SCRIPTURE

MANNERS AND CUSTOMS;

BEING AN

ACCOUNT OF THE DOMESTIC HABITS, ARTS, ETC.,
OF EASTERN NATIONS,

MENTIONED IN

HOLY SCRIPTURE,

ILLUSTRATED BY

EXTRACTS FROM THE WORKS OF TRAVELLERS.

PUBLISHED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF

THE COMMITTEE OF GENERAL LITERATURE AND EDUCATION,
APPOINTED BY THE SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING
CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE.

TENTH EDITION.

LONDON:

SOCIETY FOR PROMOTING CHRISTIAN KNOWLEDGE;

SOLD AT THE DEPOSITORIES:

77, GREAT QUEEN STREET, LINCOLN'S INN FIELDS;
4, ROYAL EXCHANGE; 48, PICCADILLY;

AND BY ALL BOOKSELLERS.

CONTENTS.

INTRODUCTION.

Page

The Preservation of Eastern Manners and Customs-Par-

ticular Instances of it-Causes to which it may be Attri-

buted-Early Civilization-Influence of Mohammedanism xxxi

BOOK I.

HABITATIONS AND BUILDINGS.

CHAPTER I.

THE TENT.

Dwellers in Tents and Dwellers in Houses-The Patri-

archs in Tents The Israelites during their Wanderings

and after their Settlement in Canaan-Tent Cloth-Pegs,

Cords, etc.-Scriptural References to "Nail"-Modern

Descriptions Shape and Size of Tent-Arrangement of

a Collection of Tents-Forming an Encampment-Break-

ing up an Encampment-Scenes of Tent Life-Tent Fur-

niture-Bottles-Cruse- Hand-mill-Kneading-trough

-Cooking Utensils, Oven, &c.-Booths occasionally used

-Instances in Bible-Booths in Vineyards

CHAPTER II.

HOUSES.

General Characteristics of Eastern Houses-Materials—

Bricks and Slime-Babylonian Mound-Bitumen Pits

--Monograms on Bricks-Assyrian Bricks and Mortar

3

-Egyptian Bricks-Brick - making in Egypt-Use of

Brick in Palestine-Clay Walls-Speedy Decay of Mud

Houses-Heaps of Ruins-Digging through Mud Walls

-Stone Houses in Hauran-Immense Stones used in

Building-Walls of Cities-Arrangement of Houses—

Descriptions of Modern Oriental Cottages Courts of

Superior Houses-Porches-Gateways-Lock and Key—

Upper Chambers-Inner Chambers

CHAPTER III.

HOUSES-Continued.

Flat Roof-Uses to which it is put-Sleeping, Devotion,

Proclamations, Observations, Domestic purposes-Outside

Staircases-Parapets-Rain penetrating Roof-Dry Grass

on it-Mode of keeping Roof in order-Furniture-Beds

-Chairs-Divans-Sitting on the Ground-Lamps

CHAPTER IV.

INNS, PALACES, ETC.

Eastern Inns-Modern Caravanserais-Solomon's Palace-

Josephus's Description of it-Middle Court-Assyrian

Palace-Monuments of Nimroud and Khorsabad-Deco-

rations of Walls—Hangings in Persian Palaces—Banquet-

ing Hall-Series of Courts-Handsome Ceilings-Tesse-

lated Pavements

68

CHAPTER V.

VILLAGES, CITIES, ETC.

Walled and Unwalled Places-Towns and Dependent Towns

-Villages and Hamlets-Position of Towns in Palestine

-Walls-Bulwarks-Gates-Locks and Bars-Two Gates

-Markets held in Gates-Justice administered and

Strangers received there-Eastern Streets-Their Names

-Avenues-Bazaars-Pavement-Wells

84

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER VI.

CAVES AND ROCKS.

Caves used as Places of Refuge-Josephus's Description-

Cave of Adullam-Caves of Engedi-Cave of Horeb-

Security in case of Earthquake-Living in Caves a sign

of Distress-Heathen Rites-Situation of Caves-Petra-

El-Khuzneh-Haunts of Banditti-Shepherds in Caves-

Caev Tombs used as Habitations.

CHAPTER VII.

SEPULCHRES.

Houses of the Dead-Rock Sepulchres at Jerusalem-

Tombs of the Kings-Rock Tombs in Asia Minor, in

Egypt, and at Petra-Elevated Sepulchres-Rachel's

Tomb-Tombs of the Prophets-Whited Sepulchres-

Cemeteries outside Towns .

V

Page

99

116

BOOK II.

FOOD AND CLOTHING.

CHAPTER VIII.

FOOD.

Simple Diet of the Orientals-Green Ears of Corn-Parched

Corn-" Dough "-Cakes baked on the Coals, or on Hot

Stones Cakes baked in a Pan or Frying-pan-The Oven

or Tandoor-Fuel used in Oven-Unleavened Bread-

Barley Bread-Fine Flour-Grinding and Baking—

Things eaten with Bread. .

CHAPTER IX.

FOOD-continued.

Milk-Leben, or Sour Milk-Butter-Cheese-Butter and

Honey-Natural Honey-Artificial Honey-Vegetables

-Lentiles-Egyptian Vegetables-Husks-Mallows, &c.

135