Page:Mount Seir, Sinai and Western Palestine.djvu/190

154 Dr. Fraas, in his geological map of the environs of Jerusalem, shows that the strata consist of the following in descending order:—

1. Craie blanche (white chalk). Senonien, D'Orb.

2. Etage supérieur des Hippurites (locally called "Misseh").

3. Etage inférieur des Hippurites (locally called "Melekeh").

4. Zone des Ammonites rhotamargensis. Senonien, D'Orb. The above strata are of Cretaceous age, but in the upper Hippurite limestone Dr. Fraas found nummulites, from which it would appear that there is a passage in this region from the Cretaceous into the lower Tertiary strata. Mr. Etheridge, also, identifies the uppermost strata of the Mount of Olives as of nummulitic Tertiary age.

The beds of the upper Hippurite stage ("Misseh") have yielded the large blocks used in the ancient structures of Jerusalem, such as those of the Wailing Place of the Jews, which have been extracted from the quarries near the Damascus Gate. They also yield the blocks used for ornamental purposes and works of art at the present day.

Sir Charles Wilson has shown that the reservoirs, sepulchres, and cellars under, and around, the sacred city are hewn out of the softer beds of the lower Hippurite limestone ("Melekeh") underneath the firmer and more durable marble beds of the upper zone. But, throughout Palestine and Arabia Petræa, the Cretaceous and Tertiary limestones are so intimately connected that it would be impossible, without a long and detailed survey, to represent on a geological map their respective limits.

It is not my intention in this place to inflict upon my readers my views regarding the sights and objects, sacred or secular, real or pretended, with which Jerusalem abounds, though I may have a little to add on some of these topics further on. I shall, therefore, restrict myself to the personal narrative of our Expedition down to the time when we bid farewell to Palestine and Syria.

From Jerusalem as a centre we had arranged to make excursions, southwards, to Bethlehem and the Pools of Solomon, and eastwards, to the Jordan Valley and Jericho, after which we were to proceed on horseback through North-Western Palestine, to visit the Sea of Galilee; and crossing the country to Hâifa and Mount Carmel, to proceed northwards along the coast to Beyrût, from which we should leave for Europe. Events beyond our control prevented the accomplishment of the last stage of our programme, as will be seen in the sequel.