Mineral Point tribune. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1854-1858, 1858-08-31

wear. The brook kedron having its
source high up in the mountains and flow
ing through the city, though now a dry
valley, afforded ample opportunity TO irrl-
gate the surrounding country, as also 10
embellish the gardens and public squares.
The waters Of Gihon. also, which origi-
nally was considerable Of a stream, af-
forded like opportunity.
At the present time, not only is rain
more infrequent fhan formerly in this To-
cality, if we may judge from history and
tradition, bat many streams once embell-
ishing the landscape and fertiliz:ng the
soil, present now only bed of rocks, o.
a deep gorge through which triclles
thread of silvery drops, hardly percepti-
bic, except through the rainy season
This dlminution Of water may be ascribed
to the general nakedpess Df a land reft Of
It's trees, aud whose once fertile vallies.
luxuriant il. vines and olives. and all the
rich fruitage of a teeming soil, lie now
neglected and barren. This is the natu-
raj consequence Of neglect, and Is a ter
rible confirmation of that curse which was
denounced upon the land, if the time
should ever come when they should for
get the councils of Moses, and wilfully
disobey the laws of God. Jerusalem;
whose streets were embellished with
palms, and adown whose white stones
once flowed an abundance of the purest
water, is now bat memory of her for
mer greatness. Still, as we look back
wards through the vista of ages, we find
the counterpart IN her appearance to-day
of that which was foretold thousands of
years ago. The study Of Jerusalem af-
fords confirmation of the truth of that
spiritual revelation, TO be found in the pa
ges of what we call the Bible, beyond
question or cavil; and the most wonder
ful subject presented to the mind for con
temptation is this confirmation of pro-
phecy.
Amongst the fountains of the present
day which engage the interest Of the tray
eler, is the one denominated the "Fount-
ain Sealed"
Amongst luxuriant growth Of weeds
and grass is found a large round rock,
which seals up the mouth of a shaft Of
masonry, leading to a subterranean rock
hewn room, containing fountain. This,
tradition confidently asserts, is the cele-
bIated fountain TO which the Wise Man
compares his spouse-"A spring shut up,
a fountain sealed" Nor can the tradi-
ton be disproved. The united strength
of many men is required to unseal the
entrance.
These ancient rooms are arched af
f.,rainer oo.,-ipsiue evsefer1ce of the anti
quity Of the arch, for the eqnable state of
the atmosphere produced at this depth,
has left the architecture but little impair
ed by the lapse of time.
The aqueduct is made almost exclusive
IL of suitably shaped cylinders of red pot
terry, twelve or fifteen inckes long and
eight or ten in diameter, cemented into
each other and buried usually foot or so
IN the ground bat having occasional wa
teiino-places Of stone with open mouths,
through which the water can be easily
obtained.
But the greatest objects of interest per-
haps to lie found in the Holy City are the
waterworks under the site of the Temple.
These are magnificent in design and vast
in construction. Denuded by time and
the rapacity of SO many conquerors. they
are still imposing. Descending a flight
Of steps excavaled in the solid rock, forty
in number, beautiful sheet of water IS
reached of only a few feet depth. This
is in the midst Of vast arched halls, hoary
with damp and time.
This sheet of water is, without doubt.
the Sea" of which the Son of Sirach and
the Commissioner of King Ptolemy speak
in such rapturous terms. Il isrow, how
ever, quite a rude piece Of work - the
massive metal-covered pillars having CIV
en- place TO lI-shaped PIERS, apparently OF
uuhewn rocks, badly plastered; the ra-
pacitv of some OF the various spoilers OF
BE devoted city Syrian, Roman, Persian,
Turkish or Frank-haying left it minus
The lead or brass with which It was for
merly encased. 1t Is seven hundred and
thirty-sIX feet in circuit and forty two IN
depth and, according to the best esti
mate, lis capacity falls but little short of
two millions of gallons The ram from
el-Ak>a is conducted into it by small
trench, and much also finds It's way thro'
small superficial channels leading from
various parts of the Temple area into the
same opening near el-Aksa Porch.
No fountain has as yet been discovered
leading 10 this great reservoir, nor has
any outlet been found Undoubtedly both
exist and will hereafter be brought TO
light by subsequent explorations. It is
probable that II communicates with the
great pool which has been found under
the Mosk of eI-Aksa. Indeed, it Is not
improbable that all the substructures Of
Jerusalem had galleries Of intercommu-
nication, which were 10 be available in
times of siege. Ii is evident a vast army
might be here hidden and supported for a
long period. How many times these old
arches have resounded with the cries Of
human agony is only known to Him vi 0
penetrates every abyss Ia which beats the
heart of a creature He has made, and who
keepeth the record of eve. sigh, and the
measure of every tear Jew, and Christ
ian and Pagan, have here found a refuge
or a dungeon. Thousands Of years have
passed away, and the waters here are
peliucid as in the day when Solomon sang