all cleared away. Then we called at each of the Consulates, for among the Europeans in the Levant, the new-comer is expected to be the first caller. The French Consul—who in early youth had served in the ranks of the first Napoleon—received us heartily, and introduced me to his wife, a Syrian lady, who spoke French fluently. The Austrian Consul is a native of one of the Dalmatian Isles, and the other Consulates were held by Ionians and natives of Scio, who showed us great courtesy and kindness. The American Consular Agent is an Arab, who can speak a little broken English. The ladies of these families were all either Syrian or Greek, but they most of them spoke Italian, and welcomed me into their circle with graceful cordiality. Two other families, of French extraction, engaged in commerce, completed the European colony of Hâifa. Their houses were built in Oriental fashion, round courts, some of which were paved with black and white marble. The rooms were furnished with Turkish divans, French mirrors, consoles, and pictures. I must not omit the little Café, called the Victoria Hotel, kept by a Maltese.
Wednesday, September 26th, a party of women in white izzars, or sheets, from the court below, came early and brought me several flat loaves of bread, stamped with a cross, formed of groups of sacred monograms, IC, XC, NI, KI, etc., in celebration of the Greek Feast of the Holy Cross.
Presently the Greek Bishop of 'Akka visited us. He wore a long, blue cloth dress, very flowing and open, exposing an under robe of crimson silk, a crimson girdle, and black pointed shoes. He did not remove his low, brimless, black hat, which curves slightly and spreads toward the crown.
When he and his suite had retired, a letter was handed to my brother, which caused him to rise hastily and go out. I watched from the front window, and soon saw evident signs of a commotion in the town. Little groups of armed men were standing about in the open place, and passing hurriedly to and fro. In a short time I saw all the consuls
