The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1858-03-31
Recent Explorations in Jerusalem


Recent Explorations in j Jerusalem.
Ancient Jerusalem is for the most part
aburied city. Its ruins lie in some places
from twenty to forty feet below the level
OF the present streets and buildings Ac.
cording to Josephus, it was perforated
with passages in various directions, and
marvellous stories are still current among
the inhabitants in respect to subterranean
galleries and halls beneath their feet. That
such passages exist, there can be no doubt
and when the time for making excavations
without danger from the Moslem authori-
ties shall arrive, we shall probably have
new light shed upon the topography of the
Holy City. Meantime we must be con.
tent with such contributions as eager ex.
plorers, under the present unfavorable cir.
cumstances are able to make. The most
recent Of these, and in some respects the
most remarkable, are by DR.. Barcely,
Missionary Physician, resident between
three and four years in the City Of Jeru-
salem. In his beautifully printed volume
entitled F" The City of the great King"
recently issued, he has communication
which can hardly be too highly valued.
Ever since the Crusaders lost possession
of Palestine. Mount Moriah, the sacred
elevation or area on which the temple once
stood, has BEEN forbidden to Christians.
Regarded by the Mahomedans, as the
most sacred spot in the whole world next
to Mecca, it is jealousy guarded against
the intrusion Of Europeans, and no Chris
tian, except by stealth, or as special IA
vor, has been allowed to. plant his foot
within the enclosure where the Savior of
the world once stood and taught. Some
years since, Mr.. Catherwood, at the hazard
of his life, succeeded in eluding the yigi-
lance Of the guards, and gave more par
ticular description of the area and the
building than we possessed before A few
others, also, by special favor, have been
admitted. but their opportunities for obser-
vation were extremely limited.
1t was the good fortune of Dr.. Barcely
in return for medical services to the ar
chitect of the Sultan, appointed to make
certain repairs within the enclosure, to be
invited to accompany him as an assistant.
In this capacity, he examined every part
of the area, and took accurate measure
hents, and the result is an account of this
interesting part Of the holy City, more
full and reliable than any previous de-
scription. u sai tcI c p
The inclosure itself is a platform con-
tanning thirty-six acres, Oh which stand
Mosques and other buildings, while min-y
arets, trees and fountains diversity the
scene. The most beautiful of these build
ings is the Mosque of Omar, with its grace
full dome, beneath which, rising some FIVE
feet above the marble floor, is the remark
able rock, sixty feet long by fifty-fve feet
broad, which is issupposed by many to mark
the site of the Holy Of Holes in the Jew
ish temple. 1t is no doubt portion of
the original surface of the hill. But the
most important of DR. Barclays observa,
tions relate to the substructions under the
Southeast corner of this enclosure. Cen
turies since, as far back probably as when
the Jewish temple was built, the area of
Mount Moriah was enlarged by running
up on its Southeastern side high wall
from the valley of Jehasophat. To secure
the needed level by filling up the space
would have required an immense quantity
of earth, Instead of taking this course,
the superstrueture above was supported by
lofty pillars, between which, running from
East to West, and from North to South
are galleries some of which are more than
three hundred feet long. Of these Dr..
Barcely has given fall and accurate meas.
urements. 7.' -
1t has been long suspected that quar-
ry exists beneath the Northeast quarter
of Jerusalem. Hitherto all attempts to
discover an entrance have failed. About
a couple Of years since, q dog, attracted