DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.5295#0201
168 TRAVELS IN EGYPT, NUBIA,
lage at three or four hours' distance; and they distinguished
each other by the difference of flags, his being red, that of
St. Philip white. He ridiculed the precautions taken by the
Franks against the plague. The chief employment of the
inhabitants was that of making beads, rosaries, crucifixes,
and relics, for the pilgrims and for the different convents,
who exported great quantities to Europe, having first conse-
crated them on the altar of the Sepulchre.
My escort was now increased by two Arabs, companions
of the chief. We descended the hill of Bethlehem towards
the south, and wound through a long narrow valley, barren
and rocky; in two hours arrived at the cisterns of Solomon,
supposed to be near the gardens of Rehoboam. There were
three, one above the other, in the ascent of a barren stony
valley that crossed the one in which we were : the first,
nearest the entrance of the valley, is the largest, and may be
about three hundred feet long and two hundred Avide; the
greatest depth at the lowest part is about thirty feet: the
remaining two are smaller; the centre one less than the
third. They are empty, and are constructed with masonry.
From this place there is an aqueduct to Bethlehem, car-
rying water from a fountain close to the road : the communi-
cation with Jerusalem which the aqueduct once had is now
cut off. Near the fountain is a strong square building
capable of defence. Hence we took an eastern direction
lage at three or four hours' distance; and they distinguished
each other by the difference of flags, his being red, that of
St. Philip white. He ridiculed the precautions taken by the
Franks against the plague. The chief employment of the
inhabitants was that of making beads, rosaries, crucifixes,
and relics, for the pilgrims and for the different convents,
who exported great quantities to Europe, having first conse-
crated them on the altar of the Sepulchre.
My escort was now increased by two Arabs, companions
of the chief. We descended the hill of Bethlehem towards
the south, and wound through a long narrow valley, barren
and rocky; in two hours arrived at the cisterns of Solomon,
supposed to be near the gardens of Rehoboam. There were
three, one above the other, in the ascent of a barren stony
valley that crossed the one in which we were : the first,
nearest the entrance of the valley, is the largest, and may be
about three hundred feet long and two hundred Avide; the
greatest depth at the lowest part is about thirty feet: the
remaining two are smaller; the centre one less than the
third. They are empty, and are constructed with masonry.
From this place there is an aqueduct to Bethlehem, car-
rying water from a fountain close to the road : the communi-
cation with Jerusalem which the aqueduct once had is now
cut off. Near the fountain is a strong square building
capable of defence. Hence we took an eastern direction