Travels in Turkey, Asia Minor, Syria, and across the desert into Egypt ...

SYRIA, EGYPT, GERMANY, &C. 1 29
the mosque itself We had a line and commanding view of Jerusalem^
Mount Sion, and the Dead Sea.
In descending the mountain, and in passing afterwards through
the valley of Jehushapliat, we were gratified by the view of several
memorable spots. We saw, among others, the tombs of Absalom
and Zeehariah ; and visited the place where the apostles conceal-
ed themselves when Jesus was led by. We were next conducted to
the well of St. Barb, at the foot of Mount Sion, where the vest-
ments of Jesus ware washed; and at an inconsiderable distance from
it, inspected the wells of JSiefiemiah.
On the leaving
the
valley
of Jehoshaphat, we passed to the
right
of the place where the body of the prophet Isaiah was severed into
two parts. In ascending Mount SioH, we saw, on the of
acclivity
an opposite mountain, a building erected on the spot where Judas
Iscariot betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. On reaching
the summit of the mount, a church and convent, belonp-mp- to the
Armenians, were pointed out to us, situated at a small distance
from the entrance gate leading
to the back part of the city,
it
that the cock crew when Pe-
was there, the monks informed us,
ter denied Christ. Without the city walls, and on Mount Sion,
there is a Turkish mosque standing on the ground where King
David was buried, and where our Saviour instituted the Lord's
supper.
We returned to Jerusalem, and having partaken of a good din-
ner at the convent, paid an evening's visit to the Mufti, who re-
ceived us with much hospitality and politeness, and who expressed
liis wish that we would spend another day in the holy city, in order
that he might entertain us in a suitable manner. We had, howe-
ver, made our arrangements to set out on the following morning,
on our return to Jajj'a.
Having accordingly made an early breakfast at the convent, we
left Jerusalem at eight in the morning of the 20th. Our plan was,
to halt at St. Jerome in the evening; to proceed to Ramla on the
following dav; and to reach Jaffa en the third. On our way to
the village of St. John, distant three hours journey from Jerusa-
(.".'//, a line building, styled the convent of St. Helena, was point-
ed out to us, as having been built by that empress on the spot
whence the timber was taken for our Saviour's Cross. In the vil-
lage itself, the birth -place of St. John the Jiuptist, there is also a
went, We arrived there at eleven o'clock, and having entered
( '7 )