Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/273



The excavations in Jerusalem have been carried on without interruption during the past quarter, and, notwithstanding the great heat and the fatigues and responsibilities involved in this work, the health of Dr. Bliss and his party has been, on the whole, well preserved. The discoveries made in the course of the excavations have been laid down from Dr. Bliss's plans on an enlarged Ordnance Survey plan by Mr. Armstrong, under the supervision of Sir Charles Wilson.

Herr Baurath von Schick has sent a number of notes full of interesting information respecting archeological discoveries, changes in and around modern Jerusalem, &c.

One very valuable find, outside the city, on the north, is a beautiful mosaic pavement, with Armenian inscription, of which we are enabled to publish a description and photographs.

The "Tombs of the Judges" and the land around them are reported to be for sale. It would be lamentable if these extremely interesting tombs were to be quarried away, as is very likely to be the case if they fall into the hands of the speculator or the property becomes the site of one of the new settlements springing up around the Holy City. Probably they might be purchased for a comparatively small sum.

The Rev. J. E. Hanauer, who now resides at Jaffa, having recently gone up to Jerusalem on the business of his Society, sends an interesting account of a visit which he took the opportunity of making to the excavations under Dr. Bliss's guidance. He alludes to the more favourable auspices under which the work is now being done as compared with that carried through with so much tact and skill under Sir Charles Warren. Then the Governor and leading inhabitants took little interest in the progress of the work, but now