22 MOUNT ATHOS. 
CHAP, one or two being wholly exempt from all impost, 
and therefore called Kesim, a Turkish word 
signifying "free from taxes'.' The sum total of 
the contribution levied upon the monasteries of 
Mount Athos is only equal to a thousand dollars ; 
not amounting to a thousandth part of the gifts 
annually made to them by the princes and 
priests of Russia, Moldavia, Walachia, and 
Georgia. '' He that sees," says Rycaut\ "the 
various coverings they have for their altars, the 
rich ornaments they have for their churches, 
will not easily apprehend those people to be 
very poor. Amongst their other treasures, 
they have a representation of Christ in the 
Sepulchre, which they call i-Triracpio, exposed 
every Good Friday, at night, rich with gold and 
precious stones. Most of their monasteries can 
represent the history of its foundation, not in 
paint or colours, but in embroideries of gold^ 
and pearl, and other precious stones, intermixed 
with singular art and curiosity. They have 
also variety of rich vestments for the priests, 
especially in the four chief monasteries, where 
are many chests filled with such robes as are 
\ised at the celebration of divine service : their 
(l) " Present State of the Greek and Armenian Churches," p. 224. 
Lond. 16T9. 
