BETHLEHEM. 407 
venture thither. For this purpose, calling all 
our troop together, we appointed some of the 
party to keep a look-out, and to act as guards in 
the van, in the centre, and in the rear of the ^"^^Sm. 
cavalcade, to see that no person loitered, and 
that none of the inhabitants might be permitted 
to touch any of our persons, or any of our 
horses and camels. In this manner we passed 
entirely through the town, which we found 
almost deserted by the inhabitants, who, having 
fled the contagion, were seen stationed in tents 
over all the neighbouring hills. It appeared to 
be a larger place than we expected to find : the 
houses are all white; and they have flat roofs, as 
at Jerusalem, and in other parts of the country. 
A nephew of the Governor of Jerusalem, mounted 
upon a beautiful Arabian courser, magnificently 
accoutred, rode near to the centre of our caravan. 
He had volunteered his company, as he said, to 
ensure us respect, and as a mark of the Gover- 
nor's condescension. To our very great embar- 
rassment, we had no sooner arrived in the 
middle oi Bethlehem, than some of the inhabitants, 
at the sight of this man, came towards him to 
salute him ; and, in spite of all our precautions 
and remonstrances, a Bethlehemite of some con- 
sideration came and conversed with him, placing 
his arm upon the velvet saddle-cloth which 
