8^ 
CALAM NEGUS. 
pose to be Caleb Negas, a king who reigned in the country about 
the year 5^2, and who was cotemporary with the Eniperor Justin : he 
was celebrated for a successful incursion into Arabia against the 
Homerites, and on his return sent his crown to Jerusalem to be 
suspended in the temple.* We managed to find the entire extent 
of this cave, at which our guides were not a little astonished. The 
second cave, (marked C,) is very nearly closed up by earth that 
has fallen in; but as there was a glimpse of something like pillars, 
I determined not to be deterred by any trifling difficulties. Ac- 
cordingly Pearce and myself crept down into it on our knees, and 
when we had once passed the entrance, found it to be much more 
curious than the first. The door way, leading into the outer cell, 
is extremely well fashioned ; the capitals of the supporting pillars 
are formed with the butt ends of the cross stones projecting over 
the erect ones. Within are three plain tombs standing at right 
angles to the walls of the cell, in a direction nearly east and west, 
on a pavement raised about four inches from the floor. The cover 
of the center one is displaced, and lying partly broken on one of the 
others ; the two side tombs are entire. 
The side cells of this excavation are of much greater depth 
than the middle one. We satisfactorily ascertained the whole extent 
of the place, by following the walls till they brought us again to the 
entrance, not being able to procure lights. The only living crea- 
tures that we perceived within, were bats. At a little distance were 
some large loose stones, ready squared for building ; but to what 
purpose they had been applied it was impossible to ascertain. A 
ridiculous cacumstance occurred on our being about to leave 
* Ludolf. lib. 2. chap. 44. 
