tradition in this case than the doctor is willing to accord. So far as I can discover, after spending many weeks in this neighborhood off and on for a quarter of a century, the invariable tradition of the Arabs and the Jews fixes Capernaum at Tell Hûm, and I believe correctly. It is very necessary to remark that Josephus does not locate either the fountain or the village of Capernaum within the plain of Gennesaret. It is Dr. Robinson that does this, by drawing his own inferences from certain passages in the Gospels. But it is an obvious remark that the Evangelists had no thought of giving topographical indications, while Josephus, on the contrary, was writing a labored scenic description, and we should expect to find more light on this question in the latter than in the former; and this is the fact. And, moreover, the passages in the Gospels referred to admit, not to say require, an explanation in entire accordance with the supposition that Tell Hûm marks the site of Capernaum. The notices which bear upon this question are contained in the various accounts of the feeding of the five thousand, given in Matthew xiv., Mark vi., John vi., and Luke ix. This miracle was regarded by all the Evangelists as one of great importance; and as they, in their dif ferent narratives, have mentioned Capernaum and Bethsaida in such connections and relations as to have occasioned no small perplexity to sacred geographers, and finally led to the invention of a second Bethsaida at the head of this lake, we may be excused for developing our own ideas on the subject with some particularity of detail. But as we shall pass the very site where, I believe, the miracle was wrought, during our ride to-morrow morning, we had better postpone the discussion until we see the scene and the scenery; it will, however, necessarily throw light upon the questions we have been canvassing to-night, and, as I believe, add materially to the evidence that Tell Hûm is the true site of Capernaum. Admitting this, what do you make of the ruins at 'Ain et Tîny? They may, perhaps, mark the site of old Chineroth. The CHINEROTH-TABIGA. 547 greatest objection that occurs to me is the inconsiderable amount of them. Chineroth was given to Naphtali, and from it both this plain and lake may have derived their names, for Genashur and Gennesaret are only different forms of Chineroth or Cineroth-in Maccabees it is written Genasor, and also Nasor; and what more likely than that this city was on this plain, and gave name to it, and the lake also. I am aware that many entertain the idea that the predecessor of the city of Tiberias was Chineroth, and it may have been so, but I think not. We may examine this point on the ground, and for the present rest on the suggestion that Chineroth stood at the head of the pretty plain to which it gave name. Tell Hûm being Capernaum, and Khan Minyeh Chineroth, what do you make of this Tabiga? It was the grand manufacturing suburb of Capernaum, and hence the fountains took name from the city. Here were the mills, not only for it, but for all the neighborhood, as is now the case. So also the potteries, tanneries, and other operations of this sort would be clustered around these great fountains, and the traces of the necessary buildings may be seen all around us. I even derive the name, Tabiga, from this business of tanning. Tabiga, or Tabaga, is nearly identical with Dabbaga, the Arabic name for tannery; and, no doubt, the tanneries of Capernaum were actually at these fountains, whatever may be true in regard to the name. And if a city should again arise in this vicinity, the tanneries belonging to it would certainly be located here, for the water is precisely the kind best adapted to that business. As there is considerable marshy land about this Tabiga, may not this account for the prevalence of fevers at Capernaum? for here it was, of course, that Peter's wife's mother lay sick of a fever.1 Fevers of a very malignant type are still prevalent, particularly in summer and autumn, owing, no doubt, to the extreme heat acting upon these marshy plains, such as the Butaiha, at the influx of the Jordan. 1 Matt. viii. 14. It must have been in this neighborhood that our Lord was so pressed by the multitudes who flocked from all parts to hear him, that he was obliged to enter a ship, and have it thrust out a little from the shore, that from thence he might address them without interruption. No doubt; and I was delighted to find small creeks or inlets between this and Tell Hûm, where the ship could ride in safety only a few feet from the shore, and where the multitudes, seated on both sides, and before the boat, could listen without distraction or fatigue. As if on purpose to furnish seats, the shore on both sides of these narrow inlets is piled up with smooth boulders of basalt. Somewhere hereabouts, also, Andrew and Peter were casting their nets into the sea, when our Lord, passing by, called them to follow him, and become fishers of men. And in one of these identical inlets, James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, were mending their nets, when they, being also called, immediately left the ship and their father Zebedee, and followed Jesus. Here, yes, right here, began that organization which has spread over the earth, and revolutionized the world. Viewed in this relation, is there a spot on earth that can rival this in interest? 1 Matt. iv. 18-22. 'Abá, outer garment, scr. all. to, 500. Alma, village, described, 455; storm at, of Cairo, 228-231. Abraham, battle with Chedorlaomer, Absalom, caught in an oak, 374. 444. Almond-tree, scr. all. to, 495-496. Aly es Sughir, ruling family of Belad Abu el Aswad, river, Roman bridge at, Amalekites, 241. 251; plain of, 249. Acacia-trees, 194. Achabari, cliff, 423. 'Amka, village, Emek, 472. Acre, city, ancient Accho and Ptolemais, Amorites, 241. 159. vaults of houses not surdabs, 478; Ancient ruins, disappearance of, 158- 361. 'Ainata, village, Beth Anath of Naph- 'Ain el Jin, 424. 'Ain el Kunterah, camp-ground, 210. 'Ain es Sultan, at Baalbek, 254. 'Ain et Tiny, 537; nature of the fount- 'Ain Fit, Nusairîyeh village, 242. 'Ain Júr, ancient Chalcis, 254; remit- Alexandroschene, Scanderuna, ruins, Algerines at Kudes, 404. Ants, scr. all. to, 520; anecdotes of, from Arbors, covered with gourd vines, 97. Ark, Noah's, pitched with bitumen, 336; Asher, territory of, 290; boundaries of, Ashmunazar, sarcophagus of, 199-201. Atmosphere, transparency of, 17. Avenger of blood, 447-449. Baal and Ashtaroth, 201. Baal-Sidon, temple of, 203. |Burikiyeh, brook, ruined Roman bridge Burket Ram, Phiala, lake, 367. Baalbek, Baalgad, Heliopolis, temples Bustra, ruined temples at, 349. at, 354-361. Babeer cane, 401. Butter, Arab., 393; churning of, ser. Cabul, vill. and district, 281, 511. Banias, Panium, Cæsarea Philippi, oak Canaanites, 240. Bee-hives on the Hûleh, 389. Beer en Nukkar, guard-house at, 315. Behemoth, scr. all., 384-388. Carmel, convent of, 493. Chalcedony, geodes of, 437. Chariots, not found now in Syria, 19; Charms, medical, 218. Children, desire for, 177. Beirut, Berytus, topography of, 40; en- Chittim, Cyprus, 18. virons, 41; Berothai and Berothah, Christ's missionary instructions, 533- before its quay, 43; ancient celebrity Churning of Arabs, 393. of, 43; gladiatorial shows at, by Ti- Cisterns, water of, 443; dangerous ad- history of, 45; legends, 45; recent Belad Beshara, scenery of, 314–315. Benat Yacobe, Jacob's daughters, 372. Beth M'aacah, province, 326. Bible, composed in country, not city, 507. Cities of Syria and Palestine, popula- Clean and unclean animals, 287-288. Costumes, Oriental, male, 165-167; fc- Bisry, vill., vale, and temple, 121, 361. Crater, volcanic, 434. Bitumen, wells near Hasbeiya. 335; Crops, continuous succession of, 328; from Dead Sea, 336; scr. all., 336-337. Blat, cliffs of, 255. Blát, temple of, 443. Bláta, fountain, buffaloes in, 394. Blood, eating of, ser. all. to, 136-137. Buffalo, Behemoth, described, 384-387; rate of yield, 116-117. Crows, in the Hûleh, 396-397; deprc- Custom-house officers, 64. Dahr June, 109. Daleels, guides to hidden treasure, 196. Damir River, Tamyras, 81; source, 81; |