Stamping my foot upon the stone floor of this rock-hewn chamber, and noticing the strange echo, I say to the Mohammedan guard: “What means this hollow sound? There is evidently another cavern still below us. For what is it used?” The astonished guide replies: “What is it used for? Why, sir, the opening beneath us is the pit of departed spirits. When a true believer dies, his soul goes into this pit, and there he stays until Mohammed reaches down and draws him out by the hair of the head.” Let the author remark, in this connection, that an Arab regards it as the worst calamity that could possibly befall him to marry some Delilah, and have her clip his hair, or _pull it out_, and for him to die before it grows out again. Should this happen, Mohammed could get no hold upon his slick head, and he would be lost forever. Mark Twain comments on this, and closes by saying: “The wicked scoundrels need not be so particular, from the fact most of them are going to be damned, matters not how they are barbered.” It is not at all improbable that this secret chamber contains objects of great interest to the Christian world. When Herod’s temple was destroyed, Titus, we are told, carried the golden candle-stick to Rome. But the Ark of the Covenant was not mentioned. The Ark was the most highly prized thing on earth to the Hebrews. It is natural, therefore, that they should have done everything possible to keep it out of the hands of the Romans. To do this, it is supposed that the pious Hebrews hid the Ark in some niche, or corner, of the honey-combed rock underneath the Temple. The Christian world would be glad to explore the secret caverns under the Mosque of Omar. But the Turkish government stands here, like a fiery fiend waving a sword of vengeance, saying: “Hands off. Stand back, or I will let this sword fall upon your unprotected head.” And we do stand back. But I believe the day will come when the golden key of science will unlock all of these closed doors, and when the electric light of civilization will be turned on. Then will these dark passages yield up their hoarded treasures to the Christian Church, to the lovers of history, of truth, and of God. CHAPTER XLI. IN AND AROUND JERUSALEM. Church of the Holy Sepulchre—Peculiar Architecture—Strange Partnership—The Centre of the Earth—The Grave of Adam—Unaccountable Superstitions—An Underground World—Pool of Siloam—Kedron Valley—The Final Judgment—Tomb of the Kings—Valley of Hinnom—Lower Pool of Gihon—Moloch—Gehenna—Upper Pool of Gihon—Calvary—The Savior’s Tomb.