214

ORIENTAL SUPERSTITION.

mentioned my companion's profession, and said how anxious he was to make a few drawings of costume, the lady of the house professed the greatest readiness to oblige him, and observed, in the true oriental style, that her whole family were at his service. She certainly did not expect, however, to be taken at her word. For, when the artist had run home for his sketch-book, and returned, overjoyed at the too fortunate opportunity, their whole manner underwent a complete change. Some one among the female gossips, a red-nosed Jael, whom Judith Cohen pointed out to me, had started certain conscientious scruples, but whether connected with the day or the deed I could never learn; so that when they were shown his former sketches, instead of exhibiting a readiness to figure among the fair forms therein registered, they effected their escape, and left us to the care of the elderly ladies. My companion was chagrined; but he misunderstood their motive, for the whole was traceable to a curious superstition prevalent in many parts of the East, that a woman is in the power of a man who possesses her portrait. I regretted their departure, and we soon after took our leave, looking cold upon the old dame, whose whole family had been so completely at our disposal not two hours before.

On the following day, the last of the Passover, to make up in some measure for the disappointments of the preceding, my friend made a sketch of Mrs. Cohen, a sweet brunette, with ruddy pouting lips, and eyes full of archness and mischief. She was a young mother, and her little one had inherited all his mo

FEAST OF THE PASSOVER.

215

ther's naïveté. Judith, the sister of our host, of whom he had already made more sketches than one, was probably in herself little inferior to the superstitious belles of the evening before; but appeared less striking from the plainness of her costume, and the calm severity of her manner. She offered, in fact, a complete contrast to these ladies, whose round, full, yet finely modelled forms suggested the idea of a Phryne, or a Laïs, though I by no means intend to say that the moral answered to the physical characteristics.

But our in-door studies could not detain us from mingling with the gay crowds without. I have said it was the last day of the Passover, and the Jewish quarter was consequently filled with bustle and activity. The poor yahoodis appeared to forget they were strangers in a strange land. They could scarcely have been more joyous of old in Jerusalem, when mirth, and laughter, and rejoicing, not always free from the excesses of wine, or that other vice said to be its twin-sister, pealed round Mount Zion, and bade the heart overflow with gratitude for their ancient deliverance.

On these occasions the respectable Moors, who by no means share the stupid prejudices of the rabble against the Jews, are in the habit of making presents to the persons of that nation with whom they are acquainted, in return for those received from them on their own national festival. "Mine host's" house

presented a scene of much gaiety. The lamp suspended from the roof was filled to overflowing with gold and silver coins; and the great table placed in the

216

NEW MARRIAGE-TAX.

centre of the hall was piled, like a fruit-stall in the bazaar, with all the good things of this world. Numerous visitors were constantly arriving or departing, each a perfect picture, with their extraordinary costume and more extraordinary visages. They all partook of what was laid on the table; and I particularly observed that "mine host" presented each with a bit of lettuce dipped in honey. A sip of wine or brandy, the best that Languedoc could produce, concluded the flying repast, which appeared to give a fresh curl to their beards.

On the good old rule," the better the day the better the deed," the Mohammedans generally choose Friday for a circumcision-feast, or a wedding. Our friend, the pasha, acted upon this notion in solemnizing the marriage of his son, which took place on the day succeeding the termination of the Jewish Passover. It was a very extraordinary sight, to us at least, to whom it was new; and even the inhabitants appeared to enjoy the thing much more intensely than an European rabble enjoy a dramatic spectacle. Deputations came pouring in with presents from all the neighbouring towns; and though these "free-will offerings," like some made nearer home, were scarcely free, since they were expected by one who had power to extort them, still the donors put a cheerful face upon the matter, and showed their white teeth as they entered the place like so many ogres. The presents consisted chiefly of cattle; and it was said the pasha gained so much by the speculation, that it was feared he would be getting his son a new wife every month.

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