*260 A CRUSADE IN THE EAST. 
ANCIENT ARCH IN DAMASCUS. 
and told us, with great solemnity, that they were bazaars; 
the mosques, too, he pointed out, and informed us that they 
were mosques ; some old walls, likewise, he showed us, and 
said they were walls ; after which, satisfied that he had im¬ 
parted to us much valuable information, he took us to a native 
smoking-house, and with our permission, called for coffee and 
narguillas for the whole party, which he paid for out of his 
own purse, charging us afterward only double the amount; 
according to a custom prevalent among guides all over the 
world. 
I was greatly struck with the majestic and dignified ap¬ 
pearance of old Ibrahim; and thought he would look very 
much like a distinguished person, on paper. Indeed, I secretly 
entertained the belief that he was really some extraordinary 
man, in reduced circumstances; probably one of the learned 
Rabbi that I had read about in books on the East. My chief 
ground for the latter opinion was, that he seemed always to 
be wrapt in a profound study ; and had a great antipathy to 
any thing like learning in others. Nothing so excited his con¬ 
tempt (if I might judge by the gravity of his countenance, for 
