of Edinburgh , Session 1867 - 68 . 281 
the catacombs of the kings of Judah, the very Via Dolorosa itself, 
of which not even the shadow of a likeness can be found in the 
upper air of the modern city-all these are doubtless there. Wher- 
ever we probe, go deep enough, and we come on some solid sub- 
stance of curious and ancient kind. A stone suddenly rolls away 
and reveals staircases, passages, subterranean halls in the heart of 
the rock, leading to who knows what repositories of treasure. An 
almost invisible crevice in the hill turns out to be an enchanted 
cave, 150 feet deep, containing perhaps the hidden fountain of the 
water supply of Jerusalem.” 
But outside Jerusalem how much remains for us to learn ! In 
the valley of the Kedron, Lieutenant Warren has sunk for 50 feet 
through debris again and again, without meeting the native rock. 
He is inclined to believe the tradition of the Mishna respecting 
the bridge of the red heifer, and is now searching for the founda- 
tions of the arches or pillars, as it will probably prove to have been 
a pier bridge, if it really existed. 
Of archaeological researches in other parts of the country there 
is little to be noticed. The few examinations which have hither- 
to been made here and there all encourage us to hope for a rich 
harvest wherever the work shall be systematically undertaken. 
Thus Captain Wilson’s exposure of the ancient synagogues of 
Capernaum has, with a very trifling amount of excavation, revealed 
to us the extent and magnificence of an edifice associated in our 
minds with events scarcely less deeply interesting than those which 
cluster round the temple of Jerusalem. The remains of Seileon 
(Shiloh), Samaria, Gerizim, the cities of the Philistines, Beisan, 
(Bethshean), Heshbon, Rabbath-Ammon, all by their extent and 
interest invite careful exploration. 
In physical research, much too has recently been accomplished. 
Lt is only within the last four years that we have become aware of 
the wonderful variety of the physical phenomena of Palestine, of 
the very interesting geological record contained in the region sur- 
rounding the Jordan valley, and especially of the unique fauna and 
flora confined within the narrow limits of the cliffs which overhang 
the Dead Sea. There, in a depression 1300 feet below the level of 
the Mediterranean, we find an almost tropical fauna and flora, 
containing a few Indian, many Abyssinian, and several peculiai 
