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"We had not been prepared for the grandeur of the spectacle which the city exhibited. Instead of a wretched and ruined town, by some described as the desolated remnant of Jerusalem, we beheld, as it were, a flourishing and stately metropolis; presenting a magnificent assemblage of domes, towers, palaces, churches, and monasteries; all of which, glittering in the sun's rays, shone with inconceivable splendour."

The Holy Sepulchre. See Plate, No. 68.

The most revered object at Jerusalem is the Holy Sepulchre, which is situated in the central part of the celebrated church to which it gives name. It has the appearance of a superb mausoleum; the surface is covered with rich damask hangings, striped with gold. In the interior, which resembles a small closet hewn out of the rock, is a stone nearly eight feet long, and two feet wide, raised about two feet. On this slab the body of our Lord is said to have been deposited; and over it are suspended 44 lamps, a few of them of gold, the rest of silver, and are continually burning.

"Christian readers," says Chateaubriand, "will perhaps inquire what were my feelings on entering this awful place. I really cannot tell. So many reflections rushed at once upon my mind, that I was unable to dwell upon any particular idea. I continued near half an hour upon my knees in the little chamber of the Holy Sepulchre, with my eyes riveted on the stone, from which I had not the power to turn them. One of the two religious who accompanied me, remained prostrate on the marble by my side, while the other, with the Testament in his hand, read to me, by the light of the lamps, the passages relating to the sacred tomb. Between each verse he repeated a prayer in Latin. All I can say is, that when I beheld this triumphant sepulchre, I felt nothing but my own weakness; and when my guide exclaimed with St. Paul, O Grave, where is thy victory! O Death, where is thy sting! I listened, as if death were about to reply, that he was conquered and enchained in this monument."

BETHLEHEM.

See Plate, No. 69.

Bethlehem, six miles S. of Jerusalem, contains only 2,000 or 3,000 inhabitants. It is finely situated on a considerable eminence, in a fertile and pleasant country, abounding in hills and valleys, covered with vines and olives. Though never distinguished for great wealth or population, it became memorable for the birth of David, the royal Psalmist, and still more so, for that of our Saviour: for which reason it has ever been regarded as a place of high renown, and as such is often visited by travellers and pilgrims.

The conspicuous and interesting edifices are a great convent and large church connected with each other, inclosed with lofty walls with battlements, resembling those of a vast fortress. They are situated on the outside of the town, as seen by the plate, and are erected over the cave of the nativity. In this grotto is shown a small marble basin, which is affirmed to be the manger in which our Saviour was laid; and the cave is enriched with numerous gold and silver lamps, and adorned with pictures relating to the nativity and history of our Redeemer.

NAZARETH.

Nazareth is situated about 50 miles N. of Jerusalem, and contains about 2,000 inhabitants. It is remarkable for having been the residence of our Saviour and his family during the first 30 years of his life. Here are many places, regarded as holy, to which pilgrims are conducted. The church, to which a convent is attached, is handsome, and is erected over the cave, which is reputed to have been the residence of the Virgin Mary. When the plague rages here, the sick come eagerly to rub themselves against the church hangings and pillar, believing thus to obtain a certain cure. The monks show also the workshop of Joseph, the precipice where Christ saved himself from the fury of the multitude, and the table of Christ, a much venerated object, being a stone on which it is pretended that he ate before and after his resurrection.

HEBRON.

Hebron is a small town, situated partly on a hill and partly on a plain, 22 miles SSW. of Jerusalem. Before the conquest of Canaan by the Israelites it was a considerable town, called Kirjath-Arba; it was for seven years the royal residence of David; it is now inhabited chiefly by Arabs, and called El Khalil. It stands on the borders of the fertile plain of Mamre, in which was the cave of Macpelah, where Abraham, Sarah, and Isaac were buried.

A church was erected over this venerated burying place, but it has been converted into a mosque. And here are now shown the sepulchres of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and those of their wives. All the sepulchres of the patriarchs are covered with rich carpets of green silk, magnificently embroidered with gold; those of their wives are red, embroidered in like manner. The rooms which contain the tombs are covered with rich carpets, and the entrance to them is guarded by iron gates and wooden doors, plated with silver. More than 100 persons are employed in the service of this mosque,

NAPOLOSE OR SICHEM.

This is a large and flourishing town, the capital of the country anciently called Samaria, 24 miles N. of Jerusalem. It is situated in a beautiful and fertile valley, between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. When viewed from the heights, it makes a very picturesque appearance, and seems luxuriantly embosomed in the most delightful and fragrant bowers, half concealed by rich gardens and stately trees. It was anciently called Sichem, Schechem, Sychar, and afterwards Neapolis, and is frequently mentioned in the Scriptures. Here are shown the tombs of Joseph, Eleazer, and Joshua; and three miles distant is Jacob's Well, memorable for our Saviour's conversation with the woman of Samaria.

INHABITANTS, MANNERS, AND CUSTOMS.

The Turks occupy all the civil and military posts; while the inhabitants of the eastern empire, under the name of Greeks, form a numerous part of the population.

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The country districts, however, are filled to a great extent with nomadic Arabs. Druses and Maronites, whose principal residence is on and around Mount Lebanon, are found in some parts. A considerable number of Jews, and also of Christian monks, reside in the Holy Land, and every town of importance has at least one convent.

The following remarks on the inhabitants and state of religion, are extracted from Dr. Clarke. "The Druses, concerning whom, notwithstanding the detailed account published by Niebuhr and by Volney, we have never received due historical information, worship Jonas, the prophets, and Mahomet. They have also Pagan rites; and some among them certainly offer the highest adoration to a calf. This account of their religion we received from a sensible and well informed member of their own community. The worship of a calf is accounted for in their Egyptian origin; the remains of superstition, equally ancient, being still retained in that country. Although the vicinity of Mount Libanus may be considered as the residence of the main horde of this people, stragglers and detached parties of them may be found in every part of the Holy Land.

"The inhabitants of Sephoury are Maronites; yet even here are some Druses. Those of Nazareth are Greeks, Maronites, and Catholics. Cana of Galilee is tenanted by Greeks; so is the town of Tiberias. In Jerusalem there are sects of every denomination, and perhaps of almost every religion upon earth. As to those who call themselves Christians, in opposition to Moslems, we found them divided into sects, with whose distinctions we were often unacquainted. It is said there are no Lutherans ; and if we add, that, under the name of Christianity, every degrading superstition and profane rite, equally remote from the enlightened tenets of the Gospel and the dignity of human nature, are professed and tolerated, we shall afford a true picture of the state of society in this country.

"The cause may be easily assigned. The pure Gospel of Christ, every where the herald of civilization and science, is almost as little known in the Holy Land, as in California or New-Holland. A series of legendary traditions, mingled with remains of Judaism, and the wretched phantasies of illiterate ascetics, may now and then exhibit a glimmering of heavenly light; but if we seek

for the blessed effects of Christianity in the land of Canaan, we must look for that period when the desert shall blossom as the rose, and the wilderness become a fruitful field.'"

JEWS MANNERS AND CUSTOMS.

The term Jews, in its most extensive sense, comprehends the Israelites generally, but in a more restricted and proper sense, it denotes those who belonged to the tribe of Judah, and who inhabited Judea. With regard to the Ten Tribes who were carried captive by the Assyrians, B. C. 721, it has been a prevalent opinion that they were wholly lost. Sir William Jones, however, is of opinion that the Afghans are descended from these tribes, and Dr. C. Buchanan supposes that the Ancient Black Jews' of India are derived from the same origin.

The dispersion of the Jews, properly so called, and the end of their national existence took place on the destruction of Jerusalem by Titus, A. D. 70. Since that event they have never been able to gain a settlement in the land of their ancestors, but have, in fulfilment of the predictions of the Scriptures, been dispersed into almost every country of the globe, and notwithstanding they have been subjected to almost every species of insult and oppression, they still continue a distinct people, and adhere to their own religion, and to their peculiar manners and customs.

They are generally addicted to trade and commerce, and many of them are wealthy. Formerly a great part of the retail trade of Europe was in their possession. They have long occupied a conspicuous place in the population of Poland. Their total number, throughout the globe, has been variously estimated from three to nine millions.

Religion.

Besides the Old Testament the Jews pay great attention to the Targums, or Chaldee paraphrases on them, which are supposed to have been written during the Babylonish captivity, or soon afterwards. They also regard with great veneration the Talmud, which contains a collection of their traditions. Another principal branch of modern Judaism is the Cabala, the study of which is esteemed the

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