Eastern times., 1855-12-06
BATH IN GENEsARErH.

selves from the barbarous restraints of dress,
dipped into the torpid sea and foated lazily out
until we could feel the exquisite coolness of
the living springs which sent up their jets
from the bottom. was lying on my back,
moving my fins just sufficiently to keep ahoat,
and gazing dreamily through halfclosed eyes
on the forlorn palms of Tberias, when shrill
voice hailed me with, 20, Howadji, get out Of
our wayn There, at the old stone gateway
below our tent, stood two Galilean damsels,
with heavy earthen jars upon their heads
Go away yourselves, o, maidens, l answered,
1T you want us to come out of the water'-
But we must fill our pitchers one of them
replied. Then fill them at once, and be not
afraid or leave them and we will fill them
for you Thereupon they put the pitchers
down, but remained watching us very COM
pacently while we sank the vessels to the bot
tom of the lake, and let them fill from the cold
er and purer tide of the springs. /. In bringing
them back through the water TO the gate, the
one propelled before me happened to strike
against stone. and its fair owner on receiving
it Immediately pointed TO crack on the side,
which she declared had made, and went off
lamenting. After we had resumed our gar
men's, and were enjoying the pipe of incidence
and the coffee of contentment, she returned and
made such an outcry that ! was fain 10 pur-
chase peace by the price of new pitcher.
passed the first hours of the night in looking
out of my tent door, as / lay, on the stars
sparkling in the bosom of Galilee, like the
sheen of Assyrian spears, and the glare of the
great fires hindled on the opposite shore
JEWISH MARRIAGE FESTIVITIES AT ALEPPo
At one of the Jewish houses which we Wis
tied, the wedding festivities of one of the
daughters were being celebrated. We were
welcomed with great cordiality, and immedi-
ately ushered into the room of state, an elegant
apartment overlooking the gardens below the
city wall. Half the room was occupied by a
raised platform, with a divan of blue silk
cushions. Here the ladies reclined, in superb
dresses Of blue, pink and gold, while the gen.
tlemen were ranged below. They all rose at
our entrance, and we were conducted to seats
among the ladies. Pipes and perfumed drinks
were served, and the wedding-cake, made of
twenty-six different fruits, was presented on a
golden salver. Our fair neighbors, some of
whom literally blazed with jewels, were strik-
ingly beautiful. Presently the bride appeared
at the door, and we all rose and remained
standing as she advanced, supported on each
side by the two shebeeniyeh, or bridesmaids
She was about sixteen, slight and graceful in
appearance, though not decidedly beautiful
and was attired with the utmost elegance
Her dress was a pale blue silk, heavy with
gold embroidery and over her long, dark
hair, her neck, bosom and wrists, PLAYED a
thousand rainbow CLEANS, from the Jewels
which covered them. The Jewish musicians,
seated at the bottom of the hall, struck up a
loud, rejoicing harmony on their violins, gui-
tars and dulcimers, and the women servants
grouped at the door uttered that wild, shrill
cry which accompanies all such festivals in the
east
The bride was careful to preserve that de-
nor losing the sad, resigned expression of her
countenance. She ascended to the divan,
bowed to each of US with low. reverential in
clination, and seated herself on the cushion
Tha orI
companied by the aaghareet, or the cry of the
women, which was repeated with double force
when we arose to take leave. The whole COM
pany waited on us to the street door, and one
of the servants stationed in the court, shouted
some long, sing song phrases after us as we
passed out | could not learn the words, bul
was told that it was an invocation of prosperi.
ty upon US, in return for the honor which oul
visit had conferred.
In the evening went to view Christian
marriage procession, which, about midnight
conveyed the bride to the house of the bride.
groom. The house, it appeared, was toe
small to receive all the friends of the family
and ! joined large number of them who re-
paired to the terrace of the English consulate
to greet the procession as it passed. The frs
persons who appeared were company of buf
foons after them four janizaries, carrying sill
yer maces; then the male friends, bearing col
ored lanterns and perfumed torches; then the
females, among whom | saw some beautiful
Madonna faces in the torchlight; and finally
the bride herself, covered from head to foo
with a veil of cloth of gold and urged along
by two maidens-for it is the etiquette of suct
occasions that the bride should resist being
taken, and must be forced every step of the
way so that she is frequently three hours go
ing the distance of a mile We watched ths
procession a long time, winding away through
the streets-a line of torches, and songs, anc
incense and noisy jubilee-under the sweet
star-lit heaven.
HOSPITAL FOR CATS AT ALEPPo.
The other remarkable thing here is the hos
pital for cats. This was founded long ago by
rich, cat-loving Musselman, and is one of the
best endowed institutions in the CITY, An old
mosque is appropriated to the purpose, undel
the charge of several directors, and here sicl
cats are nursed, homeless cats find shelter, anC
decrepit cats gracefully purr away their de
| clinin0 The uhsla r-aoorv ay,,h-, .,