DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.12665#0258
►
242 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
his nation. In his youth he had been fortunate in
his little dealings, and had been what we call an
enterprising man ; for he had twice made a voyage
to England, and was so successful, and liked the
country so much, that he always called himself an
Englishman. Having accumulated a little prop-
erty, or, as he expressed it, having become very
rich, he gratified the darling wish of his heart by
coming to Jerusalem, to die and be buried with his
fathers in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. But this
holy purpose in regard to his death and burial did
not make him undervalue the importance of life,
and the advantages of being a great man now.
He told me that he was rich, very rich; that he
was the richest, and, in fact, the only rich Jew in
Jerusalem. He took me through his house, and
showed me his gold and silver ornaments, and
talked of his money and the uses he made of it;
that he lent to the Latin Convent on interest, with-
out any security, whenever they wanted; but as
for the Greeks—he laughed, laid his finger on his
nose, and said he had in pledge jewels belonging
to them of the value of more than twenty thousand
dollars. He had had his losses too ; and while we
were enjoying the luxuries of his table, the leaven
of his nature broke out, and he endeavoured to sell
me a note for fifteen hundred pounds, of the Lady
Esther Stanhope, which he offered at a discount
of fifty per cent.; a bargain which I declined, as
being out of the line of my business.
I remember once the American fever came upon
242 INCIDENTS OF TRAVEL.
his nation. In his youth he had been fortunate in
his little dealings, and had been what we call an
enterprising man ; for he had twice made a voyage
to England, and was so successful, and liked the
country so much, that he always called himself an
Englishman. Having accumulated a little prop-
erty, or, as he expressed it, having become very
rich, he gratified the darling wish of his heart by
coming to Jerusalem, to die and be buried with his
fathers in the Valley of Jehoshaphat. But this
holy purpose in regard to his death and burial did
not make him undervalue the importance of life,
and the advantages of being a great man now.
He told me that he was rich, very rich; that he
was the richest, and, in fact, the only rich Jew in
Jerusalem. He took me through his house, and
showed me his gold and silver ornaments, and
talked of his money and the uses he made of it;
that he lent to the Latin Convent on interest, with-
out any security, whenever they wanted; but as
for the Greeks—he laughed, laid his finger on his
nose, and said he had in pledge jewels belonging
to them of the value of more than twenty thousand
dollars. He had had his losses too ; and while we
were enjoying the luxuries of his table, the leaven
of his nature broke out, and he endeavoured to sell
me a note for fifteen hundred pounds, of the Lady
Esther Stanhope, which he offered at a discount
of fifty per cent.; a bargain which I declined, as
being out of the line of my business.
I remember once the American fever came upon