this world, and the more resplendent scenes of the planet Saturn, but even the sun himself would entirely disappear, as if he were blotted out of existence. "Were the sun," says Mr. Addison, "which enlightens this part of the creation, with all the host of the planetary worlds that move about him, utterly extinguished and annihilated, they would not be missed by an eye that could take in the whole compass of nature, more than a grain of sand upon the sea shore. The space they possess is so exceedingly little, in comparison of the whole, that it would scarce make a blank in creation."

HISTORICAL AND PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE HOLY LAND-No. VI

MOUNTAINS.

Palestine is a mountainous country, especially that part of it which is situated between the Mediterranean or Great Sea and the river Jordan. The principal MOUNTAINS, not already mentioned, are those of Lebanon, Carmel, Tabor, the mountains of Israel and of Gilead.

1. Lebanon, by the Greeks and Latins termed Libanus, is a long chain of lime-stone mountains, extending from the neighbourhood of Sidon on the west to the vicinity of Damascus eastward, and forming the extreme northern boundary of the Holy Land. It is divided into two principal ridges or ranges parallel to each other, the most westerly of which is known by the name of Libanus, and the opposite or eastern ridge by the appellation of Anti-Libanus. These mountains may be seen from a very considerable distance; and it rarely happens that some part or other of them is not covered with snow throughout the year. They are by no means barren, but are almost all well cultivated and well peopled their summits are, in many parts, level, and form extensive plains, in which are sown corn and all kinds of pulse. They are watered by numerous springs, rivulets, and streams of excellent water, which diffuse on all sides freshness and fertility, even in the most elevated regions. To these Solomon has a beau

tiful allusion. (Song iv. 15.) Lebanon was anciently celebrated for its stately cedars, which are now less numerous than in former times: they grow among the snow near the highest part of the mountain, and are remarkable, as well for their age and size, as for the frequent allusions made to them in the Scriptures. (See 1 Kings iv. 33. Psal. lxxx. 10. and xcii. 12, &c. &c.)

Anti-Libanus or Anti-Lebanon is the more lofty ridge of the two, and its summit is clad with almost perpetual snow, which was carried to the neigbouring towns for the purpose of cooling liquors (Prov. xxv. 13. and perhaps Jer. xviii. 14.); a practice which has obtained in the east to the present day.

2. MOUNT CARMEL is a range of hills, about 1500 feet in height, and extending six or eight miles, nearly north and south. It is situated about ten miles to the south of Acre or Ptolemais, on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. Its summits abound with oaks and other trees; and, among brambles, wild vines and olive trees are still to be found. On the side next the sea is a cave, to which some commentators have supposed that the prophet Elijah desired Ahab to bring Baal's prophets, when celestial fire descended on his sacrifice. (1 Kings xviii. 19-40.) There was another mount Carmel, with a city of the same name, situated in the tribe of Judah, and mentioned in Joshua xv. 55. 1 Sam. xxv. 2. and 2 Sam. iii. 3.

3. TABOR or THABOR is a mountain of a conical form, entirely detached from any neighbouring mountain, and stands on one side of the great plain of Esdraelon it is entirely covered with green oaks, and other trees, shrubs, and odoriferous plants. The prospects from this mountain are singularly delightful and extensive; and on its eastern side there is a small height, which by ancient tradition is supposed to have been the scene of our Lord's transfiguration. (Matt. xvii. 1—8. Mark ix. 2—9.)

4. The MOUNTAINS OF ISRAEL, also called the mountains of Ephraim, were situated in the very centre of the Holy Land, and opposite to the MOUNTAINS OF JuThe soil of both is fertile, excepting those ridges

DAH.

of the mountains of Israel which look towards the region of the Jordan, and which are both rugged and difficult of ascent, and also with the exception of the chain extending from the Mount of Olives near Jerusalem to the plain of Jericho, which has always afforded lurking places to robbers. (Luke x. 30.) The most elevated summit of this ridge, which appears to be the same that was anciently called the rock of Rimmon (Judg. xx. 45. 47.), is at present known by the name of Quarantania, and is supposed to have been the scene of our Saviour's temptation. (Matt. iv. 8.) It is described by Maundrel as situated in a mountainous desert, and being a most miserably dry and barren place, consisting of high rocky mountains, torn and disordered as if the earth had here suffered some great convulsion. The MOUNTAINS OF EBAL (sometimes written Gebal) and GERIZIM (Deut. xi. 29. xxvii. 4. 12. Josh. viii. 30-35.) are situated, the former to the north, and the latter to the south of Sichem or Napolose, whose streets run parallel to the latter mountain, which overlooks the town. In the mountains of Judah there are numerous caves, some of a considerable size: the most remarkable of these is the cave of Adullam, mentioned in 1 Sam. xxii. 1, 2.

5. The MOUNTAINS OF GILEAD are situated beyond the Jordan, and extend from Hermon southward to Arabia Petræa. The northern part of them, known by the name of Bashan, was celebrated for its stately oaks and numerous herds of cattle pastured there, to which there are many allusions in the Scriptures. (See among other passages, Deut. xxxii. 14. Psal. xxii. 12. and Ixviii. 15. Isa. ii. 13. Ezek. xxxix. 18. Amos iv. 1.) The middle part, in a stricter sense, was termed Gilead; and in the southern part, beyond Jordan, were the Mountains of Abarim, the northern limits of the territory of Moab, which are conjectured to have derived their name from the passes between the hills of which they were formed. The most eminent among these are Pisgah and Nebo, which form a continued chain, and command a view of the whole land of Canaan (Deut. iii. 27. xxxii. 48-50. xxxiv. 1, 2, 3.) From Mount Nebo, Moses surveyed the promised land, before he was gathered to his people. Numb. xxvii. 12,

13.) The Hebrews frequently give the epithet of everlasting to their mountains, because they are as old as the earth itself. See, among other instances, Gen.

xlix. 26. and Deut. xxxiii. 15.

The mountains of Palestine were anciently places of refuge to the inhabitants when defeated in war (Gen. xiv. 10.); and modern travellers assure us that they. are still resorted to for the purpose of shelter. The rocky summits found on many of them appear to have been not unfrequently employed as altars, on which sacrifices were offered to Jehovah (Judg. vi. 19-21. and xiii. 15-20.); although they were afterwards converted into places for idol worship, for which the prophets Isaiah (Ivii. 7.) and Ezekiel (xviii. 6.) severely reprove their degenerate countrymen. And as many of the mountains of Palestine were situated in desert places, the shadow they project has furnished the prophet Isaiah with a pleasing image of the security, that shall be enjoyed under the kingdom of Messiah. (xxxii. 2.)

CASTLE AND PORT OF SEYDA, THE ANCIENT SIDON.

The present town of Seyda extends along the sea shore for a space of less than a mile in length, and is not more than half a mile in its general breadth from

the water to its inner border; standing on a gradually ascending slope, from the sea to the more elevated ground behind, its appearance from without is more pleasing than many other towns of a better description in their interior. Towards the sea-side an old castle, said to have been built by the crusaders of France, and the ruins of another, running out at the extremity of a ledge of rocks, with arches, tend to give the harbour a picturesque appearance, particularly when a few of the native vessels of the coast are seen behind this ledge, where they usually anchor for shelter, if bound to some other port, or for convenience while discharging and taking in their cargoes here.

The buildings of Seyda are not at all superior to the common order of Mahommedan edifices in the modern towns of Syria; the streets are extremely narrow, the mosques mean, the caravansaries small and incommodious, and the bazaars few and badly furnished with even the necessaries in general request. The inhabitants are variously estimated, at from 5,000 to 10,000; perhaps the true number would be found to be between 7,000 and 8,000. The great majority of these are Mahommedans, the Christians not exceeding 1,000, and the Jews less than 500.-Buckingham's Travels among the Arab Tribes.

VIENNA.

VIENNA, the capital of Austria and of the whole German empire, is one of the most interesting cities in Europe. It is worthy of notice on its own account, and its name is associated with some of the most stirring incidents in history. This splendid city, which with its numerous suburbs, contains three hundred thousand inhabitants derives its name from the insignificant stream which passes through it, for strictly speaking, it does not, as is commonly said, stand upon the Danube, but upon one of its smaller arms, the river itself being a mile to the northward and separated from the city by an extensive suburb and a large tract of ground planted with groves and laid out with gardens.