Though this appeared to be the end of the great cave, yet the guide spoke of a secret passage to Tekoa and Hebron. The only difficulty in identifying this cave with the one David occupied is the fact that two Adullams are mentioned in the Bible――one on the borders of Philistia, and the other among the cities of Judea. A hundred feet above the cavern are the ruins of a city, probably the site of the Judæan Adullam, from which the cave takes its name. And three scriptural facts seem to place the question beyond dispute: David’s escape from Gath,[339] the reception of his father’s house, [340] and the draught of water which his “mighty men” obtained for him at the peril of their lives,[341] all of which favor this location rather than the one in an enemy’s country. CHAPTER VIII. En Route for Hebron. ―― Travelers. ―― Beautiful Scenery. ―― Ancient Travelers. ―― Evening. ―― Gray’s Elegy. ―― Search for Lodgings. ―― Hebron. ―― Its Name. ―― Origin. ―― Home of Abraham. ―― History. ―― Location of the City and its Environs. ―― Pools. ―― Cave of Machpelah. ―― The Mosque over it. ―― Tombs of the Patriarchs and their Wives. ―― Prince of Wales. ―― Isaac still Lives. ―― Identity of the Cave. ―― Evidence. ―― United in Death. ―― Beersheba. ―― Its ancient Wells. ―― Events of the Past. ―― Changeless Customs. ―― Abraham and the Angels. ―― Dining with an Arab Sheikh. ―― Grapes of Eshcol. ―― Abraham’s Oak. ―― Ruins. ―― Pool of Solomon. ―― His Aqueduct. ―― Plains of Rephaim. IT was four o’clock, one Friday afternoon in the month of March, when we issued from the western portal of Bethlehem on our way to Hebron. We had dined at a small German inn within the town, and from the proprietor I had obtained a spirited horse, though at an exorbitant price. The descent from the hill on which the city stands is rapid and difficult. In less than half an hour we reached the Pools of Solomon, but the day was too far advanced to examine them with care. Many travelers were on their way to northern cities, some on camels, some on asses, some on foot. Salutations were exchanged as we passed each other, and their appearance indicated both kindness and thrift. The men were attired in loose flowing robes, with sandals and turbans; the women in blue garments, and a white sheet enveloping their person; a thin veil was drawn closely around the lower part of the face, just above which their black lustrous eyes were peering. It was a strange sight to an American to see men riding and women walking; but in the land of Sarah, Rachel, and Mary, where the highest honor ever bestowed upon our race was conferred upon a woman, her degradation is no less true than sad.