DIRECTOR. COL. SIR CHARLES W. WILSON, K.C.M.G., C.B., D.C.L., F.R.S., R.E. THIS Society is established for the translation and publication, with explanatory notes, of the various descriptions and accounts of Palestine and the Holy Places, and of the topographical references in ancient and mediæval literature, from the earliest times to the period of the Crusades or later. These accounts are written in Greek, Latin, Arabic, old French, and old German (in those curious records of pilgrimages which begin with the unknown Pilgrim of Bordeaux, and follow in almost unbroken line to the present day). Topographical references are found in brief allusions in detached sentences, scattered about among the writings of the Early Fathers, in the Byzantine and earliest Arab historians. Very few of these Pilgrims have as yet appeared in an English form, and no serious attempt has ever been made to search the Byzantine and Arab historians and the Early Fathers for their topographical allusions and illustrations. Many of them, however, give details of the highest importance in matters connected with the topography of Jerusalem, the positions of the holy sites, &c. It is proposed to begin with the Pilgrims, to take them one by one, to translate, annotate, and issue them, each separately, and as fast as the funds at the disposal of the Council will allow. The Annual Subscription is ONE GUINEA, payable to the Secretary. Now Ready. ANTONINUS MARTYR. In the Press. THE BORDEAUX PILGRIM. THE HARVARD COLLEGE DEC 2 1886 LIBRARY PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND LAST YEAR AND THIS. I. EXPLORATION. THE principal EXPLORATION work of the year 1885 has been that executed for the Committee by Herr Gottlieb Schumacher. The memoir accompanying his map has been published under the title of "Across the Jordan," and a copy has been presented to every subscriber of the Fund who asked for it-the Committee considering that it was useless to send copies to those who had not sufficient interest in the subject to express their wish to possess a copy. The work is illustrated by 160 drawings, maps, and plans, executed in the same style as that of the "Memoirs," and is furnished with an index by Mr. Guy le Strange, who also superintended its production. It is the memoir of a part of the country covering 200 square miles, and that in the least visited and least known district on the east of the river. The whole of the first edition has been taken up, and a second edition will be ready immediately. Those who have not yet received copies will do so very shortly. Meantime the lists are still open for the reception of new names. The book is uniform with the cheap edition of Captain Conder's popular works "Heth and Moab" and "Tent Work in Palestine." The work is enriched by the publication with it of the valuable papers by Mr. Laurence Oliphant and Mr. Guy le Strange, which had already appeared in the Quarterly Statement. These papers, together with notes of discovery by Dr. Selah Merrill, Herr Hanauer, Canon Tristram, and Mr. H. Chichester Hart, complete the exploration work of the year so far as it has been received. We have, however, the pleasure of announcing that Herr Schumacher has successfully carried out ANOTHER SURVEY for the Society, this time in northern Ajlûn. The portion surveyed is five hundred miles in that piece of country bordered on the north by the Shari'at el Menâdireh, on the west by the Ghôr or Jordan Valley, on the south by Tibni, and on the east by Irbid Beit Râs and the Wâdy Semâr, which joins the Shari'at el Menâdireh near Arâk el Heitaleyeh. A greater number of ancient and modern sites was collected here than in the previous survey. Special plans have been B made of Mkeis (Gadara) and Beit Râs (believed by Herr Schumacher to be Capitolias). Another great field of dolmens was found near Irbid. Herr Schumacher also crossed the Jaulân and Hauran once more, and was able to add more names to the map. At Abdîn he found a Greek inscription. The map and memoirs of the survey will arrive, it is expected, in February. The Committee have not decided upon the form and method of publication. The EXPLORATION work of 1886 will follow in the same lines, and, we hope, will show equally good results. Little by little we are rescuing the unknown parts of the country from obscurity, and bringing them, with their ruins, under the surveyor's hands, if not by the rapid methods by which the Survey of Western Palestine was accomplished, yet by safe and scientific methods, and at much less cost. II. MAPS AND PUBLICATIONS. The MAPS spoken of in the January circular as in course of preparation by Mr. Armstrong are now executed, but it is desirable to keep them back until Herr Schumacher's work can be laid down on them. Mr. Armstrong has also prepared an ALPHABETICAL LIST of Old and New Testament names, with their modern identifications according to the latest discoveries. This List is under revision by Sir C. Wilson. An INDEX has been prepared for the whole of the work called the "Survey of Western Palestine." It is in three parts, and consists of— (1) An Index of Scriptural References, prepared by Mr. Armstrong. (3) A general Index to the seven volumes which form the work, and to Professor Hull's Memoirs, prepared by Mr. J. E. Stewardson. The GEOLOGICAL MEMOIR by Professor EDWARD HULL, F.R.S., is now nearly ready. It is printed uniform with the "Survey of Western Palestine," to which it will form a complementary volume. Its price will be ONE GUINEA, but to subscribers TWELVE SHILLINGS AND SIXPENCE. It is illustrated with maps and sections. The NATURAL HISTORY MEMOIR by Mr. H. CHICHESTER HART will be sent to the Press as soon as Professor Hull's work is issued. The drawings for this work are already prepared. The price and particulars will be announced in April. There remain to be published Captain CONDER'S "MEMOIRS OF THE SURVEY OF EASTERN PALESTINE," so far as it has been accomplished. These are extremely copious and full of the most varied information. The whole part of the country covered is little more than a single sheet of the map in extent, and yet the Memoirs will fill a whole volume. There are over 400 drawings. It has now been decided to issue these Memoirs as volume the 1st of the "SURVEY OF EASTERN PALESTINE," uniform with the "Survey of Western Palestine." A limited number of 500 only will be printed, and |