TIBERIAS. 231 
laughter, and said, that, according to a saying chap. 
current in Galilee, ^' the king of the fleas ' . ' 
HOLDS HIS COURT IN TIBERIAS." Some of the 
party, provided with hammocks, slung them 
from the walls, so as to lie suspended above the 
floor ; yet even these did not escape persecu- 
tion : and, for the rest of us, who lay on the 
bare planks, we were, as usual, tormented 
and restless during the night, listening to the 
noise made by the jackals. Being well aware 
what we had to expect, we resolved to devote 
as many hours as possible, before day-break, 
to conversation with the people of the country, 
to our supper, and to the business of writing 
our journals. They brought us a plentiful 
repast, consisting of three sorts of fried fishes 
from the lake : one of these, a species of mullet, 
was, according to their tradition, the favourite 
food of Jesus Christ. The French, during the 
time their army remained under Buonaparte in 
the Holy Land, constructed two very large 
ovens in this castle. Two years had elapsed. Supposed 
at the time of our arrival, since they had set caused by 
. . . XhQ French. 
fire to their granary; and it was considered 
as a miracle by the inhabitants of Tiberias, that 
the combustion was not yet extinguished. We 
visited the place, and perceived, that, whenever 
the ashes of the burned corn were stirred by 
