JAFFA, is a seaport town-of Palestine, situated upon the declivity of a hill on the eastern shore of the Mediterra nean. It has a good wharf, but the harbour, which seems to have been of considerable size formerly, is now small, and is only frequented by coasting vessels making the voyage to Syria. Bt clearing it out, it has been conceiv ed capable of receiving 20 vessels of 300 tons, such as are now obliged to anchor in the roads, where they are always ready to slip their cables, from the frequency of sudden storms. On all the coast of Syria there is scarcely a safe harbour. The declivity upon which the town of Jaffa stands is so unequal, that the streets are paved in steps. The whole is surrounded by walls, fortified with tolerable regularity, and capable of defence, though commanded by a height. On the southern side, it has one large bastion, with several towers crowned with artillery, which flank the line of walls ; but these are said not to be of sufficient strength. There were recently two principal gates, and a third of a smaller size ; but one of the former was shut up. The houses are neatly built of stone ; and being distributed on the declivity, rise above each other like the seats of an amphitheatre, and there is a tower or citadel on the sum mit. There are three small convents here of Christians, Greeks, and Roman Catholics, whose numbers are probably much smaller since pilgrimages to the Holy Land have be come less frequent. In 1807, there were but four Roman Catholics in their monastery, and they were all Spaniards. Only a few Jews are in the town, the population consisting of a mixed race, among whom is a numerous garrison of Turkish and Maugrabin soldiers ; the total amounting to abaut 6000 or 7000. Water is scarce in Jaffa, notwith standing the vicinity of a small river : It may he obtained, however, by digging for it on the coast ; and it is said, that one of its governors who engaged to remedy this inconve nience, was strangled by order of Djezzar, Pacha of Acre. The climate seems to have a tendency to insalubrity, which has been attempted to he corrected by draining extensive marshes. Soap is the principal manufacture of this town,
as it is of several considerable towns of Syriai, from all of which it is sold under the name of Joppa soap, and is ex ported for supplying Egypt. Oil of olives was one of its chief ingredients ; but the groves of olive trees which covered the neighbouring country, and also those of oranges, lemons, and other fruits which adorned the town, were destroyed by the Mamelukes during the sieges of All Bey, and his successor. Spun cotton is exported in small boats to Acre, whence it is shipped for other places, and also the provisions, the produce of the country. Jaffa is governed by an officer, who is said to be appointed by the Kislar-Aga or chief of the Black Eunuchs in the Turkish emperor's service, but the regulations under which the mi litary subsist are not explained. The governor pays a small tribute to the Porte, which he levies in customs from mer chandize and taxes on the town and villages dependant on him his authority seems to have been very low about thirty years ago, but events more recent have rendered Jaffa of greater importance. The town subsists by its commerce, and the resort of pilgrims to the Holy Land, who find a reception in some of the monasteries : part of the money paid by them for this privilege, however, is diverted into a different channel. Jaffa is celebrated as the Joppa of Scripture : the spot wnere the Roman Catholic monastery stands is said to have the site of the house of Simon the tanner : and on a rising ground, about a mile east of the town, are sonic ruins, called those of the house of Tabitha, who was raised from the dead by St Peter, and where Pococke supposes there was a church dedicated to her, as the Greeks resort hither to perform their religious rites on the nay of her festival. In profane history it is equally celebrates; for here Perseus is believed to have re scued Andromeda froni danger ; and Jerome affirms that in his time the rock to which she had been bound was still pointed out. Jaffa was destroyed by the Sultan Sa ladin in 1191, after which it was rebuilt and fortified by the Christians.