vi PREFACE TO FIRST SECTION 
According to some authors, Syria, Phoenice, 
and Paliestine, were three distinct regions. 
Others include, within the Syrian frontier, not 
only Phcenice and Palcestine, but also Mesopotamia. 
Strabo describes Syria as comprehending all 
the country from Mount jimanus and the river 
Euphrates to Arabia and io Egypt'. The word 
Palcesiine occurs only once, incidentally, in all 
his writings \ Yet the name was in use above 
four centuries anterior to the Christian sera, as 
appears by several passages in the text of 
Herodotus % who describes Palc^stine as that 
country which reaches from the borders of Egypt 
as far as Phcenice. Pliny separates the two 
countries of Phcenice and Palestine in more than 
one instance*. Phocas, who visited the Holy 
Land in the twelfth century % and wrote the 
account of it so highly esteemed by Leo 
(0 Slrahon. Geog. lib.xvi. p. 10G3. ed. Oxo7i. 1807- 
(2) Lib. xvj. p. 1 103. ed. Oxon. It is found in the following authors, 
according to the references which I have collected from HelanrTs 
Palasline, c. 7. Dlo Oissius, Uh.21. Photius in Biblioth. p.\3\]. 
Julian, in lib. contra Christian. Flav. Fb/risci^s in P'it. Aureliani. Sfatiif.i 
Si/lv.lib.3. cai-tn. 2. Sillies Ital. lib. 3. Ovid, in Fastis. Idem, Metain. 
lib. 4, et 5. 
(.3) Hercdot. Clio, 105. Thalia, 5. Poh/hymn. 8. 
(4) * Namque Pal(Fstina voeabatur qua contigit Arahus, et Jitdcra, 
et Ccele, de'in Fha;nice." Plin. Hist. Not. 1.5. c. 12. "Finis Pahps- 
tine.'i centum octoginta novem raillia passuum, a confiuio Arabia : 
deiuda Phcenice." Ibid. c. 13. L. Bat. 1635. 
(5) A.D. 1185. 
