DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0218
HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. 185
I was witness to the distress occasioned to the Latin con-
vent, at the demand made by the Pasha's representative,
which it was totally unable to satisfy. The poverty of this
convent had been for some time pretty well known, or a
demur in the payment would have caused the immediate
imprisonment of the superior, and perhaps of the whole
convent.
In addition to these expenses, the different convents pay
large sums annually to the Arab chief of St. Jeremiah, for
safe conduct through the mountains, and must submit to any
extraordinary demands he may make. A refusal would im-
mediately subject their sectaries to be plundered, on their
way to and from Jerusalem.
Whilst the army from Damascus is there, each convent
pays and feeds a guard of twelve janissaries, to prevent the
insults to which they would be subject from the other
soldiers. Even this does not ensure them protection. The
terrace of the Latin convent is overlooked by part of the
ground where the army was encamped. The priests, at that
time, dare not show themselves on their terrace, for fear of
being fired at, which the soldiers seemed to do for amuse-
ment. I happened personally to know the danger of ex-
posing myself there, by the passing of a musquet ball very
near me, while I was sketching a view from thence. I had
fortunately nearly finished what I wished to draw, and took
2 B
I was witness to the distress occasioned to the Latin con-
vent, at the demand made by the Pasha's representative,
which it was totally unable to satisfy. The poverty of this
convent had been for some time pretty well known, or a
demur in the payment would have caused the immediate
imprisonment of the superior, and perhaps of the whole
convent.
In addition to these expenses, the different convents pay
large sums annually to the Arab chief of St. Jeremiah, for
safe conduct through the mountains, and must submit to any
extraordinary demands he may make. A refusal would im-
mediately subject their sectaries to be plundered, on their
way to and from Jerusalem.
Whilst the army from Damascus is there, each convent
pays and feeds a guard of twelve janissaries, to prevent the
insults to which they would be subject from the other
soldiers. Even this does not ensure them protection. The
terrace of the Latin convent is overlooked by part of the
ground where the army was encamped. The priests, at that
time, dare not show themselves on their terrace, for fear of
being fired at, which the soldiers seemed to do for amuse-
ment. I happened personally to know the danger of ex-
posing myself there, by the passing of a musquet ball very
near me, while I was sketching a view from thence. I had
fortunately nearly finished what I wished to draw, and took
2 B