The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-19

founo In tie temple walls, or in the
walls of tho city. The discovery
was a mere accident. A severe
rain fell had opened a narrow hori-
zon;al place beneath tho ledge of
rocks on which the city wall rests,
and upon eularging this place and
crawling in for some distance an
immense cavern was discovered.
The entrance place has been inprov-
ed, although some humility must
be practiced while passing onward
short distance from the entrance.
Then the space becomes greater and
higher, u1til the ceilings are as
much as thirty and perhaps forty
feet high. Natural pillars for sup
ports have been left at short dis
tances to serve as supports for the
mass of rock above. 1t was a nov
ell sight when our party, each bear
ing candle, were passing in line
through these dark chambers. I
have the impression that our journ-
ey in these cnverns was equal to
half the width of the city. The en-
trance is outside the city, and a
short distance east from Damascus
gate. The privilege of entrance re-
quires some formslity and some
b0ckshush, for the key Is kept by
the Parha, and two soldier-Iike po-
licemen must needs accompany all
visitors.
The Christmas holidays are said
to have brought a smaller number
of Greek and Latin and American
pilgrims here than during many of
the past years, and still the throng
in the streets was much greater du-
ring those days than during either
of the eight weeks l have been
here. The Bazars and shops were
well furnished with pictures and
carved oliYe wood and ivory and
beads of various material, which
are quite abundantly sold to these
pilgrims. They are freely provided
with lodgings at the various con-
vents, both at Jerusalem and
Bethlahem. Persons are here in
the capacity of pilgrims from long
distances, some being from North
ern Russia and from western places
in the United States.
Among the interesting, although
not remarkably attractive places,
was the old as we'll as the modern
burial places in all directions out
side the city. Perhaps the largest
place for tho sepulcher of the dead
are the jews grounds, which are
situated upon the southwestern
slope of the mount of Olives, and,
with some interruptions on account
of solid rocks and other causes, ex-
tends down the slope upon the east
ern side OF Jehosaphat. There are
many large old tombs hidden in the
rocks among the tablets that have
been placed over the graves within
these grounds. A group of large
caverns that have been executed
out of solid rocks, but are now
empty, were pointed out as the
tombs of the prophets. These are
along the road from Bethany.
Nearly all of the eastern wall of
the city is lined by Mohammedan
graves and tombs, and they come
up close to the side of the path up
on each side of st. Stephens gate.
The tOmbs and tablets of these peo-
pie would be readily distinguished
by the utter neglect which they ev-
erywhere exhibit. Some modern
tombs and enclosures that were
constructed at considerable expense,
are rapidly going to ruin for want
of trifling repairs at the proper
time. But this is in accordance
with the Aohammedan creed, which
seems to have more of the idea OF
memorable fate than of reliance up
on a kind but oveSruling Provi-
dence. we'll remember the calm
repose that marked the visage of
the old Sheik of Bethany when he
came to our camp and informed
Mr.. Floyd of the death of his son,
which had occurred that morning,
after q very brief illness. Unlike
] my Sheik friend at.Alma, with re-
gard to his two sick wives, he had
no medical advice for this son.
The Greeks have large cemetery
upon Mount Zion, outside the wall,
which, like those mentioned, is not
enclosed. The American cemetery
is bounded upon it's north and west
sides by this, and upon the south
and east by the Mosques grounds
of the Cenaculum. 1t is but about
fifty by eighty feet in dimensions,
and is enclosed by high and sub
stsntial wall. There are but five
tablets in this, which, suppose, are
all the graves of Americans which
It contains. A very old olive tree
stands near its center, which looks
as though it's days were nearly
numbered. The British cemetery
is a short distance further from the
city wall, and adioins the grounds
of Bishop Gobat's school for native
orphans. This place is becoming
nearly occupied, but large portion
of the graves are those of the con-
verted Isralitish families who were
members of the English church.
Among the tablets are those OF
four sons of Renelle Klein, who
was the discoverer OF the Mobile
atone, and is now in charge of g
church here, the members of which
arc mostly native Arabs. The
grave of Mr.. Drake, who died here
in June last, while employed as
Archaeological in connection with
the quarries of Palestine and the ex.
cavations at Jerusalem, is found
here. Two fragments of marble
column, which wero found far be.
low the surface by those who were
excavating, are placed over his