352 THE HOLY LAND. 
^vui' ^^^^^ ^^ David. There seems to be no other 
method of reconciling the accounts given by 
antient authors of the space occupied by the 
former city, which in no wise correspond with 
its present appearance : and the strange teme- 
rity which endeavours to warp the text of an 
historian ', so as to suit existing prejudices, and 
the interests of a degrading superstition, cannot 
be too eagerly scouted by every friend of truth 
and science. Eusehius allows a distance of 
twenty-seven stadia, or three miles and three 
furlongs, for the circumference of the antient 
city'^. The circuit of the modern town does 
not exceed two miles and a half^ or twenty 
stadia, according to the measure oi Eusehius. We 
cannot therefore, without including this moun- 
tain, embrace an area sufficiently extensive 
(l) " We must Dot take in a literal sense" [saysMotis. De Chuleau- 
briand, Trav. vol. II. p. 85. Land. 1811.) " the text of JosejjJius, when 
the historian asserts that the w alls of the city advanced to the north, 
as far as the Sepulchres of the Kings." In what sense, then, are we to 
take the text of an historian ? It however happens, that the text of 
Joaephus {lib. vi. de Bell. c. 6.) contains no such assertion. The words 
fftrnXaio))! (iaa'iX.ix.av do not refer to the tombs of the Kings of Judah, but 
to the royal caves of Helena's Sepulchre, which were quite in a different 
situation, these lying to the north of Jerusalem ; whereas the Sepulchres 
of the Kings were upon the south side of the city. 
C2) Eusebii Preep. Evatig. lib. ix. cap. 36. Paris, 1659. 
(3) See jMaundrell's Journ. from '^lep. to Jerus. p. 110. 0.cf. 1721. 
De Chateaubriand walked round it in about an hour. We were rather 
more than an hour employed in riding round, a foot's pace, but we 
kept at a short distance from the walls. 
