THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE GEOGRAPHY OF PALESTINE. 167 



antagonistic sects and individuals will sink their differences 

 and work together with no apparent discussion of the subject. 

 It is in the East, where there are so many antagonistic 

 sects, that one best notices this. I will instance a case in 

 point. When I was at Suakim in 1886 I met a Sheikh from 

 the interior, who told me that he had been a great friend of 

 General Gordon ; and I questioned him as to their conversation 

 together. He said they were sitting together on a mat, and that 

 General Gordon said to him in Arabic : " We are working 

 together in the same cause," and that he replied in Arabic, " If 

 you are content, 1 am content." I asked what more they said ; 

 he replied : " Nothing more : we exchanged thoughts." 



Three Dominant Matters in Palestine. 



(1) It has unique geographical leatures which influence its 

 climate, and to souie extent its food, owing to a great fissure on 

 the earth's surface called the Jordan Valley. 



(2) Its geographical position is also unique. In early days it 

 was not only the sole line of communication between the great 

 centres of the ancient world, Egypt on the south, and Babylonia, 

 Assyria, and Elam on the north, but its configuration and 

 mountainous character made it a point of vantage in the 

 struggles constantly going on between the nations of old ; and 

 at the present day its position possesses potentially a great 

 military value. 



(3) Lastly, it was selected by the Almighty as the cradle of 

 the religion that is to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. 



These matters, however, only act in conjunction with others 

 which also have their effect on the condition of mankind, and 

 which I will briefly enumerate and give some account of — 

 matters affecting national character : — 



1. Eacial Characteristics which permanently influence the 



doings of a people, and which cannot be eradicated or 

 be abnormally developed, because they are part and 

 parcel of the race. 



2. (a) The effect of tradition and civilization in the past. 

 {!)) The effect of civilization in the present day. 



(c) Environment, 

 o. Training — 



(a) Amongst savage races. 



(b) Amongst civilized races. 



(c) Obstacles to be overcome. 



(d) Patriotism. 



