For ere to Rahab's window bound

The scarlet sign was hung,

While tower and rampart crumbled round, As Joshua's trumpet rung,

The curse that dwells on Sodom's lake
By yonder rill was shared,

Till scarcely there his thirst to slake,
The way-worn camel dared.

But still with gaunt neck, travel bowed,
To Jordan onward strayed,

Till Rihah's maids invoked aloud
God and Elisha's aid.

The Prophet came, the waters knew
The healing sign he showed,
And sweet as Hermon's holiest dew,
Through all their channels flowed.

And sweetly still those waters run.
But ah! through wasted lands
Of Rihah's thousand palms, but one
Springs from her sterile sands.

Yet in the blighted waste, no more
By earthly Prophet trod,
Greater than all who went before
Of Israel's men of God;

Than him who saw from Gilgal's plain
The Tishbite's car ascend,

And sought with bursting heart again
A world without a friend;

Than him whom Heaven too good for earth
Pronouncing, made its own,

Than all, who, since creation's birth,

In earth or Heaven were known;

That Prophet dwells, whose power, confest
Throughout creation's plan,

Can cleanse that poison deep, the breast
Of unconverted man.

Then, Christian, in the record trace
The types of things to be;

The cruse, of Christ's absolving grace,

The bitter spring, of thee.

L F. E.

C. Page 53.

In Vol. I. of the Supplement to Sir William Jones's works, we find a translation of the History of the Afghans, by Mr. H. Vansittart, by which it appears that they derive their own descent from the Jews. On this history, Sir William Jones writes the following note. "This account of the Afghans may lead to a very interesting discovery. We learn from Esdras, that the ten tribes, after a wandering journey, came to a country called Arsaret, where we may suppose they settled. Now the Afghans are said by the best Persian historians to be descended from the Jews; they have traditions amongst themselves of such a descent, and it is even asserted that their families are distinguished by the names of Jewish tribes, although, since their conversion to the Islam, they studiously conceal their origin. " "Every

وو

thing considered, I think it by far the most probable that the Afghans are the descendants of the Jews who were led away captives by the Assyrian kings." Dr. ADAM CLARKE'S Commentary on 2 Kings xvii.

D. Page 95.

For the benefit of future travellers, it may be well to enumerate as many of the necessary articles as I can remember, which it is desirable to take into Syria.

Tents according to the number of travellers-those with walls preferable to others.

A canteen, containing knives, forks, spoons, dishes, plates, cups and saucers, tea-pot, tea-kettle, salt-cellar. Basins, and tubs for washing.

Leathern bottles for carrying water, to be got at Alexandria, and most eastern towns.

Corks for bottles-very necessary-and stout cork

screws.

Candlesticks, and a provision of wax candles-those that are to be had in the East being peculiarly bad, and almost useless.

Turkish lanterns to hang up in the tent-these are absolutely necessary, and to be had in Jerusalem.

A large provision of mats and carpets, to be placed in the tents.

A kitchen apparatus, large coffee-pot, &c.

Iron portable bedsteads, and mosquito-nets, quite indispensable, on account of the damp and the insects.

A portable table for the drawing-room tent, another for the cook, camp-stools according to the number of travellers. A Dover arm-chair is a great comfort, when one comes in tired from the day's ride.

Spades, to level the ground for the tents, with hooks, to cut away weeds, &c.

An umbrella, covered with white calico, the best preservative from the sun.

Broad-brimmed straw hats.

Saddle-bags, (Eastern ones are the best,) to carry upon your horse, very convenient.

Green or blue spectacles, as the glare of the white rocks is injurious to the eyes.

Provisions.-Portable soup, made in cakes, and at home. Sea biscuit; pasta, such as maccaroni. Sago and arrow-root for puddings. Provisions are very scanty indeed; tough fowls and rice being almost the only things one can get, and, now and then, a sheep. No vegetables scarcely-no butter to be got. Apricot jam or marmalade would be desirable as a substitute for butter.

Cheese from England.

Plenty of tea.

Books, which we found useful:-The Bible (the best guide in these countries).

Robinson's Tour in Syria and Palestine.

Lord Lindsay's Letters.

Miles's Scripture Geography.

Dictionary of the Bible. (12mo.)

To which I would add, Wilde's Narrative.

E.

From Jaffa to Ramla, three hours and a half.
From Ramla to Abon Gosh's village, about six hours.
From Abon Gosh's village to Jerusalem, three hours.

The journey from Jaffa to Jerusalem is sometimes performed in one day, but twelve hours is rather too much for the small ill-fed horses to perform. The better way is to remain the first night at Ramla, and, starting very early in the morning, to attain Jerusalem the following evening; always remembering that an Eastern walled town must be reached before sunset, or the gates are closed upon the traveller. I should, moreover, warn him against occupying Abon Gosh's house, on account of the innumerable fleas which abound there.

Ride to the Pools of Solomon, returning by Bethlehem. This may easily be accomplished in the day, starting after breakfast, dining at the convent of Bethlehem, and returning to Jerusalem before sunset.

From Jerusalem to Jericho, from six to seven hours, including a rest at the fountain of the Apostles: the road is tedious, and the soil dazzling white-a pair of blue or green spectacles particularly desirable.

Ride from Jericho to the Dead Sea, and Jordan, and back, five hours-green spectacles absolutely necessary. Ride from Jericho to Elisha's spring, and back, one hour.

Starting from Jerusalem, northward, the first stage is Senjell, six hours and a half; intermediate resting-place, with water, Beeri, three hours-an indifferent locality, so it were better to push on.

Senjell to Nablous, five hours-the détour to Jacob's well and Joseph's tomb not included.-Take notice: encamp at the further end of the town, rather than amongst the olive-trees, which are first reached.

Expedition up Mount Gerizim requires about three

hours.

Nablous to Jenin, seven hours. Resting-place, half way, Gebaa, under a large fig-tree, where there is excellent and plentiful pasture for the horses. Jenin should be avoided as an encampment, on account of its excessive