DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0198
HOLY LAND, AND CYPRUS. \Q$
supposed of Jehoshaphat, and ascended into the plain south-
Avest of the city, on which are several square towers in ruin,
described as existing in the time of the crusades. The road
then lay through a ravine, where is a pile of loose stones;
this the dragoman pointed out to me as the spot where the
star first appeared to the magi, and continued flitting before
them, like an ignis fatuus, till they came to Bethlehem. We
proceeded through a rugged and broken country, in which a
few wild olives grew, and arrived at the convent of Elias,
inhabited by two or three Greek monks. A tree, on the
right hand side of the road opposite to the convent, is still
venerated as that under which the prophet lay. In proof is
shown an impression made in the rock by his body, and
miraculously preserved. From this, Bethlehem, situated on
the top of a steep hill, is first seen; on the east of which
stands the convent, built over the birth-place of our Saviour.
It has the appearance of a fort, was distant about an hour,
and from Jerusalem rather more than two hours.
As we advanced, I observed, in a valley, at some distance
on the left, a small stone building in an enclosure of trees
which was pointed out to me as the grotto where the shep-
herds were foretold the coming of the Messiah. On our
arrival at the foot of the hill of Bethlehem, we ascended a
tolerable road, by the side of which were gardens and vine-
yards ; then, having passed through the narrow streets of the
supposed of Jehoshaphat, and ascended into the plain south-
Avest of the city, on which are several square towers in ruin,
described as existing in the time of the crusades. The road
then lay through a ravine, where is a pile of loose stones;
this the dragoman pointed out to me as the spot where the
star first appeared to the magi, and continued flitting before
them, like an ignis fatuus, till they came to Bethlehem. We
proceeded through a rugged and broken country, in which a
few wild olives grew, and arrived at the convent of Elias,
inhabited by two or three Greek monks. A tree, on the
right hand side of the road opposite to the convent, is still
venerated as that under which the prophet lay. In proof is
shown an impression made in the rock by his body, and
miraculously preserved. From this, Bethlehem, situated on
the top of a steep hill, is first seen; on the east of which
stands the convent, built over the birth-place of our Saviour.
It has the appearance of a fort, was distant about an hour,
and from Jerusalem rather more than two hours.
As we advanced, I observed, in a valley, at some distance
on the left, a small stone building in an enclosure of trees
which was pointed out to me as the grotto where the shep-
herds were foretold the coming of the Messiah. On our
arrival at the foot of the hill of Bethlehem, we ascended a
tolerable road, by the side of which were gardens and vine-
yards ; then, having passed through the narrow streets of the