279 
temple, and the moufti or chief of the law, who have 
each their peculiar duties. 
With the exception of a few Turkish soldiers, Jeru- 
salem has no other defenders than the Mussulmen 
inhabitants, who muster about 2000 men fit to carry- 
arms, as already stated. 
The city is surrounded with walls of a considerable 
height, surmounted by battlements, with square towers, 
the whole well built with free stone; but incapable of 
resisting cannon on account of their want of thickness. 
There are six gates, namely,* 
* 
Beb En Nebi Davoud, ~> . - 
„, _ _ . S- to the south 
El Mogarba, 
Setta Maria, 
— — Ez Zahri, 
El Aamoutz, 
ElHhalil, 
the east, 
to the north, 
As the citadel is built against the western wall, there 
is no gate to the exter ior on that side. 
I have already remarked that the greatest part of the 
area of Jerusalem is encompassed with precipices. On 
the other points the want of this species of natural en- 
trenchment has been supplied by a ditch dug at the 
foot of the wall. 
Upon a first view of this place, surrounded with pre- 
cipices and regular walls in good condition, crowned 
with a great number of pieces of artillery, with a citadel 
of a handsome and solid construction, encompassed 
with its ditches, and well provided with the means of 
defence; possessing within a population, which appears 
* It is to be remarkecHhat the names of these gates are those 
given to them by the Arabs. The Christians call them otherwise, 
(Note of the Editor.) 
