SYRIA, OR EGYPTIAN ASIA. 



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In Palestine, which, from its having been the place of so many wonderful and sacred events, 

 we call the Holy Land, few vestiges remain of tlie ancient edifices. A barbarous and bigoted 

 people have destroyed them; There is even much doubt as to many of the places described 

 in the Scriptures at Jerusalem. On this subject, however, it is so pleasing to be deceived, that 

 credulity rises somewhat higher than probability, and the pilgrim feels a willingness to believe 

 the descriptions given him by the resident Christians. Many spots, however, may be indicated 

 with sufficient certainty. In the 4th century, when they were known by tradition, the Em- 

 press Helena erected, over numbers of their temples, altars and oratories. The mosque of 

 Omar occupies the place of Solomon's temple. A church is built near the place of the Holy 

 Sepulchre, for the possession of which, Europe was arrayed in arms for 300 years. The pil- 

 grims approach the consecrated spot upon their knees. On Calvary, a piety of more zeal than 

 knowledge, pretends to show the hole made in the ground for the ci'oss. It is covered with 

 marble, but perforated, so that the spot may be touched. The memorable cleft in the rock, 

 made at the crucifixion, is still shown ; this also is covered with marble. Maundrel describes 

 the cleft as a span wide at the surface, and two spans deep ; after which, it closes, but opens 

 below, and runs down to an unknown depth. Here are also the tombs of the Latin kings of 



Sepulchre of the Kings. 



Jerusalem. On the east of Mount Zion, is the pool of Siloam. It is under an arched vault 

 of masonry. In the valley of Jehoshaphat are edifices called the tombs of Zachariah, of Abra- 

 ham, and of Jehoshaphat. The pool of Bethesda remains with its original facing of large stones. 

 At Bethlehem, a convent built by Helena marks the spot of the Redeemer's birth. The edi- 

 fice has been so often repaired, that it contains probably few of the original materials. None of 

 the consecrated places are pointed out with so much certainty as the spot of the Nativity ; and 

 of this spot, which is worn by the feet of pilgrims, there is no ground for skepticism. 



10. History. The name of Palestine seems to be derived from the ancient Philistines, but 

 the country is more commonly known in Scripture first as the Promised Land and the Land 

 of Canaan, and afterwards, when occupied by the 12 tribes of Israel, as Judea. The people 

 of the Phoenician States, on the northeast, were early wealthy and commercial, and were 

 generally on friendly terms with the Israehtes, while the people of Syria were generally hos- 

 tile. At a later period, all these regions were conquered by the Babylonians, the Persians, 

 the Macedonians, the Romans, Saracens, and Turks, and have followed the fortunes of the 

 great empires that swallowed them up. It was about 16 centuries before Christ, that Moses 

 conducted the oppressed Hebrews from the plains of Egypt, through the wastes of Arabia to 

 the borders of Canaan, where he died, after having given them the laws dictated by God. The 



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