ADVENTURE WITH THE SAMARITANS. 349 
mules to Nablous, and took a by-road to Sebustia. From the 
summit of a mountain not far from Jeba we had a fine pros¬ 
pect of the valleys on both sides, with their flowing streams 
bordered with green shrubbery. The mountains were ter¬ 
raced in every direction, and fig-orchards and vineyards flour¬ 
ished luxuriantly on ail the arable grounds. In the distance 
gleamed the bright waters of the Mediterranean—the most 
welcome sight we had enjoyed from the time of leaving the 
cedars of Lebanon. It is wonderful how the heart is glad¬ 
dened by a glimpse of a familiar object, after one has been 
shut in for some time among strange scenes. I really felt as 
if I could hug old ocean, when I beheld his honest face shin¬ 
ing in the sunbeams. 
On our descent from the ridge, we passed through Burka, 
where we were stared at by the inhabitants with vacant 
wonder; and some distance below we crossed a deep valley 
and ascended on the other side a mound-like hill, upon which 
was situated in ancient times Samaria, the capital of the Is¬ 
raelites. Nothing now is left of the ancient city but broken 
columns and cornices, scattered throughout the fields on the 
hill-sides, some of which are partially imbedded in the ground ; 
and a double row of columns, said to have formed a portion 
of a temple built by Tiberius. The whole site of Samaria, 
covering several hundred acres of ground, now rudely culti¬ 
vated, is strewn with these relics of the ancient city. One 
of the most picturesque objects to be seen there, is a ruined 
mosque, built perhaps during the time of the Saracens. The 
view in every direction is very fine; and the position of the 
old city must have been one of the most charming in Syria 
for salubrity, convenience, and scenic effect. Of the present 
town of Sebustia, little need be said. A description of one 
Syrian village, answers with little variation for all the rest; 
low square huts, with flat tops; a lazy, beggarly population 
of picturesque Arabs, are the principal features in all these 
villages. The inhabitants of Sebustia seemed to be still more 
rude and debased than any we had yet seen in our wander¬ 
ings, probably from being farther removed from the ordinary 
traveled route. Some had a brutish and idiotic appearance. 
