CHAPTER VI.

Topography of Jerusalem, continued-Greek Convent-Castle of David-Armenian Convent-House of Annas-Mount Zion-Tomb of David-Church of the Conaculum-House of Caiaphas-Christian Burial Gronnd-Valley of GihonHill of Evil Council-Tombs of the City of David-Gehenna -Aceldama or Field of Blood-Judas-Well of Nehemiah -Prophecies concerning Zion.

JERUSALEM, Aug. 20.-Not far from the Latin convent, in the street leading down from the upper to the lower town, is one belonging to the Greeks, of the Oriental church. It is dedicated to St. Constantine. We called here to visit a gentleman with whom we had travelled in Egypt, and who, previous to our arrival, had taken up his quarters in it. We were graciously received by the Superior, with whom we conversed in modern Greek, he being a native of Cyprus. As I have observed in another place, the

religion of the Greek church prevails not only in Greece, and in various parts of Europe, but also in most of the countries of Western Asia, and in the eastern parts of Africa. The number of its members out of Europe, is estimated at not less than twenty millions. The four patriarchs to which the latter profess allegiance, are denominated after the cities of Constantinople, Antioch, Jerusalem, and Alexandria. The jurisdiction of the patriarch of Constantinople is acknowledged over a considerable part of Asia Minor, the Archipelago, Greece and the Ionian Islands, and throughout the southern provinces of European Turkey. The patriarch of Antioch extends his jurisdiction over Phoenicia, Cilicia, Syria, and Mesopotamia. His residence is at Damascus. The patriarchal authority of the See of Jerusalem is confined to Palestine. He usually resides at Constantinople. The patriarchate of Alexandria, which is the most ancient of the four, embraces, in its nominal extent, the countries of Egypt, Abyssinia, Arabia, and India. The patriarch of Constantinople is elected by majority of votes of the metropolitans and neighbouring bishops, and receives his institution from the Sul

tan, to whom he has been accustomed to pay, at such times, from ten thousand to thirty thousand dollars. This patriarch nominates the other three, and they are subsequently balloted for by the bishops, and are confirmed in office by the Sultan. The principal revenue of the patriarch is accidental, arising from the death of bishops and archbishops, and from that of ordinary priests who die childless; and when the patriarch enters upon his office, there is a collection made for him among the people at large. The bishops are supported by endowments, and by offerings made them, twice a year, during their visitations, by the priesthood and people. The secular priests derive their chief subsistence from the free-will offerings of the people and from the fees received at funerals, marriages, and baptisms, and for masses, absolutions, etc.The Greek clergy are divided into "regular" and "secular." The former are all monks, and to their number belong the superior ranks of the clergy-the patriarchs, archbishops, bishops, and archimandrites, or chiefs of monasteries. The secular clergy are divided into archpriests (protopapas,)

priests, deacons, and subdeacons.

Ecclesiastics

are distinguished from the laity by their beards, and especially by their clerical dress, which is peculiar and striking, and which they always wear. The Greeks suppose it to be similar to that worn by the apostles and evangelists, and by Christ himself.

To the southward of the gate of Bethlehem stands the City Castle. It is composed of towers connected by curtains, which form two or three enclosures, the interior successively commanding the exterior. A few old guns, mounted on broken carriages and quite unserviceable, are planted on its walls; perperhaps to keep the Arabs in awe. The castle is built on the ruins of the Turris Psephina, of old Jerusalem, and is sometimes called the Castle of David, and sometimes that of the Pisans, having been erected by that people, when the city was in the hands of the Christians. From one of the windows looking north, travellers are shown the site of the house of Uriah, and in a piece of ground attached to it (just within the walls), an old tank, called Bathsheba's bath. But the place where the later was bathing, when seen by the amorous mo

narch, was more probably the great basin, lying in the ravine to the south of this castle, at the foot of Mount Zion, and called ,the Lower Pool of Gihon.

The Armenian convent occupies a large space of ground in the southwest corner of the city, and nearly on the summit of that part of Mount Zion, which lies within the walls. It is the best looking quarter of Jerusalem. A spacious garden enclosed with a wall is attached to it. The accommodations here are so great, that they can afford to lodge. several hundred pilgrims at a time. The church is spacious and highly decorated in the taste of the country. It stands on the site where St. James the Elder was beheaded. In a small recess, to the left of the high altar, is shown the precise place of his decollation! The door of this chapel, as well as a preaching-chair with a canopy over it, in the body of the church, are ornamented with incrustations of tortoise-shell and mother-of-pearl, representing flowers and sentences from Scripture, in which one is at a loss which most to admire, the materials, or the workmanship. The inner walls and columns, up to a certain height, are cased with tiles painted