FROM ACRE TO NAZARETH. 141 
of granite. The top of this formed a square of chap. 
three feet. One aisle of this building is yet ' , — • 
entire : at the eastern extremity a small tem- 
porary altar had been recently constructed by 
the piety of pilgrims : it consisted of loose 
materials, and was of very modern date. 
Some fragments of the original decorations of 
the church had been gathered from the ruins, 
and laid upon this altar; and, although they 
had remained open to every approach, even 
the Moslems had respected the votive offerings. 
We were less scrupulous ; for among them, 
to our great surprise, we noticed an antient 
Painting, executed after the manner of the Discovery 
O' of antient 
pictures worshipped in Russia\ upon a square rictures. 
piece of M'ood, about half an inch in thickness. 
T\-i\^ picture, split through the middle, consisted 
of two pieces, which, placed one upon the 
other, lay upon the altar, covered with dust 
and cobwebs. From its appearance, it was 
evident that it had been found near the spot, 
the dirt not having been removed ; and that the 
same piety, which had been shewn in collecting 
together the other scraps, had also induced 
some person to leave it upon the altar, as 
(l) See the First Part of these Travels, Vol. I. Clinp. IT. p. 26. 
of the Octavo Edition- 
