There are nine mosques in Hebron, none of which possess any architectural or other interest, with the exception of the massive structure which is built over the tombs of the patriarchs. This is esteemed by the Moslems one of their holiest places, and Christians are rigorously excluded from it. Up to a recent date, the only Europeans who had found their way to the interior were Ali Bey and Giovanni Finati, the Italian servant of Mr. Bankes. An account of it is furnished by the Rev. V. Monro (Summer Ramble, i. 245), and also by Ali Bey ( Travels, ii. 232); but all these partial ac counts are now superseded by the minute survey of the place made by Dr. Stanley in 1862, in the suite of H. R. H. the Prince of Wales, and re corded by him in the Appendix to his Lectures on the Jewish Church, i. 448.
The court in which the mosque stands is sur rounded by an extensive and lofty wall, formed of large stones, and strengthened by square buttresses. This wall is the greatest antiquity in Hebron, and even Dr. Robinson supposes that it may be sub stantially the same which is mentioned by Josephus (Andy. 14 ; De Bell. Yud. iv. 9- 7), and by Euse bius and Jerome (Onomast. s. v. Arboch) as the sepulchre of Abraham. The enclosed structure is usually ascribed to the empress Helena ; but Dr. Robinson thinks it more likely to have been erected by the Crusaders, and that till their time no build ing existed within the great wall. If, however, we rightly understand the Rabbi Benjamin, he says there was a synagogue here under the Moslems (before the Crusades) ; but he certainly ascribes to the Gentiles (Christians) the six sepulchres which appear above ground. If this were so, they have since been renewed by the Moslems, as those which now exist are, as described, quite similar to the Moslem shrines of Jewish saints which the present writer has seen in countries where Christians never had power. A common Moslem tomb in the neighbourhood of Hebron passes as the tomb of Abner. He was certainly interred in this city (2 Sam. iii. 32) ; and the head of Ishbosheth, after his assassination, was deposited in the same sepulchre (2 Sam. iv. 12) ; but there is slight evidence in favour of the tradition which professes to point out this locality to the modern traveller.
Besides this venemble wall, there is nothing at IIebron bearing the stamp of antiquity, save two reservoirs for min water outside the town. One
of these is just without the southern gate in the bottom of the valley. It is a large basin, 133 feet square, and 21 feet 8 inches deep. It is built with hewn limestone, of very solid workmanship, and obviously of ancient date. The depth of water of course varies at different times of the year : in May, it is 14 feet. The descent is by flights of steps at the four corners, by which the water is brought up in vessels and skins, and poured out into troughs for the flocks, or carried away for domestic uses. Just at the north end of the main part of the town ts another and smaller pool, also occupying the bed of the valley, and measuring 85 feet by 55, with a depth of 183/4 feet, containing (in May) 7 feet of water. These cisterns, whith are connected with no perennial springs, and which are filled only by the rains, seem (at least in summer) to be the main dependence of the inhabitants for water, although that of the larger pool is neither clear nor clean. As these pools are doubtless of high antiquity, one of them is in all likelihood the 'pool of Hebron' over which David hanged up the assassins of Ish busheth (2 Sam. iv. 12).
The environs of Hebron are very fertile. Vine yards and plantations of fruit-trees, chiefly olive trees, cover thc valleys and arable grounds ; while the tops and sides of the hills, although stony, are covered with rich pastures, which support a great number of cattle, sheep, and goats, constituting an important branch of the industry and wealth of Hebron. The hill country of Judah, of whicli it is the capital, is indeed highly productive, and under a paternal government would be capable of sustaining a large population. That it did so once, is manifest from the great number and extent of ruined terraces and dilapidated towns. It is at present abandoned, and cultivation ceases at the distance of two miles north of the town. The hills then become covered with prickly and other stunted trees, which furnish Bethlehem and other villages with wood. See the works of travellers who have visited Hebron, and in particular, Dr. Robinson, Dr. Olin, Rev. V. Monro, Schubert, De Saulcy, Van de Velde, Wilson, and Thomson.—J. K.