Syrians of Damascus (2 Sam. viii. 5), and whither in the days of Ahaz, king of Judah, many of the men of Judah were carried captive (2 Chron. xxviii. 5); of which the prophets have written (Isa. vii. 8; viii. 4; xvii. 1-3; Jer. xlix. 23-27, &c.); whither Saul of Tarsus went, having authority from the high priest to take thence all that called on the name of the Lord Jesus, and bring them bound to Jerusalem; before whose gates he was struck down, and beheld a light brighter than the sun at midday, and heard from heaven the voice of Him, whom before he had persecuted, but who became from that time the one controlling aim and object of his life. (Phil. iii.) The "street called Straight" (Acts ix. 11) was pointed out to us, a part of which we also visited.

Passing through one of the gates, we surveyed the ancient walls and one or two of the cemeteries. The annexed sketch I took of that portion of the outer wall which is the reputed spot where St. Paul, through a window, in a basket, escaped the hands of the governor, under Aretas the king, who sought to take him. (2 Cor. xi. 32, 33.) The walls on either side of the path are built of mud blocks, and I noticed some labourers mixing clay with chopped straw for the making of such blocks,

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which circumstance reminded me of the bondage of the children of Israel in Egypt, and the command of Pharaoh that the "task-masters should withhold the straw." (Ex. v. 6, 7.) A part of this day was occupied in purchasing relics for friends in England.

In the afternoon as we were walking in the outskirts, we witnessed the spectacle of the headgovernor with his sons and attendants riding out. In addition to the military display, I was particularly struck with the easy motion, as well as good speed, of the little trotting camel or dromedary which was ridden by the youngest of the sons.

Tuesday 27th. This day was partly occupied in completing purchases, and getting everything which I was not likely to need on the voyage home, packed in a case for shipment from Beyrout; we also called to take leave of Dr. Meshakah.

(Having previously booked our seats in the night diligence to Beyrout, we repaired to the office, where a brush and a colour-pot being put into my hands, I addressed the case to my agents in London. The horses were put to, and we were settling to our seats, when our attention was called to a drove of camels in charge of a picket, which we were

informed had been taken by the cavalry under Hamid Said Pasha, from the Hanazi Bedouins. Further information was to the effect that the government troops had obtained a decided advantage over the latter; but the Bedouins having fled, baffled their pursuers by mingling themselves with the men of another tribe; that this state of things would make it exceedingly difficult for Hamid Said Pasha to follow up his victory, and as to the spoils of war which we had seen, they would probably be bought at the government sale for a nominal price by the neutral Bedouins, and speedily find their way back to their original owners.

We were thus reminded of the Lord's goodness to us, in preserving us amid the perils of the wilderness.

CHAPTER XV.

ANTI-LEBANON, LEBANON, AND BEYROUT.

AT 6 p.m. we started in the little two-horse diligence along the road constructed by the French engineers across the Anti-Lebanon and Lebanon ranges, to Beyrout. Outside the city we passed several fine buildings, the residences of the wealthy, and as we got upon the hills we noticed numerous springs, feeders of the Balada, running down to the valley beneath.

Gradually we ascended the Anti-Lebanon, stopping now and then to change horses. My friend occupied the only outside passenger's seat, and, being within, when night had fairly commenced, I slipped off my boots, and arranged myself for sleep, from which I was occasionally awakened, once by feeling something pulling at my toes, which proved, on seizing it, to be the hand of my companion, which he had thrust through the window in quest of his blanket.

About midnight, at one of the villages where the horses were changed, we obtained supper. The first course was cold boiled fresh-water fish (I

suppose from the Hashbany, which runs here). Here, too, I think it was we found a little circle of villagers engaged in friendly chat, conspicuous among whom was a hearty-looking Romish priest. Thus we traversed Anti-Lebanon, Cole-Syria, and the Lebanon, with its grand features of rocks and springs, commanding, too, the finest landscapes

shan chuen, "hills and streams," as the Chinese would say). As the day broke, we could appreciate these things the more: we passed a string of tilted waggons, belonging to the mule caravans, which convey the goods traffic on this road, and one or two small caravans of loaded camels. In some parts, the mountain sides were terraced for the cultivation of vines.

Crossing the Lebanon at this part, we did not obtain a view of the cedars, of which, however, there are still some notable clumps further to the north-east. I noticed that we changed horses nine times, thus making ten relays between Damascus and Beyrout.

On retaking my seat, I found I had a new companion, who proved to be a member of the French engineer staff of the Suez Canal, returning from a short furlough to Baalbec, and who told me that about thirty English vessels pass through the canal