56 MEMOIR OF BURCKHARDT. 



so few Europeans were qualified to explore. u Know- 

 ing (says he) that my intended way led through a 

 diversity of Bedouin tribes, I considered it advisable 

 to equip myself in the simplest manner. I assumed 

 the most common Bedouin dress, took no luggage 

 with me, and mounted a mare that was not likely 

 to excite the cupidity of the Arabs." On the second 

 day he passed near the lower ridge of the Djibel 

 el Sheikh, the Mount Herrnon of the sacred writ- 

 ings, and crossed the Jordan, which here flows in a 

 narrow bed and with a rapid stream. Next day he 

 reached Szaffad, the ancient Japhat, a neatly built 

 town, commanding an extensive view over the 

 country towards Acre, and in clear weather the sea 

 is visible from it. Descending the mountain, he 

 came to a place of refreshment called the Khan 

 Djob Yussef, or the Khan of Joseph's Well, where 

 the natives show the pit into which they pretend 

 that patriarch was let down by his brethren. It is 

 in a small court-yard, and is about three feet in 

 diameter, and at least thirty deep, the sides being 

 lined with masonry. Both Turks and Christians 

 hold it in great veneration. The former have a 

 small chapel just by it, and caravan travellers sel- 

 dom pass without saying a few prayers in honour of 

 Yussef. The whole of the mountain in the vicinity 

 is covered with large pieces of black stone, although 

 the main body of the rock is calcareous ; and to ac- 

 count for this, the inhabitants have a legend that 

 the tears of Jacob, dropping on the ground while he 

 was in search of his son, turned the white stones 



