The Walls Of Jerusalem

The lofty wall of Jerusalem and the massive towers of the citadel are immediately before us. We are on the outer slope of Mount Zion, the sanctuary and the abode of David. The ponderous blocks which form the lower strata of the wall might have been shaped and put in place by some prehistoric race of giants. More than almost anything else to be found around Jerusalem, or within, this wall bears an appearance of great antiquity. We can easily believe that its foundations were laid in the time of David, though its upper portions are unquestionably modern.

The books vary. One says it was the work of Sultan Suleiman in the sixteenth century, another that it was erected much earlier, and my guide, a most intelligent and well informed Jew of Hungarian origin, told me that it was built by the crusaders after they had got possession, for the purpose of protecting the inhabitants against the rascally Arabs, who would ride up in small parties, rob some rich family and be off with their plunder before anything could be done to stop them. But, however this may be, the wall, from 16 to 20 feet in height, fully incloses the town, and although it could soon be knocked to pieces by a 10 pounder cannon it stands in good order, solid enough for all peaceful purposes, and perfectly separates the city from the country about it. - Charles A. Dana in McClure's Magazine.