grandson of Noah and his posterity, from whom it received the name of Canaan. It was called Palestine, from the Philistines or Palestines who inhabited the sea-coast; the Land of Promise, from its being the land which God promised to Abraham and his posterity; the Land of Israel, from the Israelites being the possessors of it; the Land of Judah, from the tribe of that name, which was the most considerable of the twelve; and the Holy Land, from its having been the place of our Saviour's birth, miracles, and death. The country is watered by the river Jordan, which rising in the mountains of Libanus, runs through the country from north to south, and empties itself into the Dead Sea. The cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which were destroyed on account of their great wickedness, are supposed to have been situated in the part which is now occupied by the sea. About 60 miles from the source of the river Jordan is the sea of Tiberias or Gennesareth, which is about twenty miles in length, and about eight in breadth. When the Israelites had obtained possession of the Land of Canaan, Joshua their leader divided it into twelve parts, which were divided among the twelve tribes. In the time

of our Saviour and the apostles it was divided into three districts, viz. Judea in the south, Samaria in the middle, and Galilee in the north. The capital of Judea was Jerusalem, which was built on several hills and surrounded by mountains. Solomon, king of Israel built the temple and adorned the city with so many beautiful works that it was considered one of the most splendid cities in the east. It was totally destroyed by the emperor Titus, A. D. 70, according to our Saviour's prediction in Matthew xxiii. To the east of Jerusalem, and separated from it only by the brook Cedron, was the Mount of Olives, from which our Saviour ascended into heaven. At the foot of Mount Olivet was the village of Gethsemane, where our Saviour endured his agony, and where he prayed, when he was seized upon by Judas, and those who accompanied him. About six miles south of Jerusalem was the town of Bethlehem, which though inconsiderable in extent, may be ranked among the most remarkable, on account of its being the scene of our blessed Saviour's nativity. A little to the west of Jerusalem was the hill of Calvary where our blessed Saviour was crucified. About nineteen miles east of Jerusalem was the

town of Jericho, noted for producing great numbers of palm and balsam trees. Samaria was a noted city, and the capital of the kingdom of that name. About eight miles south of Samaria was Sychar, near to which was Jacob's well, where our Saviour conversed with the woman of Samaria.

The province of Galilee was divided into two parts, viz. Upper and Lower Galilee, the former of which was called Galilee of the Gentiles, because it bordered on Gentile nations. In this province our Saviour spent the greater part of his life, and it was from here that he chose his apostles. In Galilee was the town of Nazareth, which was the residence of our Saviour, during the first thirty years of his life. A little to the east of Nazareth was Mount Tabor, near to which was Mount Hermon. A few miles from Nazareth was the small town of Bethsaida, where our Saviour performed many of his miracles. Capernaum was a city of Galilee situated on the coast of the sea of that name, where our Saviour generally resided during the time of his public ministry. The Land of Canaan which was formerly so pleasant and fruitful is now in a waste and barren state. This is entirely owing

to want of cultivation, being thinly inhabited, and by those who are quite indisposed to labour.

To the north of Canaan is the country of Syria, which is bounded by the Mediterranean Sea on the west; by Cilicia on the north; by the river Euphrates on the east; and by Arabia Deserta and Canaan on the south. The part of Syria which borders on the Mediterranean was called Phoenicia, of which Tyre and Sidon were the two principal cities. The capital of Syria was Antioch, where the disciples of Christ first received the name of Christians.

Damascus was a noted city of Syria, and for a long time the capital. The soil of this country is very productive, and it is watered by several fine rivers. To the south and east of Canaan lies the extensive country of Arabia. It was divided into three parts, viz. Arabia Felix, or the happy, in the south, so called on account of its fertility, Arabia Petræa or the Rocky, in the middle; and Arabia Deserta, so called from its barrenness, in the north. In Arabia Petræa is situated Mount Sinai, where God delivered the ten commandments to Moses; near to which was Mount Horeb, where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. A large portion of Arabia is occupied

by immense deserts of sand, which when put in motion by the wind form mountains, in which whole caravans have been lost. The climate of Arabia is exceedingly hot, and the country is almost destitute of water, therefore travellers are obliged to make use of the camel in order to carry their burdens, as it can subsist for several days together without water.

The Arabs are the descendants of Ishmael, of whom it was foretold, that "their hand should be against every man, and every man's hand against them," which prophecy has been wonderfully fulfilled.

To the west of Arabia is the Red Sea, which separates it from Egypt, which is often called in scripture, the Land of Mizraim. Egypt was divided into two parts, viz. Upper and Lower Egypt; the former occupying the southern, and the latter the northern part, which borders on the Mediterranean.

The climate of Egypt is very warm and rather unhealthy, and the soil is remarkably fertile. The country is watered by the river Nile, which overflows once a year, and supplies the want of rain, which never falls in this country. The remarkable fertility of Egypt is supposed to be owing to this circumstance. The celebrated city of Alexandria is situated