MY HOME IX PALESTIXE. 115 



particularly to the cultivation of the land ; by being 

 scrupulously just in all their commercial dealings, and 

 practising to their utmost endeavour the simple Chris- 

 tian virtues, they could not fail ultimately to make 

 their influence felt. They entirely deprecated any 

 attempt by preaching or dogmatising to convert any to 

 their views, trusting solely that their example would 

 commend whatever of truth they might hold to those 

 by whom they were surrounded. Animated by these 

 sentiments, the leaders started for Constantinople in 

 1868, and after vainly endeavouring to procure a 

 firman, proceeded to the coast of Syria, where, attracted 

 by the great advantages of soil, climate, and situation, 

 they decided to establish themselves, in the first in- 

 stance, at Haifa. Here they at once set to work to 

 purchase land and build themselves houses. Believing 

 in the responsibilities of individual ownership, they 

 did not share in any of the communistic views so 

 common in these days ; but as the settlers were for 

 the most part men of humble means, with nothing 

 but their trades to depend upon, a loan fund and 

 savings bank were formed, a village laid out, and the 

 work of a permanent settlement seriously entered 

 upon. Under any circumstances the first experiences 

 of settlers in a new home are proverbially attended 

 with great difficulty and discomfort ; but in the case 

 of these German emigrants, the obstacles which they 

 had to overcome were of an especially annoying and 

 perplexing kind. Apart from the fact that they 



