^7# etARKE^S TRAVEL^ 
CHAR XVIII. 
THE HOLY LAND.—JERUSALEM, TO BETHLE¬ 
HEM, JAFFA, AND ACRE. 
-Journey to Bethlehem—Singular Example of dexterity in a 
Goat—View of Bethlehem—Prospect of the Dead Sea —- 
Erroneous notions entertained of this Lake—Cause of those 
Opinions—Authors by whom it is described—Precautions 
upon entering Bethlehem—Descent into the Valley—Criti¬ 
cal Examination of a Passage in Josephus — David's Well-T¬ 
inier esting Circumstances connected with its History—An¬ 
tiquity of'Eastern Wells—Account of Bethlehem—Tomb of 
Rachel — Caverns—Terebinthine Vale—Valley of Jeremiah 
—Vegetable Productions — Arabs — Bethoor—Rama — His¬ 
tory of that City •— Si. George of Diospolis—Ravages caused 
by the Plague — Jaffa—Improbability of the supposed Mas¬ 
sacre by Buonaparte—Ancient History of Jaffa—Voyage 
along ike Coast—Ccesarea—Return to Acre . 
When we had Been all, and much more than is worth no¬ 
tice. in Jerusalem ; and had obtained from the superior of the 
Franciscan Monastery the usual certificate given to pilgrims, v 
©f the different places we had visited in the Holy Land; we 
prepared for our departure. The worthy friars, who had 
treated us with very great attention, finding that we were de¬ 
termined to go to Bethlehem, where the plague then raged 
with fatal violence, told us, with expressions of regret, that 
they could not again receive us, if we persisted in our inten¬ 
tion. We therefore took leave of them, resolved at all events 
to see the place of our Saviour’s nativity, and then continue 
our journey to Jaffa, without entering Jerusalem in our re¬ 
turn. 
Upon our road, we met an Arab with a goat, which he led 
about the country to exhibit,ip order to gain a livelihood for 
Itself and its owner. He had taught this animal, while he ac- 
* This certificate entitles persons of the Greek church to the title of hadgi. It isa 
census; daeuatent, and has therefore been preserved.for the appendix to piis volui&e. 
