1 3 <S TRAVELS TO THE EAST. 
balfams were to be found here, to the value of fome 
thoufand piafters. Here were feveral pounds of the 
valuable Mumia mineralis from Periia, which is fold 
at three ducats. The Indian and American drugs 
come all from Spain, and are chiefly given as pre- 
fents. Here is prepared the Jerufalem Balfam, fa- 
mous in thele countries, which is a preparation made 
of all kinds of balfams, and a number of aromaticks 
diflolved in fpirit of wine. Of this they make yearly, 
in the fummer folftice, a quantity that colts 150 
ducats at Jerufalem. It is very ufeful in all frelh 
external wounds; but too hot to give internally* 
However, they give it in blood-fpitting and con- 
tufions, from ten to twelve drops. The whole Phar- 
macopeia is valued at 100,000 piafters. The Greeks, 
Armenians, Syrians and Coptites, who all follow 
the Julian Calendar, had Ealter eve on the 17th. At 
two o’clock in the afternoon, we went to fee the fa' 
mous facred fire; one of the mod remarkable rites 
to be fecn at any place of divine worfhip. All the 
Chriftians of thefe denominations believe, that ofl 
Eafter eve a fupernatural fire comes up out of the 
holy Sepulchre, and this they call holy or facred* 
They believe, that their prielts.'by a miracle, call 
it down from heaven on this day. One prieft ot 
eacli fe<ft goes down into the holy Sepulchre at two 
o’clock. The Greek prieft goes into the innermoft 
apartment, and the others into another chapel, be' 
hind that apartment belonging to the Coptites* 
They there fay prayers by themfelves; and to thofe 
the common people aicribe the coming of the fft e ' 
In the mean time the Greeks, who arc the moft dis- 
orderly Chriftians, ufe various inventions in th e 
choir round the Sepulchre; fuch as the ancients de- 
feribe to have been ufed at their Bacchanals. Boys 
dance and fitip about, reprefenting the death 
refurrefti 011 ’ 
