in St. John. It was here, perhaps, that the sheep were washed preparatory to the sacrifices in the Temple. By the Mahometans it is termed Birkel-elSerai, or Pool of the Palace.

Northwards of St. Stephen's gate, intra muros, is shown the site of the house in which the Blessed Virgin was born. A monastery now in ruins, and dedicated to St. Anne, stood on the spot. Its church is converted into a Mosque. The house of Simon the Pharisee, in which Mary Magdalen became penitent, is likewise pointed out. The north-east corner of the city is occupied by gardens of olive and fig trees, and the prickly pear.

The street which runs from the gate of St. Stephen up towards Calvary, is called by the native Harat-el-Allam. In it stands the palace of the present governor of Jerusalem, and, if tradition be correct, it occupies the site of that of his great predecessor, Pontius Pilate. The building, which is of an irregular form, is extensive, and adjoins the enclosure of the Sakrat, or principal Mosque. It was from hence that the celebrated Scala Sancta, leading to

the Hall of Judgment, was taken and removed to the

vicinity of the church of San Giovanni Laterano at Rome. That portion of the street which leads from hence to Calvary is called by the Christians Via Dolorosa or Dolorous Way," in commemoration of the sufferings of our Lord, in the carrying of the cross, to the place of execution. It rises with a gradual ascent, becoming narrower as it approaches Calvary, where it terminates. We commenced treading, in imagination, in the footsteps of our great Redeemer, whilst the several stations, commemorative of his last moments upon earth, were successively pointed out to us, and in the following order :

1. An archway across the street, designated Arch of the Ecce Homo, over which there is a double window, separated by a column. Here Pilate brought the Lord forth to the people, saying, "Behold the man." (John xix. 5.)

2. The place where Christ turned round to the women who followed him with their lamentations, and, moved by the tears of his countrywomen, he addressed them in the language of consolation, "Daughters of Jerusalem, weep not for me." (Luke xxiii. 28.)

3. Where the Virgin, a witness of the trying scene, and overcome by the feelings of a mother, fell into a swoon.

4. Where Christ, falling down under the weight of the cross, the soldiers compelled Simon the Cyranean to assist him. (Luke xviii. 26.) It is marked out by the broken shaft of a column, just where the lower city terminates.

5. The dwelling of Lazarus.

6. The dwelling of the Rich Man. (Nabal.)

7. The house from whence Veronica or Berenice issued, to present our Lord with a handkerchief, to wipe his bleeding brows.

8. The Gate of Judgment, formerly the boundary of the city.

9. And finally, Calvary, the scene of his crucifixion.

In the map which accompanies this description of the modern town of Jerusalem, a dotted line, commencing at the gate of Bethlehem, and running nearly straight towards that of Damascus, marks out the ancient boundaries of the city on this side. It just excludes the rocky eminence called Calvary; consequently, we can easily imagine how the people

were able to read the superscription over the crucified Saviour, from the very ramparts. "This title, then, read many of the Jews, for the place where Jesus was crucified was nigh to the city." The remaining portion of the present town excluded by this supposed wall, is covered with modern buildings, belonging exclusively to the Christians, attracted thither by its neighbourhood to their sanctuary, without the remnant of any edifice, to show that it ever formed part of the ancient city.

In the afternoon, we re-descended the Via Dolorosa, which is the principal street of Jerusalem, in order to pay a visit of thanks to the Mutzellim for the escort we had been provided with, in our excursion to the Jordan and Dead Sea. We found him seated on the terrace of his house, surrounded by his attendants. The terrace overlooks the area of the Great Mosque, which from hence is seen to great advantage. This area or outer enclosure, according to Maundrell, is five hundred and twenty paces in length, and three hundred and seventy in breadth,

Called El-Haram-Schereef" the noble place of retire

ment."

thus occupying of itself a very

considerable por

tion of the space included within the city walls. The latter form its boundaries on the east, and on the south. The western side is enclosed by a line of Turkish houses, belonging to the attendants on the mosque, schools for children (medresés), and places for private devotion. On this side, there are four gates. The northern side is partly enclosed by houses and partly by a wall, with three gates. These are left open throughout the day, and no attention is paid to those who enter; but woe to the traveller, not a Mussulman, who should be detected within the precincts of the place. If a native Christian, it would go hard with him; but if a European, pleading ignorance, he might get off on paying a heavy fine. Four slender minarets rise on the borders of this court, one in the middle of the western wall, and the others at three of the angles, the south-east being without any.* Its interior surface is grassy and level, though sloping gently towards the eastern side. Here and there it is planted with cypress and

Mosques in general have but one minaret, but those founded by Sultans or royal personages have four.