CAI FA , CAIPIIA or IlEtin, Erun, KEPRE, CAPITE, and GAB?, are different names which have been given to a sea-port town of Palestine, situated at the foot of Mount Carmel, and opposite to Acre, from which it is separated by the bay of Acre.
This place was formerly but a wretched village, con structed from the ruins of the ancient Porphyria, the re mains of which may be still seen within less than a mile of Caifa. The ruins of the metropolitan church of Por phyria are still in existence ; and it would appear that this place was the Sicammon of Ptolemy. The houses of Caifa are irregularly scattered, and arc small and flat roofed ; and, in summer, the inhabitants were accustom ed to sleep in arbours, formed of the boughs of trees. Since Caifa came into the possession of the chief of Acre, a custom-house has been established, and the town has been defended by a citadel, and by walls to wards the sea.
As the anchoring ground near Caifa is much superior to that at Acre, the corsairs formerly put in here to sell their prizes, which generally consisted of rice and slaves ; and one of the Carmelites usually lent his aid as an inter preter between the pirates and the inhabitants. As the
port of Acre has been choked up, and is not able to re ceive large ships, the vessels which trade with that place cast anchor in the bay of Acre, during the good months of May, June, July, August, and September ; but during the other seven months of the year, they are under the necessity of loading and unloading the merchandise of Acre at Caifa, and of transporting it from one place to another in small barks. The town of Caifa exacts a cer tain tribute from travellers, who visit the church upon Mount Carmel ; but the Europeans settled in the town are free from this exaction. The inhabitants are princi pally Mahomctans, Catholics, and Greeks. Distance front Acre, 8 miles south-west. W. Long. ICI, N. Lat. 32° 4.4'. See ACRE and CARMF.L.