232 Captains Irby and Mangles's Account of the Necropolis 



same occurs at the bottom of the Hebrew characters on the 

 tomb of Aaron. The interior of the tomb we have been de- 

 scribing has two chambers, with recesses for bodies, but no 

 peculiarity worthy of notice. The front is crowned with a 

 double flight of steps in the usual form. In many instances, 

 in lieu of two flights diverging from each other, they are 

 brought to meet in the form of pyramids, being reduced to a 

 much smaller scale, and repeated in the manner of battle- 

 ments to the number of three or five entire, with the half of 

 one at each extremity. 



We have preferred collecting into one view the most re- 

 markable features of these tombs before we advance further, 

 without confining ourselves strictly to those which are met 

 with in the approach from Wady Mousa to the city, in order 

 to generalize the description, and avoid interrupting the nar- 

 rative by alluding to them as they present themselves, which 

 is the case not only in every avenue to the city, and upon 

 every precipice that surrounds it, but even intermixed almost 

 promiscuously with its public and domestic edifices. 



To return to the description of the eastern approach to Pe- 

 tra. As we advanced, the natural features of the defile grew 

 more and more imposing at every step, and the excavation and 

 sculpture more frequent on both sides, till it presented at last a 

 continued street of tombs, beyond which the rocks, gradually 

 approaching each other, seemed all at once to close without any 

 outlet. There is, however, one frightful chasm for the pas- 

 sage of the stream, which furnishes, as it did anciently, the on- 

 ly avenue to Petra on this side. It is impossible to conceive 

 any thing more awful or sublime than such an approach. 

 The width is not more than just sufficient for the passage of 

 two horsemen abreast ; the sides are in all parts perpendicu- 

 lar, varying from 400 to 700 feet in height, and they often 

 overhang to such a degree, that, without their absolutely 

 meeting, the sky is intercepted and completely shut out for 

 100 yards together, and there is little more light than in a 

 cavern. 



The screaming of the eagles, hawks, and owls, who were 

 soaring above our heads in considerable numbers, seemingly 

 annoyed at any one approaching their lonely habitations, 



