The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-05-15
THE TOMB OF AARON.

We extract from Stephens Incidents Of Travels
through the Holy Land. the following interesting de-
scripton Of the Tomb Of Aaron:
On the very top Of the Mount y (llor) rcvcrenced
alike by MussuInsns AID Christians. is the tomb Of
Aaron TIE building Is about thirty feet square,
tanning single chamber in from, OF the door tomb
soue Ia form like the Obong slabs cbnrchyards,
but larger and higher The top rather larger than the
bottom. aud covered with ragged pail Of faded red
cotton ~ snr DIS aud patches Al It's head stood high
round stone which the Mussrlman offers his sscr-
hccs The stone was backened with smoke; stains of
blood aud fragments OF tnrut brush were stl about
oil was ready but the VICTIM; aud when tho reality
OF The preparations. was very well satisfied to have
avoided the necessity Of conforming to the Mussulman
custom. few ostrich eggs, the usual ornaments of a
mosque were suspended from The ceiling aud the rest
OF the chamber perfectly bare. Alter gong OUT
and from the very Top Of the tomb surveying again aud
again he dcsolats and dresy that presented IT,
sell on every side. always terminating with The distant
view Of the Dead Sea, returned wiihin and examn-
lug once more the tomb and the altar, walked carefully
around the chatnher There no light except what
came from the door aud. in cropping IN the extreme
corner side, nv foot descended into aperture
in The floor. Iput il down carefully, aud found STEP
then another, evidently staircase leading TO chamber
below. went down till my head was on the level OF
the floor hut could see nothing all was dark, and
called TO Paul to strike a light. Most provokingy he
had no rna,es.ls with him. He generally carried flint
| and'siee for lighting his pipe with but now when
and ta he bottom Of The steps att attempt
ed To make out what the place might be bat it was
utterly impossible. could even the steps on
which stood. came out, aud made Paul search in
all his pockets for the steel and Aint NV curiosity in
creased with the difficulty Of gratifying il and in
liilc while, when the thing seemed he utterly impos-
s'hc. with this hole unex plored Pcra, Mount Hor and
The Dead Sea- appeared 10 lose half their interest
ran up aud down the steps inside aud abused Psu
and struck stones together in the hope Of ellcing
when ! found myself grasping convulsvey the handle
my pistol. A light broke suddenly upon me A
pile of dry brush and rags lay the foot of the
sacr'fical altar, fired pistol into it, gave one puff,
aud the whole was in a blaze Each seized
burning brand. and descended AT the foot OF The
steps was narrow chamber at the other end an iron
grating, opening in the middle, and behind the grating
tomb cut in The naked rock guarded and reverenced
as a tomb Of Aaron | tore asunder the rusty grating
and thrnsing IN my to the shoulders. touched the
halowed spot. The rocks and mountains were echo.
ing the discharge OF my pistol like peals Of crashing
thunder and whlle with the burning brand in one
hand was thrnstng tho other through the grating the
deaiening reserberaons seemed to rcbuke for
OF sacrltge, and rushed up the steps like guilty and
icar-strnck criminal Suddenly heard from the foot
OF the mountain, quick and irregular discharge of fire.
arms, which again resounded in loud echoes, through
the mountains. II for from my desire that tho
bgoted Mnssulrnan should come upon me, and find me
with my pistol still, smoking my hand. aud the brush
stall burning in the toni Of the prophet and tearing off
piece Of the ragged pail, hurried from the place
and dashed down the mountain the opposite side
with speed and rcckcssness that only fear could
give