TO BETHLE H E M. 149 
fcut they every day apprehend being attacked in 
their own chambers, by thefe robbers. They fur- 
prife the Monks, either to obtain provifions, which 
hke .moil other robbers they want continually, or 
attack and force them to buy a quantity of Paten- 
tees, models of the grave of Chrift, erodes and 
°ther wares of this kind, which is the only employ 
’d all the inhabitants of this village. Of thefe they 
have fo large a dock in Jerufalcm, that the Procu- 
rator told me, he had to the value of 15,000 pialfers 
reliques in the magazine of the Convent ; a fum 
'K'hich one would fcarcely believe could be ex- 
pended in fuch things. An incredible quantity of 
, e m goes yearly to all the Pioman Catholic coun- 
ties in Europe, but moil to Spain and Portugal, 
h^reat part is bought by the Turks, who come 
Pearly for thefe commodities. A number is yearly 
t nt by the Monks in Jerufalem, to be given as pre- 
jeots to the patrons of their order; and thefe are 
heft paid for by other prefents they receive in rer 
n ! rn - No Pilgrim goes away, without carrying 
' v ith him a ilore of thefe wares; and therefore the 
taking of thefe holy things is a conilant and certain 
employ for the inhabitants of jerufalcm and Bethr 
■ hem, with which they may drive on a monopoly 
^ filing as the Dutch do, with Nutmeg and Cin- 
iimon. The dexterity and art with which they 
p e thefe things, efpecially the Paternofters, and 
h bull from the Pope, which grants indulgen- 
J es to thofe who have Paternofters brought from 
efe holy places, are circumllanees which add to 
ercdit. On my return to Jerufalem, I was 
ji e j Vn the place where the angel took the Prophet 
abakuk, and carried him to Babylon, and another 
; ‘. ce ’ "ith lome ruins of a building, which rny 
• told me was the houfe in which the Patriarch 
l> 3 Jacob 
