Image 91

we went to the tomb of Simon the Just, said to have
been built 167 years before Christ. This tomb also is
cut in the rock. In the first apartment is a pool, filled
with water in which all pious jews who visit this
sacred place purify themselves before entering the
inner apartment. They bring their boys here to cut their
hair for the first time, and according to the weight of
the hair a sum of money is given to poor jews.

We returned through Damascus gate.

Aug 18 With others we started for a trip to Bethlehem.
We passed out Jaffa gate, passed “Mar Elias,” passed the stone
on which Elijah rested when on his way to the Mount of
God, visited Rachels tomb then on to Solomons pools,
then on to Artos, where the immense aqueducts built
by Solomon are now in a fairly good condition.

Here we met the English Consul with his sister from
Hifia. They joined our party and we followed the
aqueducts some way from the pools. Water is now carried
from these pools to Jerusalem.