ded,
fearful. Khanounes was the first town we entered: Scripture name
unknown. The burying-ground outside the town. The well, and
people coming to draw, were objects of great interest to us. The
people were highly entertained with us in return. We sat down in
the bazaar, and were a spectacle to all. How much we longed to
have the Arabic tongue, that we might preach the unsearchable
riches of Christ in God's own land! Same evening we heard the cry
of the wolf, and encamped two miles from Gaza. The plague was
raging, so we did not enter, but spent a delightful day in
comparing its condition with God's word concerning it: 'Baldness
is come upon Gaza.' The old city is buried under sand-hills,
without a blade of grass, so that it is bald indeed. The herds
and flocks are innumerable, fulfilling Zeph. 2; Andrew and I
climbed the hill up which Samson carried the gates. 5.--Passed
through a fine olive grove for many miles, and entered the vale
of Eshcol. The people were all in the fields cutting and bringing
in their barley. They reap with the hook as we do. They seem to
carry in at the same time upon camels. No vines in Eshcol now, no
pomegranates, but some green fig-trees. Crossed the brook
Sorek--dry. Spent the mid-day under the embowering shade of a
fig-tree; tasted the apricots of the good land. Same evening we
came to Doulis, which we take to be Eshtaol, where Samson was
born. 6.--We went due east, and, after a mountain pass, saw the
hills of Judah,--an immense plain intervening, all studded with
little towns. From their names, we found out many Bible spots.
This valley or plain is the very vale Zephatha, of which you read
in II Chron. 14., 'In the plain of Sephela.' Before night we
entered among the hills of Judah,--very like our own
Highlands,--and slept all night among the mountains, at a
deserted village called Latroon. 7.--One of the most privileged
days of our life. We broke up our tents by moonlight; soon the
sun was up; we entered a defile of the most romantic character;
wild rocks and verdant hills; wild-flowers of every color and
fragrance scented our path. Sometimes we came upon a clump of
beautiful olive-trees, then wild again. The turtle's voice was
heard in the land, and singing birds of sweetest note. Our camels
carried us up this pass for four hours; and our turbaned Bedouins
added by their str