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SEPULCHRAL MONUMENTS.

than a saint--and quite destitute of the inimitable sweetness which characterizes the madonnas of the Italian painters. Joseph and the prophetess Anna are also buried here, according to the monks, and to them appropriate chapels are dedicated.

This tomb or church must have been excavated, or adapted to its present use, if a natural grotto, with immense labour and expense: an argument, certainly, against the validity of its claim of having been devoted to the sepulture of the Virgin by the primitive Christians. It was a work requiring the resources of princes, and far above the means of the humble family of Jesus.

All the approaches to this popular shrine were crowded with pilgrims, and many were worshipping within before the altars with much apparent devotion. The piety of Oriental Christians, as well as that of Catholics everywhere, appears more fervent when their devotions are directed to the Virgin than on other occasions. The great festival which just now fills Jerusalem with pilgrims draws an immense crowd to this spot.

The Garden of Gethsemane is only a few rods distant from this grotto, in a southeastern direction.

Proceeding down the deep ravine, now, and probably always, dry, except when heavy rains collect in its bottom and form a torrent, we reach, at the distance of two or three hundred yards below the bridge, some interesting sepulchral monuments. One of them, the tomb of Jehoshaphat, has probably given its name to this valley known in the Bible both as the Valley of Jehoshaphat and the Brook Cedron. It here contracts to very narrow dimensions. The southeastern corner of the Haram overlooks, and seems to overhang it ; and the Mount of Olives rises on the opposite side, in a high, perpendicular cliff of limestone. This cliff has been wrought into monuments and tombs, which severally bear