BETHLEHEM. 4I9 
and monoorams. A Greek servant who accom- chap. 
^ IX. 
panied us, thought proper to have his skin ■ 
disfigured in this manner ; and the wound was 
for many days so painful, and accompanied 
with so much fever, that we had reason to 
apprehend a much more serious consequence 
than he had expected. This practice is very 
antient; it is noticed by Virgil\ and by Pom- 
poniiis Mela^ : indeed, it is worthy of being 
remarked, that there rarely exists an instance 
among the popular minor superstitions of the 
Greek and Roman Churches, but its origin may 
be found in more remote antiquity ; and very 
often, among the religious customs of the Heathen 
nations. 
Leaving our halting-place by the ivell, we 
made a wide circuit in the valley, to keep clear 
of the town ; and returning again to Jerusalem, 
instead of entering the city, took the road 
leading to Jaffa. No notice has been taken 
of what is called the Tomb of Rachel', between ^'""f f 
'^ Rachel. 
(5) jEneid. Tib. iv. ver. 146. 
(6) Pompon, Mela, lib. xxi. 
(7) " Est qusedam via regia, quse ab ^lid contra ineridianam 
plajani Chebron ducit, cui viae Bethlehem vicina, sex millibiis distans 
ab Hierosolym^, ab orientali plagS. adhseret. Sepulchrum verb Rachel 
in eAdciu viae extremitate aboccidentali parte, hoc est in dextro latere, 
D D 2 habetur 
