Not far from the north-west angle is a passage, descending by steps, to a vault or grotto beneath, for we were uncertain which of tne two to call it, being covered with so thick a coat of whitewash that it is difficult to distinguish whether it is built or hollowed out. It appeared, in great part at least, a grotto ; the roof is covered, but the whole is rude, ill-fashioned, and quite dark. The sheikh, who was not informed that we were Christians, furnished us with a lump of butter. Towards the further end of this dark vault lie the two corres ponding leaves of an iron grating, which formerly prevented all nearer approach to the tomb ; they have, however, been thrown down, and we ad vanced so as to touch it ; it was covered by a mgged pall. We were obliged to desceud barefoot, and were not without some apprehension of tread ing on scorpions or other reptiles in such a place.' It is highly interesting to know what view it was which last greeted the eyes of the dying high priest from this lofty eminence ; and it is the more so from the fact that the region over which the view extends is that in which the Israelites wandered for forty years. Our tmvellers supply this infor mation The view from the summit of the edifice is ex tremely extensive in every direction, and the eye rests on few objects which it can dearly distinguish to give a name to, although an excellent idea is obtained of the general face and features of the country. The chain of Idumman mountains, which form the western shore of the Dead Sea, seem to run on to the southward, though losing consider ably in their height. They appear iu this point of
view barren and desolate. I3elow them is spread out a white sandy plain, seamed with the beds of occasional torrents, and presenting much the same features as the most desert parts of the Ghor. Where this desert expanse approaches the foot of Mount Hor, there arise out of it, like islands, several lower peaks and ridges, of a purple colour, probably composed of the same kind of sandstone as that of Mount Hor itself, which, variegated as it is in its hues, presents in the distance one uniform mass of dark purple. Towards the Egyptian side there is an expanse of country without features or limit, and lost in the distance. The lofty district, which we had quitted in our descent to Wady Mousa, shuts up the prospect on the south-east side ; but there is no part of the landscape which the eye wanders over with more curiosity and de light than the crags of Mount Hor itself, which stand up on every side in the most lugged and fan tastic forms, Fometimes strangely piled one on the other, and sometimes as strangely yawning in clifts of a frightful depth. . . . An artist who would study rock-scenery in all its wildest and most ex travagant forms would find himself rewarded should he resort to Mount Hor for that sole purpose' [comp. Stanley, Sin. and Pal., p. S6].—J. K.