NAZARETH. 183 
it grew dark, we all stretched ourselves upon ^^S^- 
the floor of our apartment, not without serious ^ 
alarm of catching the plague, but tempted by ylnTncLc 
the hope of obtaining a little repose. This we i^'xhlnlh, 
had found to be impracticable the night before, '^'""^' 
in consequence of the vermin. The hope was 
however vain ; not one of our party could close 
his eyes. Every instant it was necessary to 
rise, and endeavour to shake oiF the noxious 
animals with which our bodies were covered. 
In addition to this penance, we were serenaded 
until four o'clock in the morning, the hour we 
had fixed for our departure, by the constant 
ringing of a chapel bell, as a charm against the 
plague , by the barking of dogs ; the braying of 
asses ; the howling of jackals ; and by the 
squalling of children. 
