The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1855-04-27
2 From the Boston Evening Traveller Of April Sd.
Extensive Quarry under the City of Be-
Ham

The letter from your Syrian correspondent
published in last Thursdays Traveller, concern
ing the recent discoveries in Sidon, reminds
me hat have never seen any account of an ex-
e nsive quarry under the city of Jerusalem, which,
though not unknown, was, until last winter, un
explored. Perhaps sketch of an excursion
which made TO it last season, in company with
some ten or twelve others, may not be unlntcrest-
ing TO your readers:
III they will examine a map OF Jerusalem and
vicinity, they will spot just without the walls,
and near the Damascus Gate called Jeremiah's s
Groto. Whence it derived its name. or why 1t is
appropriated to that prophet in PARTICULAR know
not, but to the most casual observer, it presents
the appearance Of deserted quarry. Between 1t
and the walls of the city runs road leading a
cross the Valley of Jehosaphat, and skirtng the
Mount Of Olives, till it falls in with the path from
ST. Stephens Gate, when it crosses the mountain
10 Bethany and thence to Jericho.
1t has long been more than suspected that a
gallery Of this quarry extended under the wall Of
the city itself, but nothing was positively known
regarding il as it had been kept carefully closed
by the successive governors OF Jerusalem. The
mouth Of the cavern was probably walled Up, at
least early AS the time Of the Crudes to pre-.
vent its falling into The hands Of beseiging army
earth was then thrown up against this wall so
effecualy 10 conceal it from view, and it is only
D.
trance can be perceived.
Drs. Smith and Robertson, during their tour
through Palestine, made an effort to effect
trance, but in vain, and, lar know, all other
attempts have been equally unsuccessful, till about
year ago, when the dog of an American gentle.
man, a resident of Jerusalem, attracted by the
smell of some animal, scratched hole just at the
surface Of the ground, and suddenly disappeared;
he soon came back, and his master attempted an
exploration, but owing to the want Of candles he
was Obliged to give up the attempt He returned,
however, with his sons and servant just bout
sunset, and, allowing themselves to be locked out
oil the city, they succeeded, without attracting ob
servalOn, in descending and making survey of
the whole extent. The report of this
brued abroad, and before the authorities took any
action in the matter, it was visited by several par
ties, and by ours among the number.
The afternoon on which we proposed to explore
the quarry, | returned TO nay hotel from walk,
and, chang ing my clothes, was sooR equipped and
ready for the rest Of the party, when waiter in
formed me that they had been gone some minutes.
Fearful OF missing the only opportunity should
have, | ran down into the street and hastened
along in the direction Of the gate, in perfect igno-
rance of the proper way, when fortunately met
the servant of the American Vice Consul who had
already served me guide and Snowman, but
always through the medium OF interpreter.
Summonng to my aid almost the only Arabic
words | knew, shouted 6 Bah ell Shem," Or I" the
Damascus Gate" He understood me- and turning
off fast as his dignity, his large trowsers and
his crooked sword would let him. AS turned
out Of the gate the rest Of the party stand
ing at little distance, preparing for the descent
and Immediately joined them.
There good deal Of dispute among US,
to which of the Franks should have the honor Of
leading the party, but as we found all were anx.
ious to see DR.. NJ, tall ard very pompous man,
humble himself, the question was decided.
AN Arab servant the pioneer. and you
hardly imag inc astonshment when We saw
him lie down flat on his face, and worm himself
feet foremost into hole into which man with
his by his sides, could not possibly have in-
serted his shoulders. Next came the doctor, who
dressed in drap overcoat cut in the height
Of the present fashion turning the long skirts over
his back, he prOsrated himself, amid The shouts
and laughter of The lockers on. First there was
dgg ing of the toes into the ground and pulling,
then pushing with the elbows. Slowly and with
much difficulty the feat performed, and
the agonized look of the poor man as he took
the last look Of earth, was Indescribaby ludlc-
rous.
My turn soon came and it was certainly the
most awkward position In which ever found my
self, but alter few minutes struggling and kick
ing, | was seized by the ancle, and my foot
guided downward to crevce in the wall, along
the top oil which had been crawling. The pas
sage some ten feet in length, and from the
top Of the wall to the loan on which stood,
was some six feet. At first all was utter dark
ness but my eyes soon became accustomed 10 the
obscurity and lighting my candle, | was ready
for start by the time the last Of The party joined
For few rods the descent very rapIo
down slope of rich loan, but we began 10
ascend over immense heaps Of rubble, and the
clippings Of hewn stone. The turnings were fre-
quent, but not abrupt the main direction being
southeast. We took the precaullon to iasten a
clue a, the entrance, which an Arab unwound as
we advanced, and at every turn we stopped 10
examine the bearings Of our compasses, so that
our progress slow. We labored on, howev-
er, now running against some of the huge pillars
left for the support of the roof, and again sum-
bling over some block, which we could not see in
the obscurity. We followed up the different gal.
Ieries and examined them thoroughly. in hope OF
finding some other outlet, but we were stopped IN
every direction by the solid rock.
Suddenly there was a cry Of take care, here's
a precipice ~ We all pressed forward to the spot
to examine it, and found ourselves the edge Of
a pit some ten or fifteen feet deep, and about
hundred feel across. The floor was of rock,
smooth, but extremely uneven, the inequalities
being caused by breaking off the blocks at the
bottom, instead of cutting them away /; the roof
loo presented similar appearance. Near this,
at the end Of a long gallery, was fountain, sup
nIIed hv wafer droooInp from the roof. 1t was