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to the operations of general Missionary Societies or of Societies for the Jews, might be a question of some nicety, were it requisite to speculate upon it. They are, however, too small a body-nearly confined, as there is reason to believe, to this one district-to be considered as peculiarly interesting to any one Society more than another; unless (which is a mere conjecture) they should be in the secret possession of facts, which might serve as a clue to any discoveries relative to the Ten Tribes. In a historical point of view, they are certainly a kind of religious curiosity in a practical view, they will probably be regarded alike by all Missionaries as calling for prayer and exertion. May they be brought to flee to the sinner's only City of Refuge, of whom this city was a type-even to Him, who here graciously announced Himself to a sinful Woman of Samaria, as the Christ, the Saviour of the World!

DEPARTURE FROM NABLOUS.

Having, with much difficulty, compelled our guides to prepare for departure from Nablons, they declaring that the whole city and country were in confusion on account of the death of the Governor, we set off, at length, considerably after twelve o'clock. At the gate, our servants were long detained for a trifling exaction; which we desired them, for the sake of all future travellers, to resist as long, and reduce as low, as possible. For about two shillings, they at length escaped with a great deal of abuse of us as Franks and Christians.

SANGŶL.

We, in the mean time, took our route through the

extensive and picturesque olive-grounds, which lie on the southern side of Nablous. These open, at length, upon a fine valley, which stretches to the right and left; and which, from its fertility, may well be regarded a worthy portion for Jacob to have given to his beloved son Joseph. It runs nearly north-east and south-west: the Valley of Nablous, being at right-angles to it, lies consequently about north-west and south-east.

Leaving the Valley of Nablous, the high-towering rocks of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim seemed to assume a more than common awfulness, from the effect of a thick haze which was just gathering upon the air. Winding on the right-hand round the base of Mount Gerizim, we gradually ascended for some distance; having the above-mentioned Valley of Joseph just beneath us on the left. We arrived, only by sun-set, at the ruined khan, called Khan Leban; and had now to ascend a steep and rocky road, leading to the village of Sangyl, when the sky burst upon us with torrents of rain and furious blasts of wind, for half-an-hour. On arriving at our poor village, we went to the house of the only Christian Family in the place; who kindly made us a blazing fire, at which we were glad to dry ourselves and take supper.

BETHEL.

Friday, Nov. 21, 1823-We started a little after sun-rise, and began to descend into the valley; somewhere in the neighbourhood of which was Bethel-the spot where Jacob beheld the vision of Angels; and received those encouraging assurances of the presence and protection of God, which were

his support all his life long. Here, more than five-andthirty centuries ago, this Patriarch dedicated himself to the Lord, in terms, which are still well-suited to express, what should be the moderate desire of every Missionary-If God will be with me and keep me in this way, and will give me bread to eat and raiment to put on... then shall the Lord be my God.

The road through which we passed was, in many parts, very picturesque; but a more particular allusion to it will appear in a subsequent page.

APPROACH TO JERUSALEM.

On reaching the rocky heights of Beer, the country began to assume a more wild appearance, Uncultivated hilly tracts, in every direction, seemed to announce, that, not only Jerusalem, but its vicinity for some miles round, was destined to sadden the heart of every visitor. Even the stranger that shall come from a far land, it was predicted (Deut. xxix. 22.), should be amazed at the plagues laid upon this country: and this became, more than ever, literally fulfilled, in my feelings, as I drew near to the Metropolis of this chosen nation. Expectation was, indeed, wrought up to a high pitch, as we ascended hill after hill, and beheld others yet more distant rising after each other.

Being apprehensive lest I should not reach the city gate before sun-set, Mr. Fisk having gone on some way before me in order to prepare our rooms, I repeatedly desired the guides to ask the Arabs whom we met, how far, or, according to the language of this country, "how many hours," it was to Jerusalem. The answer which we received from all was, "We have been at the prayers at the

Mosque of Omar, and we left at noon"-to-day being the Mahomedan Sabbath. We were thus left to calculate our distance. The reply sounded very foreign to the ears of one, who knew that, formerly, there were scenes of purer worship on this spot. Thither the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the testimony of Israel, to give thanks unto the name of the Lord.

At length, while the sun was yet two hours high, my long and intensely interesting suspense was relieved. The view of the City burst upon me as in a moment; and the truly graphic language of the Psalmist was verified, in a degree of which I could have formed no previous conception. Continually, the expressions were bursting from my lips--Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is Mount Zion!-They, that trust in the Lord, shall be as Mount Zion; which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever!-As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people, from henceforth even for ever!

Among the vast assemblage of domes which adorn the roofs of the Convents, Churches, and Houses, and give to this forlorn city an air even of magnificence, none seemed more splendid than that which has usurped the place of Solomon's Temple. Not having my companion with me, I surveyed all in silence and rapture; and the elegant proportions, the glittering gilded crescent, and the beautiful green-blue colour of the Mosque of Omar were peculiarly attractive. A more soothing part of the scenery was the lovely slope of the Mount of Olives on the left. As we drew nearer and nearer to the City of the Great King, more and more manifest

were the proofs of the displeasure of that Great King resting upon His city.

JERUSALEM.

Like many other cities of the East, the distant view of Jerusalem is inexpressibly beautiful: but the distant view is all. On entering at the Damascus Gate, meanness, and filth and misery, not exceeded, if equalled, by any thing which I had before seen, soon told the tale of degradation. How is the fine gold become dim!

Thus I went onward, pitying every thing and every body that I saw-till, turning off to the right, and having passed up what is called the "Via Dolorosa," from its being the supposed path of our Lord when He bore His Cross on the way to His Crucifixion, we, at length, alighted at the Greek Convent of Mar Michael.

FIRST FEELINGS AND REFLECTIONS IN JERUSALEM.

During the first few hours after our arrival in the Holy City, there was little to stir up the heart to a lively feeling, that this is really that venerable and beloved place, renowned above all others in Scripture. Hunger, fatigue, and the cheerlessness of an eight-hours' ride over a peculiarly desolate tract of country, with no other refreshment than a small jar of boiled rice and some bread, would have been agreeably relieved by the welcome of pleasant countenances, sufficient food, and a warm room: but our apartments, which had not been occupied for six months, were floored and vaulted with stone -fire-places are unknown in this land-our provi

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