VIEW FROM THE TOWER.-ARIMATHEA.

113 rebels. After returning from one of these sad and solitary watchings I wrote in my journal as follows: "The view from the top of the tower is inexpressibly grand. The whole plain of Sharon, from the mountains of Judæa and Samaria to the sea, and from the foot of Carmel to the sandy deserts of Philistia, lies spread out like an illuminated map. Beautiful as vast, and diversified as beautiful, the eye is fascinated, and the imagination enchanted, especially when the last rays of the setting sun light up the white villages which sit or hang upon the many-shaped declivities of the mountains. Then the lengthening shadows retreat over the plain and ascend the hillsides, while all below fade out of view under the misty and mellow haze of summer's twilight. The weary reapers return from their toil, the flocks come peacefully to their folds, and the solemn hush of Nature shutting up her manifold works and retiring to rest, all conspire to soothe the troubled heart into sympathetic repose. At such an hour I saw it once and again, and often lingered until the stars looked out from the deep sky, and the breezes of evening shed soft dews on the feverish land. What a paradise was here. when Solomon reigned in Jerusalem, and sung of the 'roses of Sharon !' Better still will it be when He that is greater than Solomon shall sit on the throne of David his father, for 'the mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth."

'Fly swifter round, ye wheels of time,

And bring the promised day.'"

Is there reason to believe that Ramleh is the Arimathea of the New Testament?

I am unable to decide the question, because I cannot be certain that both Eusebius and Jerome do not speak of it as the Arimathea of Joseph. They must have had better opportunities for correct information than we can procure. Some understand Jerome to mean this place when he speaks of Arimathea as being near to Diospolis—that is, Ludd; but he may have had in mind Renthieh, on the north of Ludd. The tradition which connects Joseph with 1 Psa. lxxii. 3, 7.

this place, however, is quite ancient, confused and doubtful though it may be. Dr. Robinson discusses the question with his usual learning; and, with his usual distrust of tradition, settles it against Ramleh. There is too little resemblance between the names of Ramleh-sand-and Arimathea, derived from a root which means high, and is applied to towns on elevated sites, to build anything upon the mere name; but those who have faith in ecclesiastical tradition will scarcely give up Ramleh on this account. According to Arab historians, Ramleh is not an ancient town. Abulfeda says

it was built by Suleiman, son of the Khalif Abd el Melek, who lived and reigned early in the eighth century. But this scarcely touches the question about Arimathea, for the Muhammedans rarely built entirely de novo, and there may have been a town here from ancient times called Ramathaim; but the form of the word not being according to Arab taste and idiom, it was changed to Ramleh for the new town.

Ramleh is a larger town than Ludd, and has now about three thousand inhabitants, a greater proportion of whom are Christians. than in any other place on the plain. There are many good houses, several churches and convents for pilgrims, and some large, wellbuilt soap factories. A large ancient church, once dedicated to St. John, is now the chief mosk of the place. Lieutenant Conder gives the following measurements of this edifice: "In length it is one hundred and fifty feet, in breadth seventy-five feet. The interior consists of a nave and two aisles, with the principal and side apses, and with seven bays of clustered columns;" and he adds, "it is the finest and best preserved church I have seen in Palestine." It always fills me with indignation to see these ancient edifices thus perverted; and it would be an act of real justice should the Christian nations compel the restitution of this church, and all others like it, to the native Christians. Most of the European governments have consular agents here, and there is more wealth and a greater approximation to the style and manners of a city than in other towns of the same size in Palestine. This is doubtless owing to constant intercourse with pilgrims and European travellers.

My main purpose in climbing to this lofty lookout a second