past memories from the Mahomedan on the plains of India, from the latest Christian settler in the Rocky Mountains of America, and from the Jew in every part of the globe. Nor is it only of the past that the name of Jordan tells, for in the more thoughtful hours of not a few, they hear it whispering to them before, strange shadowy truths of that future happier land that lies over the stream of death."

FROM THE JORDAN TO JERICHO, BETHANY, AND JERUSALEM.

From the Ford of the Jordan the route is over the level plain, and the time occupied in the journey to Jericho is usually about two hours.

On the right, as we proceed, will be seen an old square ruin, called Kasr el-Yehûdi, or Castle of the Jews. A church once stood here, on the site where tradition affirms St. John the Baptist had his dwelling.

A long distance to the left there is a ruin called Kasr-elHajla, the Castle of Haglah; it marks the site of BethHogla (Partridge House), a town of Benjamin on the border of Judah (Joshua xv. 6, xviii. 19-21). There is a large fountain here, and the Greeks from the Convent of Mar-Saba have been utilizing the ruins of the old castle for the purpose of raising a convent. One hour from the Jordan, we pass the Wady-el-Kelt (the Valley of Achor), where Achan and his family were stoned, and in consequence of the trouble brought by him upɔn Israel, was named after him. "Joshua said, Why hast thou troubled us? the Lord shall trouble thee this day. And all Israel stoned him with stones, and burned them with fire, after they had stoned them with stones. So the Lord turned from the

fierceness of his anger. Wherefore the name of that place

231 was called the Valley of Achor-i.e., trouble-unto this day" (Joshua vii. 24-26). This ravine corresponds also with the "Brook Cherith, which is before Jordan," where Elijah was fed by ravens (1 Kings xvii. 1—7).

Rîha.-One of the most filthy spots in the Holy Land, the town consisting of a mere heap of rubbish, into which the inhabitants seem to have burrowed holes-a town so degraded by the most loathsome iniquities, as to merit the doom of Sodom and Gomorrah-is nevertheless full of interest, although few travellers will care to pause long within its polluted atmosphere. The houses are full of vermin, the people are thieves to a man, and the town is inclosed with an impenetrable hedge of cactus. Riha, however, is the site of the ancient Gilgal, and of the modern Jericho. It was here that the Israelites first pitched their camp west of the Jordan, and set up twelve stones which they had taken from the bed of the stream (Joshua iv, 19, 20). Here the people celebrated their first passover in the Promised Land, and the rite of circumcision was performed on those who had been born in the wilderness. "And the Lord said unto Joshua, This day have I rolled away the reproach of Egypt from off you. Wherefore the name of the place is called Gilgal (i.e., rolling) unto this day" (Joshua v.9). Here "the manna ceased on the morrow after they had eaten of the old corn of the land; neither had the children of Israel manna any more, but they did eat of the fruit of the land of Canaan that year" (Joshua v. 12). During all the early part of the conquest the camp remained here (Joshua ix., x.) And it has been assumed, from Joshua xiv., xv., that Joshua continued to reside here. At this place Joshua saw the vision of a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said, Art thou for us or for our adversaries? and he said, Nay, but as Captain of

the host of the Lord am I now come."

And Joshua was bidden, "Loose thy shoe from off thy foot, for the place whereon thou standest is holy."

In later times the solemn assemblies of Samuel and Saul were celebrated here. Here the latter was made king; and when David came back from exile, the whole tribe of Judah assembled to welcome him, and to conduct him over the Jordan, after the death of Absalom (2 Sam. xix. 15).

Another interesting set of associations connect this place with the history of Elisha, who healed the poisoned pot (2 Kings iv. 38-41), who received Naaman the Syrian, and effected his cure, and Gehazi's disease (2 Kings v.)

Riha is most probably the site of the Jericho of the New Testament (see p. 234). The traveller will not fail to observe a large tower, which has been called the House of Zacchæus; but the tradition marking this out as the site only dates from the fifteenth century.

[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; the steps of these dances are few, and the beauty of the dance, such as it is, consists in the graceful swaying of the body, posturing, and facial expression. The music to which the dance is performed consists in clapping of hands, and chanting slowly, or rapidly, according to the theme of the dance; that is to say, whether it be representing love or war, etc. As honesty is an unknown thing at Jericho, travellers will do well to keep a sharp eye upon any loose property in their tents.]

From Riha to ancient Jericho the traveller passes through a forest, principally of thorn-trees; of these are Zizyphus Lotus and Zizyphus Spina Christa, called by

the Arabs the Nubk.

Here also may be found the Solanum sanctum, whose fruit bears the apple of Sodom (see p. 50). It will be well, therefore, that the traveller should reach his destination, 'Ain-es-Sultan, before dark, as it is obviously unpleasant passing amongst thorn-bushes at night-time.

JERICHO.

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 (see p. 231). It was the chief city of ancient Canaan, and must ever have been fruitful from its contiguity to the fountain of 'Ain-es-Sultan (p. 234). There is nothing to be seen at Jericho save a few mounds of ruins. The palm-trees have all gone, the mighty city is a heap, and but for the fountain of Elisha, and the remnants of watercourses, and a few traces of ancient foundations, there would be nothing to identify it. The history of its siege and capture by Joshua will be recalled by every traveller.

"It was across yonder plain that the spies journeyed; round here went up those great walls on which Rahab had her house; over there in the mountains we seem as if we could make out the very place where the spies hid themselves; it was here that Joshua's army went round the city; and these hills echoed back the shrill blast of the trumpets which the priests blew. And when the seventh day had come, there went up from this spot the great shout of the people, mingling with the blasts of the trumpets, 'and the walls of Jericho fell down flat.' Then came that fearful panic, followed by blood, and havoc, and death. It was somewhere close by here that Rahab, with her kindred, sat with tear-dimmed eyes, and saw the smoke of the burning city ascending. And, perhaps, it was on some high standing ground near here that Joshua, in the presence of all

Israel, stood, and pointing to that charred and ruined mass that had once been the strong city of Jericho, cried, ‘Cursed be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city Jericho he shall lay the foundation thereof in his firstborn, and in his youngest son shall he set up the gates of it' (Joshua vi. 26). Despite the curse, five hundred years afterwards a man was found who dared to rebuild the city, and who fulfilled the prediction by inheriting the curse (1 Kings xvi. 34)."-(Hodder.)

At Jericho the last days of the Prophet Elijah were spent, and from here he went forth with Elisha to cross the waters of Jordan, and to witness that strange revelation of a chariot of fire and horses of fire that parted them both asunder when Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven (2 Kings ii. 4, 5, 15). Jericho was long celebrated for its beautiful groves and gardens, and these were given to Cleopatra by Anthony. Herod rebuilt the city, and erected many handsome buildings. 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 our Lord paid a visit to the house of Zacchæus (p. 232).

'Ain-es-Sultan, or the Sultan's Spring, is undoubtedly the spring of water which Elisha healed. The story runs thus :-" And the men of the city said unto Elisha, Behold, I pray thee, the situation of this city is pleasant, as my lord seeth but the water is naught, and the ground barren. And he said, Bring me a new cruse, and put salt therein. And they brought it to him. And he went forth unto the spring of the waters, and cast salt in there, and said, Thus saith the Lord, I have healed these waters; there shall not be from thence any more dead or barren land. So the waters were healed unto this day, according to the saying of Elisha which he spake" (2 Kings ii. 19-22). Just above the