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chalk , called Misste , about 70 ft . thick ; it is upon this that the city itself is built . This is sncceeded by a Avhite soft limestone , or indurated chalk called Malaki , about 40 ft . thick . Under this the red indurated chalk , called Santa Croce marble , is found , but of an unknoAvn thickness . It is from

this last formation , Avhich has been largely exposed by denudation at the Convent of the Cross , and in the bottom of the valley of the Keclron at Jacob ' s fountain , that the marble casing to the Holy Sepulchre and the shafts of the beautiful columns in the Mosque el Aksa , and most of the

ornamental stones used in the buildings of the city were taken . The older portions of the wall of the Haram es Sherif have been taken from the Missaa and Malaki beds Avhilst the later additions have been taken from the Cakooli . The topography of the city was then described .

The city is bounded on the west and south by the valley of Hinnom , and on the east by the deep valley of the Kedron , or the valley of Jehoskaphat ; these valleys unite at the Fountain of Joab , about half-a-mile to the south of the city , from whence , under the name of the Kedron , the Avater-course

in it descends to the Dead Sea . The western portion of the promontory thus formed is cut off from the eastern by a valley , which runs southward through the city to join the valley of the Kedron at the Pool of Siloam . This is the Tyropean valley , or valley of the Cheesemongers , a branch of which runs Avestword to the citadel .

Another small A'alley to the north of the Haram es Sherif , entered the valley of the Kedron from the north-Avest , at St . Stephen ' s gate . The ground is thus formed into two spurs , which run out from the higher ground to the north-west of the city , the western and highest

of which is the Mount Zion of the Bible , and the Upper city of Josephus ; Avhilst the eastern is Mount Moriah , upon Avhich the temple formerly stood , and the Mosque of Omar , or Dome of the Rock , at present stands . The citadel occupies the narroAv neck of ground

between the valley of Hinnom and the Tyropean valley , and barred the only level approach to the ancient city ; for that part of the city which lies to the north of the citadel , and Avest of the main street from the Zion to the Damascus gate , is , comparatively speaking , a modern addition . The citadel , therefore , Avas the key of a very strong position for a small city . A . c . 1048 . — "David and all Israel Avent to

Jerusalem , Avhich is Jebus . David took the castle of Zion , which is the city of David , and David dAvelt in the castle , therefore they called it the city of David . " . —1 st . Chronicles , xi . " David took the stronghold of Zion , the same is the city of David . " _ " So David dwelt in the fort , and called it the city of David . "—2 nd Samuel , v .

" David began the siege of Jerusalem , and he took the loAver city ( Acra ) by force , but the citadel held out still . When David had cast the Jebnsites out of the citadel , he also rebuilt Jerusalem , and named it the city of David , and abode there all the time of his reign . "—Josephus ' s "

Antiquities of the Jews , " Book vii ., chap 8 . " Beautiful for situation , the joy of the Avhole earth , is Mount Zion , on the sides of the north , the city of the great king . "—Psalm , xlviii . There can therefore be no doubt but that this hill is Mount Zion ; it has been so called in all

subsequent histories , and is so called at present . From the 21 st chapter of 1 st Chronicles Ave learn that David bought the threshing-floor of Oman the Jebusite , and " built there an altar unto the Lord . " Then David said ( 1 st Chronicles xvii . ) , " This is

the house of the Lord God , and this is the altar of the burnt offering for Israel . " " Then Solomon began to build the house of the Lord at Jerusalem in Mount Moriah , in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Oman the Jebusite . "—2 nd Chroniclesiii .

, No one has ever questioned that the temple formerly stood within the Haram es Sherif ; and therefore there can be no doubt but that the hill on Avhichit stands has been properly named Mount Moriah .

The city is of an irregular lozenge shape , the longest side facing the north-Avest , being threequarters of a mile long , and the shorter sides half a mile . It occupies a space exactly equal to the areaincluded between Oxford-street and Piccadilly , and between Bond-street and Park-lane . It is

surrounded by high Avails Avith flanking towers , in which there are live gates . It is intersected from north to south by its principal street , Avhich is three-fifths of a mile long , and runs from the Damascus gate to Zion gate . It is about the length of the street ruuning from St . James ' s Palace along Pall Mall to St . Martin s o Church .

From this principal street the others , with the exception of that from the Damascus gate doAvn the Tyropean valley , generally run east and Avest at right angles to it ; amongst these is the Via Dolorosa along the north of the Haram , in which is the Roman archway called Ecce Homo .

The city is divided into quarters , Avhich are occupied by the different religions sects . The boundaries of these quarters are defined by the intersection of the principal street , and that Avhich crosses it at right angles from the Jaffa gate to the gate of the Haram , called Bab as Silsilo or

gate of the Chain . The Christians occupy the western half of the city , the northern portion of which is called the Christian quarter , and contains the Church of the Holy Sepulchre ; the southern portion is the Armenian Quarter , having the citadel at its northwest angle .