Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1857-10-02
HAZARDOUS ADVENTURE IN TIE TOMB


HAZARDOUS ADVENTURE IN THE TOMB
OF DAVID.
The following sketch, furnished by Miss Barclay,
daughter of James T. Barclay, author Of a forthcom
ing work, 1.-THE City OF the Great King" gives an in-
teresting account Of her perilous adventure in gaining
access to the Tomb of Darid:
early one morning, during the great Mohamme-
dan feast of Rhamadau, I was called to the 'parley'
room, to see my friend Moosa. This little fellow hav-
ing become rather a frequent visitor, was at hrst I'D,
cliued to excuse myself, but remembering he had
lately limited at the possibility OF my gaining an en-
trance into the Tomb Of David, and in consideration,
too, of the fact of being their fasting season, the ever.
lasting fnjan of coffee and douceur OF
those otherwise indispensable marks Of Turkish civil
~ity-might now be dispensed with, l concluded 10
make nv appearance. On entering the room, my
pleasing suspicious were confirmed by seeing him ciose
the door and mysteriously place his f%orefnger on his
iips, in token Of profound secrecy. He laid bis ponder
GUS turban on the divan beside him, dotted his slippers,
crossed his legs, and then disclosed the nature of hs
errsnd. In short, / was informed that his sister was
ready fer an adventure; and, as | was toe, We were
not long in reaching 'Turfendah,' This sister, who
Immediately commenced operations. My hair was
taken down, and braided in scores Of little plaits. A
red cloth cap, with a blue silk tassel, was placed on
my head, and around it a gauze turban, with gold
of the finest Damascus silk, my girdle Of cashmere.
and tunic of light blue stuff, embroidered i'll silver
flowers. My hands were already dyed with 'henDa,
having undergone this process on the occasion'of a
former adventure in the Mosque OF Omar, and still
retained the deep yellow hue; my skin was pretty
deeply tanned, too, from a residence of several years
ander q burning Syrian sun, which was quite an ad
dition to my Turkish appearances. The sheet, veil,
and slippers came in due order; and having secreted
my pencil and sketch book in the folds Of my girdle,
We Sailed forth, accompanied by Turfendah's ia
vorite slave.
"The reputed Tomb Of David is just outside Of
Zion Gate, hard by the Cenaculum and American
cemetery. 1t is surrounded by an irregular pile OF
buildings, and surmounted by a dome aud minaret.-
In the interior are some OF the most grOtesque archi.
~tectural embellishments imaginable, on the capitals OF
some remains of the Crusaders' architecture. Just
think Of the frightful owl occupying the place Of the
classic acanthus and the mythic lotus. We passed
the several halls and corridors, evidently of the Style
Of the Quixotic era Of the Crusaders domination, be.
fore reaching the consecrated apartment, whose Gu
trance is guarded by double iron doors. We found
here an old derwish PROSTATE in prayer, on the cold
stone floor. Not being privileged. 81 We. to euter the
sacred precincts, he was content with gazing at the
tomb through the iron bars; for it is a rare thing for
even a Mussulman ecclesiastic 20 gain adinittance-
my companion and her family only enjoying this pri
vi!egs, because they are very near relatives OF the Gu.
rator Of the tomb. Our slave was despatched for the
key, which, she had no difficulty in obtaining, on the
plea that her mistress wished to pray on the holy
another slave return with her: I confess that |
trembled, and was thinking l had best leave my
awkward slippers behind, in case Of retreat, as they
would greatly impede my progress, aud might thereby
cause me to lose my head. She peered under my
veil. asked who l was, and seemed satisfied with the
careless reply of Turfendah, that l Was merely a
friend of hers from Stamboul She invited US up
stairs to see the old keepers harem; and Dahudeah
(Moosa's little wife) who is always glad to exchange
the purgatory of q residence With her lord and master
for a visit of a few days here; for l can testify from
personal observation that the young ofendi lords il
over her in true oriental copjugal style. Turfendah
regretted che could not accept her kind invitation
and, az she vas 30 much exhausted from Testing, she
would prefer deferring il to another time. The slave
then left. to our mutual relief, and, having dismissed
the old derwish, the do0rs were closed and doubly
locked.
The room is Insignificant In it's dimensions, but Is
furnished very gorgeously. The tomb IL apparently
an immense saroophagus of rough stone, and is cover.
I'd by green satin tapestry, richly embroidered with
gold. To this q piece OF black velvet is attached.
with a few inscriptions from The Koran, embroidered
also in gold. A satin canopy Of red, blue, green and
yellow stripes, hangs over the tomb; and another piece
of black velvet tapsa'rv .nh-n;dered in silver, covers
a door IN "a" " hoy saii, loads
TO a CIV. irk
stand b. .a...
window
whose Wa ,-.aE. i,-a. .,.. u!s- Gl" I aG:,
say, u mo, lsgse0as .S.t-:ay IarG-i0u-, companion
eagerly sSai, '~Nu, tIusIo..Lg ~ herself aprayer with
many a genua-xioa. She then, iu addition to their
usual forms Of prayer, Frustrated herself before the
tomb, raised the covering, pressed her forehead to the
stone. end then kissed II many times. The ceiling oil
the room is vdulted. and the walls covered with blu.
norcelain. in Horal figures. HAVING remsined her.