CHAPTER XLY. 
A STRIKING SCENE. 
On leaving Nablous we visited Jacob’s well, where Christ 
gave the waters of life to the Samaritan woman. The situa¬ 
tion of the well accords with scriptural history, and there is 
very little doubt as to its great antiquity. It is dug in the 
solid rock. A large stone covers the mouth; and this is all 
that now marks the spot. 
We also visited the reputed site of Joseph’s tomb. A rude 
stone building covers the pretended sepulchre; but the best 
authorities deny that there is any evidence that Joseph was 
buried here. 
The road, as we struck off to the right toward Jerusalem, 
passes over a mountainous and unpromising country. Some 
fertile valleys are seen at distant intervals; but for the most 
part the face of the country is barren and rocky. Leaving 
Kubelan to the left, we stopped to rest at the picturesque 
ruins of a Khan, in sight of El Lubban, in the valley of Lub- 
ban. This valley is cultivated and fertile; and we saw in 
it many thriving groves of olives. Ascending a precipitous 
mountain beyond the Khan of Lubban, we had a fine view 
from the summit, of the strange old village of Singil, which 
for scenic effect can scarcely be surpassed in Palestine. In 
about an hour we reached the stair-like road of stones leading 
up into it. Singil is a curiosity. Situated on a pyramid of 
rocks, it bears the appearance at a short distance of one mass 
of ruins ; and indeed it is little better upon a nearer approach. 
The entire village is in the last stage of decay. As we 
climbed up the barren and rugged road, and entered the 
mass of ruined walls, we were struck with wonder at the 
