d already learned, its
advent was always hailed with joy and celebrated with solemn services,
for the dark season freed them from their long confinement, permitted
them to go abroad, to travel by sea and land, to carry on their great
works, to indulge in all their most important labors and favorite
amusements. The Kohen asked me to be present at the great festival,
and I gladly consented. There seemed to be nothing in this that
could be repellent. As I was anxious to witness some of their purely
religious ceremonies, I wished to go. When I told Almah, she looked
sad, but said nothing. I wondered at this, and asked her if she was
going. She informed me that she would have to go, whereupon I assured
her that this was an additional reason why I should go.

I went with Almah. The Kohen attended us with his usual kind and
gracious consideration. It seemed almost as though he was our servant.
He took us to a place where we could be seated, although all the
others were standing. Almah wished to refuse, but I prevailed upon her
to sit down, and she did so.

The scene was upon the semicircular terrace in front of the cavern,
and we were seated upon a stone platform beside the chief portal. A
vast crowd was gathered in front. Before us arose the half-pyramid of
which I have already spoken. The light was faint. It came from the
disk of the sun, which was partly visible over the icy crest of the
distant mountains. Far away the sea was visible, rising high over the
tops of the trees, while overhead the brighter stars were plainly
discernible.

The Kohen ascended the pyramid, and others followed. At the base
there was a crowd of men, with emaciated forms and faces, and coarse,
squalid attire, who looked like the most abject paupers, and seemed
the lowest in the land. As the Kohen reached the summit there arose a
strange sound--a mournful, plaintive chant, which seemed to be sung
chiefly by the paupers at the base of the pyramid. The words of this
chant I could not make out, but the melancholy strain affected me
in spite of myself. There was no particular tune, and nothing like
harmony; but the effect of so many voices uniting in this strain was
very powerful and altogether indescribable. In the midst of this I saw
the crowd parting asunder so as to make way for something; and through
the passage thus formed I saw a number of youths in long robes, who
advanced to the pyramid, singing as they went. Then they ascended the
steps, two