and inmates. This was quite a novelty, and I was told that modern Jerusalem had never before been systematically numbered. The lower classes of Arabs regarded it as unlucky, and were strongly prejudiced against it—others spoke of it as a very tyrannical proceeding. Isaiah, in 22d chapter and 10th verse, says reproachfully, "Ye have numbered the houses of Jerusalem."
We left the Holy City in January, and rode over the hills of Judea, and across the plain of Philistia, many parts of which were dangerous to pass through, for the water rested in large lagoons, and the earth was swampy; but our guide knew the road well, and we reached Yâfa in safety, and in time for a Russian steamer which conveyed us to Hâifa.
Our little town was rising rapidly in importance; many large houses had been built during the year, and outside the western wall a hamlet was springing up, which was called by the Europeans the Faubourg of Mount Carmel. A handsome church with a large cupola had just been completed for the Greek Catholic or Melchite congregation.
The Russian Government had obtained a firman, which granted them permission to make a jetty at Hâifa, and Signor Pierotti, an architect and engineer in the Russian service, formerly Captain of Engineers in the Sardinian army, came to superintend the work, which gave employment to a large number of people, and created a great deal of animation in the place. The jetty was made of wood, and cost the Russian Government upward of three thousand pounds. There is not another such landing-place on the coast of Syria. It was freely used by all people, and no tax or toll of any kind was imposed.
A hospice adjoining the Greek Church was in the mean time erected. When these were finished, Signor Pierotti went to Nazareth to superintend architectural works for the Greek church there. He is now architect to the Pasha of Jerusalem.
