108 
TOMB OF ESTHER 
, event, such a memorial becomes an evidence to the fact, more 
convincing perhaps than even written testimony; it seems a 
kind of eye-witness. 
The original structure, it is said, was destroyed at the sacking 
of the place by Timour; and soon after that catastrophe, when 
the country became a little settled, the present unobtrusive 
building was raised on the original spot. Certain devout Jews 
of the city stood to the expence ; and about a hundred and fifty 
years ago, (nearly five hundred after its re-erection,) it was fully 
repaired by a rabbi of the name of Ismael. 
On passing through the little portal, which we did in an 
almost doubled position, we entered a small arched chamber, in 
which are seen the graves of several rabbis; probably, one may 
cover the remains of the pious Ismael; and, not unlikely, the 
others may contain the bodies of the first rebuilders after the 
sacrilegious destruction by Timour. Having “ trod lightly by 
their graves,” a second door of such very confined dimensions 
presented itself at the end of this vestibule, we were constrained 
to enter it on our hands and knees, and then standing up, we 
found ourselves in a larger chamber, to which appertained the 
dome. Immediately under its concave, stand two sarcophagi, 
made of a very dark wood, carved with great intricacy of pattern, 
and richness of twisted ornament, with a line of inscription in 
Hebrew running round the upper ledge of each. Many other 
inscriptions, in the same language, are cut on the walls ; while 
one of the oldest antiquity, engraved on a slab of white marble, 
is let into the wall itself. The priest assured me, it had been 
rescued from the ruins of the first edifice, at its demolition by 
the Tartars ; and, with the sarcophagi themselves, was preserved 
on the same consecrated spot. Sedak Beg, who was with me, 
