enterprising, passed along, wearing some emblem of their trade: the dyer, variously

coloured threads; the carpenter, a rule: the writer, a reed behind his ear; the tailor, with a

needle prominently stuck in his dress. In the side streets the less attractive occupations of

the butcher, the wool-comber, or the flaxspinner were pursued: the elegant workmanship

of the goldsmith and jeweller; the various articles de luxe, that adorned the houses of the

rich; the work of the designer, the moulder, or the artificer in iron or brass. In these

streets and lanes everything might be purchased: the production of Palestine, or imported

from foreign lands - nay, the rarest articles from the remotest parts. Exquisitely shaped,

curiously designed and jewelled cups, rings and other workmanship of precious metals;

glass, silks, fine linen, woollen stuffs, purple, and costly hangings; essences, ointments,

and perfumes, as precious as gold; articles o f food and drink from foreign lands - in short,

what India, Persia, Arabia, Media Egypt, Italy, Greece, and even the far-off lands of the

Gentiles yielded, might be had in these bazaars.

Ancient Jewish writings enable us to identify no fewer than 118 different articles of

import from foreign lands, covering more than even modern luxury has devised. Articles

of luxury, especially from abroad, fe tched indeed enormous prices; and a lady might

spend 36l. on a cloak;16 silk would be paid by its weight in gold; purple wool at 3 l. 5s. the

pound, or, if double-dyed, at almost ten times that amount; while the price of the best

balsam and nard was most exorbitant. On the other hand, the cost of common living was

very low. In the bazaars you might get a complete suit for your slave for eighteen or

nineteen shillings,17 and a tolerable outfit for yourself from 3 l. to 6 l. For the same sum

you might purchase a n ass,18 an ox,19 or a cow,20 and, for little more, a horse. A calf

might be had for less than fifteen shillings, a goat for five or six.21 Sheep were dearer, and

fetched from four to fifteen or sixteen shillings, while a lamb might sometimes be had as

low as two pence. No wonder living and labour were so cheap. Corn of all kinds, fruit,

wine, and oil, cost very little. Meat was about a penny a pound; a man might get himself

a small, of course unfurnished, lodging for about sixpence a week.22 A day labourer was

paid about 7 ½ d . a day, though skilled labour would fetch a good deal more. Indeed, the

great Hillel was popularly supposed to have supported his family on less than twopence a

day,23 while property to the amount of about 6l., or trade with 2l. or 3l. of goods, was

supposed to exclude a person from charity, or a claim on what was left in the corners of

fields and the gleaners.24