DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0191
158 TRAVELS IN" EGYPT, NUBIA,
In one of the towers, that served as a barrack to some
Albanian soldiers, I was shown a mark in the window-seat,
which one of the soldiers pointed out as the impression of
David's elbow. The traveller who is inclined to listen to
such tales as these, will have many others of equal merit told
him, to which implicit belief is given by the inhabitants.
Here Avere confined another party of prisoners made in
the late dispute before mentioned, between the Pasha of
Damascus and the peasants of some of the villages in his
Pashalic. They were fastened together with large chains, of
a size I have rarely seen used, and were immured in a small
dungeon, which reminded me of the Black Hole of Calcutta.
The Turks, however, had more compassion than was shown
to our countrymen, as the door was left open to give them
air. There was a look of fierceness and pride in the coun-
tenances of these Syrians that evinced contempt for their
conquerors : they were crowded together like sheep, the
heads of some appearing under the bodies of others; hands,
knees, and legs indiscriminately mixed; yet, neither in my
approach, nor whilst at the door of the dungeon, did I hear
any s3'mptoin of impatience.
It appeared these peasants inhabited two villages, called
Calhooly and Soofrin, about six hours north of Lydda, and
made such successful resistance to the levy of contributions
by the Pasha of Damascus, that he was obliged to obtain
troops from all the Pashalics and governments in Syria to
In one of the towers, that served as a barrack to some
Albanian soldiers, I was shown a mark in the window-seat,
which one of the soldiers pointed out as the impression of
David's elbow. The traveller who is inclined to listen to
such tales as these, will have many others of equal merit told
him, to which implicit belief is given by the inhabitants.
Here Avere confined another party of prisoners made in
the late dispute before mentioned, between the Pasha of
Damascus and the peasants of some of the villages in his
Pashalic. They were fastened together with large chains, of
a size I have rarely seen used, and were immured in a small
dungeon, which reminded me of the Black Hole of Calcutta.
The Turks, however, had more compassion than was shown
to our countrymen, as the door was left open to give them
air. There was a look of fierceness and pride in the coun-
tenances of these Syrians that evinced contempt for their
conquerors : they were crowded together like sheep, the
heads of some appearing under the bodies of others; hands,
knees, and legs indiscriminately mixed; yet, neither in my
approach, nor whilst at the door of the dungeon, did I hear
any s3'mptoin of impatience.
It appeared these peasants inhabited two villages, called
Calhooly and Soofrin, about six hours north of Lydda, and
made such successful resistance to the levy of contributions
by the Pasha of Damascus, that he was obliged to obtain
troops from all the Pashalics and governments in Syria to