remains, between Tiberias and the baths, most interesting discoveries will appear.

While taking a walk through the city-the exact population list of which will be prepared for my next report-I remarked several old stones excavated in the vicinity of Tiberias ; one of them I found in the yard of the Reis el Belediye (city major), whence it was excavated, which bears the following interesting Arabic inscription:

The stone is of 'Ajlûn marble, and measures 2 feet 7 inches by 2 feet. This inscription, which renders that it designated the grave of Abu Hureira, "the friend of God's disciple," was found interesting enough to be sent to the 'Ulema (Mohammedan learned men) of Damascus, and to inquire how this is to be understood; for, according to Mohammedan tradition, Abu Hureira died and was buried at Medina. The 'Ulema briefly replied that the inscription was erroneous and false; but the Mohammedan Mufdi, or priest of Tiberias, was not contented therewith, and sent a copy to Constantinople. Should the inscription be trustworthy, and could it on the hand of the history be authenticated, Tiberias would soon become the character of a great Mohammedan place of pilgrimage. It would be very interesting to make historical researches thereon, which I here, in the absence of any library, am not able to do. I carefully investigated the place where the stone was found, and discovered infallible signs of an ancient mosque, as the prayer niche in a southern ancient wall, an opening to the north, parts of a cupola, and the top-stone or crown which usually ornaments the Jama' vault. I should gladly wish Tiberias a better link than it hitherto had, for it is in great want of a flight.

Another stone, basalt, which, according to what I was told, has been excavated near the western gate, bears the following Greek inscription :—

A third stone, a marble column with a Hebrew inscription, has been excavated near the southern Jewish cemetery, but the inscription proved to be modern.

HAIFA, November, 1886.

G. SCHUMACHER.

NOTICES OF THE DOME OF THE ROCK AND OF THE CHURCH OF THE SEPULCHRE BY ARAB HISTORIANS PRIOR TO THE FIRST CRUSADE.

"No Mohammedan writer of any sort, anterior to the recovery of the city from the Christians by Saladin, ventures to assert that his countrymen built the Dome of the Rock."

The object of the present paper is to show how utterly incorrect is this statement made by the late Mr. Fergusson in support of his theory that the Dome of the Rock (and not the present Church of the Holy Sepulchre) represents the Basilica erected by Constantine.

Whatever may be the arguments based upon the architectural style of the Dome of the Rock, it may be hoped that the passages here to be quoted, once and for all, will show that the historical evidence runs exactly counter to Mr. Fergusson's ingenious theory.

Within less than two centuries of the building of the Dome of the Rock by the Caliph 'Abd al Malik we have an account (Al Yakúbi) detailing the circumstances that led to its erection.

Thirty years later there is a minute description of the building (Ibn al Fakih), showing that the present edifice is almost intact, that of 'Abd al Malik; and a work written by a Spanish traveller of about the same date proves that many of the other buildings occupying the Haram Area were displaced neither during the Crusaders' occupation, nor at the restoration under Saladin.

1 Article Jerusalem, in "Smith's Dictionary of the Bible," vol. i, p. 1030.