448 THE HOLY LAND. 
CHAP, year of his reign ^ Upon this occasion, that 
the ceremony might be rendered illustrious by 
a degree of profusion unknown in any former 
instance, Herod assembled the most skilful 
musicians, wrestlers, and gladiators, from all 
parts of the world ^ The solemnity was to be 
renewed every fifth year. It was afterwards 
called Colonia Flavia, in consequence of pri- 
vileges granted by Vespasian^. But, as we 
viewed the ruins of this memorable city, every 
other circumstance respecting its history was 
absorbed in the consideration, that we were 
actually beholding the very spot where St. Paul, 
after two years' imprisonment, made that elo- 
quent appeal, in the audience of the king of 
Judc^a, which must ever be remembered with 
piety and delight. 
As the day advanced, a breeze sprang up; 
and standing out farther from the shore, we 
lost sight of CcEsarea. The heat became in- 
tolerable; and the powerful odour from the 
melons, which constituted the freight of our 
(1) In the 192(1 Olympiad. 
(2) Josephus rates the expense of it at five hundred talents. 
(3) ** Eadem Caesarea, ab Herode rege condita : nunc colonia prima 
Flavia, k Vespasiano Imperatore deducta." Plinii Histor. Natural, 
lib. V. c. 13. torn. I. p. 262. L. Bat. 1635. 
