The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-03-29

The result was that few undertook a journey
except in cases Of necessity. and then generally
in company with others. As a rule. a per
son who was about TO travel prepared himsel
as IL for q change Of residence. He would carr,
with him his tent, sufficient provisions in Tn,
shape OF grain and preserved fruit, and cloth.
ing. Equally extensive were the preparations
of those who expected a guest. The host went
TO meet him at n considerable distance. and
again when he left escorted and provided him
with the neccssarles OF life. On solitary roads
or where villages we're thinly scattered. way.
side inns which. IN the Tnlmud. bear the same
name as In the New Testament. provided fot
payment lodging and food for strangers. These
inns, however, were generally kept md ~rcsortel
to by non-1sraelites. Jews preferred to pitch
their tents, or even to receive hospitality from
Samaritans, rather than trust themselves IN
what often proved lurking places for the ill-dis-
posed. 1t should be added that. in the larger
towns, at any rate. there existed for the con-
venience Of the inhabitants numerous restau.
rants or wine shops where food and drink could
be obtained In great variety.
The Jews carly took part In tho farreaching
trade Of the Phpniclans. and the possession OF
seaports on the Red Sea gave them. at one time.
the III of the trade with India. In Ro-
man times the commerce OF Palestine became
exceedingly extensive and important. Many of
the natural products Of the country were ex-
ported todistantla lands. where some ofthcm gain
ed a high reputation. The foreign commodities
imported were, with the exception OF wood and
metals. principally articles of luxury. Fish from
Spain, apples from Crete. cheese from Bithy.
MIA; l%entils, beans, and gourds from Egypt and
Greece; plates from Babylon, wine from Italy
beer from Media, household vessels from Sidon,
baskets from Egypt, dresses from India. sandals
from Laodicea, shirts from Cilecla, wells from
Arabia; such were some OF the goods brought
from abroad. On the other hand. Jews ex-
ported wheat. oil. honey. figs, balsam. as well rs
linen and woollen goods. Some idea OF the di-
versity of Jewish trade may be gathered from
the fact that, In the Talmudic literature about
ninety different home products or manufac-
lures are mentioned, as against 1874 articles i'm
ported from foreign parts.
The currency varied with tho circumstance
OF the people. After the return from Babylon.
first Persian, and then Seleucid coinage was
chiefly In use. When Simon the Maccabee at
tanned power he issued Hebrew coins. which
were. In turn superseded by Grccian and Ro-
man currency. Amid this variety 1t Is more
than usually difficult to ascertain the exact
value of coins. The smallest coin was the half
quadrans, or Jewish perutah. equal to about
one-sixteenth OF a penny. Four quadrans. or
eight lepta. made an as or about a half penny.
Two or four as pieces were also in use. The
denarius or drachm the penny OF the New Tes-
tament was worth about seven and a half
pence l5 cents. The slater. worth four drachms.
was approximately equal to a stchel. Larger
sums of money were reckoned by minds. worth
100, and talents. worth 900 drdchms. The usual
gold coin was the Roman aureus. worth 25
denarii, and the difference between the value
of gold and silver varied from lilo to Ills.
While the smallness Of the coins in circulation
Is unquestiUnably an index Of the cheapness of
living in Palestine. their variety necessitated
from an early date a class Of merchants known
as bankers or money changers. Readers OF the
New Testament are reminded that. II a laborer
received for a days work in the field or vine
yard a denar as cents. while the kind Samari-
tan only paid . denars for tho charge of the
sick person in the inn, labor must have
brought a high price In comparison
to the expense OF provisions. Money changers
were Indispensable, not only owing to the differ
ent currencies in use. or for the purpose of ac-
commodating the merchant or the traveller,
but principally to change the various coins in
which Jewish residents at home or settlers
abroad paid the statutory half shekel go cents
as temple tribute. From all parts of the world
the contributions OF the faithful flowed to
Jerusalem, which. wherever scattered, they re-
garded as their religious home. Custom had II
that nothing but a half shekel could be received
at the treasury. Every other Lind OF coin had.
therefore,, to be changed for a half shekel. and
this constituted one of the principal employ
OF the bankers. For this purpose they
opened stalls throughout the country during the
period corresponding to our month OF March.
when also the public roads. market places.
and baths were repaired. The money changers
about one-sixth of a denar Csay three
as discount from every one who procured