grounds is, as nearly as can be ascertained, the same as that which was devoted to the Temple. Into this area, the dearest place on earth to the Jew-his holy ground-he is never permitted to enter. The streets of Jerusalem are extremely irregular -and there is one very short, perhaps three hundred yards long, and rather wider than the average street here, which lies under the west wall of the Temple-grounds. This wall is very high, probably thirty feet-a mere dead wall, without any break for door or window. A low wall runs parallel with it on the other side of the street. This street is so situated as to be very little used, and the Jews have purchased of the Turkish authorities the right to come here every Friday afternoon, and bewail the destruction of the city and Temple, and their own dispersed condition. This place we have visited. twice-once on Thursday to see the place, and then at the hour of wailing. Even on Thursday we found a few there uttering their dirge-like lamentation. But on Friday the whole street was filled with them, bewailing in a solemn and bitter tone the desolation of their race, and calling on the God of their fathers for pity and help. There they were, as near to the holy ground as they could get, yet excluded from it-and gathered there to mourn. I scarcely ever shed tears, but at that sight the tears came. True, as was to be expected, with many it was only a formal thing; but there were many whose wail came out of their very souls. Face, and attitude, and voice, all were in unison with the solemn purpose of the occasion. Judah has been in mourning for 2,000 years. Is it His blood on them and on their chil dren? Sometimes there is a responsive chant in these words: Leader. For the place that lies desolate. Response. We sit in solitude and mourn. Leader. For the place that is destroyed. R. We sit, etc. Leader. For the walls that are overthrown. R. We sit, etc. Leader. We sit, etc. For our majesty that is departed. R. Leader. For our great men who lie dead. R. We sit, etc. R. Leader. For the precious stones that are burned. We sit, etc. Leader. For the priests who have stumbled. R. We sit, etc. Leader. For our kings who have despised Him. R. We sit, etc. N CHAPTER XXVII. JERUSALEM. O ONE WEEK can suffice to get a thorough knowledge of the topography of Jerusalem. If I could command the time for it I should. remain a month at least. But as it is, I must make the best of the few days I have. We have at last visited the great Mosque of Omar, which occupies the site of the old Temple. It is by far the most magnificent building here, and is held by good Mussulmans the most sacred place on earth, next to Mecca. Until within a few years past no Christian was permitted to enter it, and even now the Jews are rigidly excluded. The mosque stands, as the Temple did, in an area a quarter of a mile square. This area is surrounded by a very massive and high wall of stone. The open space, therefore, immediately surrounding the mosque, is large. There is another building in the south-east corner of the inclosure-the El Aksa Mosque. The principal building, the Mosque of Omar, occupies the very spot on which the Temple of Solomon stood. Of this there can be no reasonable doubt. It is the site, also, where a very old tradition locates the offering of Isaac; but, of course, this is wanting in any historical proof, though it is likely |