KEDRON

a small brook which, rising near Jerusalem, runs through the
valley on the east of the city, between it and the Mount of Olives.
Descending into the valley from St. Stephen’s gate, the traveller comes
to the bed of the brook Kedron, which is but a few paces over. This
brook is stated by Pococke to have its rise a little way farther to the
north, but its source does not appear to have been ascertained. Like the
Ilissus, it is dry at least nine months in the year; its bed is narrow
and deep, which indicates that it must formerly have been the channel
for waters that have found some other and probably subterranean course.
There is now no water in it, except after heavy rains. A bridge is
thrown over it a little below the gate of St. Stephen; and they say,
that when there is water, unless the torrent swells much, which very
rarely occurs, it all runs under ground to the north of this bridge. The
course of the brook is along the valley of Jehoshaphat, to the
south-west corner of the city, and then turning to the south, it runs to
the Dead Sea.