xii Jerusalem Siege by Titus - Conversion of Constantine-Julian the Apostate - The Caliph Omar I.-Crusades Mount of Olives - Valley of Jehoshaphat- Brook Cedron - Church of the Virgin Mary-Tombs of Joseph, Joachim, and Anna - Admirable View of the Mount of Olives-Foot-print left at the Ascension-Chapel on the Spot where Christ taught his Disciples the Lord's Prayer - Place Changeable Temperature at Jerusalem - Aspect of that City during and after Lent-Aceldama, or Field of Blood - Valley of Gehennon — Tombs hewn out of the Rock - Well of Nehemiah - Fountain of Siloa - Village of Siloa - Mount of Offence - Tomb of Absalom-Tomb of Barrachias-Tomb of Zechariah - Tomb of Jehoshaphat- Tombs of the Excursion to St. Saba-Camp of Bedouins: Dearth prevailing in it— View of the Monastery of St. Saba Greek Monks - Apartments Dinner-Superb Palm-tree-Pilgrims - Night passed at St. Saba Excursion to the Jordan and the Dead Sea-Travelling Companions -Precaution for the Safety of the Caravan Bedouin Escort - Arabian Horses Provisions stolen-Jericho-The Aga and his superb Horse- Elisha's Fountain - Mountain where our Saviour passed Forty Days in Fasting and Prayer- Ruins of Jericho - The Jordan-The Dead Sea- Salt-Statue of Lot's Wife- Return to Jerusalem-Night spent at the Population-House of Dives-Scene of the Martyrdom of St. James the Great-Grotto of the Immaculate Conception - Prison of St. Peter -House of Mary, Mother of John Mark - Ancient Christian Hospital, built by St. Helena-Pool of Bethsaida-Interior of Jerusalem-Quarter Seclusion in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre-Cell-Gallery- Pilgrims-Winding-Sheets distributed by the Armenian Priests-Turks at the Door of the Church - Cruel Mode of Preserving Order - Palm- Sunday- Procession of the Catholics; of the Armenians - Wednesday in Passion-Week-Office of the Darkness-Maundy-Thursday-Solemn Mass Procession-Foot-Washing - Good-Friday - The Door of the Church forced by the Greek and Armenian Pilgrims - Dinner of the Community - Darkness - Procession to Calvary - Solemn Service on Holy-Saturday-Contrast between the Catholics and the Greeks-Night between Holy-Saturday and Easter-Sunday - Assemblage of Ten Thou- PILGRIMAGE ΤΟ JERUSALEM AND MOUNT SINAI. LETTER I. ANNOUNCEMENT OF MY DEPARTURE. Abbey of St. Urban, June 23rd, 1831. I AM setting out at last, my dear friend. I shall start to-morrow, notwithstanding my precarious health, notwithstanding the dangers of which your friendship for me causes you so much apprehension. At three in the morning I shall commence my happy pilgrimage. I must confess that, at my age, scarcely recovered from a serious illness, the plague which is ravaging the countries that I am going to visit, and the troubles prevailing there, would be enough to intimidate me if I were running after the perishable riches of this world. But, of what account are the scorching skies of Asia and Africa, contagious diseases, my infirmities, and the calamities which inundate this vale of tears! Nay, I already feel happy VOL. I. B 2 CHURCH OF ST. URBAN. in the prospect of the sufferings and perils that await me. I say to myself, my right hand upon my heart and my eyes uplifted to heaven: I am going to visit the holy places that is the object of my journey; I am going to weep over the tomb of Jesus Christ; the paternal hand of my God will lead me to the term to which his love is calling me. Pray for me; adieu! LETTER II. CEREMONY IN THE CHURCH OF ST. URBAN - DEPARTURE - ARRIVAL AT LUCERNE. Lucerne, June 25th, 1831. Here I am at Lucerne, my dear friend. I shall stay here but three or four days; I shall then embark on its enchanting lake for Altorf; I shall cross the Gothard, and proceed as expeditiously as possible to Venice, and perhaps to Trieste, where I hope to find some vessel bound to Alexandria or the island of Cyprus. An affecting custom prevails in our Order. When a member of it is leaving the monastery upon a long journey, he goes and falls prostrate upon his face in the church, and the assembled community pray aloud that the blessing of the Lord may attend him. I was to set out very early; I requested the abbot to permit those prayers, which I so ardently desired, to be said after complins : he complied. Never did service appear to me more solemn; never in our sacred hymns had I raised my voice to Heaven with deeper emotion, or sent up with more fervour the expression of my love and my gratitude |