The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-10-15
Adventure in the Tomb OF David.


access to the Tomb of Dayia: . ~ 20
Early one morning, during the .orsat
Mohammedan feast of Rhamadan. I was
called to the 'parley' room, to see mv fr;and !.
Moosa. This little fellow having become
rather n frequent visitor, was at fi,st IN
| cllned to excuse myself, but Remembering l,a >
had lately hinted at the possibility Of my
gaming an entrance into the Tomb of Da.
v'o' and IN consideration, too, of the fact OF
being their feasting season, the everIa.tjn0s
'ihJan OF coffee aud douceur Of sweetmeats
those otherwise indispensable marks Of
Turkish civility-migh, now be dispensed
VIII concluded 10 make my appearance.
Ch entering the room, my pleasing suspi-
cions were confirmed by seeing him close
lhe door and .nysleriously place his fore
hnger on his lips, in token Of profound se-
crecy. lie laid his pondsrous turban on
the dIvan beside him, DOTTED his slippers.
crossed his legs, and then disclosed the ma.
lure OF his errand In short, WAS informed
that his sister was ready for an adventure:
| and, rs l was too, we were not long in
reaching 'Turfendah,' (his sister,) who i'm.
media'ely commenced operations. NY hair
| was taken down, and braided in scores of
| little plaits. A red cloth cap, with blue
silk tassel, was placed on my head. and
| around II gauze turban, with gold tassels
| and embroidery. My robe and trowsers
were OF the finest Damascus silk, my girdle
OF cashmere, and tunic Of light blue and
embroidered in silver flowers. Nv hand.
were already dyed with 'henna,' having un.
dergone this process on the occasion of a
former adventure in the Mosque of Omer,
and still retained the deep yellow hue; my
| skin was pretty deeply tanned, too, from =
residence of several years under burning
Syrian sun, which wa. quite an addition to-
my Turkish appearance. The sheet, veil.
aud slippers came in due order: and having
secreted my pencil and sketch book in the
folds OF my girdle, we sailed forth accom-.
panied by Turfendah's favorite slave.
| The rePuied Tomb Of David 10 Just out.
side of Zion Gate; hard by the Cenaculum
and American cemetery. 1t is surrounded
oy an Irregular pile OF buildings, and sur
mounted 10y dome and rninaret. In the
interior are some of the most grotesoue ar.
chitectura! embellishments Imaginable. on
the capitals of some remains Of the Crusa.
| ders architecture. Just think of the frioht.s
iuI owl occupying the place OF the classic
acanthus and mytbic lotus! We passed
| TIE several halls and corridors evidently of
| the style OF the Guixotic era of the Crusa.
ders domination, before reaching the conse-
Grated apartment, whose entrance is guard
cd by double iron doors. We found here
an old derwish prostrate in prayer, on the
cold stone floor. Not being privileged, as
we, 10 enter the sacred precincts, he was
content with gazing at the tomb through
the iron bars; for 1t is rare thing for even
Mussulman ecclesastic to gain admittance.
my companion and her family only en-.
Joy'ng this privilege, because they are very
| near relatives OF the curator of the tomb
Our slave was despatched for the Ley, which
she had no difficulty in obtaining. on the
plea that her mistress wished 10 pray ON
the holy spot. But what was my conster-
nation on seeing another slave return with
her. l confess that i trembled, and wa,
thinking had best leave nv awkward
| slippers behind, in case OF retreat. as
they would greatly impede nv progress.
and might thereby cause me to lose my
head. She peered under nv veil. asked
who was, and seemed satisfied with IN.
careless reply Of Turfendah, that I WA,
merely friend Of hers from StambouI
She invited US up stairs to see the old kasn'
ers harem; and Dahudeali, (Moosa,s little
whe') who Is always glad to exchange the
purgatoIy oil residences with her lord and
master for visit of a fsw days here; forI
can testify from personal observation that
The young etfendi lords it ovor her in true
oriental conJugal style. Turfendah regret.
led she could not accept her kind Invitation.
and, as she was so much exhausted from
lasting, she would prefer deferring II TO
another time. The slave then left, 10 our
mutual rel'of, aud, having dismissed the old
derw'sh, the doors were closed and doublv
locked.
The room is insignificant in its dimen.
slons' but - furnished very gorgeously.
The tomb is apparently m immense ssr.
cophagus OF rough stone, aud is covered by
green satin tapestry, richly embroidered
with gold. To this piece Of black velvet
Is attached, with few inscription. from
the Moran, embroidered also in pold
satin canopy of red, blue, green and yellow
stripes, hangs over the tomb, and ano,he,
piece OF black velvet tapestry, embroidereJ
IN silver, covers door in one end Of tba
room, which they said leads TO A cave nm.
deTneath. Two tall silver candl..t;eL.
stand before this door, and a little Jamn
hangs 10 window near il, which ia Kent
constantly burning, and whose wick, though
saturated with oil-and dare saw, most
nauseous dose--my devotional companies
eagerly swallowed, muttering 10 herself y
prayer with many genuaoxcn. She then.
IN addition TO their usual forms OF prayer
prostated herself before the tomb raised
the covering, pressed her forehead 10 tl,a
stone, and then kissed il many .ime,. The
ceiling of the room is yaulted, and Tho val,.
covered with blue porcelain. in floral fig
ures. Having remained hero an hour or
more, aud completed my sketch we LEFT.
and great was my rejoicing when found
myself once more at home. ont of danger
and still better, out Of my awkward COS.