DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.10358#0264
2 34
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
feet from the ground, through which travellers were formerly drawn up into the convent. As
the traveller approaches its walls, his Bedawy attendants hasten forward, and standing beneath
the pent-house, shout out, " Ya Musa! Ya Musa!" (" O Moses!"), this being the name of the
porter now in office. Presently a turbaned head peers out, then a rope with a basket attached
to it is let down ; in this the letter of introduction, or pass from a branch convent, is placed,
and quickly drawn up (see page 225). The buttress near to this wicket was built by General
Kleber, the commander of the French troops during their occupation of Egypt. A tablet let
into the wall commemorates the restoration of the building by that commander.
Presently an iron gate, which leads into a courtyard between the garden and the convent,
is opened, and the candidate for admission is welcomed by the (Economos, or bursar of the
convent, and probably received with an embrace and a kiss. His Arab attendants and camels
are left outside to bivouac in the valley (see page 238), while he is led into the convent through
a low door in the north-west wall near to an entrance, now built up, which was formerly used
for the admission of high dignitaries, and called Bab er Ras, or the Abbot's Gate. The
space enclosed within the convent walls is cut up into a number of irregularly shaped small
courts, by ranges of buildings running in all directions, forming quite a labyrinth of narrow
winding passages ascending and descending (see page 228). In one of these courts there is a
well with a few apricot-trees near it, in. others a few flowers or vegetables are planted, and
ancient vines appear in several places running over rude trellis-work. There are many isolated
upper chambers approached by rickety wooden stairs or ladders (see page 232), and apartments
are perched high up, projecting with fine picturesque effect over the walls at the west and
south corners. A long row of cells, half of which are reserved for the use of pilgrims and
travellers, are built along the north-west wall, and open into a covered corridor or gallery
constructed of wood and approached by two flights of stone steps (see page 229). The wall
facing the top of the first flight of steps is pierced with loopholes, through which glimpses
may be caught of the broad plain of Er Rahah (see page 238). In these are set the ordnance
of the convent. Everything bears the mark of high antiquity, being apparently the patchwork
of various bygone centuries.
Besides the great Church of the Transfiguration which, with its handsome new bell-tower,
stands in the midst of these buildings, close to a now rarely used mosque (see page 235), there
are several small chapels or oratories dispersed over the convent, in which masses are
occasionally said. The ordinary mode of calling the fraternity to prayers is by striking with a
hammer a piece of iron, like part of the tire of a wheel, more or less bent, and suspended by
ropes (see page 232). A flat piece of granite, thus suspended and struck with a wooden stick,
serves the same purpose, producing a ringing sound. There is an example of this kind of
bell hanging by the doorway of an oratory on page 228, and in the lower stage of the great
bell-tower there is a long plank of wood which, on being struck, can be heard all over the
convent. Bells are only rung on church festivals and occasions of rejoicing, or to show respect
to some high dignitary.
PICTURESQUE PALESTINE.
feet from the ground, through which travellers were formerly drawn up into the convent. As
the traveller approaches its walls, his Bedawy attendants hasten forward, and standing beneath
the pent-house, shout out, " Ya Musa! Ya Musa!" (" O Moses!"), this being the name of the
porter now in office. Presently a turbaned head peers out, then a rope with a basket attached
to it is let down ; in this the letter of introduction, or pass from a branch convent, is placed,
and quickly drawn up (see page 225). The buttress near to this wicket was built by General
Kleber, the commander of the French troops during their occupation of Egypt. A tablet let
into the wall commemorates the restoration of the building by that commander.
Presently an iron gate, which leads into a courtyard between the garden and the convent,
is opened, and the candidate for admission is welcomed by the (Economos, or bursar of the
convent, and probably received with an embrace and a kiss. His Arab attendants and camels
are left outside to bivouac in the valley (see page 238), while he is led into the convent through
a low door in the north-west wall near to an entrance, now built up, which was formerly used
for the admission of high dignitaries, and called Bab er Ras, or the Abbot's Gate. The
space enclosed within the convent walls is cut up into a number of irregularly shaped small
courts, by ranges of buildings running in all directions, forming quite a labyrinth of narrow
winding passages ascending and descending (see page 228). In one of these courts there is a
well with a few apricot-trees near it, in. others a few flowers or vegetables are planted, and
ancient vines appear in several places running over rude trellis-work. There are many isolated
upper chambers approached by rickety wooden stairs or ladders (see page 232), and apartments
are perched high up, projecting with fine picturesque effect over the walls at the west and
south corners. A long row of cells, half of which are reserved for the use of pilgrims and
travellers, are built along the north-west wall, and open into a covered corridor or gallery
constructed of wood and approached by two flights of stone steps (see page 229). The wall
facing the top of the first flight of steps is pierced with loopholes, through which glimpses
may be caught of the broad plain of Er Rahah (see page 238). In these are set the ordnance
of the convent. Everything bears the mark of high antiquity, being apparently the patchwork
of various bygone centuries.
Besides the great Church of the Transfiguration which, with its handsome new bell-tower,
stands in the midst of these buildings, close to a now rarely used mosque (see page 235), there
are several small chapels or oratories dispersed over the convent, in which masses are
occasionally said. The ordinary mode of calling the fraternity to prayers is by striking with a
hammer a piece of iron, like part of the tire of a wheel, more or less bent, and suspended by
ropes (see page 232). A flat piece of granite, thus suspended and struck with a wooden stick,
serves the same purpose, producing a ringing sound. There is an example of this kind of
bell hanging by the doorway of an oratory on page 228, and in the lower stage of the great
bell-tower there is a long plank of wood which, on being struck, can be heard all over the
convent. Bells are only rung on church festivals and occasions of rejoicing, or to show respect
to some high dignitary.