room, and 1500 volumes in another. He estimated the population at about 1000, among whom he distributed the Scriptures.

He left Tiberias (or Tabaria) on the 13th, and proceeded on his way as far as Safet. He took lodgings in the house of Rabbi Israel, the head of the Ashkenasim Jews, the name of whose wife was Deborah, and that of his agent Baruch. He remarks, "I love these Old Testament names; but I long for the time, when the names of Apostles as well as Prophets shall be found in these families."

"14. The castle of Safet stands on very high ground, with the town east and west of it, and some scattered houses south. This morning we went up to the castle, waited on the aga, who commands the town, and took a view of the place and the hills around it. We conjectured the number of Turkish houses to be 1000. We could see only four minarets. The castle is large and lofty, and built on a magnificent plain, but now decayed and going to ruin. To the north-east is a high mountain, which the Jews say is Tabor. To the south-west is another, which they say is Hermon. On an eminence a little south-east of the castle, is an old fortress, which the Jews say was founded by Josephus. They tell you likewise, that this is the scene of the battle of Sisera."

At 5 o'clock Mr. Fisk with his companion reached Hatheen, a small village at the foot of the Mount of Beatitudes. This mount "receives its name from the tradition, that here Christ delivered his memorable Sermon; and it seems that tradition is here. supported by a high degree of probability."

On the 15th, he left Hatheen, and in less than three hours came to Cana of Galilee.* John ii. It is

"Why is it," said Mr. Jowett to Mr. Fisk, "that these very scenes become endeared to us, as we read the portions of Sacred Scripture relating to them; so that they are rendered much more lovely than mere scenery could make them?" Mr. F. illustrated the feeling of religious association by putting the case of two amiable persons: "For both" said he, "we might conceive a very warm affection; but if one were

represented as being now a mean village with few inhabitants. The church was a low, dark place, in which a water pot of stone was shown, said by the priest to be one of those mentioned in the Gospel. He reached Nazareth the same day.

"16. As I was walking in the hall of the monastery, a padre came up, and entered into conversation with me about the distribution of books. He said he was aware, that the English wish, by the distribution of books, to form a party in the East. 'But,' said he in a confidential manner, as if telling me something very important, I perceive they do not know the character of the people in the Levant. One third of the money, which they spend for books, if distributed secretly, would form a large party. Whereas, by distributing books they effect nothing. Fourteen cases of books arrived at Jaffa at different times while I was there, and of all these I presume you cannot now find enough to fill two

cases.'

Such advice from a missionary might seem like serious trifling, or like an intentional insult to us, but the manner in which the padre spoke, and especially the fact that this is the method adopted by the Catholics in order to make proselytes, make me believe, that he was sincere in what he considered the best method of converting men. This man has been thirty years a missionary without learning the language of the country. I answered his remarks by showing what is the real object of the Bible Society, and by pointing out the present ignorance

pious, and the other not, how far more congenial would be our attachment to him, whose heart was one with ours in the love of God? He is in the truest sense our FRIEND--a friend, in common with us, of God-a friend for eternity! We may know him only for a short time on earth, but we shall know him hereafter forever. So to compare inanimate things with spiritual, our attachment to this spot is heightened by the remembrance of the divine discourses once uttered here; and which seem to make it hallowed ground, to which we are united by a kind of religious endearment."

of the people, and even of the priests, in regard to the Gospel, and the necessity of giving them the Bible in their own dialect.

"18. We have distributed in Nazareth about 70 Arabic Testaments and Psalters, nearly all of which we have sold. Though the padres have opposed, yet their people have purchased, even in the convent, and in their presence. "At ten left Nazareth for Jerusalem, and in a little. more than an hour we entered the large, beautiful, and fertile plain of Esdraelon. Carmel was in sight far to the west, and Tabor standing at the northeast part of the plain, and Hermon running into it from the east. We were near five hours in riding across the plain to Jenin, where we put up for the night. This plain, if properly cultivated, would no doubt support thirty or forty villages, of two or three thousand souls each. Yet in crossing the plain, we could see only four or five miserably inhabited, mean villages. It is easy to imagine what effects would be produced here, should the country fall into the hands of a liberal, Christian government. Tabor and Herman would rejoice.

"In eight hours and a half rode from Jenin to Naploos, or Nablous, the Sychar, Sichem, or Shechem of Scripture. Though we were travelling all day among hills, yet our road was not very uneven. We crossed many narrow valleys of very rich soil, which, with proper cultivation, would become indeed 'fat valleys. Owing to the ignorance of our guide, we missed the site of Samaria. Naploos is a large town situated in a valley, which runs east and west, and by its groves of olive trees, producing an abundance of olives and oil, it is rendered a 'fat valley.' See Isaiah xxiii. Mount Gerizim rises near the town on the south, and Mount Ebal on the north.

"Just as we were entering the town, we learned that the musselim died this morning. A company of 'mourning women' and children at the gate were

shrieking and beating their breasts. Other companies were doing the same in other parts of the city. Sometimes their screams were very dolorous, and they beat their breasts severely. At other times, their music had so much of a cheerful air, that, had I not known the occasion of it, I should have taken it for a demonstration of joy, rather than of grief; then again succeeded the most dolorous shrieks, and violent beatings of the breast. These women are hired to mourn thus. See Jer. ix, 17. 2 Chron. xxxv,25, and Amos v,16.

"After taking some refreshment went to visit the Samaritans, having first sent to the kohen, or priest, to know if a visit would be agreeable. His name is Shalmar ben Tabiah. His first name he sometimes pronounces Salome. I believe it is the same as Solomon, which the Jews in Jerusalem now pronounce Shloma. He received us in a neat apartment, and we immediately entered into conversation. Ten or twelve other members of the sect soon came in. Our conversation was in Arabic. They represent the number of their houses to be 20 or 30,-about 60 pay the capitation tax. They say there are no other Samaritans in this country, but they are quite disposed to think they are numerous in other parts of the world. In Paris they suppose they were very numerous, until, in a time of war between the French and some other nation, the Samaritans were dispersed. They inquired whether there are any Samaritans in England, and seemed not at all gratified when we told them no. On learning that I was from America, they inquired if there are Samaritans there. I told them no; but they confidently asserted the contrary, and that there are also many in India.

"They maintain that they are the lineal descendants of Jacob; the kohen and his sons only, of the tribe of Levi; one family from the tribe of Benjamin; four or five from Manasseh, and the rest from Eph

raim. We asked what they would do for a priest, if the kohen and his sons should die, and thus the tribe of Levi become extinct. They replied (hazah ma beseer) 'this does not happen.' They all speak Arabic, but their books and public prayers are in Samaritan. They call their language Hebrew, and that which we call Hebrew they call Jewish; for they say their language is the true Hebrew in which the law was given. The difference consists in the use of a different alphabet and different pronunciation. They go three times a year to Mount Gerizim to worship, but do not offer sacrifices there now, as they did formerly, lest they should be molested by the Turks. But they offer their sacrifices in a more private way in the city. We understood them to say, that they have no daily sacrifice. We visited their synagogue. It is a small, dark, but neat room, with an altar, but without seats. We were obliged, before entering, to pull off, not only our over-shoes, but also our slippers, which are not prohibited even in mosques; and Mr. Jowett was obliged to take off an outer garment which he wears, that is lined with fur. No person can approach the altar, except the kohen, and his sons.

"They expect a Messiah, who is to be a prophet and king, but a mere man, to live 120 years, as Moses did, and to reign at Naploos over all the world. Those who do not receive him, are to be destroyed with the sword. The promise concerning the woman's seed does not, they believe, refer to the Messiah; but that, concerning a prophet like unto Moses, does refer to him, as does also that concerning Shiloh. Gen. xlix, 10. They admit the sense of this passage as given in our translation, and try to show that there is still a sceptre somewhere in the hands of Judah. The Messiah will come when Israel repent. They say the story of the separation between Israel and Judah, under Jeroboam and Rehoboam, is a lie of the Jews. The city of Luz or