Mosque, which before-time was a church, and perhaps originally a mausoleum erected by King Solomon.

Joseph is said to lie here also, but we know that he was buried at Shechem, where we saw his traditional tomb. Only by a process of body snatching in early days can his remains have been brought here, as Josephus indeed. suggests.

It was Friday, the Moslem Sabbath, and hundreds of "The Faithful" were streaming up the stone steps and passing into the mosque for prayer.

We were only allowed to go up a few of the steps, and were told by the mosque guardian to put our arms into a deep hole in the natural rock. I felt nothing, but another visitor a day later found a piece of crumpled paper on which, in Hebrew, was a prayer. It was expected that no answer could be refused when it was offered under the patronage of the Great Friend.

THE PRAYER.

"May it be the will of our Father in Heaven, by the merit of our fathers the saints. May He have mercy on the woman Haya, the daughter of Aaron; and on Abraham Isaac, the son of Aaron; and Etta, daughter of Aaron; and Sippa, daughter of Aaron. May He send a perfect recovery to the poor sufferers, in particular to the woman Haya; also a good old age."

We went round behind the Mosque, and the guardian pointed out to us the positions of the tombs of Abraham and of other patriarchs and their wives (save Rachel).

THE TOMB OF ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB. The great Mosque at Hebron, covers the Cave of Machpelah where the great patriarchs and their wives (except Rachel lie buried,

Though one had penetrated into the great holy Mosque of

Kairwân, one was not able to enter Machpelah.

no knowing what handsome bribery may effect.

There is

An Arab writer (Ali of Herat) quoted by Guy le Strange in "Palestine under the Moslems," p. 317, tells us of the repair of the Tomb of the patriarchs in 1119 A.D., by King Baldwin II. A certain Knight Babun, who was present as a boy, related to Ali how he had entered the cave with his father. "And he saw Abraham the Friend, and Isaac and Jacob-peace be upon them! and their heads were uncovered. Now I, Ali, said to the Knight 'what was thy age at this time?' and he answered, 'thirteen years.' Now I, Ali of Herat, do say, verily and of a truth, I myself have thus seen one who himself saw Abraham and Isaac and Jacob-peace be upon them all."

Surely if the writer of this present book, together with many thousands besides, has looked into the face of Rameses the Great, preserved these 4,000 years by the skilful embalming known in those days, it would not be beyond possibility for those Crusaders to have seen Abraham. Nay if the cave is opened again in our time we may ourselves see him, or at all events, see a photograph of his embalmed remains!

If I have photographed Rameses the Great, the oppressor of Israel, why should it be wonderful if the face of Abraham, if he was as carefully embalmed, be also shown to us?

In answer to an enquiry as to whether missionaries and others had not recently been allowed in the Mosque, I received this post card from Mr. Murray at Hebron.

BERACHAH HOME,

HEBRON, PALESTINE,

2ND APRIL.

"DEAR MR. BODDY,

"Re your P.C. of the 16th March, I have the pleasure to inform you that Dr. and Mrs. Paterson, of Mildmay Medical Mission, Hebron, were admitted to the Mosque here along with Dr. Angell, American Ambassador, Constantinople (who had a special permit from the Sultan); Mr. Wallace, U.S. Consul in Jerusalem, and others, accompanied the party. Also, the previous year, I think, Mr. Terrel, U.S. Ambassador, Constantinople, accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. Wallace, Jerusalem, visited the Mosque here.

Trusting you are well and the blessing of God resting on your work, I am,

Yours very sincerely,

GEO. A. MURRAY..

The great Pool of Hebron, in King David's day known as "The King's Pool" (2 Samuel iv. 12), was almost dry, and as we looked down into its muddy water we pictured the scene when the enraged fanatics tried to drown Lieut.-Col. Conder in its depths.

The Bazaars of Hebron!

There were bazaars here when

our forefathers were painted aborigines using bows and These bazaars have a more venerable appearance than any I have seen. The Hebronites make rude pottery

arrows.

and glass bangles, and they weave the dark goat hair for

tent covers.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray are two devoted Christians. Totally heedless of threats and Moslem fanaticism, they work on here. Mrs. Murray is a blind saint, whose simple loving faith touches one's heart and brings tears of joy to one's eyes. She goes among the Arab women and tells them of One who is mighty to save.

"I forbid you to teach my wives these things," said an angry Moslem coming upon her as she was speaking lovingly for Christ under the olive trees.

She turned her sightless eyes towards him, and in tenderness and truest affection pleaded with him as one for whom her Master died. He listened and argued, but at last softened and said, "There is nothing but good in what you say, and it must do us all good to hearken to such words.”

It was a long journey homewards, but we reached Jerusalem again the same night.

When we were near Mar Elias the sun went down, and darkness came on while we were a few miles from the Holy City.

I asked my companions to leave me to my thoughts, and while they pushed on, I followed on foot over the Plain of Rephaim.

The stars in innumerable hosts filled the great dark sky. Silent forms wrapped in their robes sometimes flitted by, but I was alone, and my thoughts took me far back.