BETHLEHEM TO JAFFA. 423 
forward, with our baoofa2:e, to the villao-e of chap. 
Bethoor, where they were seized by the Jrabs- ^ -,'- ■ 
All our journals were with the baggage ; and as 
we travelled with a recommendation from the 
Governor of Jerusalem, and from Djezzar Pasha, 
we thought there would be little risk in ven- 
turing to claim our effects : after a short 
deliberation, we therefore resolved to proceed. 
Barren as are the hills in this district, the 
valleys seem .remarkably fertile. We found 
the latter covered with plentiful crops of Vegetable 
. . Produc- 
tobacco, 2uheat, barley, Indian millet, melons, vines, tions. 
pumpkins, and cucumbers. The gourd or pumpkin 
seems to be a very favourite vegetable in the 
East, and many varieties of it are cultivated. 
The prospect among the hills resembles the 
worst parts of the Apennines. Mountains of 
naked limestone, however broken and varied 
their appearance, have rarely in their aspect 
any thing either grand or picturesque. Their 
summits and defiles are tenanted by the wildest 
Arabs^; a party of whom, attended by their ^mis. 
(3) " I was told of the tribe between Rama and Jerusalem. The 
European Monks, who are now the only pilgrims that visit the Holy 
Land, describe those Arahs as devils incarnate, and complain dolefully 
of their cruelty to the poor C/irM<ifm*. Those lamentations, and the 
superstitious pity of good souls in Europe, procure large alms to the 
Convent of Franciscans at Jerusalem." Niebuhr's Truv. in Arnhia, 
vol. II.J9. 182. Edin. 1T92. 
