pastures are still celebrated for their richness, and its soil is proverbial for its fertility. The ancient names too cling to it yet; and we have Bashan, and Golan, and Kenath, and Salchah, and Bozrah, and Kerioth, and Haurân, and Edrei, but little changed by the lapse of long centuries. Thus does it appear that the more extensive our research, and the more minute our investigations, the more full and accurate will be our illustrations of the Word of God. Every new discovery in this land is a new evidence of the truth of the Bible. And should the day ever come when an advancing Christianity, bearing peace and civilization in its glorious train, shall again people these cities and cultivate these plains—then, from inscribed tablets and ruins now buried, will new and striking evidences be brought to light of the truth of that religion which yet far more strongly evidences itself by the blessings it diffuses. ITUREA. There is still another province, which, though not included in Bashan, formed for a time a portion of the territories of Manasseh; and as it lies on the northern border of Bashan, between that kingdom and Damascus, I shall now give a brief sketch of it. The name of this province, Ituræa, occurs only once in the Scriptures in its Greek form, where Luke includes it in the tetrarchy of Philip. In the book of Genesis, however, we find the name Jetur applied to one of the sons of Ishmael; and it is afterwards said that this was the name of the province possessed by him." It was the usual mode in those 7 Gen. xxv. 15, 16. • Luke iii. 1. 8 early ages for the leader of a tribe to settle in some unoccupied district, and to call it by his name. We learn that long after that period the tribes of Reuben and Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh made war with the Hagarites or Ishmaelites, namely, with Jetur, Nephesh, and Nodab, conquered their territories, and dwelt in their land until the captivity. And in immediate connection with the latter statement it is said that "the children of the half-tribe of Manasseh dwelt in the land, and they increased from Bashan unto Baal-hermon, and Senir, and Mount Hermon." 9 Now this points distinctly to the position of the district previously occupied by Jetur and his brethren. It lay between Bashan and Hermon. It appears, however, that the Ishmaelites merely retired for a time from this province, as Aristobulus king of the Jews, in the end of the second century before Christ, conquered Ituræa, and gave the inhabitants their choice either to embrace the Jewish faith or leave their country. They chose the former. Herod the Great afterwards obtained possession of it (B.c. 20). During all these changes the Ituræans maintained a distinctive nationality. This may probably have arisen in some degree from the position of their country, as they could during troublous times retire to the fastnesses of Hermon, where there was ample pasturage for their cattle, and also some fine land for cultivation. This view is strengthened by the words of Strabo, who observes, when describing the kingdom of Chalcis, that it was a mountainous region inhabited by Ituræans and Arabs.2 8 1 Chron. v. 19-22. 9 1 Chron. v. 23. 2 Strabo. Geog., xvi. p. 520. Both Lightfoot and Reland supposed that Ituræa and Auranitis were identical; and the principal argument given in favour of their view is, that, while Luke states that Philip was tetrarch of Ituræa and the region of Trachonitis, Josephus says he was tetrarch of Batanæa, Trachonitis, and Auranitis, and a certain portion of the house of Zenodorus." Luke mentions Ituræa but not Auranitis, and Josephus mentions Auranitis but not Ituræa, and it is therefore concluded that the two are the same. This argument has no weight whatever.3 6 From the several passages above quoted and referred to the general position of Ituræa can be pretty accurately defined. It lay between Hermon and Bashan, and consequently on the south-eastern side of that mountain. In J. de Vitry's History of Jerusalem' the position of this province is clearly given as follows:-"After the region of Decapolis, whose borders or extremities are between the sea of Galilee and Sydon, which also extends from the city of Tiberias towards Damascus, is the region of Ituræa, that is, this region is beyond the territory of Sydon and the mountains, in a valley called Bachar, between us and the Saracens; and as it stretches along the base of Libanus, it is called Saltus Libani. This said region of Ituræa adjoins, and is conterminous with, Trachonitis." 4 3 Lightfoot, Hor. Heb. s. v. Ituræa. In this place may be found an epitome of all the references made to this province in ancient authors. The learning of this author, as evidenced in his many quotations, is generally of far more value than his conclusions. 4 Jac. de Vitriaco Hist. Hierosol. in Gesta Dei per Francos, p. 1074. William of Tyre also describes the position of this province.-Gesta Dei, p. 771 and 1003. The name and position of this ancient province correspond exactly with the modern district Jedûr, which lies on the west side of the great plain of Damascus. It is bounded on the east by the Hâj road, which separates it from the plain that runs along the west side of the Lejah. On the south it has Jaulân. The mountain-range of Jebel esh-Sheikh forms its north-western border; and on the north lies Wady el-'Ajam. The whole region is a table-land, with a gently undulating surface, here and there diversified with conical tells. In a list which I possess of its towns and villages are thirty-eight names, twenty-nine of which have still a few inhabitants. Most of the ruins resemble those in the Haurân.5 5 The province of Jedûr has never yet been explored, and it possesses so few objects of interest that few travellers would wish to spend time in it. The only ancient site hitherto identified within its borders is Sunamein on the Hâj route. An inscription was discovered there a few years ago, proving it to be the Aere of the Itinerary of Antonine. CHAPTER XVI. TOUR IN LEBANON, INCLUDING A VISIT TO THE CEDARS AND BA'ALBEK. Ride from Bludân to Zahleh - Character of the Christians of Zahleh Route over Lebanon - Wild scenery and singular caverns of Wady Tarshish-The residence of the mountain princes - Beyrout - The ancient roads and sculptures of the Nahr el-Kelb — The valley of the Nahr el-Kelb - Its sources visited- The great natural bridge · The Temple of Venus at Apheca-Source of the river Adonis· Adventure with the Metâwely - Distant view of the cedars- Scenery of Wady Kadisha - The Cedars - View from the summit of Lebanon -Topography of the eastern slopes — Bâ'albek — Ride along the Roman road to Bludân. July 29th, 1853.-I LEFT my summer residence at Bludân at 5.10 A.M. with the intention of proceeding direct to Beyrout, where business called me, and then returning by way of the cedars and Bâålbek. I did not wish to follow the ordinary road, which has been often travelled, and has little of interest to divert the attention of the wayfarer; I consequently chose a route equally short with the other, and much more picturesque. I was accompanied as far as Beyrout by two young friends, besides my servant and muleteers. We rode down the ordinary Bâålbek road, along the base of the lofty cliffs that overhang the little wady of Zebdâny, and in 40 minutes crossed the rivulet which springs up at 'Ain Hauwar, half an hour on the right, and, flowing down the valley, waters Zebdâny and its lovely plain. We continued in the same northern course, ascend |