216 REPORT — 1873. 



To understand the plan * of this fortification, it is necessary to bear in 

 mind tliat the hill, the summit of which contains Iverak, rises on three sides 

 from a deep valley, thus yielding natural buttresses, which, from their im- 

 mense height and perpendicular form, defy any attempt at scaling them. It 

 is only the north-west and south sides which are joined to the neighbouring 

 mountains by crests of rocks ; these, therefore, require artificial protection, 

 and it is for this reason that the fortification consists of two distinct parts, 

 viz. the tower on the north-west and the castle on the south. 



The tower is a large oblong building of immense height, constructed of 

 very huge and neatly cut sandstone. Yiewing it from the town, it looks like 

 three out of four skeleton walls of an unfinished edifice, being open towards 

 the defile. It is furnished with galleries and staircases inside the thickness of 

 its walls, putting the different stories of which it consists in communication 

 with each other. It presents its three faces (the circumference of which 

 measures about 131 yards) to the defence of the exterior, and is joined by 

 its two extremities to the town which it was designed to defend. The stones 

 of which it is built have been cut from the side of the rock on which it is 

 erected. By this process the north-western side has not only been separated 

 from its adjoining mountains, but the tower has obtained a very steep but- 

 tress. From the Arabic inscription El Melelc — Dalier — Byhars in the central 

 wall, it is called " The Tower of Daher,"' or " The Tower of Bybars." It was 

 within this three-walled toAver that we camped, and were imprisoned in our 

 tents. We saw Jerusalem most distinctly from the top of this tower. The 

 castle or fortress on the south, which was designed to defend this side, left 

 by nature unprotected, is in form a long square, widening towards the north, 

 the north face being about 153 yards, the south 87, the cast 218, and the 

 west 240, thus making a cii-cumference of about 698 yards. It is separated 

 from the city on the north by a wide ditch, and is defended on the south by 

 an immense reservoir, which is flanked by an enormous ditch, more than 

 98 feet wide, cut in the rock. A rampart, with galleries stretching across 

 the length of the enclosure of the castle, divides it into two courts, viz. a 

 lower court towards the east, and a higher court towards the west. 



In the eastern or lower court is a chapel, with nave of 82 feet long, four 

 windows, tw.o in each side, and ending in a semicircular arch. There is a 

 staircase in the thickness of the north wall, which leads to the platform on 

 the top of the edifice. Irby and Mangles have noticed remains of large fresco- 

 paintings, one apparently representing a king in armour, another the mar- 

 tyrdom of a saint who has his bowels twisted out, as well as an imperfect 

 inscription in Gothic letters (p. 364). But with the exception of the inscrip- 

 tion nothing is now to be seen. This court also contains the dungeon. 



In the angle of the Avestern extremity of the higher court is the gate of 

 the castle, which leads, through a long and narrow passage, to two other 

 doors furnished with portcullis and complicated defences. These had to be 

 passed before entrance could be obtained into the enclosure. The court con- 

 tains numerous cisterns and immense magazines of five or six stories high, 

 which are now partly dilapidated. This castle was built about a.d. 1143 

 by Payen, Avho was cup-bearer to the King of Jerusalem, and who received 

 Kerak as a fief after the execution of Knight Romanus. 



* Por a sketch of the plan of Kerak, as well as for an able treatise and some verbal com- 

 munications on the same subject, according to wliicli I have been enabled to correct and 

 supplement my rough notes, I tender my best thanks to M. Maiiss, the learned architect 

 of the Due de Luyne's expedition to the east of the Dead Sea. For the working out of the 

 plan which was exhibited I am indebted to my wife. — C. D. Gi.nsburq. 



