[832] The term 'sepulchral niche' is used to denote an arched recess excavated in the wall of a tomb; the body was laid on the slab beneath the arch, so that it resembled one of the monuments with recumbent figures, not very uncommon in the walls of churches. The term 'casemate vault' is used (in default of a better) to denote a narrow, deep, and rather low excavation, into which the body was thrust head foremost. Brick vaults are sometimes built on this pattern in the present day. [833] Plate LVIII. [834] Mariti, p. 216 seq. [835] Page 210. [836] Jewish War, I. 9, § 1. [837] See Plate LVIII. for Plan and Section. [838] Page 38; Plate LVII. [839] Trois Ans en Judée, p. 214. [840] Plate LIX. [841] I advise the visitor to take with him an Arab to beat the ground, in order to make the reptiles conceal themselves, and frighten away the jackals which frequent it, before he enters the place. [842] Jewish War, V. 3, § 2. [843] See Plan, Plate LIX. Frontispiece, Plate LVIII. [844] Plate LIX. [845] Plates LVIII., LIX. [846] Page 226. [847] Page 13. [848] Plate II. [849] Jewish War, V. 7, § 3; V. 9, § 1. [850] 2 Kings xviii. 17; 2 Chron. xxxii. 3, 4, 30; Isaiah vii. 3. [851] Jewish War, V. 3, § 2. [852] Page 24. [853] De Locis Hebr. litt. T. (Tapheth). [854] 2 Kings xviii. 17; Isaiah vii. 3. [855] La Citez de Jherusalem, De Vogüé, Les Églises, &c. p. 442. [856] Page 40. [857] E. T. S. Lib. VI. pereg. 4, c. 7, Tom. II. p. 712, col. 2, ed. 1639. [858] Plate LXIII. [859] Pars II. p. 254, ed. Bonn, e cod. Claromont. CHAPTER VIII. ON THE WATERS, FIT OR UNFIT FOR DRINKING, IN JERUSALEM AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD. In the seven preceding chapters I have several times mentioned the waters, drinkable and undrinkable, and the sewers, when we have come across them in the course of our investigations; but I have not always entered into details, reserving them for this chapter. Therefore I now proceed to treat the subject at length, with the view of shewing, as clearly as is possible, the means which the former inhabitants of Jerusalem possessed of obtaining an abundant supply of water, and removing the sewage of the city; and I shall also notice the carelessness exhibited by the Arabs with regard to every part of the works of their predecessors in the country, and how they rather employ themselves in accelerating than in arresting their destruction.