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serves to enclose it. It is about twenty-one feet long and 
fourteen feet wide. The bottom is covered with several 
cloths of different colours. It is reported that the throne 
of Solomon was erected in this place. 
Upon the outside of the southern wall of this hall, is 
a small frontispiece of marble which bears the name of 
Beb-arrahma, or The Gate of Mercy.. 
Following the eastern wall to the south of the throne 
of Solomon we come to a narrow staircase adhering to 
the wall, which leads to a sort of window cut through 
at a certain height. There is at this spot a piece of a 
column reclining upon its side, and partly overhanging 
the deep precipice of the torrent Cedron, in front of the 
Djebel Tor, or Mount Olivet. It is thought that here 
the invisible bridge called El Serat is placed, which is 
much sharper than the blade of a sword, and which the 
faithful believers will pass over with the rapidity of 
lightning to enter paradise; but the infidels who attempt 
to cross it, will fall down into the bottomless abyss of 
hell, which is underneath the bridge. There is at this 
place another small frontispiece, or rather a niche dedi- 
cated to prayer. 
The south-east angle of the great court of the temple 
is occupied by a mosque, composed of two rows of 
seven arches each, placed upon square pillars: this was 
formerly the place of prayer for the individuals of the 
Hanbeli rite. 
At a short distance from the platform of the Sahhara 
towards the north is a small round chapel, surmounted 
by a cupola; in which is the other piece of the rock of 
Sahhara, cut by the Christians. 
On the exterior of the northern side of the temple is 
situated El Seraia, or the palace of the governor of Je- 
