GEOGRAPHICAL BESEARCHES IN THE EAST. 



RECENT GEOGRAPHICAL RESEARCHES IN THE EAST. 



One of the most interesting results of the explorations recently made of 

 ancient historical sites at the East — those, in especial, made memorable in 

 Biblical association — is that presented by Prof. Conder, in his elaborate re- 

 port on the cave of Adullam,a subject, as is -well known, which has engaged 

 the attention of oriental travelers and topographists for so many years and 

 with such diverse conclusions. 



Differing from almost all those who have preceded him in this line of 

 investigation, Conder points out that the site of this celebrated cave must 

 satisfy certain conditions in which the caves at Khureitun, the traditional 

 site, and those of the Deir Dub ban both appear to fail in one point or other. 

 Adullam was in the Shephelah — it was, in fact, near Jarmuth and Socoh, 

 between Gi-ath and Bethlehem, and was a natural stronghold; its site must, 

 therefore, show the usual indications of an ancient town with rock-cut 

 tombs, good water supply and roads; must have ai least one habitable cave, 

 and the modern name must contain the essential letters of the Hebrew, es- 

 pecially the ain. 



Singularly enough, Conder appears to be the first one to have ascertained 

 that the conditions named are fulfilled in the site now called Ayd el Mieh^ 

 which lies in the upper part of the Wady Sumt or the Yalley of Elah. In 

 explanation of the conclusion to which this distinguished traveler has ar- 

 rived concerning this long-controverted question, he states that on the 

 western sloj^e of the valley named is a place called after a kubbet known as 

 the Wely Mudkor, the latter standing on the iiorth edge of a range which 

 rises five hundred feet, above a valley, there a mile broad, the sides of the 

 hill being stee]3 and cut into terraces, and the kubbet surrounded by heaps 

 of stones and ruins of indeterminate date; the rock is scarped and quar- 

 ried; there are wells and stone troughs, ancient tombs, also roads connect- 

 ing the place with Hebron, Bethlehem and Tell es Safiyeh, and the name 

 Ayd el Mieh with an ain preserves all the essential letters of the Hebrew^ 

 which is a most important fact. 



Now, as to the cave, Conder states that there is really no single cavern 

 of vast dimensions and with winding passages, in this locality, as may be 

 found at Khureitun, but a series of small caves, smoke-blackened and still 

 inhabited, or used as stables, and he points out that the peasantry accus- 

 tomed to live in caves carefully avoid living in those of large size, as being 

 damp and feverish, as well as dreading the bats, scorpions and flies that in- 

 fest them. If, therefore, this identification be accepted, the adventures of 

 David assume a consistency and clearness not compatible with the. charac- 

 ter of the old traditional sites which have been described in history and 

 located on maps. 



Another important correction in Biblical topography, resulting from 

 these recent researches, and which oriental scholars seem likel}^ to accept as 



