"S. T.--1860--X."

All I have revealed about the Wandering Jew can be amply proven by

reference to our guide.

The mighty Mosque of Omar, and the paved court around it, occupy a fourth

part of Jerusalem. They are upon Mount Moriah, where King Solomon's

Temple stood. This Mosque is the holiest place the Mohammedan knows,

outside of Mecca. Up to within a year or two past, no Christian could

gain admission to it or its court for love or money. But the prohibition

has been removed, and we entered freely for bucksheesh.

I need not speak of the wonderful beauty and the exquisite grace and

symmetry that have made this Mosque so celebrated--because I did not see

them. One can not see such things at an instant glance--one frequently

only finds out how really beautiful a really beautiful woman is after

considerable acquaintance with her; and the rule applies to Niagara

Falls, to majestic mountains and to mosques--especially to mosques.

The great feature of the Mosque of Omar is the prodigious rock in the

centre of its rotunda. It was upon this rock that Abraham came so near

offering up his son Isaac--this, at least, is authentic--it is very much

more to be relied on than most of the traditions, at any rate. On this

rock, also, the angel stood and threatened Jerusalem, and David persuaded

him to spare the city. Mahomet was well acquainted with this stone.

From it he ascended to heaven. The stone tried to follow him, and if the

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The Innocents Abroad