Narrative of a voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe and along the shores of the Mediterranean, including a visit to Algiers, Egypt, Palestine, Tyre, Rhodes, Telmessus, Cyprus, and Greece. With observations on the present state and prospects of Egypt and Palestine, and on the climate, natural history and antiquities of the countries visited / By W.R. Wilde.

  • Wilde, W. R. (William Robert), 1815-1876.
Date:
1844
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Narrative of a voyage to Madeira, Teneriffe and along the shores of the Mediterranean, including a visit to Algiers, Egypt, Palestine, Tyre, Rhodes, Telmessus, Cyprus, and Greece. With observations on the present state and prospects of Egypt and Palestine, and on the climate, natural history and antiquities of the countries visited / By W.R. Wilde. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    temple on the northbut adds, “ that it was formerly filled with water is apparent from the lining of small stones and cement upon its sides.” Had it been, however, a mere protec¬ tive fosse, and not a reservoir, its builders would never have expended so much labour and ingenuity in rendering it water¬ proof. To the north of this pool is an extensive ruin, the remains of the church of St. Anna; and one of the very few relics of the crusaders that now exist in Jerusalem. That portion of the Mount of Sion which is outside the walls is crowned by the mosque which is said to be erected over the tomb of David and the chamber where our Lord and his dis¬ ciples partook of the supper. A day or two after our arrival we walked out to it, and requested permission to visit either the tomb or the Coenaculum. We had scarce set our foot upon the threshold of the outer enclosure, when an old grey-bearded Moullah rushed out of the mosque in a most furious passion to prevent our entrance, pouring forth a torrent of abuse, and crying out that “ no other Christian dog should ever again pollute that sacred spot with his unhallowed foot.” We naturally inquired into the cause of this conduct, so very unusual among the Mo- hammadan priests, and found that it arose from the very inde¬ cent and outrageous conduct of a certain Prussian prince, already known as a writer upon men and manners in England, who being employed, as report states, (and I believe it,) by the Egyptian viceroy, to write in favour of the government of Syria, was partly paid by getting a firman of admission to all the sacred places of the Mohammadans, and a carte blanche on every subject in the country to defray his expenses, and furnish him with all necessaries. A scene occurred at Naplous that may serve to illustrate his excellency’s mode of living and travelling in the country. Having had occasion for a bath, the keeper of it demanded the usual payment, which amounted to something less than sixpence of our money. The prince produced his firman, and refused to pay ; but wrote an order on the neighbouring sheyk for the money to be paid out of the taxes to be collected for the Basha the following year!!! Next day the prince required horses, and desired the sheyk to procure some. The man stated his inability to comply with the demand ; the prince produced his firman.