KEREK. 
385 
is handsomely paid for baptising, reconciles his conscientious 
scruples by the hope that the boy so baptized may perhaps die a 
Christian ; added to this, he does not give the child entire baptism, 
but dips the hands and feet only in the water, while the Christian 
child receives total immersion, and this pious fraud sets all his 
doubts at rest as to the legality of the act. The priests pretend 
nevertheless that such is the efficacy of the baptism that these 
baptised Turks have never been known to die otherwise than by 
old age. 
Kerek is the see of a Greek bishop, who generally resides at Je 
rusalem. The diocese is called Battra () in Arabic, and Héreag 
in Greek; and it is the general opinion among the clergy of Jerusa 
lem, that Kerek is the ancient Petra ;* but it will be seen in the 
sequel of this journal that there is good reason to think they are 
mistaken; Kerek therefore is probably the Charax Omanorum of 
Pliny. The bishop’s revenue is about six pounds sterling per 
annum ; he visits his diocese every five or six years. During 
my stay, a Greek priest arrived from Jerusalem, to collect for his 
convent, which had been at a great expense in rebuilding the church 
of the Holy Sepulchre. The Greeks delivered to him in sheep to 
the value of about fifteen pounds sterling. 
The Kerekein cultivate the plains in the neighbouring mountains 
and feed their cattle on the uncultivated parts. One-third of the peo 
ple remain encamped the whole year at two or three hours distant 
from the town, to superintend the cattle ; the rest encamp in 
the harvest time only. During the latter period the Christians 
have two large camps or Douars, and the Turks five. Here they 
The Greck bishops belonging to the Patriarchal see of Jerusalem are : 1. Kaisaryet 
Filistin; 2. Bysan: 3. Battra; 4. Akka; 5. Bethlehem; 6. Nazareth. The Greek bi 
shops in partibus (a) are; 1. Lyd; 2. Gaza ; 3. Syna ; 4. Yaffa ; 5. Nablous ; 
6. Shabashye ; 7. Tor Thabour: 8. Djebel Adjeloun.