RUINS OF ANCIENT TYRE.

fore him that slayeth thee, I am God? but thou shalt be a man, and no God, in the hand of him that slayeth thee. Thou shalt die the deaths of the uncircumcised, by the hand of strangers; for I have spoken it, saith the Lord God. Moreover, the word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, take up a lamentation upon the king of Tyrus, and say unto him, Thus saith the Lord God: Thou sealest up the sum, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty! Thou hast been in Eden the garden of God: every precious stone was thy covering; the sardius, topaz, and the diamond; the beryl, the onyx, and the jasper; the sapphire, the emerald, and the car

At 12 o'clock, we took our departure from this interesting spot, and followed our route southward. But, before we finally leave this topic, it may be expedient to refer, somewhat at large, to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Isaiah, and to point out that this is not the old city, whose antiquity was of ancient days, (Is. xxiii. 7;) and the total destruction of which is foretold by Ezekiel. We were yet to pass over the site of that proud ancient Tyre, situated, as Strabo relates, about eight miles southward of the then insular but now peninsular, Tyre. Not distinguishing between the ancient and pre-buncle, and gold; the workmanship of thy tabrets sent Tyre, and supposing the modern city to be a and of thy pipes was prepared in thee, in the day rebuilding of the old, the mind might be scandaliz- that thou wast created. Thou art the anointed ed by the apparent want of completion of some cherub that covereth; and I have set thee so: part of Ezekiel's prophecy; particularly the follow-thou wast upon the holy mountain of God: thou ing-I will make thee a terror, and thou shalt be no more: though thou be sought for, yet shalt thou never be found again: (ch. xxvi. 21.) How exactly this has been accomplished to the very letter will, however, appear to every one passing south-dise they have filled the midst of thee with violence, ward, as we did this evening, from modern Tyre toward Acre.

hast walked up and down in the midst of the stones of fire: thou wast perfect in thy ways, from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee: by the multitude of thy merchan

and thou hast sinned. Therefore I will cast thee, as profane, out of the mountain of God; and I will destroy thee, O covering cherub, from the midst of the stones of fire. Thine heart was lifted up, because of thy beauty: thou hast corrupted thy wisdom, by reason of thy brightness: I will cast

that they may behold thee. Thou hast defiled thy sanctuaries, by the multitude of thine iniquities, by the iniquity of thy traffic: therefore will I bring forth a fire from the midst of thee, it shall devour thee; and I will bring thee to ashes upon the earth, in the sight of all them that behold thee. All they that know thee among the people shall be astonished at thee; thou shall be a terror, and never shalt thou be any more." (Ezek. xxviii. 1-19.)

ANCIENT AND MODERN TYRE.

Somewhere upon this ground, and further on than Ras el Ain, must have been the site of the first Tyre; but not a single vestige of an ancient city appears. We had read, in our social devotions, with the most lively interest, the twenty-thee to the ground: I will lay thee before kings, third chapter of Isaiah, and the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, and twenty-eighth chapters of Ezekiel; tracing-so far as we knew the different countries therein mentioned, and the produce of each the sources of Tyrian wealth and glory; especially the twenty-seventh chapter. What a minute, and varied, and splendid record of earthly prosperity, concentrated in this vast emporium! But, on this deserted shore, not one sight, not one sound remains, to bear witness to her former joyousness and pride! I have seen the ruins of Athens, and the innumerable memorials of Egyptian glory in Thebes. There, enough survives to lead the mind to expand with wonder, or to sadden with regret: but of antient Tyre, there just remains that utter NOTHING, which seems best suited to prepare the Christian for imbibing the spirit of the prophetic language "The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, say unto the prince of Tyrus, Thus saith the Lord God: Because thine heart is lifted up, and thou last said, I am a god, I sit in the seat of God, in the midst of the seas; yet thou art a man, and not God, though thou set thine heart as the heart of God. Behold, thou art wiser than Daniel: there is no secret that they can hide from thee: with thy wisdom and with thine understanding, thou hast gotten thee riches, and hast gotten gold and silver into thy treasures: by thy great wisdom and by thy traffic, hast thou increased thy riches, and thine heart is lifted up because of thy riches; therefore thus saith the Lord God; Because thou hast set thine heart as the heart of God, behold, therefore I will bring strangers upon thee, the terrible of the nations; and they shall draw their swords against the beauty of thy wisdom, and they shall defile thy brightness: they shall bring thee down to the pit, and thou shalt die the death of them that are slain in the midst of the seas. Wilt thou yet say be

The inquisitive reader may see fully discussed, in Reland's Palestine, pp. 1049-1054, the different facts and arguments relative to ancient and modern Tyre. The result of the impression left on my mind, after having seen the spot, is this-that ancient Tyre, which was situated about eight miles to the south of the present peninsular Tyre, having been utterly destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar, B. C. 573, the prophecy of Ezekiel, xxvi. 21, may be considered to have had its literal and complete accomplishment. That there might even then be some city in existence upon the peninsular spot now bearing the name of Tyre at that time insular, may be inferred, not solely, perhaps not principally, from the various historical notices and illustrations given by Reland; but, most naturally, from the following simple considerations. It was impossible for Tyre ever to have been a great commercial power, without the harbor which adjoins the island: and it is not likely that this harbor should have been used, and the island not have been built upon. But, admitting that the island was then inhabited, still the insular town was not necessarily to be considered as identical with the old city, but merely an appendage of it. The wealthy men might live in old Tyre, all whose merchants were

Saturday, Oct. 1, 1823.-Very early before sunThe vicissitudes experienced by Tyre, subse- rise, we set off from this poor Khan, designing to quently to the events predicted by Isaiah and reach Acre before noon, which, at the slow rate Ezekiel, are of a very interesting nature. The that we travelled, would not be easy. Contrary extensive line of aqueducts, yet seen here in ruins, to their usual custom the guides were as eager was the work of Alexander. The siege of the now to depart as ourselves: the reason was, that, island by him, and the success of his astonishing as the Pacha dines at noon and retires immeproject to join it to the main land, filling up a diately after to sleep, and no traveller is permitted channel of about half a mile in width, took place to enter the gate of the city till his name and buB. C. 332; that is, 171 years after the latest cir-siness are announced personally to the Pacha, he cumstance noticed in prophecy, and accomplished who should arrive between twelve and three

o'clock incurs the risk of waiting all that time, bev. 17. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is the weather, what it may, almost without shelter.* a new creature: old things are passed away: The first hour of our journey we spent nearly behold, all things are become new." The whole in darkness--wanderers, as it seemed to me, service was in Italian. Toward the close of my among the mountains; both guides and animals, sermon, quoting the verses following the text, I however, with intuitive sagacity keeping the dwelt briefly on the importance of the right exertrack. At length the pleasant light covered the cise of the Christian ministry; pointing out, "that, sky; and, not long after, we arrived at the height till the work of preaching is revived, there is no hope which commands the ample plain of Acre. The that these countries will be raised from their present elegant and lofty minaret of the city appeared at degradation and misery, and that this is manifestly a distance of seven or eight miles, directly before the calling and office of the ordained ministers of us: in the back ground, far off, twice as distant the country." as the city, was a noble scene-Mount Carmel dipping its feet in the western sea; and to the east, running considerably inland; entirely locking up from our view the vale of Sharon, which lies to the south of it. In the horizon on the left, the sun was rising over the milder mountain scene-perior education to many, having spent several ry, which lies on the road to Nazareth.

Here, though already three days within the confines of Palestine, I first felt myself on holy ground. We were leaving the glory of Lebanon; and, before us, was the excellency of Carmel. As I descended the mountain and entered on the plain, I was often constrained to give utterance to my feelings, in singing a favorite air, of which the words are Emitte Spiritum tuum-et creabuntur -et renovabis faciem terræ ! It was the anniversary of my first landing in Malta: eight years have I now been on the Mediterranean mission; and I can truly say, "Hitherto the Lord hath helped me, and preserved my going out and my coming in." Then, I and my family were alone in the Mediterranean: since that time, more than twenty missionaries have entered on the field; of whom the greater part yet continue in it.

ACRE.

After a most pleasant ride, we reached the gate of the city; and, in about a quarter of an hour, our names having been carried to the palace, we were admitted, and took our way to the house of the English Vice Consul, Mr. Mac Michael: who hospitably entertained us four days.

In the evening, after various conversations on our objects and plans, we proposed to perform divine service, the next day, to such as could be brought together. The notice was inevitably short; but it was given out immediately.

This was particularly intended for the ear of the Maronite priest, Don Giuseppe; and it was well taken, I believe, by him: he remained after the service, and conversed very affably. He bears a very respectable character; and has had a su

years in early life in study in the college at Rome. He appears now to be nearly fifty years old. He has under his pastoral care all the Maronite houses in Acre; but they are not numerous.

SCENE IN THE KHAN AT ACRE.

Monday, Nov. 3, 1823.-Looking out of our window upon the large open quadrangular court of the Khan, we behold very much such a scene as would illustrate the "Arabian Nights' Entertainments." In the centre, is a spacious fountain, or reservoir-the first care of every builder of great houses or cities in the east. On one side, is a row of camels, each tied by the slenderest cord to a long string; to which a small bell is appended, so that by the slightest motion they keep up one another's attention, and the attention also of all the inmates of the khan, that of weary travellers especially, by a constant jingle. On another side, horses and mules are waiting for orders; while asses breaking loose, biting one another, and throwing up their heels, give variety to the scene. Goats, geese, poultry, &c. are on free quarters. In the midst of all these sights and sounds, the groom, the muleteer, the merchant, the pedlar, the passers-by, and the bystanders, most of them wretchedly dressed, though in coats of many colors, all looking like idlers whatever they may have to do, contrive to make themselves audible; generally lifting up their voices to the pitch of high debate, and very often much higher.

Sunday, Nov. 2, 1823.—This morning, in the consul's room, we held divine service, with a con- Noise, indeed, at all times seems to be the progregation of ten souls-as promiscuous an assem- per element of the people of these countries: bly as could well be expected within the compass their throats are formed for it-their ears are used of so small a number. The individuals who com- to it-neither the men nor the females, grown-up posed it were, a British consul-his dragoman, a persons nor children, the rich nor the poor, seem native of the country-a Maronite priest-a Ro- to have any exclusive privilege in making it—and, man physician-one Greek-one Jew-an Eng- what is very annoying to a Frank traveller, the lish captain of a merchant vessel then in port-party with whom he is treating, and who wishes my servant, who is under French protection-an American brother missionary-and myself, of the church of England. Mr. Fisk conducted the prayers; and I afterwards preached from 2 Cor.

* On his return this way, the author, with about thirty others, who gradually collected at the gate, had to wait in this manner nearly three hours, in the rain; a few of the party being miserably sheltered under the arch-way.

most probably to impose on him, will turn round to make an appeal to all the by-standers, who are no less ready with one voice to strike in with their opinion on all matters that come before

them.

The bustle has been increased this morning, by the departure of the wives of the governor of Jaffa. They set off in two coaches, of a curious construction, common in this country: the body of the coach was raised on two parallel poles;

eminently profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness."

MOSQUE OF DJEZZAR, IN ACRE.

somewhat similar to those used for sedan chairs, only that in these the poles were attached to the lower part of the coach-throwing, consequently, the centre of gravity much higher; and apparently exposing the vehicle, with its veiled tenant, to an easy overthrow, or at the least to a very active Tuesday, Nov. 4, 1823.-This morning the conjolt. Between the poles, strong mules were har-sul and Mr. Fisk waited on the Pacha. I was nessed, one before and one behind; who, if they much indisposed, and could not accompany them. should prove capricious, or have very uneven and They obtained written orders for our safe travelmountainous ground to pass, would render the si-ling to all parts of this pachalic; and, at the same tuation of the ladies still more critical. But there is nothing to which use may not reconcile us; and they who can be brought to endure the trot of the camel, may consider themselves as franked for every other kind of conveyance.

The immense khan, of which the consul's rooms form a small part, is inhabited by a great variety of families. It is three stories high; and in so dilapidated a state, that it seems to me to wait only for a gentle shock of an earthquake-no improbable event-to bring it all down. In one part reside the Roman Catholic missionaries from Europe, under the "Terra Santa;" four or five in number, at present: but, of these establishments, the more I see, the less pleasant I feel it to make mention.

time, a permission to pay a visit to the mosque, called Djezzar's, having been built by him in Acre. The chaous came to us an hour after; and, as I was somewhat better, I joined them in

this visit.

On entering the precincts of the mosque, we were required to take off our outer shoes. We entered a beautiful court, the pavement of which was cold marble: fountains played their streams, and the trees waved their branches with a softness and coolness most congenial to religious thought; forming a perfect contrast to the noise, filthiness, and meanness of the streets which we had just left in our passage hither. Turks and Arabs, with most venerable silvery beards, were performing their ablutions, with such an air of sober enjoyOn Mount Carmel was a beautiful Latin con- ment and religious nicety, as would inspire any vent, under French protection; but, a short time one with the idea that they were transported with since, the Pacha of Acre razed it to the ground, the luxury of cleanliness-a scene, this, well calunder the plea of its being calculated to give ad-culated to make the mind forget that there is, vantage to the Greeks if they should land. The throughout all Turkey, more offensive filthiness insult occasioned a rupture between the Pacha and the French consul; who not receiving satisfaction, struck his flag, and retired to Saide, where he is now living. The houseless friars came to

Acre.

PROPHETICAL PICTURE OF THE HOLY LAND.

In the course of this day, we began to sell the Arabic sacred Scriptures, with more success than we had experienced at Saide and Sour, which encouraged us to stop a little longer. I also wrote inany letters; from one of which, as it expressed exactly the feelings which the state of these countries is calculated to excite, I make no apology for giving the following extract:—

"I feel myself in this country so much affected with the two prophecies of Isaiah and Jeremiah, and I have so long in this and all my former journeys felt them come to my very inmost soul, that I cannot but think that there would be a peculiar advantage in printing them in Arabic, in Greek, and in Italian, for distribution, in a separate form, from the rest of the Old Testament. The prophecy of Jeremiah describes, with a minuteness of fidelity, surpassing all human power of description, the real state, both as to principles and facts, of the fallen Christian churches; and, generally, of the whole population of these regions, at the present moment: while the prophecy of Isaiah portrays, under the most animating figures, chiefly drawn from the natural scenery of this very land, the glorious state to which the whole church of God will hereafter be exalted. I cannot but feel, that, were I a missionary constantly travelling in this country, I should wish to have these two prophecies in such a form, that I might continually make reference to them—as a manual,

than can be expressed. I can well conceive how a traveller, just introduced to this spot, yielding for the moment to the partial impression and committing his feelings immediately to writing, would convey to his reader a most enchanting idea of the purity of Mohammedan ablutions. It is in this way, probably, that incorrect notions may have been sometimes formed in England, altogether too favorable to the living mass of Orientals. For the moment, it must be confessed, it is a most imposing spectacle: and, did we not know the abominations of the east, the lines of Thomson would carry the imagination far toward a good opinion of the morals inspired by these Mohammedan ceremonies

E'en from the body's purity, the mind
Receives a secret, sympathetic aid.

On our right hand as we entered the court, are two splendid monuments, beneath which repose the ashes of the last two Pachas-Suleyman, and his predecessor, the builder of this mosque, the ferocious Djezzar. His character is portrayed by Dr. Clarke, who was here during the life time of that Pacha. He has left among the inhabitants of Acre another, and a very different, monument of his administration. Even before we entered the gates, we met with persons, now aged, whose noses had been cut off by order of Djezzar; and, in the streets or in the shops there are seen many such victims of his cruelty. It was a common method with him of punishing offences, or of enforcing his exactions.

His prime minister, Haiim, a Jew, had suffered from him, not only the loss of his nose, but of one of his eyes. This minister survived him, and conducted also the affairs of the government under

The probable estimate given us of the popula tion, was about five thousand souls of which there may be Turks and Arabs, three thousand Jews, eight hundred-Christians, twelve hundred. Of this number, about one thousand constitute the Pacha's court and troops. These, whenever he may move out of the city to visit any quarter of his pachalic, would for the most

his successor Suleyman. The present Pacha,!
Abdallah, has however put an end to his career,
by ordering him to be killed: the manner of his
death we did not exactly learn: some say that he
was treacherously seized in the presence of the
Pacha, and suddenly strangled, and his body then
put into a sack and thrown into the sea. His fa-
mily, with the vast wealth which he had accumu-
lated, or more probably with only a part of it, re-part, move with him.
moved to Damascus and it is here reported, that,
upon this circumstance, turns the persecution
which the Jews are at this moment suffering in
Damascus; the richest of them having been cast
into prison, and a most exorbitant sum of money
demanded of these people.

ABILENE.

Wednesday, Nov. 5, 1823.-After much delay, occasioned by the mule-drivers, we set out for Nazareth. When we had gone about two miles While revolving in the mind such deeds of from the city gates, we met on the plain half a guilt, and reflecting that we are in the very coun- dozen of Arabs, preceded by a sort of Zany (one try and near the very persons who have inflicted of the vain fellows: 2 Sam. vi. 20.) fantastically or suffered such inhumanities, the heart feels only dressed, with a wretched instrument of three pain at the view of this splendid tomb-beneath strings, to which he sang, throwing himself from which, the body, indeed, at this moment lies bu-side to side of the path. As we approached, they ried in peace; but the spirit is separated, and gone to give its fearful account of the things done in the body.

all gathered round us, exclaiming "Adet, adet"i. e. "Custom, custom." We were informed that they were celebrating the marriage of one of the We entered the mosque itself, and found several party, whom they pointed out; and expected a persons, with volumes of the Koran before them, present on the occasion. The bridegroom, with studying. The building is not large; but very his face patched with gold leaf, had the most stuelegant, and handsomely carpeted. It has, on pid air of all; though all looked very dull, and the one side, a pulpit, with five or six marble steps whole office of mirth seemed to have been devolvleading up to it; from which the doctors addressed upon the buffoon. They were not so dull, the people. It seems strange to contemplate the day-how far future, who can tell?-when some evangelist may here be permitted to stand, and proclaim, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God! Yet that day will arrive-when the prayer of faith shall have prevailed with God. The dome above is surrounded by circular galleries; similar, though in merest miniature, to the whispering gallery at St. Paul's cathedral. We went to the top of the dome, but were not permitted to ascend the minaret, which is very lofty, lest the eyes "of the faithful" should be scandalized.

On descending again from the mosque into the court, we walked through the cloisters which surround it. Here we remarked many small, convenient rooms, occupied, as we were told, partly by the servants of the mosque, and partly by visiters or pilgrims from various parts of Turkey. Two or three of these rooms contain the library. We looked through the wire-grating which covered the windows, and could perceive a large collection of books within, marked on the edges with their titles, in Arabic characters; but we were not allowed to go in.

The effects of the late siege are sufficiently visible in different parts of this building, the cannonballs having fallen sometimes on a window and dashed it to pieces: at other times, a column of the cloisters has been fairly carried away, and its place has been temporarily supplied by a beam of timber in other spots, the balls have either disfigured the walls by a bruise, or else gone clean through the more flinsy parts of the structure: nor has the Pacha as yet sufficiently recovered from the expenses of the war to make the requisite repairs. He is bestowing what money he can raise, to repair the damage which was done to the outer walls of the city.

however, as to forget their usual pilfering vocation: for, leaving us to pass whom they perceived to be Franks, they thronged round our principal guide; and, having hustled him from the beast which he rode, held him a long time in conference, while we were going on; concluding by emptying his saddle-bags of that day's provisions.

On leaving the plain of Acre, our guides, who had confidently assured us that they knew the way, began to waver. We, however, reached Abilene; and, perceiving still that there was reason to be dissatisfied with them, I rode up the hill on which the town is built to find a new guide, but did not succeed. I had, however, just an opportunity to observe the place. This is NOT the Abilene of Scripture: (Luke iii. 1.) It appeared to me to contain probably five hundred souls: the houses were of very mean construction, and the whole place looked like a heap of rubbish. It is on the summit of the hill: a ruined arch-way of stone, and some other marks of ancient buildings, denote its having formerly been a place of consequence, and perhaps of strength. We observed, at the foot of the hill, a Christian priest superintending the olive-gathering; from which it may be inferred, that there are here some Christian inhabitants.

Our road then lay between low mountains covered with small trees: after which it opens on the western extremity of what appears to be the Plain of Galilee, or at least what runs into it.

SEPHOURY.

Crossing an angle of this plain to the right, we came to the ancient town of Sephoury; mentioned in Josephus, as being in his time a military station of consequence. On the summit of the