Jerusalem Explored Part 34

1 Free Dispensary.

18 Convents for accommodating Pilgrims.

A number of houses used for the same purpose, and many others for the poor of the community.

1 Printing Press.

The Latins:--

1 Patriarchal Seminary at Beit-jala.

1 Boys' School, kept by the Friars Minor.

2 Girls' Schools, one kept by the Sisters of S. Joseph; the other by the Daughters of Sion. 1 Hospital of S. Louis.

1 Hospice of the Casa Nuova.

1 Hospice, called after the Flagellation.

1 Hospice (the Austrian).

1 Printing Press.

1 Carpenter's shop.

1 Forge.

Several houses for the poor of the community.

The Armenians:--

1 Seminary.

1 Printing Press.

1 Boys' School.

1 Girls' School.

Magnificent Lodgings for Pilgrims.

Houses for the poor.

Protestant Missions:--

1 Boys' School.

1 Girls' School.

1 Girls' School, managed by the Prussian Deaconesses.

1 Hospital under the same care.

1 Hospice (Prussian).

1 Hospital (English).

1 Carpenters' School.

1 Reading Room.

Some houses belonging to the Prussians.

Russians:--

1 Hospital.

Magnificent Lodgings for Pilgrims.

Copts:--

1 Hospice.

Houses for members of their community.

The other communities have only their convents.

In a population of only 20,453 inhabitants, where there are so many schools and so many establishments, it is a great misfortune that no progress is seen, and that there does not appear to be even the hope of obtaining it for a long time to come.

FOOTNOTES:

[898] To show the sums received by the reverend Franciscan Fathers of the Holy Land, I think it will prove interesting if I give the following account published in a pamphlet, _L'Eco Francescano_, printed at Madrid in the year 1854. It is an authentic statement of the sums sent by the Catholic states to the Holy Land between the years 1650 and 1850. I do not add the details of the manner in which the amount was expended, because I have not the necessary papers; but I do not exaggerate when I say that those who have derived the greatest advantage from it have been the ministers of the Ottoman Porte and their dependents.

Spanish Reals.

Spain sent 146,362,280 The Austrian States (Lombardy and Venice are not distinct) 18,361,680 France 2,499,420 Naples 14,091,560 Portugal 39,685,480 Sicily 5,275,000 Rome 2,205,660 Tuscany 3,290,800 Island of Sardinia 1,137,700 Island of Malta 1,439,360 Piedmont 5,578,120 ----------- Total 239,737,060

About 11,996,883 francs, nearly half a million sterling, of which not a centime remains.

[899] Palestine, p. 653.

NOTES.

NOTES ON CHAPTER I.

NOTE I. See Eusebius, Hist. Eccles. IV. 2 sqq.; and his book on the Martyrs of Palestine, chap. 11; Dio's resume of the history of the reign of Hadrian; S. Jerome, Letter to Paulinus.

NOTE II. Neby Samwil (Prophet Samuel) is a village on the N.W. of Jerusalem, at a distance of about three hours from the city. From its summit the Mediterranean and the Dead Sea are visible, and it commands a magnificent view of Palestine to the East and West. This is not the place to say anything of this site in its connexion with ancient topography; I will merely state in pa.s.sing that I dissent from the opinion of Dr Robinson, who would identify the place with Mizpeh, the frequent meeting-place of the Jews (Judges xx.; 1 Sam. vii. 6, 12, x.

17, 24); I believe it to be Ramah. For here is found the sepulchre of the prophet Samuel, which I have myself seen, and from the earliest times to this day the Israelites have constantly undertaken pilgrimages in order to touch even the outer walls which enclose the tomb.

Accordingly I identify the Ramah mentioned in 1 Sam. xxv. 1 and xxviii.

3, and the Ramah of Josephus (Ant. VI. 13, -- 5), with the Arab village of Neby Samwil. In my book on the tombs of Machpelah, Ephratah, and Ramah, this point will be discussed at length.

NOTE III. "He removed thence (from Gabaoth Saul), and came to a place called Scopus; from whence the city began already to be seen, and a plain view might be taken of the great temple." (Josephus, Wars, V. 2, -- 3.) t.i.tus himself, with 600 hors.e.m.e.n, had made a reconnoitring expedition before he encamped at Scopus, during which he was intercepted by a body of the Jews, and had a very narrow escape with his life.

Scopus was, however, the first place from which the main army obtained a view of the city.

NOTE IV. Above each of the gates of Jerusalem is inserted a stone bearing the following inscription, which was translated for me from the Arabic (Plate VII.): "The Sultan our sovereign, the most potent king, and ill.u.s.trious monarch, the lord of the nations, the king of the Greeks, Arabs, and Persians, the Sultan Solyman (whose reign may G.o.d render happy and immortal!) caused the building of these holy walls, in the year 941;" of the Hejra, that is, corresponding to 1534 of the common era.

NOTE V. I subjoin the following note for the information of travellers, that they may not have to pa.s.s the night outside the Jaffa gate, or on Fridays lose valuable time.

The gates of the city are all closed at sunset, the Jaffa gate a little later, that being the one by which all foot-pa.s.sengers enter the city, and by which the inhabitants of the city go out for their walks. A person reaching Jerusalem after all the gates are closed can procure entrance by the Jaffa gate only, on obtaining a permit from the governor.

Every Friday at the hour of prayer (i.e. from noon to 1 P.M.) all the gates of the city are closed, and it is difficult to obtain permission to have them opened. This is done to allow time to the guards in charge for their devotions.

NOTE VI. The following are the names of the princ.i.p.al streets of Jerusalem:

_Harat bab-el-'Amud_ (the street of the Column-gate), crosses the city from North to South;

_Souk el-Kebir_ (the street of the Grand Bazaar), runs from West to East, and is the same which in the time of the Crusades was called the Street of David;

_Harat el-Alam_ (the _Via Dolorosa_), starts from the gate of S. Mary, pa.s.ses to the barrack on Mount Moriah, then after bearing for a short way to the South in the Tyropoeon valley, takes again a Westerly direction as far as the Porta Judiciaria;

_Harat el-Nacara_ (the street of the Christians), from the Holy Sepulchre to the Latin Convent;