Mary Georgiana Emma Seymour Dawson Damer

“ The doctor's remedies have already proved efficacious for the superior, as, after six days and nights insomnie, the poor sufferer has had an hour's sleep, to-morrow being the seventh day, and the crisis, we have determined to remain at Ramla, and we shall be rewarded by George riding over to Jaffa, to gain all possible intelligence with regard to our missing letters and future movements.
Our social monk is the perfect representation of a lazy friar, whose only occupation is teaching Flora, a young hound, her exercise. ”

“ The approach to Ramla, from Jerusalem, is much more favourable to its appearance than from Jaffa; the mixture of olive, cactus, pomegranate, and fig-trees, occasionally dotted by palm trees, had such a pretty effect among ruined mosques, illuminated by the setting sun. All nature seemed 47
refreshed by the late rain, and the brightness of the vegetation formed a striking contrast to the aridity of the country about Jerusalem, which, at this season, is without a blade of grass, and the soil is as closely overlaid with flints as the environs of Brighton ”

“ We of womankind are entirely separated from the rest of the convent, and not even allowed to cross the court. I suppose we ought to be flattered at being considered so dangerous; a fat, merry old Spaniard, however, trusts himself with us in an unflattering manner, very anxious to restore our 48
energies with Rosoglio, particularly those of La poveretta stracciata, as Minney is described with her scratched face. ”

“ Dummy constituted himself my chevalier, pointing out the resort of wild boar and gazelle in the most ingenious manner, assuming by turns the allure of these animals, and making his ungainly person almost graceful in personating the latter animal. ”

“ A good deal of ploughing was going forward, and in 58
one instance a camel was engaged, that looked quite out of character, in agricultural pursuit: the labour of turning the camel every two minutes must have been much greater than the mere manual labour of turning up the ground where the rich yet light soil offers such facility. ”

“ Our deaf and dumb guide—The country about Jerusalem —Ramla—Arrival at the Latin convent— Illness of the superior—A sociable monk—Delightful garden—Esdoud—One of Mehemet Ali's messengers—Uncomfortable quarters, and troublesome visitors—Dummy's good qualities—Splendid appearance of the sky—Our lodgings at Gaza— The inspector of quarantine, and his adventures. ”