is, on the whole, evident, that this was the main water-work. From the north-western side of this cistern, runs another aqueduct of a smaller size, and of a seemingly modern construction; I should think not more than a few centuries old, if it be even so much. It is supported on rudely formed arches, and extends about half a mile, when it becomes lost to the view. It appeared to us, that it had been formed merely for the purpose of irrigation. In the immediate vicinity of the rock are the remains of a mill,* which was probably turned by the water of the aqueduct in later days, and also the tops or opercula of three large sarcophagi of a pattern exactly similar to those huge flat stones placed over the vaults at Telmessus, being raised into a ridge in the centre, and having knobs at the corners.

Inland, towards the east, the plain becomes more fertile, and was, at the time of our visit, covered with green corn, vetches, and small clumps of trees, together with large bee preserves, the same as those used in Asia Minor. In wandering about here one of our party picked up the headless bust of a female executed in white marble, which from the dress appeared to be Grecian.

* In a vault, which is used as a granary, I saw a most primitive and curious machine, consisting of a large flat block of wood, three feet by four; the under side of this was covered with holes, in which were inserted a number of flints that projected about an inch beyond the surface. This is the threshing instrument mentioned by Isaiah, xli. 15; and the tribulum of Virgil, Georgics, i. 164.

DISCOVERY OF ANCIENT TOMBS.

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The high road to Sidon passes by this rock; and pursuing it northward for about half a mile we came to a low range of hills which terminated the plain in this direction. These ascend gradually to the more elevated heights of Lebanon. In the sides of these hills I found an extensive series of catacombs, cut in the face of the white sandstone rock of which they are composed; and which, from their colour, cause them to be distinguished at some distance on the plain. The ground about these catacombs is much broken, and is now covered with a plantation of fig trees. The moment I entered the first of these tombs, exhibited in the accompanying engraving, I was struck not only with the

resemblance but the exact similarity they bore to the Egyptian catacombs, especially to those of Sackara and Alexandria. Like them they have a low, square doorway opening into a chamber, varying in size from ten to fifteen feet square, containing three horizontal

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THEIR DESCRIPTION.

sarcophagi or places for bodies, one on each side. The doorway or entrance fills up the fourth side; the whole carved out of the solid rock, which, like that of Egypt, is soft and easily excavated. In another place we found a large circular aperture in the ground, which had around it the entrances to eight tombs. In a third place was an immense deep excavation in the rocks, which we approached by a winding descent. This is nearly as large an excavation as that on Mount Pentillicus, and may, like it, have been originally a quarry for the old city; but in the sides of it are the obvious remains of several tiers of sarcophagi. With few exceptions the doors of all the tombs look towards "the rock." Their similarity to the Egyptian, Grecian, and Irish, I shall have occasion to notice hereafter. I had, however, but little time to examine them in detail. They are, doubtless, of great extent, and just in the spot that we would expect to find the burial-place of a city-the side of a neighbouring hill. Porcupines in great numbers have taken possession of many of the excavations, throwing up large piles of rubbish about their mouths, which as well as their being choked with weeds and brambles, together with the lowness of the apertures, served at first to conceal them from our view. No traveller that I am aware of has described these chambers, though they are well worthy of observation, not only as giving an explanation of the mode of burial practised by the Tyrians,

but as helping to fix the site of original Tyre; and of considerable moment in showing the intimate connexion of its inhabitants with the Egyptians. The people here seem to know nothing about them; but their vicinity to this mosque, the appearance of the rocks, and their being on the side of the road leading to Sidon, will point out their site to future explorers.

In order to explain more fully the topography of the different cities possessed by the Phoenicians near this spot, and denominated Tyre, a brief historical sketch of that people may be found useful, as the antiquity of Tyre has, more than once, been called in question.

Sidon, its mother, and afterwards its contemporary city, is spoken of in Genesis, xliii. 13. (B. c. 1689.) Although not mentioned by name, it seems to me that Tyre is implied through the medium of its manufactures (by a figure of prosopopoeia, if I may be allowed to use the expression,) as early as when the Israelites wandered in the wilderness; for we will find that the roots of the words used in Exodus to express the blue, purple, azure, and scarlet, the gifts that the Hebrews brought according to God's commandment, to decorate the tabernacle, show us that they were the produce of Tyre, a city from the earliest account of it in intimate commercial intercourse with Egypt; and these were, in all

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PROOFS OF ITS ANTIQUITY.

probability, part of the wares of which the Israelites spoiled the Egyptians.*

Justin informs us that the Sidonians, being besieged by the King of Ascalon, went in ships and built Tyre. Thus it was the "Daughter of Sidon;" and to this Isaiah may have referred when he says the merchants of Sidon who pass over the sea replenished it. Strabo informs us that after Sidon, Tyre was the greatest and most ancient city of the Phoenicians; he also remarks that Sidon was more celebrated by the poets, and that Homer has not once mentioned Tyre. The fact of its not being mentioned by the great poet who is supposed to have been contemporaneous with Joshua, or the Judges, and to have flourished 1200 years before Christ, has been often repeated by those who dispute the antiquity of Tyre. But this is a mere negative proof; and there were no doubt many other cities of Phoenicia of great note in his day that he does not so much as name. Besides, being but a Sidonian colony, distant only a few miles,

*Their intercourse was no doubt great; as we are told it should be sorely pained at its downfall; and although it may be said that the Hebrews, being in bondage, were not able to get these things, it was of such the Egyptians were spoiled. Her connexion with the Egyptians was also very great in the time of Isaiah, when he says, "the seed of Sihor is her revenue," Isa. xxiii. 35. This seed was the corn from the Nile, which was called Si-hor from shachar, (to become black,) which it does to a certain extent, during the inundation, when charged with the fertilizing mud.