MY HOME IN PALESTINE. 125 



are sometimes to be found the Murex vandarus and 

 Murex tremantus, the prickly shells of the fish which, 

 in old time, yielded the far-famed Tyrian purple. 

 After a storm the beach is strewn with sponges, 

 which are obtained off the coast, and form an article 

 of commerce. For those who love sport, the thickets 

 of Carmel contain wild boar ; while partridges, snipe, 

 quail, woodcock, and the delicious francolin, are to be 

 found in quantities at the right seasons of the year. 

 The natives despise the fresh-water fish which abound 

 in the Kishou, Belus, and other streams; but they 

 none the less afford fair sport to the unambitious 

 angler who likes variety and quantity rather than 

 quality, and condescends to a worm. 



As I have already said, we can drive in three 

 different directions, either along the beach to Acre, 

 or by the road to Nazareth, or round the promontory 

 of Carmel along the plain of Sharon. Let us choose 

 the last road, which, for the first half-hour, traverses 

 the lands of the colony : it is one of the pleasantest, 

 for it is smooth and stoneless till we reach the curious 

 mound at the base of the cliff upon which the monas- 

 tery is situated. It is a circular stony tumulus about 

 fifty feet high, washed by the sea, and the rocks bear 

 marks of men's handiwork. Probably excavation 

 would bring to light a ruin ; but it is "so covered with 

 earth that the Arabs plough over it : it is known by 

 them as Tel-es-Senak. The road passes between it 

 and the base of the steep rocky side of Carmel, which 



