were, no doubt, carefully preserved for ages, as if ordained to throw light upon an interesting topic, and assist in the correction of a glaring error, which has found its way into the works of authors of modern date, with respect to the precise spot where our Lord rebuked the unclean spirit. Indeed, but for the peculiar opportunity I enjoyed, of seeing these valuable relics, the error might have been perpetuated, and acquired confirmation from subsequent pilgrims, since my guide Michel appeared equally mistaken: with the authors to whom I allude; and, doubtless, in his hands, future travellers may be impressed with the same mistake. They have always been led to describe the hallowed spot, as lying on the west side of the lake, that is, between Tiberias and the foot of it, or its southern extremity.

I own that the appearance of these excavations, so near, with the declivity or "steep place" from thence to the water, where the " herd of swine ran down violently," do, ex facie, seem to coincide with the description given in Scripture; yet the truth is, I perceived from these antient maps, that the places are pointed out as being situated opposite to Tiberias, that is, upon the other or eastern side of the lake. This I apprehend is strengthened by the very critical words of the gospel itself*, where we are also informed, that after the accomplishment of this, and other remarkable events, our Lord went back to that part of the lake from which he had sailed, and this a fortiori must have been on the western side, where the town of Tiberias is situated. These tombs, therefore, I am humbly disposed to think, must have been on the eastern side of this lake, or in the country of the Gadarenes, a people of the tribe of Gad. In this place, on another memorable occasion, strong faith was exemplified by a woman who was in the crowd following Jesus, by touching his person, under the conviction, that virtue would be imparted, and have the effect of removing a disease she had long laboured under, and which was deemed incurable by medical men: this was accord

* Matt. viii. 28. Mark v. 1. Matt. ix. 1. Luke viii. 26.

ingly accomplished. A ruler of the church in that district also implored his divine compassion in behalf of his young daughter, whose dissolution had occurred, but whom he brought to life again.†

I arrived at the end of the lake, which is seven miles from the town, where I had an extensive view of this noble expanse of water; I stripped at the ruins of a bridge, and washed my clothes in the sacred stream of Jordan, agreeable to a practice generally observed by Christians.

With respect to the particular part of the river Jordan, where the baptism of our Saviour took place by John, a diversity of opinions has been formed, some presuming that it occurred in the direction of Jericho, beyond Jerusalem; an opinion so generally entertained, that in the pilgrimages of Catholic Christians, that place is exclusively resorted to for purifying themselves according to their tenets, by immersion. In my apprehension, however, this is not reconcileable with the probabilities of local circumstances, which appear to point out that this sacred ceremony was performed in the stream near Tiberias, either before it enters or after it leaves the lake. We are, indeed, told that Jesus took his departure from Nazareth of Galilee, where he was brought up, to be baptized in Jordan. Now the Jordan at this lake was evidently a more convenient spot, lying nearer in point of direction to Nazareth, than where it flows near Jericho into the Dead Sea, the former being only one or two days' journey; whereas the latter might not be accomplished under nearly a week. Had Jesus, however, proceeded direct from Jerusalem, in the prosecution of this object, he most unquestionably would have been nearer to Jordan by the way of Jericho, and we should have had this left distinctly upon record; but, on the contrary, it is expressly mentioned that he set out from Nazareth, and therefore it is a neces→ sary consequence, that he went to the nearest and most convenient point, where the river runs, that is about the

*Luke viii. 45-48.

+ Luke viii. 41, 42. 49. 50-56.

lake of Tiberias. In short, the truth appears to amount. to this, that a controversy exists between the inhabitants of the two districts, on this particular point, for the promotion of their own objects. I regretted that circumstances would not at this time admit of extending my journey round the lake. That part of it, however, I saw, will ever make the deepest impression on my mind, not only from its own peculiar beauty, and the surrounding scenery, but being a spot so eminently sanctified by the personal presence of the Son of God, the proclamation of his glorious doctrines, and the miracles performed in evidence of his divinity. I shall reflect with feelings of inexpressible delight on those hours which I spent in walking along its shores, and reading from the book of truth, the deeply interesting narratives it contained, respecting the consecrated waters of Genesareth.

After picking up on the shore a great variety of shells of most beautiful colours, I returned to the town, prosecuting a course along the way taken from it, and concluding from other ruins which I observed about this lake, there was sufficient evidence of it having been surrounded by villages, during the time our Great Mediator preached to astonished multitudes, in order to convert them from darkness to light.

In entering the town I was amused by observing a group of females of very advanced age, sitting cross-legged on the ground, in the corner of a street, arranged in the form of a circle, smoking with long pipes, and in close conversation. The bowl or cup of each was brought to the centre of a circle, and the form thus made by the pipes, appeared to resemble something like a shield.

I was surprised at being shown the pens which are used here for writing; they are made of reeds, and are very clumsy. The point is something similar to the shape of those in our country, but without being slit, and of course no proper hair stroke can be introduced to

* Mark i. 9.

afford facility in penmanship, and the letters made are very indistinct, appearing as if they had been formed with a splinter of wood. Here it may be added, that when I was at Jerusalem I could not find pens to purchase similar to those made use of in Europe.

CHAP. XXIV.

DEPARTURE FROM TIBERIAS.

MOUNT TABOR.

www.g TENTS OF ARABS. - VISIT TO PROSPECT FROM ITS SUMMIT. PLACES

DESCRIBED. REFLECTIONS. — RUINS. — RETURN TO NAZARETH.- EGYPTIAN FUGITIVE.

AFTER remunerating the venerable pastor for the use of his church, and recommending him, upon his earnest suggestion, by a written note, to the benevolence of my countrymen, who should visit Tiberias, I set out by sun-rise next morning, the 3d of March, and directed my route to Mount Tabor.

I travelled a considerable distance by the way leading to Tiberias from Nazareth, and having reached the Mount of Beatitudes formerly alluded to, I turned off to the left, and proceeded along an extensive plain. At mid-day I arrived at the extremity of another, where there is a Caffane among the ruins of an edifice, resembling the old castellated buildings in England. A caipha or tribute is demanded by the pacha, from which, however, Christians are exempted. I halted here, and sat down under the shade of a large figtree, at the side of a murmuring rivulet. The number of these trees, and their particular situations in the Holy Land, bring to memory many interesting parts of the word of truth. After taking refreshments, with copious draughts of the pure stream, I crossed a fine valley which led me to the foot of Mount Tabor, where I observed, at a short distance, a party of Arabs had pitched their tents, which were covered with black cloth, almost a counterpart of the exhibition I remarked on the plains of Jericho; taking the scene altogether, it was similar to a gang of gipsies in England. These tents, with the retired situation in which they were erected, reminded me of the mode of accommo