272 report — 188-1. 



hour's illness or indisposition. Sir John Kirk has shown me the utmost 

 kindness and hospitality, and his help and his influence have smoothed 

 away many difficulties. The expedition promises most favourably, as the 

 present condition of the countries to be traversed is good and peaceful, 

 food abundant, and provisions cheap 



'I have obtained the services of three of Dr. Fischer's bird-skinners, 

 and have got one botanical collector, trained under Sir John Kirk, 

 and acquainted with the mysteries of " soldering " and preserving 

 in spirit. I have sent for rectified spirit from Bombay, and in the 

 interval am using trade gin, The Sultan has given me three kegs of 

 gunpowder to give as presents to chiefs, and has also furnished me with 

 letters of introduction. 



' I am in excellent condition, and start to-day on my journey in the 

 best spirits and with the strongest hopes of its success.' 



Report of the Committee, consisting of the Eev. Canon Tristram, 

 the Rev. F. Lawrence, and Mr. James Glaisher {Secretary), for 

 promoting the Survey of Eastern Palestine. 



The Committee proceed to give an abridged account of the scientific 

 results of the expedition conducted by Professor Hall, in the winter of 

 1883-84. These, in fact, are the results of their labours since the last 

 meeting of this Association. Professor Hull reports as follows : 



' The Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, in the summer of 

 1883, resolved upon sending out an expedition to examine the geological 

 structure of the Jordan valley and "Western Palestine, together with that 

 of the valley of the Arabah, with a view to determine the mode of their 

 formation and physical history. It was also intended to connect the 

 triangulation of the district of Mount Sinai (Jebel Musa) with that of 

 Western Palestine along the district of the Wadyel Arabah ; and to de- 

 termine the elevation above the sea of the watershed (or " saddle ") of 

 that valley, with reference to the practicability of the projected "Jordan 

 Valley Canal Scheme." Several collateral objects were also kept in view 

 —such as the investigation of the sites of Ezion-geber, Kadesh-barnea, 

 and other localities connected with the Israelitish migration and history ; 

 but in this place only the scientific aspects of the expedition will be 



referred to. j-f a. 



' Besides the author, who was put in command of the expedition, the 

 other members were Major Kitchener, RE., and Mr. Armstrong (formerly 

 Sero-eant-Major, R.E.), who joined us in Egypt ; Mr. H. C. Hart, Trim Coll., 

 Dublin, who had been a member of Captain Nares' Polar Expedition, and 

 now joined as botanist and naturalist ; Mr. Reginald Lawrence, Asso- 

 ciate of the Royal College of Science, Dublin, who acted as meteorologist ; 

 and Dr. E. Gordon Hull, Avho was appointed assistant and medical officer. 1 



' The arrangements for providing camels, tents, food, and supplies were 

 undertaken gratuitously by the well-known firm of Messrs. T. Cook & 



' Mr Hart has considerably added to the recognised flora of the district traversed, 

 and Mr. Lawrence has furnished a daily register of the temperature and aneroid 

 readings. Dr. E. G. Hull brought home a large number of photographs. 



