which there is a horrible gulf, descending abruptly to a great depth. It contains a mighty quantity of water, which is quite still and unmoved; and when any one attempts to sound its depth, no length of cord is found sufficient to reach the bottom. Now the fountains of Jordan rise at the roots of this cavity, and, as some think, this is the utmost origin of Jordan."*

This cave has been described by modern travellers, and in particular by Burckhardt. Over its mouth the perpendicular face of the rock has been cut into niches with pillars for the reception of statues, the

* Bell. Jud. I. xxi. 3.

SOURCES OF THE JORDAN.

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basal part of one being still to be seen. Inscriptions, now nearly illegible, were cut in the rock near these recesses. The modern village of Baneas contains only about a hundred and fifty houses; but heaps of stones and fragments of pillars lie around, covering an extensive space, on which stood the royal city which bore the name of the Tetrarch of Trachonitis.

In another passage Josephus connects the water which flows from this cave with that of a perfectly circular lake, about fifteen miles distant, called, from its bowl-like form, Phiala: for, as he asserts, some chaff having been thrown into the lake by Philip, emerged from beneath the cave at Paneas; whence it was concluded that a subterranean passage existed between the two.

Captains Irby and Mangles seem to have discovered this interesting place. Having entered a rich little plain at the southern foot of Mount Hermon, they found a rivulet which, flowing through the plain, rushes picturesquely through a deep chasm, and joins the Jordan at Baneas. Ascending a little higher, they saw a very singular lake, about a mile in circumference, apparently perfectly circular, and surrounded on all sides by sloping hills richly wooded. A remarkable circumstance was, that they could ceive no supply or discharge of its waters, which appeared perfectly still, though clear and limpid: a great many wild fowl were swimming on it.*

per

Another source of the Jordan is found about three miles to the west of Baneas, at a place called Tel-elKady, which is believed to be the site of the ancient Dan or Laish, the northern boundary of the land. It * Irby and Mang. Trav. pp. 286-289.

unites with the other stream five or six miles below the emergence of the latter from the cave.

Yet a fourth stream, the Hasbeyah, presents a claim to be considered as the source of this river, and one which, but for a prescriptive right of the former, must be acknowledged as the best of all. It rises more than twenty miles farther to the north-east, on the northern side of Hermon, around whose base it pours a considerable stream, being, at the point where it runs by Paneas, as broad, as deep, and as rapid as the Jordan itself at Jericho. Whether it unites its waters with those of the former streams, or falls into the lake Houle by its own distinct channel, are points not yet quite ascertained.

The plain through which these rivers flow is most fertile. Numerous plantations of mulberry-trees adorn the banks, and the surrounding hills are covered with groves of oak. The richest pasture covers the whole plain, except where it is cultivated; and cattle are driven by the Arab tribes from considerable distances to feed on its luxuriance. The labour of the plough, though employed but to a limited extent, is rewarded by crops of wheat and other corn of excellent quality and in rich abundance. Thistles, those sure tokens of a vigorous soil, grow to so gigantic a size, as to reach up to the height of a horse's back, to the annoyance of his rider; and that curious plant, the mandrake, with its purple blossoms and fragrant apple-like fruit, is abundant in this region.

Nearly in the midst of this beautiful plain, the waters of the several streams we have noticed dilate into a lake of considerable extent. It is known in

THE WATERS OF MEROM.

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early Hebrew history as the waters of Merom; at the time of Roman dominion it had received the name of Samochonites; but in modern times, at least since the Crusades, it has borne the Arab appellation of Bahr-el-Houlè.

The Mandrake.

After the winter rains this lake forms a beautiful sheet of water, eleven or twelve miles long by about four broad; but in summer the northern half becomes a mere morass, covered with rushes, through which

several streams wind their silver courses.

Among these grow also abundantly the reeds which are used in the East for pens, as well as others of stouter make, which serve for lances and arrows. On the surface float the broad leaves and beautiful white flowers of the Lotus-lily, the seeds of which, as well as the large

tuberous roots, are frequently roasted in hot ashes and eaten. The elegant blossoms rise out of the water at sunrise, and expand themselves to the beam, but on the approach of night close their corollas, and retire beneath the surface. They are no less fragrant than beautiful. Among these flowers multitudes of aquatic fowl of various species repose unmolested, and the reedy shores and shallows conceal thousands of wading-birds.