Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1884-12-24
The aurxeY of Palestine.

ICaptaln Gender In Contemporary ReWewI
The survey OF Palestine has thrown
light on another most important question
concerning ancient Palestine namely. the
relations OF the present climate OF the
country TO that OF Old-Testament times.
This question has been fully worked out
in papers which will be found in the me-
mors OF the survey, and the conclu-
sions reached may be briefly summa-
rized. Palestine is small country,
Lut il presents great variety OF soil.
climate, and waier-supply in variou,
districts. We have the tropical Jor-
dan valley and the Arctic region
Of Upper IIermOn and Lebanon. We
have rich volcanic corn plains In Bashan
and round .JeZreel. and sandstones covered
with pines and ccdarS, and bard llmestones
over which perennial streams flow between
fne woods OF ok and terebinth in Galilae.
and vet more In Gilead. Wehave Dat mar
time plains, sandy and marshy, hot and ma
larIous, bounded by overriding dunes, but
we'll watered by sluggish streams from the
clear springs az the mountain foot. These
plains run from Carmel to GAIA. ever
widening. and supporting rich hlrvest'.
We have the low chalS hills, with their lux
uriant oliyc-yards and wells Of living water.
all along the eastern side OF the mart
time plains. Above rise mountains 3.0JO
TO 1000 feet high, and on the north
attaining 10 10000 feet. These are gene
rally rugged and bare, but eareiuliy-ter'
raced and partly cultivated. The vine ilou'-
ishes ON these HIGHER ranges, where the frost
and mist aid the strong reelection OF nett
from the rock TO rlpen the grapes. hut be-
sides these richer districts, we have the OLD
deserts unchanged from the DAYS OF Abra-
ham and Of David; the flat marty plateau
of Btersheb9. where the nomads feed
their flocks and herds a. Isaac ma
before them; the desolate peaks anu
goiges OF the Jeshimon, where the dun
partridge and the brown hex roam rs
they did when David hid in these
Businesses from Saul. among the crooks OF
the wild goats" Exploration does not
tend 10 oountenance the ola ideas about
great change in climate. 1t is matter Tor
the naturalist and the geoi0gist TO deciue.
and we know certainly that brooks oil
water could never have flowed on the sur
fate OF the porous chalk OF some OF these
regions any more than they can now. we
know also that the land is still a fertile
ss OF old: still well walered in certain
districts, still With a sufficient rainfall;
aud that when iust and stable govern
ment exists las IN the Lebanon) the country
still flows with oil and wine. But what
we do learn from study OF the 'and
snd OF history Is the desolation wrought y
human means in Palestine. We lind every
whore The copse covering the wine press;
the thislles growing among the oio-he,a
Enclosures, the terraces in ruins, the ola
viz eyard deserted, the olive wards exterml-
rated, and many OF the ancient WOODS en-,
tirely cut down. The forests which existed
In the times OF Titus and OF the Crusaders
are often entirely destroyed, and nne OAK
Gods are represented by acres OF stunps
ard roots: the great Antoninc cuiss pc,
yond Jordan stand in wilderness iu'l o.
ruined villages, over which the Arso
wsnders with bis herds OF Gamers. III
brief. we see that poverty and deerease "
population, the decay OF roads anu aqac-
ducts. the ruin OF the old cisterns, Tue oe-
struclion OF the woods, terraces. ana sine-
wards are the causes OF the present aeso'a,
fion. This has often been pointed OUT ana
experience proves that, gwen Jus, suu
strong government In the country; Iaes
tine might become. like southern ita'y'
garden OF the world.