'The Expedition for the survey of the rivers Euphrates and Tigris, carried on by order of the British government, in the years 1835, 1836, and 1837; preceded by geographical and historical notices of the regions situated between the rivers Nile and Indus. In four volumes. With fourteen maps and charts, and embellished with ninety-seven plates, besides numerous wood-cuts. Volume the first.' [‎496] (585/905)

496
JERUSALEM.
[CHAP. XX.
Cisterns of
Solomon.
View of the
city and its
environs.
The central fountain is 423 feet long by 250 feet wide at
the east end, 160 at the west, and 39 feet deep. The upper
and smallest is 380 feet long, 236 feet wide at the east end,
229 feet wide at the west, and 25 feet deep. 1 An aqueduct
carries a supply of fine water along the side of the hills to
Bethlehem, as it formerly did to the once brilliant capital of
the luxurious Solomon.
When approached by the ordinary pilgrim route, Jerusalem
has something of a desolate appearance, presenting at the top
of a stony valley a range of turreted limestone walls, above
which appear only a few of the most elevated dwellings, and
some of the cupolas and minarehs; whilst, like most other
eastern cities, the interior is but a succession of dull streets
and dead walls, sloping eastward, interspersed, however, with
gaudy churches and heavy-looking convents. But when raised
from the heights near the eastern side, the effect is particularly
striking, the whole city being seen from thence in complete
detail. The Mount of Olives, or Jebel-el Tur, commands, to
the southward, a view towards Bethlehem and some of the hill
country of Judea; atfid eastward is seen part of the valley of
Santa Saba, with the Dead Sea glittering beyond, at the foot
of the mountains of Arabia Petrsea. But, westward, the
scenery is still more remarkable; in this direction. Mount
Olivet descends rapidly into the deep ravine of Kidron, on
the slope near the bottom of which is the garden of Gethsemane,
and a little lower the tomb of the Virgin Mary; also those
of Jehoshaphat, Absalom, and Zachariah. 2 On the sloping
crest beyond this deep and narrow valley stands the city
itself; which, in addition to many public buildings, contains
upwards of 3000 good houses, distributed in four separate
quarters, which cover as many hills, the whole being enclosed
by lofty walls, flanked by square towers. The city has the
shape of an irregular lozenge, whose western side skirts the
valley of Gihon, while its southern side runs along that of
Ben Hinnom; the northern side is near the hill of Titus;
1 As given by Dr. Robinson: my measurements were in paces.
8 The son of Barachiah.