TBAKSACTIONS OF SECTION E. 659 



Bay district. These remarks were illustrated by pliotographs of the natives and 

 their dAvelliiigs, taken hy the author, and by specimens of native manufactures, 

 weapons, &:c., collected hy him. 



The country about Port More-sby was described as poor and barren, though 

 possessing many features of natural beauty. The natives present a great diversity 

 of race and habits, speaking twenty-five different dialects in an area of 300 miles. 

 Their houses are built on piles, and the stone age stUl prevails with them. Their 

 moral condition is low ; but the author spoke in high terms of the kindness and 

 hospitality experienced at their hands. 



The resources of the district are as yet undeveloped, and at present no commerce 

 is carried on Avith the people. The climate has proved unhealthy to Europeans, 

 and will interfere seriously with any attempt at colonisation. 



The author concluded with an appeal, in tlie interests of religion, science, and 

 commerce, to preserve peaceful relations with the aborigines. 



SATURDAY, AUGUST 28. 

 The Section did not meet. 



MONDA Y, A UG UST 30. 



The following Papers were read : — 



1. Results of the Fortiiguese Expediti07i in West Central Ajricix. 

 Bij Capfc. H. Capello and Lieut. R. IvENS. 



2. Recent Travels in Trans-Jordanic Palestine. Bij Laurence Oliphant. 



This paper contained notes of a journey undertaken during the spring of last 

 year through the provinces of Jaulau, Ajlun, and Belka, to the east of the Jordan. 

 Crossing the Jordan at its source, Mr. Oliphant struck south-east from Bamai, 

 visiting the new Circassian colonj^ of Kuneitereh. Then crossing the fertile pasture- 

 lands of Jaulan, the ancient Gaiilanitis, or Jolan of the Scriptures, he kept along the 

 eastern base of the Jebel Hesh range, ascending Tel-el-Teras, its most southerly peak. 

 Thence in an easterly direction to Sheikh Sa'ad, where the fountain and sacred stone 

 of Job are resorted to, more especially by negro pilgrims from Soudan and other parts 

 of Africa, and form 'holy places,' much venerated in the neighbourhood. Thence to 

 Tel-Asherah, which the author thinks he has satisfactorily identified as the site of 

 Ashtaroth Karnaim, and thence by way of Mesarib to Irbid (Arbela), and Beit-er- 

 Ras, the ancient Capitolias, at both of which places are interesting remains of archi- 

 tecture of the Greek and Roman type, common to this part of the country, in the 

 first and second centuries after Christ, and where the stone houses of the Jefnide 

 and Ghassanide Arabs still remain to testify to their superior civilisation. Both 

 at Tel-Asherah and Irbid, however, the sub-structure bears marks of an antiquity 

 anterior to the Christian era. From Capitolias the south bank of the Yarmuk 

 was followed to Gadara, the extensive ruins of which are too well-known to need 

 description. Thence in a south-easterly direction into the forest-clad mountains 

 of Gilead and by a circuitous route to Ajlun, the principal village of the province 



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