SCRIPTURE NATURAL HISTORY.

INTRODUCTION.

GEOGRAPHICAL POSITION OF THE HOLY LAND-PHYSICAL FEATURES -GEOLOGICAL FORMATION-VOLCANIC ACTION-FORMER FERTILITY- - CAREFUL CULTIVATION WATER SUPPLY FORESTS— DESERTS-CLIMATE-WINDS-RAIN-SNOW-DEW.

THE Natural History of a region depends to a great extent on its position, climate, geological formation, and state of culture. We propose, therefore, by way of introduction, briefly to consider these topics in as far as they bear on the natural history of the country, which was the home of the Jewish nation during the Biblical period. A glance at a map of the world will show the position of the Holy Land. It skirts the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, lying very nearly between the 31st and 33rd parallels of latitude, and so having a length of about one hundred and forty miles from north to south. Northwards it adjoined Syria and Phoenicia southwards the desert intervened between it and Egypt. Eastward its natural limit was the deep valley of the Jordan, but, if we regard the Holy Land as co-extensive with the district occupied by the Israelites, we shall include within its boundaries the large district on the east side of Jordan which was occupied by the tribes of Reuben, Gad, and half Manasseh. In this case its eastern limit would be fixed at the edge of the desert intervening between the

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highlands that skirt the valley of the Jordan on the west, and the valley of the Euphrates on the east.

The greater part of the Holy Land is an elevated region, which may be regarded as a continuation of the chains of Lebanon and Anti-Lebanon on its northern frontier. These chains run in a direction nearly parallel to each other, the former skirting the coast of the Mediterranean. They attain a very great height, and have their summits streaked with snow throughout the whole year. The highlands of Palestine run in the same direction as Lebanon, and subside into the plain of the wilderness on the south and east. Their elevation above the level of the sea varies in different localities, but may be stated as averaging about 2500 feet. These highlands are divided in the midst by a very remarkable cleft or depressed valley, containing the Sea of Galilee, the Dead Sea, and the river Jordan, which connects them. The Sea of Galilee lies at a depression of about 600 feet, and the Dead Sea at a depression of about 1300 feet below the level of the sea. On each side of the valley the mountains rise to a very great elevation, those on the western side, on which Jerusalem stands, being about 3500 feet above it. This valley differs materially from the rest of the country in climate and productions, as might be expected from its low position. On the western side of the highlands a plain intervenes between them and the sea, varying in width according as the line of hills advances or recedes.

The geological formation of the district west of Jordan is almost wholly limestone, of a white or a grey colour, intermingled in places with sandstone, and other formations. The same formation prevails also in the district east of Jordan from the Arnon in the south to the Mandhûr in the north. In the north-eastern district, on the other hand, the prevailing feature is basalt, which presents a strong contrast both in point of colour and texture to the limestone elsewhere. The formations are intermingled along the course of the

Mandhûr, and traces of the basaltic formation may be detected both west of the Sea of Galilee and south of the Mandhûr. In the singular district called the Lejah, corresponding in part to the ancient Trachonitis, the basalt protrudes above the general level of the land, and presents a most extraordinary appearance. It is thus described by Mr. Porter in his Handbook of Palestine, p. 502:-" "We have here a good opportunity of examining the remarkable physical features of the Lejah. Its border is as clearly defined as a rocky coast-line, which indeed it greatly resembles, with its inlets, bays, and promontories. The general surface is elevated from twenty to thirty feet above the plain. It is wholly composed of basalt rock, which appears to have issued from innumerable pores in the earth, and to have flowed out on every side until the plain was almost covered. Before cooling it seems to have been tossed like a tempestuous sea, and subsequently to have been shattered and rent by internal convulsions. The crater-like cavities from which the liquid mass exuded are still visible, and also the wavy surface which a thick liquid mass assumes in flowing. Deep fissures and yawning chasms with ragged broken sides intersect the whole like a net-work; while here and there are mounds of rock, evidently forced upwards by some mighty agency, and then rent and shattered to their centres. The strata are filled with little pits and protuberances like air-bubbles. The rock is as hard as flint, and gives a sharp metallic sound when struck. The aspect of the whole when one gains a high point is wild and savage in the extreme. The lava-fields round the base of Vesuvius give a faint idea of it. Every rock seems as if it had been scathed and shattered by a lightning-stroke. There is not one pleasing feature for the eye to rest on. The very trees that grow up among the rocks in the distance have a blasted look; and being but thinly scattered, they only give a more haggard appearance to the scene. Strange as it may