now at a depth of 79 feet from the surface, and from here we commence the exploring of the “bottomless pit.” After dropping a rope down, we found that it was only six feet deep, though it looked black enough for anything. Climbing down, we found ourselves in a passage running south from the Haram Area, 4 feet high by 2 feet wide, and we explored this passage. It is of rough rubble masonry, with flat stones at top similar to the aqueduct from Triple Gate, but not so carefully constructed. The floor and sides are very muddy, as if water gathers there during the rainy season. “It at once struck me that it was one of the overflow aqueducts from the Temple of Solomon, and that there might be a water conduit underneath. We scrambled along for a long way on our feet, our skulls and spines coming in unhappy contact with the passage roof. After about 200 feet we found that the mud reached higher up, and we had to crawl by means of elbows and toes. Gradually the passage got more and more filled up, and our bodies could barely squeeze through, and there did not appear sufficient air to support us for any length of time; so that, having advanced 400 feet, we commenced a difficult retrograde movement, having to get back half way before we could turn our heads round. On arriving at the mouth of the passage underneath the shaft, we spent some time in examining the sides, but there is no appearance of its having come under the Haram Wall. It seems to start suddenly, and I can only suppose it to have been the examining passage over an aqueduct coming from the Temple, and I am having the floor taken up to settle the question. This passage is on a level with the foundations of the Haram Wall, which are rough-hewn stones—perhaps rock; I cannot tell yet. The bottom is the enormous distance of 85 feet below the surface of the ground, and, as far as I can see as yet, the wall at the south-west angle must be buried for 95 feet under ground, so that it must at one time have risen to the height of 180 feet above the Tyropœon Gully. I consider it very unsafe sinking these shafts without sheathing them; but I have been obliged to do so for want of wood. In this shaft in particular there is about 60 feet unsheathed, and a loose stone from any part might stave a man’s head in before he is aware of it. I think it running needlessly into danger; and I hope that, with what you are sending from England, and what I am getting from Malta and Alexandria, I shall soon have enough to go on with in a business-like manner. The amount of wood wanted is very great. This shaft, when sheeted, would require 100 boards 18 feet long, and 9 inches by 1 inch. We are also very much in want of English dockyard rope and rope ladders; all the work here consisting of driving shafts of great depths, it is necessary to have many ladders. We have only two, and are often in great difficulties about it. It is all