The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-10-15
Adventure In the Tomb of Daxf . 81 q

Darciay, daughter OF James T. Baroj&H M &
thor Of forthcoming work, .ThS Ei(Ssof
the Great King" gives an in:efsstin6 nes
count of her perilous adventure ii csinff n Z
access to the Tomb Of David = ~ N
early one morning, during ths rffif
Mohammedan feast of Rhanadsn. r swSs
called to the 'parley' room, to see nv lsis.ld .
Moosa. This little fellow hasinx b6coiIns :
rather frequent visitor was IL fivst fb,s H.
clined to excuse myself, but rernetrlberiuc fi2 \
had lately hinted at the possibiIjtysof 7ssf9
gaining an entrance into the Tomb cf ~ 8
ND, and in consideration, too, ofths fact 81
being their feasting season, the everiastit,fsS
iinJap Of coffee and douceur OF swestrno8ss
those otherwise indispensable marks 81 s.
Turkish civility-might now be-t]isuepsasis
with, concluded to make nv appearances,
On entering the room, my pleasing suspi-
clons were confirmed BY seeing him ciose
the door aud mysteriousy place his fore
finger on his lips, in token Of profound se
crecy. He laid his pondsrous tusbaf, on
the dvan beside him, doffed his .slippers.
crossed his legs, and then disclosed the ma
ture OF bis errand. In short, l was informed
that his sister was ready for an adventure:
and, as l was too, we were not long in
reaching 'Turfendah,' (his sister,) who i'm.
mediatsly commenced operations. MY hair
was taken down, and braided in scores of
little plaits. red cloth cap, with blue
silk tassel, was placed on my head. and
around i. gauze turban, with gold sassels
and embroidery. My robe and trowssts
were Of the finest Damascus silk, nv eirdIe,
of cashmere, and tunc of light blue and
embroidered in silver flowers. Nv hand.
were already dyed with 'benna,' having un.
dergone this process on the OCCASION of =
former adventure in the Mosque of Omer.
and still retained the deep yellow hue: NV
skin was pretty deeply tanned, too. fromsa
residence of several years under burning
Syrian sun, which was quite an addition to
my turkish appearance. The sheet, veil,
and slippers came in due order; aud having
secreted my pencil and sketch. book in the
folds Of my girdle. we sailed forth accom-
panied by Turfendahs favorite slave.
The reputed Tomb Of David il lust out
side OF Zion Gate; hard by the ConacuIum
and American cemetery. It is surrounded
by an Irregular pile Of buildings, and sur
mounted by dome and rninaret. In ti,s-
interior are some Of the most protesous a..
chitectural embellishments Imaginable. ON
the capitals of some remains Of the Crusa.
ders' architecture. Just think of The fricbt.k &
tul owl occupying the place Of the classics
acanthus and mythic lotus! We passed
the several halls and corridors evidently. Of
the style OF the Quixotc era. Of the Crusa.
ders' domination, before reaching the conse.
Grated apartment, whose entrance is guard
ed by double iron doors. Wesfonnd hare
an old derwish rrostrate in prayer. on the
cold stone floor. Not being priyilsped. as
we, TO enter the sacred precincts. he was
content with gazing at the tomb through
the iron bars; for il is rare thing Tor evan
Mussulman ecclesiaatic TO gain admittance.
my companion and her family only ~,
joying this privilege, because they are 'yerv
near relatives Of the curator of the toir.b.
Our slave was despatched for The key. which
she had no difficulty in obtaining. on III.
plea that her mistress wished to pray on
the holy spot. But what was nv constef-
nation on seeing another slave return with
her. l confess that / iremLled. and wa.
thinking had best leave my awkward
shippers behind, in case OF retreat. as
they would greatly impede nv progress.
and might thereby cause me 10 lose my
head. She peered under nv veil asked
who was, and seemed satisfied with III.
careless reply Of Turfsndah. that I wa.
merely friend Of hers from Stamboul
She invited US up stairs to see the old keen.
ers harem; aud DahudealI, fMoosa,s E,tia
w'fe') who is always glad to exchanges the
purgatory OF aresidence with her lord and
master for visit Of a few days here; for.I
can testify from personal observation that
the young etfendi lords it ovor hsr in true
oriental conjugal Style. Turfsndah reeret.
Ted she could not accept her kind Invitation.
and, as she was SO much exhausted from
fasting, she, would prefer deferring ii to
another time, The slave then left. to our
mutual relief and, having dismissed the old
derwish, the doors we're closed aud doublv
locked. q - ~
The room is Insignificant in its dimen-
sions, but is furnished very eorceously.
The tomb is apparently nm immense sar.
cephagus OF rough atone, and is covered lLv
green satin tapestry, richly embroidered
with gold. To,his piece Of black velvet
IS attached, with few inscriptions from.
the Koran, embroidered also in pol, "A
satin canopy Of red, blue, green and yellow
stripes, hangs over the tomb, and anothey
piece OF black velvet tapestry, embroidereJ
In silver, covers door in one end OF the
room, which they said leads TO cave up.
beneath. Two tall silver candlestieL,
stand before this door. and little lamp
hangs In window near il, which il kent
constantly burning and whose wick, .thourh
saturated with ol--Ahd dare sAy. a most
nauseous dose my devotional companies
eagerly swallowed. n,uttering 10 herseIf :
prayer with many a, a,gSnudoxiou. She then.
IN addition to their usual forms of psayer'
prosua,ed herself before the tomb, raised
the covering, pressed lier forehead 10 The
stone, aud then kissed il many iimes. Tho
ceiling of the room.is.saulied, and tho wall.
covered witt, blue porcelain, IN floral fig.
ures Having remained hero M, hour Or