minarets, surrounded by tall, dark cypress-trees, and the convent buildings conspicuous in the Christian quarter. The mists were gradually passing away from the valley and floating up the hill-sides. The houses are of white limestone, square and flat-roofed; they look clean and cheerful. The ancient "city was built on a hill," but modern Nazareth, which is unwalled, has gradually crept into the valley, at the bottom of which all the newest and largest houses are erected.
Little Jalîly was in an open court below with some women servants, who were making bread and chopping meat. She saw me, and ran up to greet me, saying, "May the day be white to you!" then she taught me the usual answer, "May it be to you as milk!"
It was Sunday. We went to the Latin Church of the Annunciation. We made our way through the nave, which is large and lofty. One side was crowded with men and boys bareheaded, and the other side occupied by women, kneeling on the marble pavement in rows. Their foreheads and the lower parts of their faces were quite concealed by folds of muslin and linen. As we passed by, they with one accord raised their heads for a moment, and their bright dark eyes flashed upon us from under their kohl-tinged lids like a gleam of lightning, then they bent their heads low and resumed their devotions.
The Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem was confirming a number of children. Mass was celebrated, with more than usual pomp, by some illustrious ecclesiastics and visitors from Rome. The organ was well touched by one of the monks, and the chanting was magnificent.
When this was over, we went down to see the Grotto of the Virgin. It is underground, just beneath the high altar. On the broad stone stairs leading to it, a troop of little Arab girls, belonging to the convent school, were seated. They looked full of animation and childish mischief, and the nuns or sisters of mercy, in whose charge they were, had great difficulty in keeping them in order. The children
