FROM 'ACRE -tO $AZABETH* 
2 as 
markable by ibe life and actions of Jesus Christ. We left 
Acre,* by the southern gate of the city, at four o’clock p. M.f 
It would be curious to ascertain when this place obtained a name 
so near to its ancient appellation, after bearing that of Ptole- 
xnais, not only down to the time of Strabo,t but to that of Pliny 5 
w ho also calls it Colonia Claudii .§ It is moreover named Pto- 
Jemaisiu the history of the actions of the holy apostles, wherein 
mention is made of the visit to it by St. Paul and his compa-i 
cions, during their voyage from Tyre to Caesarea.j| The edi¬ 
tor of the Oxford edition of Strabo affirms that it regained its 
ancient name under the Mahometans.** Ammianus Marcelli- 
iiusjff as cited by MaundreU4| best explains the cause; by say¬ 
ing, that “the Greek and Roman names of places never took 
amongst the natives of this country.” It is therefore most pro¬ 
bable that it always retained its original oriental appellation 
among the natives of Syria; and that the word “ Ptolemais” 
used by Greek and Roman writers, and found upon medals of 
the city, struck after it was a Roman colony, was never adopt¬ 
ed by the indigenous inhabitants of the country. 
In the light stiudy soil, containing a mixture of black vege¬ 
table earth, which lies near the town, we observed plantations 
©f water melons, pumpkins, and a little corn; also abundance 
of cattle. We- continued along the sea shore until we arrived 
at the camp of Bjezzar’s cavalry. The pacha had fixed upon 
this place, as a point of rendezvous for mustering our party* 
We found our wdiole force to consist of tweuty-three armed 
persons on horseback, with two camels laden ; a cavalcade 
which the turbulent state of the country at this time rendered 
absolutely necessary for our security. The individuals com¬ 
posing it were, Captain Culverhouse, of tile Romulus frigate/; 
Mr. Loudon, purser of the same ship; Mr. Catafago, the im« 
Broeardus affirms, that Acre was never included among the places properly be¬ 
longing to the Holy Land. (Vid. Loc. Terr. Sanct. Desc.) “ JSunqv.amJ'uit terras 
shnetae connumerata, nee a fdiis Israel unquam possessa: tdmetsi tribui Aser in sortem- 
ceciderity It may therefore be considered with regard to Phoenicia, which he de¬ 
scribes as a part of the Holy Land, what Gibraltar now is with reference to Spain. 
He makes it the centre of his observations'. concern in A'Terri®' Sancta : “taking his 
departure always from that city.” It was moreover the rallying place of the Chris¬ 
tians, in every period of the Crusades/. 
f About the same hour, 63 years before, Pocockeset out upon the same journey. 
A Strab. Geogr. lib. xvi. p. 1077. ed. Oxon. 
§ Hist. JUat ; lib. v. c. 19. p. 264. ed. L. Bat. 1635. 
|j Acts, xxi. 7,8.—“ And when we had finished our course from Tyre we came to 
Ptolemais .And the next day, we that were of Paul’s company departed, and 
eame unto Caesarea.' 1 ’’ 
** “ Sub Mahommedanis nomen vetus revixit.” Vid. Annot. in Strab, Geogr. ed 
Oxon. p. 1077. 
tf Eib. xiv. Hist non longe ab initio. 
; \ Journey from Aleppo to Jerusalem, jar. 64. Qxf. 1721. 
