142 REPORT—1862. 
matter in the gallon. The water of a second well near the former is so impure as 
to be no longer fit for use, and at the present day the inhabitants obtain their chief 
supply of water through an artificial canal. 
On the first day of the present year (1862), the travellers left Harran on their 
way to Mount Gilead. They first came to the river Awaj, the ancient Pharpar, 
forming with the Barada—the Abana of Scripture—the two “ Rivers of Damascus,” 
the capital of Aram or Syria; which rivers gaye to Aram Naharaim, or “ Aram of 
the Two Rivers,” its distinguishing appellation. This district, though not incor- 
rectly called “ Mesopotamia of Syria,” has been supposed to be the Mesopotamia of 
Assyria, between the two rivers Euphrates and Tigris, whence have arisen con- 
siderable errors in Scripture geography and history. 
When, according to the Scripture narrative, Laban set “three days’ journey” 
between his flocks and those of his son-in-law Jacob, it is reasonable to infer that 
the latter led his flocks in the direction best adapted for his contemplated flight 
from Padan-Aram; that is to say, up the left bank of the Awaj. The spot where 
he crossed the river would consequently have been at or near Kiswe, a town on 
the great pilgrim-road between Damascus and Mekka; and thence he would have 
proceeded south over the plains of Harran. This is the road taken by Dr. Beke; 
and certainly nothing could so graphically describe it as the few simple words of 
Scripture :—“ He passed over the river, and set his face toward the Mount Gilead.” 
A traveller, however much unacquainted with the country, has only to proceed 
along the high road, running straight from north to south over an almost level 
plain, without a mountain intervening to lead him astray, and he soon sees before 
him the summit of Gilead, standing out separately and distinctly, and towards it 
he “ sets his face.” 
The distance travelled by Jacob before Laban “overtook him in the Mount 
Gilead” is stated to have been “seven days’ journey.” Travelling much quicker 
than the patriarch could have done, it was on their fifth day from Tana that Dr. 
and Mrs. Beke ascended the side of Gilead, where they soon came to some deli- 
cious springs of water in the midst of luxuriant pasturage. At such a spot the 
Patriarch Jacob, with his wearied flocks and herds, would naturally have stopped 
and pitched his “tent in the mount,” where he was overtaken by Laban. <A few 
minutes more brought the travellers to the summit of Gilead, where they enjoyed 
an extensive view over the Promised Land, embracing Mount Tabor, Nazareth, 
Cana, Tiberias, and other places rendered ever memorable by Our Lord’s ministry 
and miracles. After the reconciliation between Laban and Jacob, it is said that 
“ Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him, .... and he called the 
name of the place Mahanaim.”” Close to where Dr. Beke crossed the summit of 
‘Gilead is a ruin called Mahneh, which may be looked on as representing the spot 
where the patriarch, on his first coming within sight of his native country after an 
absence of twenty years, was favoured with this manifestation of the Divine pre- 
sence. 
Shortly after leaving the pass of the mountain, Dr. and Mrs. Beke eame to a 
cromlech, in form and appearance almost identical with Kits-Coty House, in Kent. 
Thence proceeding down Wady Ajlun, and then crossing Wady Rajib, they reached 
the Ghor, or plain of the Jordan, not far to the north of Wady Zerka, the river 
Jabbok of Scripture, over which the Patriarch Jacob crossed before meeting his 
brother Esau, and where “there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of 
the day; .... and Jacob called the name of the place Peniel.” 
After his meeting with his brother, Jacob, professing to accompany him, journeyed 
to Succoth, ‘ leading on softly,” and there stopped to “ build him an house, and make 
booths for his cattle ;” whilst “sau returned that day on his way unto Seir.” 
Succoth has been supposed to be on the west side of Jordan, a few miles to the 
north of the Jabbok ; wit the whole context shows that the patriarch, in order to get 
free from his brother, pretended to be going on with him towards Seir, but stopped 
all at once, as if weary, at Succoth, whilst Esau unsuspectingly cntingd is 
journey. Suecoth is accordingly placed by Dr. Beke at a short distance to the 
south of the Jabbok, on the east side of Jordan. Crossing here the river, the pa- 
triarch would, on the opposite side, have entered the mouth of Wady Far’a, where 
it joins the Jordan from the north-west, and continuing up the valley, he at length 
ce 
