It Is Said That This Fashion Is Carried To Great Excess In Spring-Time, And That The Medinans Vie With Each Other In This Respect, So That It Becomes A Matter Of Public Notoriety, Whether Such A Person Has Given More Or Less Country Parties, During The Season, Than His Neighbours.

A few families pass the whole year at their gardens; among these was the large family of a saint, established in a delightful little garden to the south of the town.

This man is greatly renowned for his sanctity, so much so, that Tousoun Pasha himself once kissed his hands. I paid him a visit, like many other pilgrims, in the first days of my arrival, and found him seated in an arched recess or large niche adjoining the house, from whence he never moved. He was more polite than any saint I had ever seen, and was not averse to talk of worldly matters. I had heard that he possessed some historical books, which he would perhaps sell; but upon inquiry, I learnt from him that he did not trouble himself with any learning except that of the Law, the Koran, and his language. He gave me a nargyle to smoke, and treated me with a dish of dates, the produce of his own garden; and after I had put, on taking leave, a dollar under the carpet upon which I sat, (an act usual, as it was said, on such an occasion,) he accompanied me to the garden-gate, and begged me to repeat my visit.

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Words from 148196 to 148454 of 182297