ix PLAIN OF GENNESARET 223 



hedges, where, in the olden times, the woman was so kind 

 and hospitable to Elisha. All these were full of interest, 

 but beyond them all, on the north side of the plain, 

 cradled in its nest of surrounding hill-tops, 1000 feet 

 above the plain, was Nazareth, the home for thirty 

 years of the Lord of Glory. It is impossible in words 

 to express what one feels if one really believes that 

 these things were so. We stayed one day at Nazareth 

 and strolled and wandered here and there and every- 

 where. Every hill slope and every flower upon it and 

 every song of the birds seemed associated with Him. 

 He knew and doubtless loved them all, for He, better 

 than any one, knew their loneliness. But the best of all 

 was yet to come, and when everything I have ever 

 seen is dim and almost forgotten, the three entire days 

 we spent in the ' deep retreat of Galilee,' camped on 

 the Plain of Gennesaret, will remain fresh and green. 

 Oh, how I wished that you could be there with me ! 

 It is no idle sentiment that fills one's very heart there. 

 It simply brims over with recollections of Him. All 

 sorts of impressions have been formed of the lake itself. 

 All I can say is, that in itself and for itself I found it 

 surpassingly lovely ; but there is an inexpressible sadness 

 about it. 



We then came on by the sources of the Jordan 

 which are most * uncanny,' as it rushes a river clear 

 and bright from the rocks of Hermon, the mystery of 

 its birth being only equalled by that of its death in the 

 Dead Sea, 1300 feet below the level of the sea. 

 This is a most wonderful old city, situated in a perfect 

 paradise amongst the surrounding sterility. I went to 

 the bazaars yesterday with 10 to spend for you and 

 was most disappointed. Trench and Colonel Fox (who 

 is a good judge) were with me, and we could see nothing 

 except old armour, which is fearfully expensive. The 



