men of Sidon. They are called Druses, and are pagans and of a lawless character. They inhabit the mountains and the clefts of the rocks and are steeped in vice—brothers marrying sisters and fathers their daughters. They also believe that at the time when the soul leaves the body it passes, in the case of a good man, into the body of a new-born child, and in the case of a bad man into the body of an ass or a dog. Jews dwell not in their midst, but Jew handicraftsmen and dyers come amongst them for the sake of trade, as they are fond of the Jews. The Druses are swift of foot and no one can prevail against them.
"From Sidon it is half a day's journey to Sarepta. Thence—one day's journey—to New Tyre, which is a fine city, its harbour being in the midst of the city; at night, those that levy dues throw iron chains from tower to tower, so that neither ships nor men can issue forth. … There dwell there about 500 Jews, who have ships of their own. They are the manufacturers of the Tyrian glass-ware, which is prized in all countries. In the vicinity is found the beautiful purple used for dyeing purposes, and people come from afar to obtain it. From the walls of New Tyre, at a distance of a stone's throw, one can see Old Tyre, which the sea has covered up, and if one goes forth in a ship, the old towers, markets, streets, and palaces in the bed of the sea are discernible. New Tyre is a busy commercial centre to which merchants flock from all places. One day's journey brings one to Acre, formerly Acco, which is on the borders of Asher. It is the commencement of the land of Israel proper. It is situated by the Great Sea and possesses a large harbour, which is the landing place for all the Christians who travel to Jerusalem by ship. Close to it runs the River Kedumim[1]. … Three parasangs thence take one to Khaifa, which is Hachepher, by the borders of the sea, and on the other side is Mount Carmel, at the foot of which there are many Jewish graves. On the mountain is the cave of Elijah, where the Christians have erected a structure called St. Elias. On the top of the mountain can be recognised the overthrown altar which Elijah repaired in the days of Ahab. The site of the altar is circular, about four cubits in extent, and at the foot of the mountain the River Kishon flows. Four parasangs thence bring one to Capernaum (which is the village of Nahum), identical with Maon, the home of Nabal the Carmelite.[2] Six parasangs from there is Cesarea, the Gath of the Philistines, where 200 Jews and 200 Cuthæans (Samaritans) dwell. It is a fair city situated by the sea, deriving its name from Cæsar. Thence it is half a day's journey to Kakon, the K'eilah of Scripture. Thence half a day's journey to St. George, which is Lud. Thence it is one day's journey to Sebaste, the
- ↑ The name Nachal Kedumim occurs in Deborah's song (Judges v, 21). The version renders it "that ancient river."
- ↑ A. Asher has already remarked that Benjamin must have confounded the two Carmels and wrongly placed Maon in the north of Palestine. Both Maon and Carmel, where Nabal had his possessions, were in the territory of Judah {cf. Joshua xv, 55).
