(...» 
32.2 THE HOLY LAND. 
CHAP, the ''Hill of Offence,'') facing Mount Sion, a 
-' number of excavations in the rock, similar to 
those already described among the Ruins of 
Telmessus, in the Gulph of Glaucus ; and an- 
swering to the account published by Shaw ' of 
the Cryptce of Laodicea, Jehilee, and Tortosa. We 
rode towards them ; their situation being very 
little elevated above the bottom of the dingle, 
upon its southern side. When we arrived, we 
instantly recognised the sort of sepulchres which 
had so much interested us in Asia Minor, and., 
alighting from our horses, found that we should 
have ample employment in their examination. 
They were all of the same kind of workmanship, 
exhibiting a series of subterraneous chambers, 
hewn with marvellous art, each containing one, 
or many repositories for the dead, like cisterns 
carved in the rock upon the sides of those cham- 
bers*. The doors were so low, that, to look 
into any one of them, it was necessary to stoop, 
and, in some instances, to creep upon our hands 
and knees : these doors were also grooved, for 
the reception of immense stones, once squared 
(1) Shmv's Travels, p. 263. Lond. I757. 
(2) In tbe writings of the Prophets, frequent allusions occur to 
similar places of sepulture : thus, Isaiah xiv. ]5, 18. JS zckie I nxxii. 
20, &c. 
