'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.' [‎495] (584/905)

CHAP. XX.]
BETHLEHEM.
195
At a more remote period Hebron was called the city of
Arba, 1 or Kirjath-arba, 2 from Arba, a chief of the Anakim. 3
It was built seven years previously to Zoan in Egypt, and is
mentioned before Damascus. 4 It was probably from the
valley of Hebron or Tuheishemeh that the patriarch Jacob
sent Joseph to seek his brethren at Sechem. 5 Beit-el-Lahm, Beit-ei-Lahm,
or house of flesh, 6 the other place, occupies the eastern and or Bethlehem -
north-eastern slope of a long ridge, overlooking the plain of
that name; and it contains about 450 stone-built houses,
principally forming a single street, and almost entirely belong
ing to Christians, who number about 1500 souls. A little
way eastward of the town is the convent, an extensive pile of
buildings, enclosed by very high walls, resembling those of a
castle, with a small postern entrance, which is opened occa
sionally. It is tenanted by Greek, Latin, and Armenian
monks, having within the church of the first the gaudy
structure erected for the second branch of its inmates by the
Empress Helena. Below, there is a small grotto, with an
altar in a recess, which is understood to be the cave of the cave of the
Nativity, in Bethlehem Ephrata. On the western side of Natlv ' t>-
the valley is the presumed well of the mighty men ; 7 and a
little way northward, the tomb of Rachel, covered with a
Muslim cupola. Three miles south-west of this spot is Kal'at-
el-Burak, having within it a pool, which possibly may be the
shut-up or sealed fountain, 8 and is apparently the principal
feeder of the three adjoining reservoirs. Being on the slope
of the hill, they descend in succession, the bottom of the first
being nearly on the same level as the surface of the second,
which carries the surplus water into the third and lowermost.
The last is 582 feet long by 207 feet wide at the east end,
and 148 at the west, with a depth of 50 feet.
1 Gen., chap. XXXV., v. 27.
8 Gen., chap. XXIII., v. 2; Jud., chap. I., v. 10.
s Josh., chap. XIV., v. 15.
* Gen., chap. XIII., v. 18; and Numh., chap. XIII., v. 22.
» Gen., chap. XXXVII., v. 14.
6 Ihn Haukal, p. 38, of Sir Wm. Ouseley's translation.
7 2 Sam., chap. XXIII., v. 15, 16. 8 Canticles, chap. IV,, v, 12.