that the Cave of Adullam is not the cave which has been marked out by tradition, but that the true site is at Ed-elMiyé. From the consonantal similarity of the names, and from the legendary and topographical evidence brought forward, there seems little doubt that the latter is the true site.

The traveller will now go back to the Wady Urtâs, and crossing it, ascend for about thirty minutes a road to the right which will bring him to the Frank Mountain, or Jebel Fureidis (Hill of Paradise). It is a cone, about four hundred feet in height, and has all the appearance of having been built by the hand of man; the summit is circular, and has upon it a few ruins, only part of the walls of the castle which once stood here remains, its existence being indicated by remnants of towers, one of which contains a chamber with a mosaic pavement. There can be no reasonable doubt that the Frank Mountain corresponds with the Castle of Herodium, founded by Herod the Great. Josephus describes that place as being sixty stadia from Jerusalem, and, although there is a little discrepancy here, as the Frank Mountain is eighty stadia (ten miles), in other respects the particulars are in exact agreement. He speaks of the castle being reached by two hundred steps, of the mound being artificial, of the aqueduct, traces of which may still be seen, and its enormous cost. It was here, therefore, that Herod was buried, his body having been brought hither from Jericho. The story of his last illness and death at Jericho is known to all, and how, in his dying moments, while the cries of the slaughtered innocents were still being wrung out, he gave orders for all the nobles who had attended him to be put to death, "that so at least his death might be attended with universal mourning."

The View from the summit of the Frank Mountain is remarkably fine, overlooking all that wilderness which was

the theatre of the exploits of David. It is a vast, howling wilderness, utterly treeless and barren; and beyond, through the wild ravines, may be seen the glittering waters of the Dead Sea. About two miles off, on the south-west, will be seen the ruins of Tekoa, the birthplace of the prophet Amos, to the north-west is Bethlehem, and to the north Neby Samwil; besides numerous other places of interest, which the dragoman will point out.

From the Frank Mountain to Bethlehem we have to pass the village of Beit Tamar, on a height, then among glaring rocks, and through a wild, uncultivated region for about an hour, when, as a pleasant relief, there come in sight the green trees, and fruitful fields, and terraced vineyards of Bethlehem (p. 189).

JERUSALEM TO HEBRON.

(By the Pools of Solomon.)

The road from Jerusalem is the same as that described in the previous route as far as Beit Jâla (p. 187), here it leaves Bethlehem on the left and branches off to the right, the distance to the Pools is about one hour. Until within a year or two ago the road was exceedingly rough, but a new one has now been made, and it is proposed to carry the improvement forward as far as to Hebron (under Turkish rule it is impossible to fix any date as probable for its completion). Although the immediate surroundings of the road are barren, the views reveal pleasant cultivations in the neighbourhood of Bethlehem, and evidence what Palestine is capable of becoming under proper government and cultivation.

Pools of Solomon. There is near the Upper Pool a huge building, with castellated walls of uncertain origin— though obviously Saracenic. It has been called a castle, but

probably always was, what it now is, a khân. The camping ground of tourists and pilgrims is just outside the walls of the khân, and here a mixed multitude may generally be seen. A short distance to the right of the castle is the Sealed Fountain of Solomon (Song Sol. iv. 12) which, it is said, regulated and secured the constant supply of water for the Holy City. To visit it candles must be taken, as it is approached by a flight of twenty steps leading into a dark vaulted chamber. In the dry season this spring supplies the

Pools with water.

The Pools are three enormous cisterns of marble masonry, and their measurements are :

"Lower Pool. Length, 582 feet; breadth, east end, 207 feet, west, 148 feet; depth at east end, 50 feet." (Dr. Thomson says that "when full it would float the largest man-of-war that ever ploughed the ocean.")

"Middle Pool. Distance above Lower Pool, 248 feet; length, 423 feet; breadth, at east end, 250 feet, west, 160 feet; depth at east end, 39 feet.

Upper Pool. Distance above Middle Pool, 160 feet ; length 380 feet; breadth, east end, 236, west 229 feet; depth at west end, 25 feet."-(Robinson.)

From the admirable state of preservation these basins are in, it is difficult to realize that they are more than a century old; it is most probable, however, that they date from Solomon's time, although they were restored by Pontius Pilate. Formerly water was supplied to Jerusalem from these pools, at the present time water is only conveyed as far as to Bethlehem, although the course of the acqueduct can be traced all the way to the Haram, or court of the Temple, a distance of twelve to fourteen miles (p. 143).

The name of Solomon's Pools is taken from a passage in

Eccles. ii. 6, "I made me pools of water to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees."

Good swimmers, when the pools are pretty full, sometimes indulge in a plunge here. Botanists will be well rewarded for an exploration among the masonry of the Pools, and a pleasant memento of the place is to bring away specimens of maiden-hair ferns, which abound here.

A short distance below the Pools, in a valley, is the village of Urtâs (population 200), with a few ruins-probably those of Etham, a town fortified and garrisoned by Rehoboam (2 Chron. xi. 16). Josephus states that this city was fifty stadia from Jerusalem, and thither Solomon was "in the habit of taking a morning drive." If this be Etham, which is more than probable, then the beautiful valley, rich in cultivation, corresponds with the Gardens of Solomon, to which he referred when he wrote, "I made me great works; I builded me houses; I planted me vineyards; I made me gardens and orchards, and I planted in them of all kind of fruits: I made me pools of water, to water therewith the wood that bringeth forth trees" (Eccles. ii. 4—6). The scenes in that curiously enigmatical Song of Songs are laid in these gardens, and among these pools of water. It is beautiful now; in Solomon's time, "in the day of the gladness of his heart," it must have been exquisite, filled “with pleasant fruits; camphire, with spikenard, spikenard and saffron; calamus and cinnamon, with all trees of frankincense; myrrh and aloes, with all the chief spices; a fountain of gardens, a well of living waters, and streams from Lebanon" (Song Sol. iv. 13-15).

There is a small European colony here, and the people are succeeding in making the "wilderness to blossom as the rose." Mr. Meshallum, a Christian colonist, has done much for the neighbourhood. Fruit and vegetables are raised here

by the colonists, and supply the market of Jerusalem. It would, probably, be a good spot for the Syrian Colonization Society to look after.

The road from the Pools of Solomon to Hebron is rough, and the traveller will be struck with the few signs of human habitation, notwithstanding the fact that he will pass much land under cultivation, with vineyards and figgardens.

For three hours there is nothing to describe on the journey; valleys and spurs of hills are crossed; traces of terraces are visible; merchantmen with their camel trains will probably be passed; the vegetation will attract attention, especially the hills wooded with small oaks, terebinths, and arbutus.

Then on a hill-top will be seen some ruins, called Beit Sûr, supposed to correspond with Beth Zur, House of the Rock (Joshua xv. 58). It was fortified by Rehoboam (2 Chron. xi. 7), and its ruler is mentioned as assisting in building up the walls of Jerusalem (Neh. iii. 16). Not far from the ruins are the remains of a town on the right, and further on a ruined village. The town belonged to a mosque, Neby Yunus (Jonah), from a tradition that the Prophet was buried here. Several other places, however, with equal probability, are named as the burial-place of Jonah. The village of Hulhûl corresponds with the Halhul (trembling) of Scripture (Joshua xv. 58).

In half an hour more an extensive ruin is seen on the left. It is called by the Jews the House of Abraham, from a tradition that it stands on the spot where the Patriarch pitched his tent. "Then Abraham removed his tent, and came and dwelt in the plain (i.e., under the oak) of Mamre, which is in Hebron, and built there an altar unto the Lord" (Gen. xiii. 18). The true site of the oak of Mamre is shown else