208 THE HOLY LAND. 
concerning whom we would gladly have contri- 
buted any satisfactory information, we must 
now turn our attention to other subjects ; con- 
fessing, that on leaving the Druses, we were as 
ignorant of their real history as when we entered 
the country of their residence \ 
As we rode from this village towards the 
Sea of Tiberias, the guides pointed to a sloping 
spot from the heights upon our right, whence 
we had descended, as the place where the 
miracle was accomplished by which our Sa- 
viour fed the multitude : it is therefore called 
Tlie Multiplication of Bread; as the Mount 
above, where the Sermon was preached to his 
Disciples, is called The Mountain of Beatitudes, 
from the expressions used in the beginning of 
that discourse ^ This part of the Holy Land is 
(1) "The country of Caslravent, apart of Mount Lebanon which 
looks towards the Mediterranean Sea, is inhabited, in preference to any 
other spot, by the Druses, who gave their name to this southern district. 
They occupy also the rest of Mount Lebanon, Anti-Lebanon, the narrow 
plains which lie between Castravent and the sea, and all that extent of 
shore from Gibail, otherwise called Bjblus, as far as the river Evl, near 
the antient Sidon, at present called Sai/d. The antient Heliopolis, now 
kno.wn by the name of Balbec, is peopled by this nation, a& well as the 
neighbouring country. In short, families of the Druses may be found 
scattered here and there, throughout every part of Syria and Pale- 
stine." MaritVs Travels, vd. II. ;;. 23. 
(2) " Blessed arc the poor in spirit .... Blessed are they that 
uiourii," &c. &c. 
