DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.4592#0196
196 RUINS OF PETKA.
and thirty feet high, in the perpendicular cliff. By
our way were two ruined palaces or temples, whose
fallen pillars and prostrate walls barely marked the
place where they once stood. On the site of one,
there was one solitary column standing, about twenty
feet in height, and beautifully wrought, while near by
were several others fallen and broken.
Passing oyer the plains of the ruined city, now
thickly strewed with the sad relics of former splen-
dor, we arrived at what is called the Corinthian tomb,
which had been selected as our place of lodging. Our
caravan had arrived but a few minutes before us.
What a thought, reader! to select a tomb for our
sleeping place!
CHAPTER XIII.
An Arr.li Feast—lluins of Petra— The Khasne—Arab Notions— El Syk mid the
Triumphal Arch—Beautiful Habitation—Tomb with a Greek Inscription—The
Theatre—Splendid Structures—Tomb with a Latin Inscription—El Deir—Exca*
vations in the Hock—Description of the Ruined City—'Palace of Pharaoh's
Daughter—Prophecies concerning Pctra—Historical Notice of Pctru—ltn fate
enveloped in Mystery.
In our contract with Hessein, made at Cairo, wo
had agreed to pay a tribute of four hundred piastres
to the tribe of Waddy Mousa for the privilege of vis-
iting the ruins of Petra, and remaining there as long
as we might choose. On our arrival, it was the bu-
siness of him and Sheik Magabel, of the Waddy Mousa
tribe, to keep the Arabs from disturbing us during our
stay. The plan to accomplish this was arranged.be-
and thirty feet high, in the perpendicular cliff. By
our way were two ruined palaces or temples, whose
fallen pillars and prostrate walls barely marked the
place where they once stood. On the site of one,
there was one solitary column standing, about twenty
feet in height, and beautifully wrought, while near by
were several others fallen and broken.
Passing oyer the plains of the ruined city, now
thickly strewed with the sad relics of former splen-
dor, we arrived at what is called the Corinthian tomb,
which had been selected as our place of lodging. Our
caravan had arrived but a few minutes before us.
What a thought, reader! to select a tomb for our
sleeping place!
CHAPTER XIII.
An Arr.li Feast—lluins of Petra— The Khasne—Arab Notions— El Syk mid the
Triumphal Arch—Beautiful Habitation—Tomb with a Greek Inscription—The
Theatre—Splendid Structures—Tomb with a Latin Inscription—El Deir—Exca*
vations in the Hock—Description of the Ruined City—'Palace of Pharaoh's
Daughter—Prophecies concerning Pctra—Historical Notice of Pctru—ltn fate
enveloped in Mystery.
In our contract with Hessein, made at Cairo, wo
had agreed to pay a tribute of four hundred piastres
to the tribe of Waddy Mousa for the privilege of vis-
iting the ruins of Petra, and remaining there as long
as we might choose. On our arrival, it was the bu-
siness of him and Sheik Magabel, of the Waddy Mousa
tribe, to keep the Arabs from disturbing us during our
stay. The plan to accomplish this was arranged.be-