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PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.

The present monastery or " Convent of Mount Carmel " (see page 84), though dedicated
" in honorem B. B. Virginis Marise," is commonly called Deir Mar Elyas (the Convent of
Saint Elijah). It owes its origin to the indefatigable exertions of one monk, Fra Giovanni
Battista di Frascati, who collected the money for its erection. Its first stone was laid in 1828.
It is very substantially built; the north side is protected by a ditch ; the bastion on the east
side, plainly shown in the illustration, is formed by the apse of the chapel which is built over
the so-called grotto of Elijah. On a side altar of this chapel there is a large statue of the
prophet carved in wood, adorned with silver bracelets, anklets, and necklets, and a silver

chain from which is suspended an Austrian
gold coin of the value of five sovereigns.
These ornaments are chiefly votive offer-
ings of the peasantry of Mount Carmel,

Called Castellum Peregrinorum by Mediaeval writers. It was one of the most
important landing-places for pilgrims during the thirteenth century. It
stands on a rocky promontory which projects a quarter of a mile westward
into the sea.

including the Druses. There are generally from eighteen to
twenty monks in residence, one of whom must be a qualified
surgeon. A most hospitable and courteous welcome is always

given to European travellers, for whom twenty-eight beds in the handsome suite of rooms on
the first floor are always kept in readiness. Native pilgrims are accommodated on the ground-
floor and in the building surmounted by a lighthouse west of the convent (see page 84). The
monks diligently cultivate a garden of flowers and vegetables, and the vine flourishes under
their care. From the abundant aromatic herbs of Carmel they distil fragrant essences and very
valuable medicaments. They possess about three hundred goats and twenty cows, and employ
native herdsmen to lead them to pasture. There are several small chapels south and-east of
the convent, called " Rumitorii; " in one of them there is a statue of John the Baptist, carved
in wood.
 
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