The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1856-09-11
Discoveries i'm Jerusalem.

Hartlofd Times, at the service of our read.
ers, through friend. They were made by
Scotch gentleman, Mr.. Douglas:
During visit to Jerusalem in the spring
OF 1858, became acquainted with very
intelligent Hebrew, who informed me that
tnere were extensive quarries beneath the
CITY, and that there was undoubted evidence
'nat from these quarries the stones employ
Ell IN the building and the rebuilding of
inc Temple were obtained. He told me
that these excavations were accessible
through small opening under the north
wall OF the city-that he had descended
some time before with two English gentle
men, and had spent with them several hours
IN exploring the excavations, which were sus
hcieniiy extensive TO have furnished stones
enough, not only for the construction of the
Temple, but for the whole Of Jerusalem the
walls included. lie expressed his readiness
TO accompany me, but proposed to go after
dark, as he feared the Turkish guards
might fre upon or maltreat us if they de-
tected us. As my party comprised two la
dies and my two sons, all equally dosrous
with myself to see these excavations. AS the
gates of the city were closed at sunset-and
ds there were no houses outside the walls
i would not listen 10 the proposal TO
spend the night in the open air, unless
upon trial found we could do no better.
we accordingly went 10 examine the siiu.
alton and size OF the opening. We found
1t about $50 yards To the eastward of the
Damascus Gate. 1t seemed like the burrow
OF some wild animal; there was no rub.
b'sh above the opening, but some tall grass
observed by the guards; but this did not
seem very likely, as the soldiers generally
remained within the gate, and only very
rarely one sauntered outside We accord
ingy decided to make the attempt by
daylight, fully satisfied that, even il ob.
served, we should ouly be rudely driven
away. The next morning. therefore, we
lett the city as soon rs the gates were
opened. One of the party got into the
: hole, but returned. saying it would be
necessary TO get in feet foremost, as there
was perpen lcular descent Of six or seven
Ice. at the inner opening. lie went back
again with the lights, | followed. The la
dies were got through with considerable
difficulty. When fairly inside, we found
ourselves in an immense vault, AMI stand
ing upon the top of u pile, which was verv
evidently formed by the accumulation of
the minute particles from the final dressing
OF the blocks Of stone. On descending ,his
pile we entered, through large arch, into
another vaHt, equally vast, anl separated
from the first by enormous pillars. This
vault or quarry, led 10y a gradual descent
INTO another, and another, each separated
IRON the other by massive stone partitions.
wlich had been left to give additional
strength to the vaultcd roofs. In some of
the qIarrieS the blocks Of stone which had
been quanied out lay partially dressed; in
some the blocks were Still. attached 20 the
rock; IN some the workmcn had lust com
menceJ chiseIIing, and in some The archi
tects line was distinct on the smooth face
OF the wall OF the quarry. The mode in
winch the blocks were got out was similar
to that used by the ancient Egyptiars. ms
seen in the sandstone quauies at lIagar
liiniI's, and in the granite quatric, a, Sycno.
The architect first drew the outlines of
the blocks on the face of the quarry; the
, worknen then chisolled them out in their
whole thickness, separating them entirely
from each other, and leaving them attached
10y Their backs only 10 the solid wall. They
were then detached by cutting passage
behind them, which, while it separated the
blocks, left them roughly dressed, and left
The wall prepared for further operations.
We remarked the similarity between the
stones chiselled out in these oYarries and
The few blocks of stone built into the soulL.
east corner ct the wall OF Jerusalem. which
are SO remarkable for their size. their
"ealher-worn appearance, and the peculiar
ornamentaiion of their edges.
We spent between TWO and three hopr,
III these quarries. Our examinations were.
however, chiefly On tie side toward, ,L,.
valley OF Jehosaphat. Oar guide stated
'hat more to the westward WAS a quarry o!
the peculiar reddish marble so commonly
used as pavement in the streets Of Jcgu.
salem. From the place where we entered
{ c descent was gradual; between some Of
the quarrieS, however, there were broad
flights of steps, cut out of solid rock. |
had no means of Judging Of the distance
between the roofs of the vaults and the
streets OF the city, excep, lha; from the he.
scent ;he thickness mus be enormous. The
size and extent Of these excavations fully
bore out the opinion that they had welded
stones enough to build not only the Temple.
but the whole OF Jerusalem
The situation Of these quarrics, the mode
by which the stones were got out, and the
evidence that the stones were fully pfcp,r.
ed and dressed before being removed, may
possibly throw light upon the verse, OF
Scripture in which il is said-2l Chroni.
cIes, II: IS. And he (Soomou) set three
score and ten thousand of ilotn IN L.. i..,,
ets Of burden, and four score thousand to
be hcwers in tho mountains, and three
thousand and six hundred oyerscers to set
the people to work. And again, lst Kings,
~: Z: And the house when it was build.
ing, was built If >touo mado ready before
1t was brought thiJher; so that there was
neither hammer nor axo, nor any tool OF
; iron lrnll I'm tILr Lnnsn ,,l,iln :, 49,. L,,l