languages; many of them in Hebrew. The general correctness of the tradition which has fixed upon this spot for the tomb of Rachel, cannot well be drawn in question; since it is fully supported by the circumstances of the Scriptural narrative. It is also mentioned by the Itin. Hieros. A. D. 333, and by Jerome in the same century.'

Still ascending the hill towards the Greek convent of Mâr-Elyâs, the road passes to the left around the head of a deep valley running off eastward to the Dead Sea; and affords a wide view out over the mountainous regions towards and beyond that sea, including Bethlehem and the Frank mountain. The deep basin of the sea could also be in part made out; but its waters were not visible. Here we began to see traces of the pilgrims now collected in Jerusalem at the festival of Easter. A large number of their horses were feeding on this spot, guarded at the moment only by a single man. The animals were sleek and in good case; and had no appearance of having made a long journey. The same night, as we afterwards learned, the keepers were attacked by robbers; one man was killed; another wounded; and some of the horses driven off.

At 4 55' we came opposite the convent of Mâr Elyâs, which lies on the brow of the high ridge, overlooking Bethlehem and the deep valley around which we had just passed; while towards the North the descent is small, and the waters run again towards the Mediterranean. Here we got our first view of a portion of the Holy City,-the mosk and other high buildings standing on Mount Zion without the walls. As we advanced we had on the right low hills; and on the left the cultivated valley or plain of Rephaim or the Giants, with gentle hills beyond. This plain is

1) Gen. xxxv. 16-20. Hieron. Epist. LXXXVI. ad Eustoch. Epi

taph. Paulæ, Opp. Tom. IV. ii. p. 674. ed. Mart.

broad, and descends gradually towards the S. W. until it contracts in that direction into a deeper and narrower valley, called Wady el-Werd, which unites further on with Wady Ahmed, and finds its way to the Mediterranean. Along this plain we met many people, mostly Christians, men, women and children, returning from Jerusalem. It was now the eve of Easter Sunday; and the miracle of the Greek holy fire had just been performed. They were dressed in their best attire, and seemed light-hearted and gay.

The plain of Rephaim extends nearly to the city; which, as seen from it, appears to be almost on the same level. As we advanced, the plain was terminated by a slight rocky ridge, forming the brow of the valley of Hinnom. This deep and narrow dell, with steep rocky sides, often precipitous, here comes down from the North from as far as the Yâfa Gate; and sweeping around Mount Zion at almost a right angle, descends with great rapidity into the very deep valley of Jehoshaphat. The southern side of Zion is very steep, though not precipitous; while the great depth of the valley of Jehoshaphat struck me with surprise. We crossed the valley of Hinnom opposite the S. W. corner of Zion; and passed up along the eastern side of the valley to the Hebron or Yâfa Gate. On our left was the Lower Pool, an immense reservoir now broken down and dry. Above this the aqueduct from Solomon's Pools curves across the valley on very low arches. At length, at 6 o'clock, we entered the Holy City, el-Kuds, just at the closing of the gates on the evening before Easter Sunday; and found a welcome home in the houses of our missionary friends and countrymen.

1) Josephus says expressly, that the valley of the Giants (Rephaim) was near Jerusalem, and extended towards Bethlehem ;

Antiq. VII. 4. 1. VII. 12. 4. See also Josh. xv. 8. xviii. 16. 2 Sam. v. 18, 22. xxiii. 13, 14.

This was the most fatiguing day of our whole journey. We had been for sixteen hours almost constantly upon our camels; yet the exhaustion arose. more from want of rest and sleep, than from any great exertion. The distance between Hebron and Jerusalem is definitely given by Eusebius and Jerome at twenty-two Roman miles; equivalent to about seventeen and a half geographical miles. Our time between the two cities was eight and a quarter hours with camels; affording a coincidence sufficiently exact.

SECTION VI.

JERUSALEM.

INCIDENTS AND FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

THE feelings of a Christian traveller on approaching Jerusalem, can be better conceived than described. Mine were strongly excited. Before us, as we drew near, lay Zion, the Mount of Olives, the Vales of Hinnom and Jehoshaphat, and other objects of the deepest interest; while, crowning the summits of the same ancient hills, was spread out the city where God of old had dwelt, and where the Saviour of the world had lived and taught and died. From the earliest childhood I had read of and studied the localities of this sacred spot; now I beheld them with my own eyes; and they all seemed familiar to me, as if the realization of a former dream. I seemed to be again among cherished scenes of childhood, long unvisited, indeed, but distinctly recollected; and it was almost a painful interruption, when my companion (who had been here before) began to point out and name the various objects in view.

At length "our feet stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem!-Peace be within thy walls and prosperity within thy palaces!" We entered the Yâfa Gate, passed the small open place within, and descended the steep and narrow way along the head of the ancient Tyropoeon, or Valley of the Cheesemakers,

until we came to the first street leading North below the Pool of Hezekiah. In this street nearly against. the middle of the Pool, was the residence of the Rev. Mr. Whiting, where we stopped for a few moments, while our camels were unloaded and dismissed. Thence proceeding a little further North, we crossed down through the court of the church of the Holy Sepulchre to the next parallel street; and turning to the left a few steps we entered the first right-hand lane, and found ourselves after two or three doors at the dwelling of the Rev. Mr. Lanneau. Here a home was already prepared for us; where we remained during our sojourn in the city. Both these gentlemen are our countrymen; and had already been established in the Holy City as Missionaries for several years. The house of the latter was one of the better class; it was large, with marble floors; and had on one side an extensive and pleasant garden, with orange and other fruit-trees and many flowers. It furnished indeed one of the most desirable and healthful residences in the city. Yet the rent was less than fifty Spanish dollars per annum.

In the houses of our friends, we found collected all the members of the Syrian Mission, with a single exception, from the stations at Beirût and in Cyprus; and one also from the Mission at Constantinople.' They had come up with their families, like the Hebrews of old, at the time of the Passover, to worship in this place, and to consult together on the best measures for promoting the great work in which they were engaged. Among the eight missionaries thus assembled, it was with feelings of no ordinary gratification, that I could welcome five as former friends and

1) I speak here of course only for Foreign Missions, which has of Missionaries sent out by the its central offices in Boston. American Board of Commissioners