(5) Jewish Pilgrims. The bands of Jewish pilgrims that annually repaired from every corner of to attend the three great festivals in Jerusalem, wanted this government and distribu tion into distinct companies and seem to have resembled less the character of the great Mecca caravans than the irregular processions of the Hindoos to and from the scene of some of their religious pageants. As in a crowd of this motley description not the slightest regard is paid to regularity or order, and everyone, of course. takes the place or mingles with the group that pleases him, the separation of the nearest friends for a whole day must. in such circumstances, he a common and unavoidable occurrence, and yet anxiety is never felt, unless the missing one fail to appear at the appointed rendezvous of the family. In like manner among the ancient Jews the inhabitants of the came village or district would naturally form themselves into traveling parties for mutual security as well as for enjoy ing the society of acquaintance. The poorer sort would have to travel on font. while females and those of the better class might ride on asses and camels. But as their country was divided into tribes, and those who lived in the same hamlet or canton would be more or less connected by family ties, the young, the volatile and active among the Jewish pilgrims had far more inducements to disperse themselves amongst the crowd than those of the modern processions, numbers of whom are necessarily strangers to each other. In these circumstances it is easy to understand how the young Jesus might mingle successively with groups of his kindred and acquaintance, who, captivated with his precocious wisdom and piety, might be glad to detain him in their circle, while his mother, together with Joseph, felt no anxiety at his absence, knowing the grave and sober char acter of their companions in travel, and the inci dent is the more natural that his parents are said to have gone 'one day's journey from Jerusalem before they missed him ;' since, according to the the same class in this country, much less do they approximate to the character and appurtenances of European hotels.
(2) Egyptian Inn. The Egyptian inn, where the sons of Israel halted to bait their asses, was probably, from the remote period to which it be longed, of a rude and humble description, in point both of appearance and accommodation—merely a shed. under the roof of which the cattle and their drivers might obtain shelter from the heats of noon and the dews of midnight, and such is the low state of art, or the tyrannical force of custom in the East, that few establishments of this kind in the present day can boast of improvements that render them superior to the mean and naked poverty of those which received the pilgrims of the patriarchal age.
(3) Innkeepers. Among the Egyptians, and indeed among the ancients generally, the keepers present, and probably the ancient, practice of the East, the first stage is always a short one, sel dom exceeding two or three hours.