'Transactions of the Bombay Geographical Society, from January 1847 to May 1849. Edited by the Secretary. Volume VIII.' [‎346] (455/496)

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of the Assyrians, the Romans, the Saracens, and the Crusaders: and
from these heights, in travelling from the southward and eastward, the
first view of the Holy city is obtained. Hence, Titus first gazed on its
towers with longing eyes; and hence, doubtless, the Prophet depicts Sen
nacherib after his march from A.nathoth as menacing the city from Nob,
by shaking his hand against “ the Mount of the daughter of Zion, the
Hill of Jerusalem.” As the Assyrian Monarch is made by the Prophet to
approach Jerusalem from Anathoth, this ridge must have been the first
spot whence he could have seen the city.
From the summit of that part of the ridge crossed by the Jerusalem
and Anathoth road, Mar Elias, a convent on the Bethlehem road, beyond
Jerusalem, is distinctly visible, the ground sloping gradually down to the
limestone plateau on which the city stands, and to the great ravines of
the vallies of Hinnom, Eedron, and Jehoshaphat, whence the surface
again ascends to the east and north to the ridge of Olivet. Jerusalem,
(the tower of Hippicus) bore hence S. 49° W. The lower half of the
Dead Sea, part of the Grhor beyond, and the mountains of Moab, are
seen from this point, as well as the valley of the Jordan, and the inter
vening hilly tract.
I now descended and followed the Anathoth road round the head of
Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Bostan, ^ j which runs E. 10° S. towards the
Grhor. On its N". side, and in a low situation, stands the village
of Isawiyeh, about 700 yards to the right or east of the road after
passing the head of the valley. The Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. runs down after be-
ing joined by the Wadis of Kdk and Zaferdneh, ^ \ s**’ J )
from the south, easterly into Wadi A seasonal or intermittent watercourse, or the valley in which it flows. Meshhad, and thence
to the Grhor. The course from the ridge of Olivet to Isdwiydi is E.
42° NT., the time in descending seven minutes. The soil is whitish and
chalky, with a substratum of whitish limestone, embedding flints -the
fecaglia of Asia Minor. The sides of the ridge up to the summit of Olbet
were studded here and there with olive trees and hawthorn bushes, and
literally covered with fields of bearded wheat in ear (April.) This va
riety of wheat does not grow so high as the English wheat.
At Isdwiyeh j I found several sepulchral grots, tvo
large fragments of polished limestone columns, which had evidently be
longed to some ancient Church or Synagogue, foundations under the
present houses, and several large hewn stones in the rude niasonn =