The building is now used as a stable.

Some years ago this was the haunt of a famous robber, who was scheikh of the place, and let no Frank pass before he had paid whatever tribute he chose to demand.

Since the accession of Mehemet Ali these exactions have ceased both here and in Jerusalem, where money was demanded of the stranger for admission into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and other sacred places.

Even highway robberies, which were once on a time of daily occurrence among these mountains, are now rarely heard of.
We took possession of the entrance-hall of a mosque, near which a delicious spring sparkled forth from a grotto.

Seldom has any thing strengthened and refreshed me so much as the water of this spring.
I recovered completely from my indisposition, and was able to enjoy the beautiful evening.
As soon as the scheikh of the village heard that a party of Franks had arrived, he despatched four or five dishes of provisions to us.
Of all these preparations we could only eat one--the butter-milk.
The other dishes, a mixture of honey, cucumbers, hard-boiled eggs, onions, oil, olives, etc., we generously bestowed upon the dragoman and the muker, who caused them quickly to disappear.