File:Syria from the saddle (1896) (14777066582).jpg

Identifier: syriafromsaddle00terh (find matches)
Title: Syria from the saddle
Year: 1896 (1890s)
Authors: Terhune, Albert Payson, 1872-1942
Subjects:
Publisher: New York : Silver, Burdett and Co.
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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pped, is by allodds the best caravanserai in Syria. The manager,M. Gelat, has made a study of European hotels, andmodeled his own after them. Just across the street from the Grand is the Towerof David, built of dark-gray stone, with a turret thatrises above the main building. This is mentioned inSolomons Song as the tower of David, builded foran armory, whereon hang a thousand bucklers, allshields of mighty men. It is now used as barracksfor the Turkish garrison, as is the traditional houseof Pilate. We reached Jerusalem on Friday noon, and afterluncheon David took me down to the foundation-wallof the temple near Robinsons Arch, — to the JewsWailing Place. A horde of Jews, old men and womenfor the most part, gather here every Friday afternoonto read passages of Scripture and to bemoan the fallof their nation. 214 SYRIA FROM THE SADDLE. When, after winding down through dirty alleys andbyways, we reached the spot, we found a number of thechosen people already on the ground. Many stood
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Jews Wailing Place. groaning or weeping in a line before the high wall. Hereand there groups had formed surrounding a man whoread in a sing-song, whining tone a psalm or prophecy, STRIA FROM THE SADDLE. 215 his audience repeating part of the text after himamid sympathetic lamentations. Two or three isolatedmourners sat on the stone pavement, some reading insilence, others rocking back and forth in a perfectabandon of woe. The tears were genuine and, as arule, copious. I envied the wailers their ability to goabout bargaining, cheating, and making merry all theweek, and then, on the seventh afternoon, to lay offall earthly matters and weep piteously for hours ata time. I suppose, though, when one gets well intothe habit, it is quite easy. Nails and spikes of all sizes, shapes, and ages werestuck into the interstices of the wall. That means, sir, explained David, that each manwho drives a nail there wishes that he may have evenso small a place in the kingdom of Heaven as his nailtakes up

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