206 THE HOLY LAND. 
CHAP, worship- The custom which unites the Drit^m 
V -v-; in bonds of the strictest amity with those wha 
happen to have eaten tread and salt with them^ 
is of jirahian origin ; but indifference about 
matters of religion, which is so obvious among 
the Drusesy never was known to characterize an 
Arab. The fact is, that this does not apply to 
them all. It is evident that the Ohkals are not 
indiiferent as to their mode of worship, whatso- 
ever this may really be. That which is related 
of them we do not receive upon their own 
authority. The imputation which charges them 
with the worship of a calf, has some internal 
evidence of truth; because such an idol, so 
reverenced, was brought by the Israelites into 
the Holy Land: nor does it seem probable, 
supposing this accusation to have been founded 
upon the invention of a tribe of ignorant moun- 
taineers, that the story would have been so 
classically adapted to the antient history of the 
country. Considering the little information 
derived from the writings of those travellers 
who have resided among them, and who have 
paid most attention to the subject, it is not 
lively that the nature of their occult rites will 
ever be promulgated'. That they betray an 
(1) " It is impossible to draw a single word from their priests, who 
observe the most inviolable secresy in every thing that concerns their 
worship. 
