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April 28, 1873. 
The Vice-PRESIDENT (Professor LIvEING) in the Chair. 
On some so-called “ Horite” caves at Beit Jibrin (leu- 
theropolis). 2y Prof. Paumur. 
Beit Jibrin is the ancient Bethogabra or Eleutheropolis, but 
the modern name is much older than the Greek appellation 
and represents the Hebrew Beth Giborim, the House of Giants, 
a name suggestive of the gigantic Philistine inhabitants of 
Gath: indeed Beit Jibrin is without question the site of Gath, 
and not only does it fulfil the topographical conditions, but 
amongst its ruins is one bearing the name Khirbet Jat, 1. e. the 
the ruins of Gath. 
Here are some curious excavations which nearly all travel- 
lers who have visited them assume to be Horite, and of great 
antiquity. Dr Robinson, in his Biblical Researches, says some 
contain inscriptions which are the work of casual visitors and 
do not throw any light on the age or object of their construc- 
tion: as many of them are written on the domed roof at a 
height of about 30 feet, and in a totally inaccessible position, 
it is hard to imagine how this could have been the case. 
Professor Palmer read some extracts from his diary, written 
during a visit to the caves in question, in which he stated 
that :-— 
The caves at Beit Jibrin are evidently quarries, though 
afterwards wrought into their present shape with some ulterior 
object, such as the formation of granaries, stalls for cattle, &c. 
The stone is much better at the bottom than at the top, and 
the method pursued in excavating seems to have been to work 
downwards, leaving a hole in the roof to give light, and smooth- 
ing off the walls as they went on. The last touch of smooth- 
ness in some of the walls appears to have been given by cutting 
out little niches or pigeon-holes and then knocking out the 
