C 9X ) . 
Beauty. Whether they were in the Nature ofCanopIes 
over fome Altars placed there, or to what other ufe they 
ftrved, I am not able to conjefture. They are beauti- 
fied with the moft curious Fretwork and Carvings ; in 
the midft of which is a Dome or Cupokjabove fix Foot 
Diameter, which we found above to be of one piece ; 
whether hewn out of a Rock entire^ or made of fome 
Artificial Cement or Compofition , by Time hardened 
into a Lapideous Subftance, feems doubtful ; though I 
am rather inclined to believe the latter. It is in fine, a 
moft exquifite Piece of Workman (hip, and on which I 
could have beftowed more time to view it, than what 
was allowed us, haftening to other Sights. 
Having taken this Survey of the Temple, we went 
abroad, where our Eyes were prefendy accofted with 
an amazing fight of a multitude of Marble Pillars, (land- 
ing fcattered up and down, for the fpace of near a Mile 
of Ground, this way and thar, but fp difpofed as to af- 
ford no folid foundation to judge, what fort of Stru- 
d:ures they formerly framed, I pafs by the Ruines of ^ ^^^^'^^ 
a Mofque, which, direfling our Courfe Northward, was 
the firft thing occur'd to our View, after we came out 
of the Court of the Temple, which though of a more 
Artificial Frame and Compofure than many I have feen, 
yet is not worthy to flop us in the way to things both 
of greater Antiquity, and every way more Noble and 
v^onhy our Confideration. Having therefore paft this, 
you have the Profpedof fuch Magnificent Ruines, that 
if it be Lawful to frame a Conje^ure of the Original 
Beauty , of , the place, by whac is ftill remaining, I que- 
ftion fomewhat whether any City in the World could 
have challenged Precedence of this in its Glory. But it 
being imppffible as they now ftand to reduce them to 
any regular Method, I muft be forced to give you a rude 
Account of them as they came in fight • and which will 
fall 
