Facsimile
Transcription
204
top on which the defenders stood and from which they discharged
their arrows.
Some one had given Hayes another letter to the British Consul intro-
ducing us both, and the next morning we presented it. He was quite
civil and asked us to breakfast with him the day after. This we did,
but by that time he had discovered what a vulgarian Hayes was,
and he was not as pleasant during the meal as a host should be.
Without egotism however I could see that he made a distinction between
us two, and saw that my behavior and manner were those of a
gentleman. During the week that we remained he was always
affable and pleasant to me. X
The natives of the various countries under Turkish rule who can secure
positions as consular agents of foreign countries, which are given to
them by the consuls of those countries, who may be located at the princi-
pal city or seaport, are always very obsequious to travellers of his na-
tionality, as the positions are much coveted. There are many vice consul-
ates and consular agencies in Palestine and Syria and the American ones
are always filled by natives. They receive no pay, but the reason of their
desire to serve is on account of their becoming exempt from the arbitra-
ry exactions of the Turkish governors by holding the positions. Foreign
consuls in Turkey had then the privilege of organising courts for the
trial of certain offenses against individuals residing in the country
who were of their nationality and claimed their protection, a power
which foreign consuls in Europe and America have never had. There
was thus a condition of affairs which was altogether peculiar, and
which gave great importance to a consul general residing at Alex-
andria or Beyrout in the eyes of the natives. The morning after our
arrival at Jerusalem, after breakfasting with the British consul
and being ready to commence our sightseeing, we were waited upon
by a kind of orderly of the American vice consul, a man in uniform
with a large Turkish sword, who walked behind us as though we were
persons of great importance. We went with him to his master’s office
where we met the dignitary himself, who could not speak a word of En-
glish, but to whom we said some kind words through our dragoman
or interpreter, and then we asked him as a favor to discontinue the
attendance of his factotum or “cawass” upon our progress through
the city. We discovered afterwards that it was Mr Cresson who had
told the official that we were distinguished travellers who should be
treated with consideration by him.
The church of the Holy Sepulcher is probably the most interesting building
in the city. It is large and under its dome, on the floor of a circular space,
stands a small marble mausoleum, in which our Saviour’s body is said to
have been placed after his crucifixion. The seat of the interior is allotted
to 4 branches of the Christian Church who each have a chapel with
a corps of priests to conduct the services. These are the Greek Armenian Catholic and
Coptic faiths - the latter being the native Egyptian Christians.
This church has been the cause of diplomatic trouble in Europe in conse-
quence of the rivalry or antagonism between the Greeks and Catholics,
produced by the former occupying for their chapel the main body of the
building, while the latter have been obliged to content themselves with
a side chapel. When the Emperor Nicholas of Russia was proceeding
Notes and Questions
Please sign in to write a note for this page