ON LAND TENURE IN ANCIENT TIMES. 191 
those agricultural colonies which are patronised by the leading 
Jews of this and various cther countries of Europe. I suppose 
that most of those present are aware that there are some ten 
or twelve Jewish colonies for agriculture in various parts of 
Palestine, and that very important questions are coming up with 
reference to the way in which these colonies should be carried on. 
Rey. J. G. Kircuen.—I should like to express the special thanks 
of all Bible students to Mr. Neil for his paper, for such students 
know that it is a paper likely to be of great assistance to them. 
We are already indebted to Mr. Neil for many similar helps, and 
I do not know anyone, who seems to bring forward such practical 
ideas which throw light on the Bible, perhaps, since Dr. Thomp- 
son, who resided in the East and wrote his well known work 
thereon. Perhaps no one has had a better opportunity for similar 
study than Mr. Neil, and of putting it in a popular form. All 
must feel indebted to him for his researches. (Applause.) 
Mr. G. Powe.yi.—I should like to echo that sentiment. 
The AurHor.—I heartily thank those present for their kind 
vote of thanks. Whether my paper is of any value or not. 
turns really on two questions, First, ‘Is everything which we 
‘find in the East to-day most ancient, or is it not?” That is 
one of the most important inquiries, and there can be no doubt 
about the answer. The light coming in from every side—and it is 
now a brilliant flood of light—throws into boldest relief and 
gives strongest confirmation to everything that is found alluded to 
in Scripture. The unchanged manners and customs are in all 
respects the manners and customs of Bible narratives, Many of 
the technical terms that are used by the fellahheen to-day have no 
meaning until we take them back to the original Biblical Hebrew, 
of which they are found to be spoken forms. Every allusion in 
Scripture, as you go about the country, starts into life- Palestine 
customs, in their exceedingly primitive features, are evidently of 
hoary antiquity, as shown by their not only elucidating, but con- 
firming the Bible in every particular. Thus, my Lord, there is a 
strong a priori conclusion that all we find now has not been 
recently introduced, but is most ancient. The second question is, 
_ “Whatis the nutwre of the holding of land alluded to in Seripture ?” 
That they held a certain property in broad acres, as has been 
pointed out, is clear; the only question is, what was the nature of 
that property. This I have shown was holding in common; but 
it constituted real property. It had a money value attached to it. 
