Proceedings of Learned Societies. 479 



chart, etc. In the South Atlantic, in lat. 87° S., Ion. 37' W., 

 sonndings were obtained in 7706 fathoms ; more than 16,000 feet 

 deeper than the highest mountains are high. 



Discoveries in Cajnaan. — Dr. Charles Beke then read the second 

 paper, entitled " Notes on an Excursion to Harran in Padan 

 Aram, and thence over Mount Gilead into the land of Canaan." The 

 town of Harran, near Damascus, having been long since identified 

 by Dr. Beke with the Harran or Charran of Scripture ; this journey 

 was undertaken by him, accompanied by Mrs. Beke, in December 

 last, for the purpose of verifying this identification. Their road was 

 from Beyrout to Damascus, and thence about fifteen miles further 

 east to Harran of the Columns, so called from three Ionic columns, 

 which, with numerous other architectural remains, attest its great 

 antiquity. At the entrance to the town from the west is an ancient 

 draw-well, which Dr. Beke regards as representing " Rebekak's well." 

 On the first of January of the present year, the travellers proceeded 

 to trace the " seven days' journey " of the patriarch Jacob in his 

 flight from Padan Aran. They " passed over the river (Pharpar or 

 Awaj), and set their faces towards the Mount Gilead ;" which, 

 unconnected with any other mountain system, serves as a landmark 

 and guide to travellers crossing the plains of Hauran from the north 

 or east. Their route lay along the great Haj road from Damascus 

 to Mecca, passing through Eshmiskin, the residence of Ahmed-et- 

 Turk, the Sheikh of the Sheikhs of Hauran, of whose noble and 

 disinterested conduct in protecting the Christians of Edr'a during 

 the massacres of 1860, Dr. Beke made honourable mention. Near 

 Mispeh, at the summit of Gilead, was discovered a cromlech, re- 

 sembling Kit's Cotty House in Kent. Passing Mahanaim, and 

 following always in the footsteps of the patriarch, they reached the 

 Jordan near the " ford Jabbok," where Jacob was met by his brother 

 Esau. Here they were nearly drowned in crossing the river, after 

 which they were attacked by Beduins ; but in spite of those mis- 

 haps, they arrived in safety at ISTablus, the Shechem of Scripture, on 

 the tenth day after their departure from Harran. 



Mr. Rutherford Alcock, F.R.G.S., H.B.M.'s Envoy Extraordinary 

 etc., in Japan, then read a short v paper giving an account of his 

 journey, overland, from Nagasaki to Teddo, in Japan, principally in 

 order to see the newly-opened port of Osaca. He started from 

 Nagasaki on the first of June last year, and in consequence of the 

 many obstructions on the part of the natives, owing to their un- 

 conquerable hatred to foreigners of all nations, had the greatest 

 difficulty in bringing his travels to a successful termination. The 

 paper also gave an interesting description of the curious customs of 

 the natives, character of the soil, and the state of our relations with 

 the Japanese government. Mr. Alcock did not seem to consider it 

 wise to force on the Japanese commercial relations for which they 

 were not prepared, and the effect of which would probably be to 

 disturb the existing state of society in Japan without substituting 

 anything better. 



