen feet in diame- 
ter; this is the only place by which the light enters the 
edifice. 
The church of the Roman catholics is to the right of 
the rotunda upon entering, that of the Armenians upon 
the left, and that of the Syrians behind. The Copts have 
also their little chapel placed against the small house of 
the sepulchre; the principal or central body of the Tem- 
ple, forms the church of the Greeks. The Abyssinians 
have also their church; but it was reported that it would 
be suppressed, because there were only two monks 
Remaining. 
The Armenians were at a certain period united to the 
Catholics, but they separated in consequence of some 
discussion which arose between them. It appears that 
the Greeks are very proud of a sort of superiority which 
they have over the other rites, either on account of the 
place which they occupy in the edifice, which indeed is 
the place of honour, or of the magnificence of their 
choir, and their sanctum sanctorum; or of their respect- 
able chapter, among which they reckon three or four 
bishops; or lastly, of the numerous Greek population 
which inhabit the country. The monks of the different 
rites are in general disunited, because each looks upon 
his rite as being exclusively orthodox, and believes the 
others to be schismatics. I was assured that the whole 
number of all the monks of the different rites rarely 
exceeded forty. 
The Catholic monks were at this period in the 
greatest misery, for they had not received any money 
from Europe for the last three years, on account of the 
war. They had suffered great oppression from the ancient 
