239 
Nazareth in Galilee is an open unfortified town, 
situated upon the slope of a mountain, facing the east. 
It appears to have a population of about eight hundred 
families. From the accounts I obtained, there are com- 
puted to be nearly 1000 Mussulmen, and as many 
Christians. The houses have nothing remarkable in 
their appearance, and are built on the slope of the 
mountain. The inhabitants, availing themselves of this 
circumstance, make excavations, so that each house 
has a subterranean apartment. 
The number of Roman Catholics among the Chris- 
tians far surpasses that of the other rites; yet the most 
complete harmony prevails among all the individuals of 
the different rites. 
The Mussulmen women go with their faces uncover- 
ed. The fetes, games, and entertainments, are common 
to both sexes, and to the individuals of ail religions. 
The meat, vegetables, and fruit, are of a good quality. 
They make very good bread, at the convent particu- 
larly, where also they have excellent water, which 
comes from a spring situated at the north-eastern ex- 
tremity of the town. The convent is also provided 
with large and fine cisterns of rain water, and a small 
garden. 
The Monks enjoy as much liberty as they could 
possibly do in any European country: they carry pub- 
licly the Sacraments to the sick, and are much respect- 
ed by the individuals of other religions. I must also 
state, that according to the information I received, the 
conduct of these men is truly exemplary, and well 
worthy of the high esteem in which they are held. 
The convent is a fine spacious edifice, well distri- 
buted, and so solidly built, that it might serve as a good 
military position. In the middle of the church, which 
Vol. II. 2 O 
