THE SITE OF PETRA. 
This Engraving gives a general representation of the area which opens to the spectator on 
emerging from the “ Chasm” by which he enters on the East. It shows the forms of the 
cliffs bounding the City on that side, with the various levels of the ground on which it 
stood. The course of the stream marks the direction of probably the chief Street, or 
Forum, as it was evidently covered over (though the winter floods have long since forced 
their way through the covering); and the nature of the ruins near the stream shows that 
this causeway was bordered with stately buildings. On its northern side are the remains 
of a Temple of large dimensions ; the bases of the colonnade displaying the probable extent 
of its front . 1 On the southern, the site of a magnificent portico is discoverable; and 
at the confluence of a brook flowing from the north, with the stream, are the remnants of a 
circular building standing at the extremity of a broad terrace. In the bed of this brook 
were found the arm and shoulder of a statue, in marble, and the marble capital of a 
Corinthian pillar, of the purest taste, and obviously differing from the general style 
of Petrsean sculpture . 2 
It was while the Artist and his companions were sojourning in the centre of this area 
(where the tents are seen), that they met the appropriate adventure of being plundered, 
apparently by their own escort. On the third day of their stay, they had received 
a warning, in the open seizure of some of their camp-furniture, which the thief, on 
escaping up the precipice, flourished triumphantly over his head, promising a speedy 
return “ for something else.” The chief of the escort pretended extreme indignation 
at the robbery, but the robber was not to be found. We give this little narrative in 
Mr. Kinnear’s words:— 
“ The night was cloudy, with passing showers; and our servants told us, that the 
Alloeens, expecting heavy rain during the night, had removed to one of the large 
excavations in the neighbourhood. About midnight I was awakened by loud cries of ‘ El 
Arab! Robbers! robbers ! ’ repeated in half-a-dozen voices, English and Arab. I started 
up; but on running out, no one was to be seen except our own party. The robbery was 
certainly boldly and cleverly executed. One or two of the tent-pins had been drawn on 
the outside. In this manner the thief had crept in, and deliberately selected such articles 
as were of most importance to these wild people: a pair of pistols, a bag of powder and 
balls, a shot-belt, and a box of wax-candles! To add to our discomfort, we could not help 
suspecting that Hassein himself had connived at the robbery: he had long coveted the 
pistols .” 3 His removal of the guard; his requesting that the lantern should remain'lighted, 
thereby facilitating the movements of the thief; and his own remaining in the tent, to 
induce them to sleep in security, were nearly proof. The adventure shows the craftiness of 
these “children of nature,” and how little faith is to be placed in the virtues of the Bedouin. 
In closing these descriptions of Petra, it must be observed, that if its beauty and 
sublimity have been exaggerated, they are the exaggerations of intelligent individuals 
who have been upon the spot; and who have been unanimous in their admiration. It is 
1 Biblical Researches, ii. 525. Kinnear, Cairo, &c. 150. 3 Roberts’s Journal. 
3 Kinnear, Cairo, &c. 163. 
