visible, showing the heights of Lebanon above us with peculiar beauty. The evening air was deliciously perfumed with flowers. We descended into a lovely valley at the foot of the upper ridge of Lebanon, into which rushes a bold stream or cascade formed by the dissolving snows of the mountain. Here we determined to rest for the night. So cold was the water which flowed through the valley, that I was obliged twice to put the cup from my lips before I could take such a draught as a traveller in Syria frequently requires. I have often recalled the wondrous beauty of the scene where we passed that night on Mount Lebanon. The moonlight was SO brilliant, and its effect so surprising upon the bold rock and forest scenery.

"On the following morning we set out by halfpast five, to make the ascent of the upper ridge of Lebanon. The lower part of the ridge over which we passed for the first three quarters of an hour, was thickly overgrown with evergreen oaks, &c.; but after that the trees were but scanty, and soon consisted of a few poor stunted junipers and yews. There were many wild flowers perfuming the air, and supplying the bees of Lebanon with materials for their delicious honey. After about an hour we had a charming view of a mountain lake formed by the continually-melting snows. The route now became steep and wearisome, but our horses performed surprisingly; and in about another hour we reached a small valley running round the base of the extreme mountain ridge, where lay a large breastwork of deep and firmly-frozen snow, glittering in the morning sun; the atmosphere was elastic and bracing; it seemed as if the air ministered present strength and nourishment. We refreshed ourselves with handfuls of ice, and gave some to our horses. Another quarter of an hour brought us to the summit of Lebanon

"That clump, those trees, are the cedars of Lebanon. The approach to them from rock to rock is very rugged and fatiguing. On nearing them, the clump assumes the

stateliness of a forest. The seven which are clustered together go up like gigantic pillars, and their interlaced arms above, each in itself a vast tree, form a verdant dome through which the vertical sun penetrates not.

"I have seen noble cedars in Europe, the growth of centuries; but, compared with those of Lebanon, they are but saplings."-See FISK's Pastor's Memorial.

Messrs. Irby and Mangles visited the cedars from Tripoli, "the neatest town we had seen in Syria, the houses being all well built of stone, and neatly constructed within. It is seated at the foot of the mountains, at some distance from the sea-shore, and is surrounded by luxuriant gardens, producing innumerable oranges and lemons. The town is commanded by two old castles, on the heights at the back of it, built in the time of the Crusades. The port is near an hour's distance. It is said that there were here three

cities; one subject to Aradus, a second to Tyre, and the third to Sidon, whence the name Tripoli. The ascent of the mountain from Tripoli is gradual and after a while the road is good, through cultivated plains and groves of olives, passing occasionally beautiful valleys watered by branches of a river. Afterwards the road becomes very rugged, the whole way to the village of Eden passing between two conspicuous points of the mountain. Eden is delightfully situated by the side of a most rich and highly cultivated valley. ... The cedars are not more than five miles distant from it; and this village of Eden, which from its delightful situation is a sort of Paradise upon Lebanon, may be the Eden,' and the 'Garden of God,' alluded to by Ezekiel. It con

tains about four or five hundred families, who, on the approach of winter, descend to another village only an hour's distance from Tripoli. The families were in the act of removing to their winter habitations when we arrived."

TERRACE CULTIVATION.

VILLAGES, FOUNTAINS, ETC.

"THE mountain is cultivated, more or less, almost to the very top. The tillage is carried on chiefly by means of terraces, built up with great labour, and covered above with soil."- ROBINSON.

"We arrived at Jezzin, a considerable village, where the peculiar terrace cultivation of Lebanon, of the mulberry and vine, as well as of grain, advantageously appears; close to the village there is a small stream, running west. From Jezzin to Deir el Kamar, we found the journey, owing to the roughness of the road, and its windings and turnings, and ascents, and declivities, very fatiguing; it was withal, however, very delightful. At its close Mr. Smith made this emphatic record of what he had witnessed and felt. 'This has been a day of days, and I know not whether I have been better

pleased with the country, or with its inhabitants. We passed a continued series of villages embosomed in the hills, which presented the finest cultivation to the very top, enriching the land with wine, silk, and olives. The climate is lovely; I have never been more gratified than to-day.'

"We got to Deir el Kamar, the capital of Lebanon, at dusk. After breakfast, (next morning,) we set off for Beyrout, which is distant from Deir el Kamar about twenty-five miles. The road over the mountain is merely a bridle path, generally a yard or a couple of yards in breadth, and it is exceedingly rough and broken. In the more difficult parts, the ascent and descent is by flights of steps, which are far from being kept in the best order. It is no part of the policy of the natives of Lebanon to facilitate travel from one terrace to another, and from one story to another, as the whole of Lebanon

may be correctly denominated.

The difficulties of scaling that citadel, they are well aware, constitute its greatest security. In a couple of hours from our leaving Deir el Kamar, we crossed a stream which flows through a mountain gorge, and enters the Mediterranean about half-way between Beyrout and Sidon.

"A great many villages occur between this river and Beyrout, and in connexion with them there are many 'fountains of gardens, wells of living waters, and streams from Lebanon,' of crystal purity and the most agreeable coolness, which refresh the weary traveller, and vivify and beautify the whole country. The husbandry of Lebanon, to which they give effect, is that of the mulberry, the vine, and the olive, more than of wheat, and barley, and other grains. We were greatly delighted to come upon groves of fir, after fifteen years' deprivation of the sight of this tree, so familiar in the land of our nativity.' We had our first view of the Mediterranean about fifteen miles from Beyrout. Its bright and glassy surface, under an unclouded atmosphere, was so like the azure sky above, that we could not define the line of our horizon."-WILSON's Lands of the Bible.

DAMASCUS.

BARREN DISTRICT-SUDDEN VIEW OF DAMASCUS-BEAUTIFUL SUBURBS -THE TOWN ITSELF-FINE FRUIT-VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF DAMASCUS-ABANA AND PHARPAR.

SCRIPTURE NOTICES.

"THE steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus."-Genesis xv. 2.

"And Elisha came to Damascus; and Benhadad the king of Syria was sick... and the king said unto Hazael, Take a present in thine hand, and go, meet the

1 Scotland.