water known, being 1312 feet below the level of the Mediterranean. The depth varies considerably, soundings in the north have given 220 fathoms. The shape is an elongated oval. It is fed by the Jordan and many other streams, but has no apparent outlet, its superfluous water being supposed to be carried off entirely by evaporation. Along the eastern and western borders there are lines of bold, perpendicular cliffs, rising to an elevation of 1000 ft. on the west and 2000 ft. on the east. These cliffs are mostly limestone, and devoid of vegetation save on the east side, where there are ravines, traversed by fresh water springs. The north shores of the lake form an extensive and muddy flat, marked by the blackened trunks of trees, incrusted with salt, as everything is, exposed to the spray of the Dead Sea. The southern shore is low and marshy and desolate in the highest degree, the air is choking, and no living thing is to be seen. On this shore is the remarkable mass of rock called Usdom (Sodom). It is a narrow ridge of hill, extending five miles north-west, and consisting of rock salt. Large blocks have broken off from this hill, and lie strewn in all directions along the shore, adding to its dreary and death-like aspect. To the north, near Usdom, is the supposed site of Sodom. Although the hills surrounding the Dead Sea are mostly composed of stratified rock, yet igneous rocks are also seen; there are also quantities of post-tertiary lava, pumice-stone, sulphur, warm springs and volcanic slag, clearly proving the presence of volcanic agencies at some period. The neighbourhood is frequently visited by earthquakes, at which time the lake casts large masses of asphaltum to its surface. The

long-entertained belief that the exhalations from the lake were fatal, is not founded upon fact, as birds have been seen flying over and even sitting on its surface. A curious plant grows on the borders of the sea, which produces the fruit called Apples of Sodom," beautiful on the outsides, but bitter to the taste, and when mature filled with fibre and dust. The water is characterised by large quantities of Magnesian and soda salts. Its specific gravity ranges from 1172 to 1227 (pure water being 1000). The proportion of saline matter is so great that whilst sea water only contains 30 parts of salt in the 100 parts, the water of the Dead Sea contains 250 parts, or eight times more than that of the ocean. The saltness of the sea has been explained in several ways, but we deem it necessary to give but one. It is a circumstance attending all lakes or collections of water without any outflow, that the water requires an infusion of salt, its feeders constantly bringing in this material, while none can go off by evaporation.

From the Dead Sea to the Jordan, or rather the Pilgrims' Bathing Place, is about an hour's journey.

The RIVER JORDAN is the principal river of Palestine, the bed of which forms a great valley, stretching from north to south in the eastern part of the country. It derives its source partly from the Lebanon mountains and partly from mount Hermon. It has a course of 150 miles, and after passing through the small lake of El Huleh (the Waters of Merom) and the Sea of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) falls into the northern extremity of the Dead Sea. Its course is so tortuous that between the Lake of Galilee and the Dead Sea, 60 miles of actual length is

over the Jordan, after the death of Absalom (2 Sam. xix. 15).

Rîha is probably the site of the Jericho of the New Testament. The traveller will not fail to observe a large tower, which has been called the House of Zacchæus.

It is usual for parties travelling under the arrangements of Messrs Cook & Son to pitch their tents on the site of ancient Jericho. Here, in the evening, the villagers from modern Jericho come up in a body for the purpose of performing dances accompanied by songs.

From Rîha to ancient Jericho the traveller passes through a forest, principally of thorn-trees. Jericho, the city of palm-trees (Deut. xxxiv. 3), and the scene of Joshua's victories, is not to be confounded with modern Jericho, or Rîha. Only a few mounds and the remnants of watercourses mark the site of the ancient city. The history of its siege and capture will be recalled by every traveller. Here Elijah spent his last days.

Jericho was long celebrated for its beautiful groves and gardens, which were given to Cleopatra by Antony. Herod rebuilt and beautified the city. In the time of our Lord, the Jericho visited by Him as He journeyed to Jerusalem was New Jericho. Here the two blind men were healed, and here our Lord paid a visit to

the house of Zacchæus.

From Jericho to Jerusalem is a

over which a carriage might be driven, except in the more precipitous parts, which are terraced by wide steps, the natural pavement of limestone, and jagged rocks having been quarried or blasted, so that horses may now tread in safety, and pilgrims can make their way to the Jordan with less than half the former toil. The great improvement is said to have resulted from an accident that befell a Wallachian princess, who, to save her poorer pilgrims from falling, has given a thousand pounds for the making of the new road."--Cook.

Leaving Jericho early, we ascend the hill by the gorge of "the Brook Cherith," pass the traditional scene of the parable of the Good Samaritan, and ascending the slopes of Ólivet, reach BETHANY. Here we may visit the traditional Tomb of Lazarus, and the House of Mary. Proceeding to the summit of the Mount of Olives we enjoy the magnificent view of Jerusalem. Descending to Gethsemane and crossing the Valley of Jehoshaphat we soon reach the city.

ROUTE 220.

FROM JERUSALEM то

SAMARIA, NAZARETH,
TIBERIAS, DAMASCUS,
BAALBEK,
AND BEY-
ROUT.

EAVING Jerusalem by the Damascus Gate, the route leads by the Tombs of the King, and the hill Scopus. Looking back from this point, the view of Jerusalem is very fine. Passing Shafat, with part of a ruined church or tower, and cisterns hewn in the rock, we see Tuliel-el-Ful, the Gibeah of Saul, the native place of the first King of Israel, and the seat of government during the greater part of his reign. This is the place where the seven descendants of Saul were hanged by the Amorites, and the scene of one of the most touching stories of motherly love on record. Two of her sons were amongst those who were thus slain, and they "were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days in the beginning of barley harvest. And Rizpah, the daughter of Aiah, took sackcloth, and spread it for her upon the rock, from the beginning of harvest until water dropped upon them out of heaven, and suffered neither the birds of the air to rest on them by day, nor the beasts of the field by night." (2 Sam. xxi. 10.)

We next reach El-Râm, identical with Ramah of Benjaminfrom whence there is a fine view. Here was the scene of the story of the Levite (Judges xix.) which brought about the war with the

Benjamites. It is not improbable that here was fulfilled the prophecy, "A voice was heard in Rama, lamentation and bitter weeping."

Proceeding, we reach El-Bîreh, a village with 800 inhabitants, an excellent spring of water, ruins of reservoirs, and of an old khân.

Tradition has fixed on El-Bîreh as the place where the Holy' Family stopped after leaving Jerusalem, and discovered that Jesus was not with them. El Bîreh is the ancient Beeroth, one of the four Hivite or Gibeonite cities that leagued with Joshua. Soon after leaving El-Bîreh the road divides, that on the left leads to Jifna, and on the other to Bethel and Ain Yebrûd. The journey from El-Bîreh to Bethel is half an hour.

Bethel is a poor village on a hill, with about 500 inhabitants. Everywhere about may be seen traces of ancient materials, even to the building of the hovels. There are the remains of a tower in the highest part of the village, and near these the walls of a church. Bethel was the place where Abraham reared an altar, and called upon the name of the Lord. From here he went into Egypt, and fell into temptation, dishonouring God who sent him out of the land. "And he went on his journeys from the south even to Bethel, unto the place where his tent had been at the beginning, between Bethel and Hai."

Here Jacob, weary with his forty miles' journey, and away from home and kindred, "took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillow, and lay down on that place to sleep." (Genesis xxviii. 11.)

Here he saw the vision-the wondrous vision of angels ascending and descending the mystic

ladder, and when he awoke he made the solemn vow which consecrated him to the service of God.

A short distance from Bethel is Ai, celebrated as the scene of Joshua's victory.

Leaving Bethel we enter at first upon a rough road, but in an hour, we reach the most fertile regions of Palestine, abounding with vineyards and orchards, and still bearing everywhere the signs of the blessing of Ephraim.

Soon we see Ĵifna, and 'Ain Sinia, and then the village of Yebrûd. We are now in an exquisite valley, or glen, called the Wady-el-Haramîyeh (i.e., Glen of the Robbers). It is usual to camp for the night at Sinjil, some distance further on; if any obstacle prevents, a good camping place is at "Ain-el-Haramiyeh, the Robbers' Fountain, where the water is good and the scenery picturesque."

We soon reach Sinjil. In order to visit Shiloh the road to the right must be taken; the direct road to Nâbulus, however, is to the north of the plain, above which Sinjil is situated.

Shiloh, Arabic Seilun, is now one heap of ruins, and the first thought of the traveller, as he beholds the large mound covered with masses of débris, will be the graphic fulfilment of the prophecy of Jeremiah, who used it as a type of the destruction which should fall upon the house of the Lord in Jerusalem. "Go ye now unto my place which was in Shiloh, where I set my name at the first, and see what I did to it for the wickedness of my people Israel." Here Joshua divided the land among the tribes, and here the tabernacle was reared (Joshua xviii.). Around the ruins of the ancient well, the daughters of Shiloh danced in the yearly festival (Judges xxi. 19-23). Here

dwelt Eli, and to this place Hannah came yearly to the sacrifice, bringing with her the "little coat" for the boy Samuel, who ministered before the Lord.

Crossing cultivated fields, we descend to Wady-el-Lubbân, and reach a fountain beside the ruined Khân-el-Lubban. This is sup

posed to be the ancient Lebonah, and if so, it establishes the position of Shiloh. Passing EsSawiyeh on the left, we descend to the Wady Yetma, then up to a bleak plateau where a splendid view is obtained. Before us is the great plain, surrounded by the mountains of Samaria. On the left is Gerizim, and beyond Ebal, while to the north is the snow-clad Hermon.

Instead of proceeding by the road on the left, which leads direct to Nabulus, the traveller is advised to take the road on the right, which leads to Jacob's Well.

There can be no doubt that it was here that our Saviour sat. Around us are the corn-fields to which He pointed when He said, "Lift up your eyes, and look on the fields, for they are white already to harvest." (John iv. 35.) To the right is the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. There is the opening between the two hills, with just a glimpse of Shechem beyond; there on the left is Gerizim, to which the woman of Samaria pointed, as she said, "Our fathers worshipped in this mountain." "The well is not what we understand by that name. It is not a spring of water bubbling up from the earth, nor is it reached by an excavation. It is a shaft cut in the living rock, about nine feet in diameter, and now upwards of seventy feet deep. As an immense quantity of rubbish has fallen into it, the original depth must have been much greater,