The Maccabaean

We started at five in the afternoon from Jaffa. We take a northward course past the beautiful orange groves which produce a charming odor of fragrance. The sky is blue and serene and the breeze that blows in our faces is cool and refreshing. In about kalf an hour we pass the beautiful and modern German colony Sarona to the left, and the Montefiore Bajarah to the right. Onward we pursue our course through German vineyards and gardens and soon pass the Mousrara bridge under which flows a small dirty stream, a tributary of the river Autscke. In two hours we pass the Jewish colony Imlebes or Petach Tikvak. Onward we pass through the Sharon Plain. On both sides of the road there are numerous plantations and cultivations such as Indian corn, sesame, melons, etc., etc, Here and there we notice many wandering 'Bedouin families who pitch their tents wherever and whenever they like. These Arabs are engaged in breeding buffaloes and making butter and cheese from tkeir milk. These buffaloes generally amuse themselves by diving in the ditches at sunset, and one cannot tire observing their clever movements. We continue our course and the mountains of Samaria with Gerisim and Ebal appear to our right whilst the chain of the Nablous hills run north, finally joining the Galilean mountains.. Many villages stud the country and if tke traveller is fortunate, he may witness a Fellah wedding or some other religious rejoicing. We pass villages of considerable size, the prin- pal among which are Calkilie and Colenso. Here the traveller is greeted with the usual Arab “Salam Aleikum” and perhaps may be invited to participate in some fruit and coffee that the sheik offers to him. Many points of Arabian life may be ob-

served. The young boys threshing the corn with a wooden instrument, the shepherd pastures the flock of the village, the Fellahin women carrying water jars on their heads or shoulders and offer you a drink, which is the most pleasant and welcome thing to the parched lips of the traveller. All this reminds one of ancient biblical times......

Leaving these villages behind, we again pass many plantations and gardens, the Sharon-plain extending northwest immediately close to the seashore. The soil of this part of the country is very fertile and was famed even in olden times as the "land of blessing." In about two hours from Colenso we arrive to an inn that is called "Bajarah." Here we descend and take a rest for an hour or more. The horses are fed and the travellers lay down for a nap. At about three a. m. the travellers are aroused to take their places. The horses are harnessed and after paying the small sum of a "Metalik" for the night's rest, we start off once more.

And now commences a difhcult drive. There are vast, sandy marshes and with great difhiculty the carriage traverses this place. We then commence the ascent of the lower Galilean mountains. To tke west lies the Jewish colony Hedera buried in a forest of eucalyptus trees and .still nearer us the beautiful garden of Samuel. Three hours more and we shall have reach- the beautiful colony Sammarin, but when we do reach it, our limbs are broken and we appear more dead than alive. Sammarin is situated on the lower end of the Galilean mountains and its precipices and ravines produces a wonderful aspect of beauty. It contains many mountains, vineyards and olive plantations, Here we take