The sun., 1881-01-30

Hillah. who nre believed to be descended from
tho Jews OF the Captivity. vigorously abstain
from buying land. and as rule. from building
houses. so that when the expected summons to
Jerusalem is heard they may not be delayed by
tho necessity Of turning irremovable property
into ready money. Mr.. Oliphant reminds us
that no objection to q rural life was observed so
long as Palestine was mainly occupied by a
Hebrew population. and he cites a number OF
facts indicating the facility with which
tho race. under favorable conditions
has reverted to agricultural pursuits 1t is true
that tho agricultural school established at Jaffa
by tho Universal Israelte Alliance has not
proved particularly successful. but this, our au-
thor thinks. is owing partly to tho unfortunate
choice OF land already invaded by the sand
dunes which bound the shores OF Palestine, and
partly to tho absence OF protection against tho
eXtortions OF the local Govern ment and the hos
tity OF the native agrioulturists objections not
applicable TO n district as yet untitled, and to be
settled under conditions providing for semi
autonomous administration like that existing
In the Lebanon. 1t Is certain that many excel
lent cultivators are to DO found among the
Sephardim Jews in Palestine itself. At LYDIA.
near Jaffa. ffty-hye Jewish families have re-
Gently established themselves on a tract OF up
ward OF 1900 acres OF land. which they have
Lieut.. Kitchener came upon village. the whole
population OF which were Jewish agriculturits.
who maintain that their ancestors have occupied
the same soil from time immemorial. In Mo-
rocco and other parts OF Africa Jews are. to
considerable extent. employed In field culture.
while In Russia agricultural colonies OF Jews
have been tried with satisfactory results. Ac-
cordnR to the London Times. the Russian Gov
ernment. desiring to provide for the unem-
ployed Jewish population swarming In Polish
and Lithuanian towns. has recently resolved to
found more farming colonies. those created
several years ago having OF late shown signs of
prosperity. So much for the assumed invet-
eracy of Jewish dislike TO agriculture. which.
by the way. is contradicted by the readiness OF
tho Roumanian families above mentioned to
engage at once In the work OF tilling the soil.
Mr., Oliphnnt points out, however that Hebrow
small capitalists emigrating to q colony in Pal
estine would not necessarily have to rely upon
jewish labor. for he shows in his description Of
the tract which he recommends for settlement
from what native sources a supply OF cheap
and efficient native labor might be drawn.
To the fundamental query whether any part
of Palestine is really available for agricultural
emigrants, conclusive answer is given by the
explorations whose results are recorded In this
volume. As regards that part OF the Holy Land
lying west OF the Jordan. it is true that tho
fertile portions are few and scattered and that
most OF these are already occupied by resident
cultivators Concerning the country beyond
Jordan. it used to be too hastily assumed that
the whole OF 1t deserved the Scriptural de-
scription Of The Land OF Gilead a hard.
rocky region" Modern travellers. however.
had done something to correct the latter i'm
preston and to propagate accurate notions of
"A lat lot lvi hat thn dan nd tha
desert, and stretching from the Arnon on the
south to tho Yarmuk on the north. 1t was
to verify their accounts. and enable
himself to speak with absolute knowl-
edge touching the agricultural aptitudes
OF this region. that Mr.. Olphant left England
for Syria in February. 1879. and landing at
Beyrout. proceeded In o southoasterly direc-
tion to Kuneiterih. now the seat of Cireas-
sian colony. and situated about fifteen miles
northeast OF the Sea OF Tiberias. From this
point our author undertook q tolerably ex-
tended survey OF Jauan las the district lying
east OF tho lake just named is called). OF Ajlun
las that part OF Gilead lying between the Ajlun
and Yarmuk rivers II designated). and finally
OF Gilead proper as far as the Shaib River that
is to say, nearly as far south as Heshbon and
the point where the Jordan empties into the
Red Sea. II is what he saw within the region
earnestly recommended for settlement. and
possibly destined at no distant day. to receive
Jewish colony. to which We would invite par
ticular attention.
The tract which Mr.. oiiphant would propose
for settlement in the first instance is the entire
district OF the Belka extending from tho Arnon
on the south to tho Jabbok on the north-the
Jabbok River, be 1t understood entering the
Jordan at point about midway between the
Red Sea and the Lake OF Galilee. The territory
Of the colony would stretch eastward rs far as
tho Hadj road from Damascus to Mecca or Mt
all events to the limit Of the arabic land and n
necessary would include such portions Of the
province OF Alum to tho north OF the Jnbbok as
might be deemed the most desirable. The
wholetract would comprehend at least million,
or at most million and half OF acres. The
western boundary would. OF course. be the
Jordan and the western bank OF the Dead Sea-
The objection to including the whole OF tho
Alum lies in the fact that largo portion OF it
is still village property. hold under some kind
OF documentary title whereas not an acre Is 80
held in Belka. The latter district being all
Crown property. can be disposed Of in block by
the Turkish Government without infringing
upon any private rights. excepting. possibly at
the town OF Salt, which. with the cultivated land
Immediately surrounding 1t. should be dealt
with separately.
The difference between eastern and western
Palestine as regards the luxuriance Of tho veg
citation. has not escaped the eyes OF those who
have visited the Dead Sea. Nothing can be
more barron or un!nvitine than the rugged.
waterless mountains which form the western
rim Of that singular sheet OF water. whereas
the eastern shores teem with trees. shrubs. and
flowers in almost tropical exuberance. Here
are palms in profusion. and jungles OF tere-
binths. wild almond. and hg trees. poplars, will
lows. hnwthorns. and oleanders. covering the
steep hill sides. and fringing tho streams OF
such picturesque ravlnes as those In which are
situated tho celebrated hot springs Of Calir-
rhoe and the so-caled wells Of Moses In
cluded within the territory designated for n
colony BY Mr.. Oliphant would be the plains OF
Shittim, which another traveller has described
rs by farthe most extensive and luxuriant Of any
OF the fertile lands bordering on the Dead Sea.
This abundantly watered and tree-coyered
district stretches six miles from east to west,
and ten or twelve from north TO south Lying,
MS it does, nearly 800 feet below tho vel OF the
sea, the plain is never visited by frost. and its
winter climate Is even more tempered than that
Of Egypt. whilo its intense summer heats adapt
1t to the cultivation OF tropical productions, Ac.
cording to two of the most recent and compe-
tent explorers Of this region, 1t was here In
Shittim. on the northeastern coast and not Ms