through the marble portal, adorned with some
florid yet skilful sculptures, and found myself in a verdant wilderness
of fruit-trees, rising in rich confusion from the turf, through which
not a single path seemed to wander. There were vast groups of orange
and lemon-trees, varied occasionally with the huge offspring of the
citron-tree, and the glowing produce of the pomegranate; while, ever
and anon, the tall banana raised its head aloft with its green or
golden clusters, and sometimes the graceful and languid crest of the
date-bearing palm.

While I was in doubt as to the direction I should bend my steps, my
ear was caught by the wild notes of Turkish music; and, following the
sounds, I emerged upon a plot of turf, clear from trees, in the middle
of which was a fountain, and, by its margin, seated on a delicate
Persian carpet, a venerable Turk. Some slaves were near him, one of
whom, at a little distance, was playing on a rude lyre; in the master's
left hand was a volume of Arabian poetry, and he held in his right the
serpentine tube of his narghileh, or Syrian pipe. When he beheld me, he
saluted me with all the dignity of the Orient, pressing his hand to his
heart, but not rising. I apologised for my intrusion; but he welcomed me
with serene cordiality, and invited me to share his carpet and touch his
pipe.

Some time elapsed in answering those questions respecting European
horses and European arms, wherein the Easterns delight. At length, the
solemn and sonorous voice of the muezzin, from the minarets of Jaffa,
came floating on the air. The sun had set; and, immediately, my host and
his companions performed their ablutions in the fountain; and kneeling
towards Mecca, repeated their accustomed prayers. Then rising, the
Turkish aga, for such was his rank, invited me to enjoy the evening
breeze, and accompany him in a walk round his garden.

As we proceeded, my companion plucked an orange, and taking a knife from
his girdle, and cutting the fruit in half, offered me one moiety, and
threw the other away. More than once he repeated this ceremony, which
somewhat excited my surprise. At length he inquired my opinion of his
fruit. I enlarged, and with sincerity, on its admirable quality, the
racy sweetness of its flavour, which I esteemed unequalled; but I could
not refrain from expressing my surprise, that of fruit so exquisite he
should studiously waste so considerable a portion.

'Effendi,' said the Turk, with a grave