The Palestine Exploration Fund.

observed in the Haram Wall , formed by cuttingout parts of the upper and lower beds of two courses . A stone , dropped clown this slit , rolled rattling away for several feet . It was some time before I could believe that

we had really passed to the north of the northeast angle ; but there now can be no doubt of it , and that the ancient wall below the surface runs several feet to the north of the north-east angle Avithout break of anv kind .

If the portions above ground are in situ , it would appear that this angle is a portion of an ancient tower reaching above the old city wall , probably somewhat similiar to the view De Vogiie gives of it ( Plate xvi ., " Le Temple de

Jerusalem" ) . We have this morning examined the slit mentioned above . At first it was impossible to squeeze through , but after a few hours it became easier , though it is now only 7 ft . in height .

The passage in from this slit is difficult to describe : the roof falls by steps , but the floor is a very smooth incline , falling 12 ft . in lHft ., like the slit and shoot for letters at a post-office . The shoot ends abruptly , passing through the roof of a passage

This passage runs east and west ; it is 3 ft . 9 m . high , and about 2 ft . wide ; it runs nearly horizontally , and at its eastern end opens out through the Haram Wall . At the western end it goes ( by measurement ) to the east end of the Birket Israil ,

but is closed up by a perforated stone . This passage is 46 ft . (?) in length . On the south side of it , a little to the west of the shaft , is a staircase cut in the masonry , and running apparently to the surface , but it is jammed up with stones . The

roof of the passage is about 48 ft . below the surface . The stones forming it are of great size , but do not show large in comparison Avith those of the sides , Avhich are from 14 ft . to 16 ft . in length , and vary from 3 ft . lOin . to 4 ft . 6 in . in height . To

the west of the staircase the bottom of the passage slopes down rapidly , so that in one place it is 12 ft . in height . The roof also is stepped down 4 ft ., at about lift , from the Avestern end .

Altogether this passage bears a great resemblance to that Avhich Ave found under the Single Gate , in October , 1867 . At the eastern end , Avhere the passage opens out through the Haram Wall , a rough masonry shaft has been built round , so that we can see a few feet up the wall , and about 7 ft . down it below the

sole of the gallery . It is evident that her-e thssss has been some tinkering at a comparatively madersi date . In the course forming the sole of the -passage there is a Avater duct leading through the Harasa

Wall , about Sin . square , very nicely cut ; but in fiias next course , lower , a great irregular hole has bese . knocked out of the Avail , so as to allow ilas Avater to pass through at a slightly lower lev-s ^ and so run into an aqueduct 9 in . wide and $ <&„

high , which commences at this point , and « zes nearly due east from the Haram Wall . All d £ -s botching and tinkering looks as if it had beam done recently , and the workmen have left . thee *? mark on the wall in the shape of a Christian GL-SIS ^ ,

of the type used by the early Christians , or dari / Eg the Byzantine period . At the further end of the passage , to W £ S ? j the same large massive stones are seen until & s

eye rests upon a large perforated stone closkg it up . This stone is the first approach we fesee ; yet found to any architectural remains y & lnssij these old walls , and though it merely shows ess the kind of labour bestoAved upon . a . conoealssii

overflow aqueduct , still it has a bold and pl-easing effect , and until something else is fossf will hold its own as some indication of the . £ t $ ~ Ee of building at an early period . It consists siiaj- % of a stone closing up the end of the passage , m ' A

a recess alcove cut in it 4 in . deep . Within Sta recess are three cylindrical holes , 5 jin . in dianasfeiti , the lines joining their centres forming the safes of an equilateral triangle . BBIOAV this uppers once to have been a basin to collect tho w & te : ;

but Avhatever has been there , it has been vioJasJlj removed . It appears to me probable that & k & troops defending this portion of the wall casss clown the staircase into this passage to ohbaw water .

At first sight this passage appears to be -osA ES the rock , as stalactites have formed all over it , azsd hang gracefuly from every joint , giving the ^ pTam a very picturesque appearance . But it seems ig >?* bable that we are here at least 20 ft . above r & s

rock . There can be little doubt that this is an aufeseaS overfloAV from the Birket Israil , which-could m & wt that time haverisen above this height , about 2 7 S 5 Mk above the Mediterranean , or 25 ft . above ihs

present bottom of the pool , and -60 ft .-below fe present top of the pool . It is also apparent that the Birket Israil fess