THE HOLY LAND AS IT NOW IS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 286, 25 October 1878, Page 5

THE HOLY LAND AS IT NOW IS.

Now that England has become the protector of Asia Minor, including the Holy Land, renewed interest attaches to everything relating to Palestine, its present condition, and the prospects of the future. Seven years ago a thorough survey of Western Palestine was commenced by an English society, under the name of the " Palestine Exploration Fund ;" and this work has now been completed. Its history is related in a book ju&t published in London, entitled " Tent Work in Palestine," by C. K. Courier, of the Royal Engineers, who was in command of the survey expedition. Important excavations had previously been made in Jerusalem, under the direction of Captain Warren, which threw much light upon the topography of the ancient city, and tended often to demonstrate the exact correctness of localities pointed out by Catholic tradition, but called in question by superficial Protestant tourists. The survey which is now completed embraced the Holy Land, from Dan to Beersheba, and from the Jordan to the Mediterranean, and covered an area of G,OOO square miles. The survey was made with great minuteness, and, we believe, with a sincere desire to get at the truth, without regard to the prejudices of sects. It begins in Samaria, and the camp was first pitched near old Shechcm, which has been often supposed to be the fcSycliar mentioned in the New Testament. But Lieutenant Conder decides these were two distinct places, and that Sychar was Ischar near Shechem. The survey was extended throughout the whole of Samaria, which once contained the proud city of that name, now represented by a little village called Sebustieh, and Shiloh, which was the abode of the tabernacle and the ark for 3C9 years. The scenery of Samaria is often beautiful ; " the valley of Shechem," says Lieutenant Conder, "is the most luxuriant in Palestine ; long rivulets, fed by no less than eighty springs, run down the hill slopes and murmur in the deep ravine ; gardens surround the city walls ; figs, walnuts, rnulbenies, olives, pomegranates, and every species of vegetable grow in abundance, and the green foliage and sparkling streams refresh the eye." The Samaritans claim for themselves an IsraelitisU origin ; and Lieutenant Conder is of the opinion that this claim is correct. He thinks they are of the same stock with the Jews, and of a supposed identity in doctrine with the Sadducees. From these points the Survey proceeded to the plain of Esdraclon and the sito of Jczrcel, where King Saul met his tragic fate ; Shunam, with traditions of the holy prophet Eliseus, and across the hills to Nazareth and Cana— two places immortal for ever in the history of Christianity. Then on to Bethlehem, which is described as a " thriving little town of solidly-built houses, crowning the summit of two knolls connected by a lower saddle on a white chalk ridge, with steep declivities to the north and south." Here the survey determined the genuineness of the Grotto of the Nativity beneath the Church of the Basilica, a buildiug erected over the birth-place of our Lord in the fourth century. Eeaching at last Jerusalem itself, the survey first devoted its attention to the work of determining with accuracy the site of Calvaiy, and of the Blessed Sepulchre, and here again Catholic tradition is completely verified by scientific examination. Lieutenant Conder's observations upon the present population of Palestine are extremely interesting, but we have not time to comment upon them. He concludes his book with the remark that Palestine most needs " a strong and benevolent government ;" and it may be hoped that she will now receive that blessing from the hands of the descendants of the Crusaders. — Catholic Review.