The Walls Of Jerusalem

The lofty wall of Jerusalem and the massive towers of the citadel are iïn' mediately before us. We are on the outer slope of Mount Zion, the sanctuary and the abode of David. The pon: derous blocks which fonn the lower ! strata of the wall might have been shaped and pnt in place by some pre; historie race of giants. More than almost anythirig else to be found around I Jerusalem, or within, this wall bears an appearance of great antiquity. We eau t'asily believe that its foundations i were laid in the time of David, though its upper portions are imquestionably modem. The books vary. One says it was the work of Sultan Suleiman in the sixteenth century, another that it was erected nrnch earlier, and iny guide, a most intelligent and well ini'ormed Jew of Hungarian origin, told me that it was built by the crusaders after they had got possession, for the pnrpose of protecting the inhabitants against the rascally Arabs, who would ride up in sniall parties, rob some rich family and be off with their plunder before anything could be done to stop them. But, howevtir this may be, the wall, from 16 to 20 feet in heighf, fully incloses the town, and although it could soon be knocked to pieces by a 10 ponnder cannon it stands in good order, solidenough for all peacerul purposes, and perfectly separates the city from the country