250 
pillars, and sixteen columns of the same order and size 
as those of the centre, and composed of the finest brown 
marble. The roofs are fiat, and the whole is covered 
with ornaments in the most exquisite taste with mould- 
ings of marble, gold, &c. The capitals of the columns 
are of the composite order, richly gilt. The columns 
which form the central circle have attic bases, but the 
others, which are between the octangular naves, are cut 
at the lower part, without having even the listel or fillet, 
which ought to terminate the shaft; and instead of a 
base, are placed upon a cube of white marble. Their 
proportion seems to be that of the corinthian order, and 
the shafts are each sixteen feet high. 
The diameter of the cupola is nearly 47 feet, and its 
height 93. The total diameter of the edifice is about 
159| feet. 
The plane of the central circle is raised three feet 
above the plane of the surrounding naves, and is in- 
closed by a high and magnificent railing of iron gilt. 
This central circle incloses the sacred rock called EU 
Sahhara-Allah; it is the principal object of this superb 
edifice, and generally speaking, of the haram or temple 
of Jerusalem. 
El Hadjera el Sahhara, or the Rock of Sahhara, rises 
from the earth upon a mean diameter of thirty- three 
feet, in form resembling the segment of a sphere. The 
surface is unequal, rugged, and in its natural shape. 
Towards the north side there is a hollow, which tradi- 
tion relates to have been formed by the Christians, who 
wanted to carry away that part of the rock which is 
wanting; but which then became invisible to the eyes 
of the infidels. The faithful believers afterwards found 
this part divided into two pieces, which are now in 
