420 THE HOLY LAND. 
Bethlehem and Jerusalem, because it is a work of 
no antiquity. Tlie place, however, is held in 
veneration, not only by Christians and Jeivs, 
but also by ^rabs and Turks. The whole 
distance from Jerusalem to Jaffii does not much 
exceed forty miles ' ; and this, according to the 
usual time of travelling, might be performed in 
about thirteen hours : but owing to rugged and 
pathless rocks over which the traveller must 
pass, it is impossible to perform it in less than 
a day and a half. When it is considered that 
this has been always the principal route of 
pilgrims, and that during the Crusades it was 
much frequented, it is singular that no attempt 
was ever made to facilitate the approach to the 
Holy City. The wildest passes of the Apen- 
nines are not less open to travellers. No part 
of the country is so much infested by predatory 
tribes of Arabs. The most remarkable circum- 
habetur pergentibus Chebron cohaerens; vili operatione collocalum, 
et nullam habens adornationeni, lapide^ circumdatur pyramide." 
Adamnan. De Loc. Sanct. apud Mahillon. Act. Ord. Benedict. Seec. 3. 
Par. 2.p.5\ 2. L. Par. 1 672. 
(l) Quarcsmius pives the distance from St. Jerom. {Eluc. T. S. 
torn. II. p. 4.) making it equal to forty miles. His own knowledge of 
the country also adds weight to the high authority he has cited. But 
Phocas, also a very accurate writer, describes the distance of Rama 
from Jerusalem as equal to thirty-se\en miles. See Phoc. Descr, Loc. 
Sanct. apud L. Mat. Su^m^. />. 44. Col. 1653. If this be tvxxt, Jaffa 
is forty-sevcH miles, at the least, from Jerusalem. 
