The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1881-05-04
Literary Notes.


circulated religious journal, a wrong impression
has been made, in certain circles in regard to a
book just reprinted in this country, which i'm
preston may be readily dissipated by refer
ence to the work itself. We allude to
The Land Of Gilead, with Excursions in The
Lebanon By Laurence Oiphant. d. Ap
pieton Co., Ne,o York. CS2)
The reviewer in question had not progressed
farther than the long Introduction, we opine,
and from it had learned that Mr. oliphant de-
clares expressly, that it is not from the point of
prophecy, or from any popular religious theory
connected Herewith, that he made his investi
cations in Palestine AID The Land of Gilead
with reference to their re-settlement by immi
grants from Europe, especially Jews. He thinks
it is somewhat unfortunate that SO important
political and strategical question as the future
of Palestine, should be so inseparably connected
in the public mind, with the restoration of the
Jews. He believes that independent of the re-
ligious aspect, the political value of the matter
should stand on its own merits Having been
very extensive traveller all over Europe and
the East, he had come to understand the utter
rottenness of the government or, rather, no.
government 'of the Sublime Porte everywhere
Looking upon Palestine the first upon which
the altered relations of England and Turkey
will turn in the future, he believes that for the
interests of the world at large, this country must
be opened up-have a system of railways
Zone of his objects in his reconnaissance being to
examine routes therefor) have fresh populations
introduced, and have their labor brought to
bear upon the agriculture of what he considers
from his personal observation, to be one of the
richest spots on the face of the globe.
To this end he went four several times to Con-
stantinople, not under the auspices of the Brit
ish Government, indeed any auspices, but
with letters from high personages, and endeav-
ored to interest the Sultan in a scheme of colo
nlzation. He met with encouraging consdera-
ton, and the plan was approved, but has not as
yet been acted upon and without the concur
renee of the Porte, nothing on extended
scale can be done: for security to life and pro-
perty is imperative, and as things stand, only
Turkey can give this. Mr. Oliphant is very
enthusiastic, and his reader soon falls under the
spell of his enthusiasm as he spreads out before
him, the wonderful fertility of this beautiful
Land of Gilead. The motive of this present
tour, was to examine the question as to loca-
ton for this extensive scheme of colonization.
and from his own observation of soils, climates,
water-power, neighborhood, market outlets, and
all such points. fix upon some district specially
adapted to the scheme in hand.
He and his only companion, Captain Phibbs.
and two or three servants, entered Palestine at
Beirut. passed down to Sidon, then up the Lita-
ny river, (the mouth of which has such mo-
ment of keen association for our friend Dr.
HogeD across the extreme northern portion of
the Holy Land proper. to within thirty miles of
Damascus. Thence he went through Jobs
country, the Land of Uz, up to the hot sulphur
Baths at the lower extremity of Lake Tiberias
and on south through the entire stretch of the
Land OF Gilead, traversing the possessions of the
tribes of Reuben, Cad, and the half tribe of
Mannassah-and into the Ammonite country
where the remains, so stupendous, of the inhabi
tants of Bashan still are found in state of sur
prising preservation He crossed the Jordan
above its outlet into the Dead Sea, touched at
Jerusalem, and so assembled to Haifa, the ancient
Acre, which he thinks should connect with Da-
mascus by rail, as it is the great depot for the
produce, especially the grain of Gilead 1t is
something we are hardly prepared to hear, that
even under the excessively depressed condition
OF things in Syria, four or FIVE thousand camel
loads of grain are daily, during the season,
brought to Haifa for shipment: and great mill.
stones are carried thence back into Gilead
where the Arabs are beginning actually to put
up mills.
Mr.. ELEPHANTS book is of exceeding interest.
From first to last, it is most delightful to the
Christian reader, for the direct and indirect way
it throws light upon, and confirms, Scripture al
every step-especially the Mosaic writings
The author may not himself be professed Chris
tan; but he has travelled this whole Syrian
Land with the Bible in his hand, and with a
reference on every page, to its topography, its
history, its geographical nicetles, its marvellous
truthfulness, even to the aspect of much thai
Spresented itself to his travellers eye The
traces of the various civilizations that have DOS
sessed this strange land are wonderfully distinct
In one place he found a Moslem temple thai
bore the impress Of five religions-the immense
slabs Of granite deeply imbedded in the ground
seemed to be Phenician then there were trace.
of Baal worship superimposed-of Jewish, o.
Christian, in the remains Of the carvings of the
Crusaders, and finally, the Moslem. Roman
relics were perceptble everywhere. Bridges o.
i've arches, built before Christ, are still intact
ruinous cities turn up their carved capitals il
heaps theatres found in good state of re-
pair, and the evidences of Greek taste are oh