other end of the room to kiss my hands. They were clean, well-dressed, bright-looking boys. The room was full of visitors. Mattresses were spread all round against the walls, and there was not a space vacant, but not one woman came.
It grew dark, and the shutters were closed, when a tall, slender, brass candelabrum was brought in, and placed on the middle of the floor, at the upper end of the room. It supported a large oil lamp, with three wicks. Three long brass chains hung from it—one held a pair of lamp scissors, another a long stout pin which is used to trim the wick, to the third an extinguisher was attached. At the lower end of the room, a large glazed lantern, with tin frame-work, stood on a low wooden stool—these lights shone on a strange and motley assembly. There was an Indian Jew there, with a very dark face and white beard, a dusky turban, and duskier robes. He came forward to claim brotherhood with us, for he was an English subject, and very proud of his nationality. He had journeyed from Hindoostan to see the city of Solomon, and to ascertain the state of the Jews in Palestine. He seemed to be a learned and enterprising man.
Isaac Shallom, a Jew of Aleppo, but a resident at Hâifa, brought me some soft, sweet, white almond paste, with pistachio nuts imbedded in it—a celebrated Aleppo sweetmeat. The Rabbi and chief members of the Jewish community of Shefa 'Amer were also present, with a few Moslems and Druzes, and a number of Christian Arabs. Arrack was handed round from time to time in the lower part of the room, and songs of praise were sung in honor of the chief guests. Saleh, who is no singer, but a very fluent speaker, said, "Ibrahim left his kindred, his home, and his country, he dwelt in a strange land among strangers, but he became mighty in the land, his family increased, his name became great. Even so may the name of Rogers be known throughout this country, may his children and his children's children dwell here in honor!" The idea was
