The native American., 1839-07-20

the storms of many centuries; also piece from
the solid rock, which, with others equally sacred
and ell,known Spots intend to take with me to
Rome, there tohave cutinto canoes, representing
me several scenes appropriate to each or the life
OF our rSavour.-Should | succeed in fulfilling this
intention, these "reminiscences alone would be
worth pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
"A little to the north Of Gethsemane, is an i'm
menSe sepuchral chamber cut in the solid rock be-
low the level Of the valley The descent is by
forty OF fifty marble steps, each twenty feet wide.
This large vaulted chamber has the appearance of
church, and has several altars with their ever
burning candles.
This was too good piece of merchandise TO be
overlooked by the monks; and therefore about a
thousand years ago. or or eight centuries af-
ter the death of the mother of Christ, they sud-
denly discovered (perchance by some miracle
that it was her tomb and so have ever since re-
presented it to be 10 all good Christian pilgrims, of
whom, each one, no doubt, left behind him some
more or less valuable ex-voto.
| mentioned st. Stephens gate The present
gate is, without any kind of doubt, exactly op the
site Of the ancient gate, because OF its being at
the termination Of one Of the principal avenues of
the ancient, as we'll as the modern city (Clties of
the old time when destroyed and rebuilt, gene
those at first suggested by any peculiarityln the
formation of the ground) Opposite TO this gate,
at the foot of the HILL is an ancient bridge across
the ravine. The. gate derives its present name
from the fact that just without it, is the place where
ST. Stephen was "cast out Of the city, and stoned to
death.
About quarter of mile from this gate, we
came to the northeast angle of the wall. Tur-
ming this, we soon came to the Damascus gate,
without meeting with any one thing Of consequence
to make note Of except the cave Of Jeremiah, men
toned TO you before. We continued our ride to
the northwest angle of the walls, and from these
to the Bethlehem, or Jaffa gate, on the west, and
returned TO our tent, having made tour of obser-
vation completely roundthe city. This we repeat
ed another dav.
After partaking Of some refreshment, we rode
to the" 1ombs Of the Kings" as they are called
by the present guardians OF all the holy places in
jerusalem. They were, however no doubt the
tombs made by Herod, according to the account Of
Josephus. t
After having seen those of Egypt, these tombs
have but little interest for me; yet think they
have the merit Of being the most curious remains
OF antiquity near Jerusalem.
These tombs combine features both Egyptian
and Greek. The former consisting in the subter-
ranean manner of construction similar to those at
Ihebes, while the ornament is more Greek than
any thing else. They are not cut in the side of
a hill, but in the level plain. First, square pit
was cut into the solid rock about 100 feet square,
and perhaps twenty feet deep. The descent to
the bottom isby an inclined plane. On one side Of
this pit is portico, cut out of the perpendicular
face OF the rock This portico has a sort Of pedi-
ment or archltrave, beautifully sculptured with
vines, flowers and fruits On one side of this
porllco is the entrance to the subterranean cham
bers The door was SO much encountered with
ruins that could not venture to descend The
gentlemen explored the whole interior by torch
light and learn from them that it was highly in
teresting. There were no remains Of paintings or
OF any representations of animal life in bas relief
although there were some good specimens Of scuIp-
ture like the exterior. There were five or six
large apartments, one several steps lower than the
other. Around each Of these apartments were
nlches or sarcophagi, cut in the rock, but now des-
poled OF their former tenants. TO each chamber
is door of solid stone turning on stone pivos
INTO hollow at the top and bottom Of the solid
door-frame.
The only extraordinary feature about these
chambers OF the dead, is their extent into the hard
compact limestone, all the work of the chisel.
The only interest they excited in u.s. was their
connection with the Holy City and its venerable
"reminiscences. How far the tradition is to be re-
he'd on, OF their being the sepulchres Of the Kings,
t IS difficult to determine, as it is very generally
understood that all the Kings buried on Mount
Zion; yet their royal magnifcence and expensive
would seem TO indicate more than
ordinary importance, far beyond any thing of the
<lnd now remaining of the ancient city.
We returned to our tent by the same road we
went, having thus accomplished one of the most
days adventures of my life.
Our visit to jerusalem is now over and we are
preparing to depart in day or two Before we
eave however, will give you some sketches Of
the interesting objects contained within these sa-
cred walls as well as some remarks on my visit to
Bethlehem and the Pools of Solomon. The Mount
of Olives and Bethany.
For the present, then, once more, Adieu.
IL good order,
Wetherlll's White Lead in oil