The Washington critic., 1888-04-14

VII.
The Pasha Of Jerusalem having, at
the request Of the U. S. Consul,
granted us permission TO visit the
Mosque of Omar, we set out for it i'm
mediately after luncheon, accom-
panied by the ianissary of the con
sulate. Tho presence Of the janissary
was indispensable, as in their absence
the ingress of so many uniformed
men might have caused Monsicurs,
the Faithful, to look upon us as in
vaders.
In due course we entered the en-
closure which surrounds this Ma
hometan "Sanctum Sanctorum," and
after ascending seven or eight steps
were agreeably surprised to find our
selves in a magnificent garden. This
enclosure, occupying more than an
eighth part of the city, is perfectly
fiat, and tastefully laid out with rows
of cypress olive and orange trees.
Three large fountains also exist, and,
altogether, the scene is most pleasing.
The mosque, said to be second to none
in the world in symmetry and de-
sign, is erected on a platform paved
with white marble and covers circle
of nearly 600 feet of the ground
originally occupied by Solomon's
Temple. In form it is octagonal; 81
feet being the measurement of each.
side. 1t contains SO windows and
four entrances, over which porches
are erected. Its walls, handsomely
inlaid with porcelain mosaic, and ris-
ing to a height of 46 feet, support a
vast cylinder which rises another 20
feet. This supports the splendid
Zinc-coyered dome, which surmounted
by gilded crescent, rises 40 feet
higher, making the height Of
THE MOSQUE OF OMAR
from platform. to summit, III feet.
Outside the southeastern entrance
stands small Saracenic arched build
ing, of the same shape, without walls,
built on the supposed former site of
the Judgment Hall of David" Here
we unshod, as shoes are not permitted
to be worn in Mahometan sanctuaries.
Entering the mosque, sort of iri-
descent splendor, different from any
thing we had before witnessed, en-
veloped us. Conspicuous over every
thing else was circle of bare rock,
which rose about six feet above the
level of the floor. This rock, situated
directly under the dome and inclosed
by railing, to which were attached
innumerable shreds of clothing, is the
principal feature of the structure. 1t
is, should judge, about sixty feet in
diameter, and is believed by the
Mahometans to hang in the
air without columns, or any
thing whatever, to support 1t.
The story goes that Mahomet, after
riding from Mecca to Jerusalem, in O
single night, rested ON it before start
ing on his longer journey to Heaven.
The rock, however, not being satisfied
with this honor, resolved to follow
him, whereat Mahomet feeling dis
pleased, kicked it back, when about
seven feet from the ground, and COM
manded it to remain suspended. The
footprint of Mahomet is shown deeply
imbedded, as is also, in close prox-
unity, the footprint of the angel Ga
briel Under the dome of the rock is
situated cave, to which Mahomet
often betook himself when prayer
fully inclined Mahomet informed
us that one night his illustrious name
sake prayed so very hard that he in
creased his height two feet and made
dent in the rock with his head.
The dent is shown and is truly won
derful evidence of the powerfulness
of prayer. The cave also contains, Ma
homet said, the "Well of the Spirits"
and the "Pulpit of st. George"
did not see any pulpit, but / tapped
the marble slab, which is said to cover
the we'll, and can vouch there is a
hole there of some kind from the hol-
low sound it made. The gullibility OF
the Mahometans in believing this
rock to be suspended is perhaps not
more surprising, when taken into con-
/sideration, than the positiveness with
I which persons of every sect regard
the absurdities which. more or less
imbue their tenets.
This rock is sacred to Jew as well as
Mahometan for, in addition to Its
being part of the temple site, it is
generally believed to be the locality
on which Abraham prepared for the
sacrifice of his son. The roof of tho
Mosque is supported by slender Corin
THAN columns, several of which arr
pure alabaster and believed to hav,
performed the same Office for tn,
roof of the temple of Solomon. >
THE MOSAIC WALL
is truly unique spectacle. No pag'
in the "Arabian Nights" ever es
sayed to picture such scene. Th
sun, streaming through the staine,
windows and rejecting itself on mum
berless gorgeous tints, diffused efful
gence such as rainbows would pal,
before. Advancing towards the doc
we were shown patch on the foo
about foot square, where Mahome
drove nineteen nails before taking
leave of this terrestrial sphere. Their
is startling consummation in stor
for us when the last of these nail
shall have disappeared. According t
Mahomet (our guide | mean) thi
earth will be wrapped in windin
sheet of fire, and after the fire ha
been eXtinguished the true prophet
will sit on rock in the Valley @
Jchosaphat and judge the world. TIL
Angel Gabriel has already remove
15l, so that there are only 81 nails left
1t behooves us, therefore, to be pre-
pared for this tremendous event fol
as Mahomet solemnly assured us, II
one can afford TO dilly daily when h
doesn't know the night Gabriel ma
come along with orders to swoop tn
whole lot.
The Mosque of Omar is suppose
to have been erected by the Calip
Omar after he had conquered Jerusi
lem Ga. ID. $3.50 OF course when tn
Crusaders drove out the Moslem
"a. ID. 1040 they took possession {
it. But it was not destroyed, nor dl