along the valley, and disappeared behind the Garden of Gethsemane.
A little before sunset my brother returned, and, in answer to my questions about the soldiers, said, "They were on their way to Abu Dis, a village on the other side of the hill, which is now in arms against El Tûr, the village just above us. Several skirmishes have taken place during the last three days, and a few people have been killed on both sides. The Pasha is now determined to put a stop to the fighting. His Excellency has just now told me that he intends to encamp up here, and will have his tents pitched near to this tower." He did so, and shortly afterward his pretty green tents were to be seen under the olive-trees.
On Tuesday, July 8th, Mr. Graham and my brother returned from the town early and said, "Now put on something that clay will not spoil and rocks will not tear, and we will take you to explore the Tombs of the Prophets."
Having equipped myself accordingly, and provided wax candles, we rode up to the top of the hill through the little dusty village of El Tûr. We traversed the large cucumber gardens beyond it, and entered a fine mulberry orchard. A troop of half-naked little brown boys were up in the trees, gathering the ripe and abundant fruit and shouting merrily; while a few women, in purple linen dresses and white cotton vails, stood beneath with large trays and baskets made of reeds, which they were rapidly filling. We alighted under the trees. One woman, who seemed to have authority over all the rest, advanced to me and gave me some of the fruit. I had never tasted finer mulberries. Then, to my surprise, I was led to the mouth of a circular well, quite dry, and nearly filled up with dust and rubbish. We got down into this and crept through a hole in the side, and crawled along a winding and descending way on our hands and feet till we found ourselves in a circular chamber in which we could stand upright. It was about twenty-four feet in diameter, and in the middle about ten feet high. A little light came into it from a hole pierced through the solid
