JERUSALEM. 349 
we ascended to the summit of the Mount of chap. 
VIII. 
Olives ; passing, in our way, a number of ' , ' 
Hebrew tombs ^ The yirahs upon the top of 'oZ'cl." 
this mountain are to be approached with 
caution, and with a strong guard. Here indeed 
we stood upon holy ground ; and it is a ques- 
tion, which might reasonably be proposed to 
Jew, Christian, or Mahomedan, whether, in re- 
ference to the history of their respective 
nations, it be possible to attain a more inter- 
PROBABLE THE KiXg's GaRDEXS WERE OVER THIS VALE, IN Wllini 
THE Tree of Rcgel is mentioned." See Pococke, vol. II. part I. 
p. 2'3. Land. 1745. If we can once ascertain the situation of the 
Gardens, that of the Sepulchres will be thereby determined. He no- 
tices the " great number of grottos cut out of the rock, some of which 
have porticos, and are adorned with the plain Egyptian coruish;" and 
adds, " they seem to be antient Sejmlchres." Seem to be ! Is it possible 
to entertain a doubt of the fact .' The truth is, that the real nature i>f 
antient sepulchres has been too little attended to, even where inscrip- 
tions upon them clearly explain their history. Even Benjamin of 
Tudela might have satisfied Pococke on this head : he expressly men- 
tions the sepulchres. He is proceeding by the same road to the Mount of 
Olives, when he says, " Mount Sion is without Jerusalem : — fronting 
the city are three Jewish burjing-placcs, whire they buried their 
dead in antient times: in one of them there is a sepulchre with the 
date remaining." Travels of Rabbi Benjamin, p. "4. ed. by Gerrans. 
Land. 1784. 
(3) "Toute la coste de la montagne est creus^e d'une infinite de 
Sepulchres des anciens Juifs, qui sont taill^s comrae des fours dans la 
roche ; et plus has, dans Je foods de la vall(^e, sont les sepultures de 
ceux, de cette nation, qui vivent k present en Jerusalem ; qui ne sont 
autre chose que des fosses, comme les nostras, couvertes d'une, deux, 
«u trois, pierres, mal polies et sans ornement." Doubdan, Vmjoge de 
la T. S. p. 130. Paris, 1657. 
