Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894/Quarterly Statement for January 1894
[Quarterly Statement, January, 1894.]
THE
PALESTINE EXPLORATION FUND.
NOTES AND NEWS.
The Quarterly Statement has been greatly indebted during the past year to many distinguished explorers and scholars, who have sent in contributions to its pages. The Statement forms a valuable record of Palestine discovery, and of the opinions of those best qualified to form a judgment on topographical and other questions of interest connected with the Holy Land. It is surprising how much new matter comes to hand from time to time, showing that the functions of the Fund are by no means exhausted. Indeed, in certain directions, the work seems to be only beginning; as, for instance, the examination of the numerous ancient Tells in various parts of the country.
Mr. F. J. Bliss's detailed report of his work at Tell el Hesy is in the press, and will be issued shortly under the title of "The Mound of Many Cities."
In the January Statement of last year was published a translation of the cuneiform inscription on the Tell el Hesy tablet (now in the Constantinople Museum) by the Rev. Professor Sayce. In the present number will be found another translation of the same inscription by M. V. Scheil, which has been forwarded to us by Professor Petrie from Maspero's "Recueil des Travaux."
Although in ill-health, and feeling the weight of increasing years, Herr Baurath von Schick still continues to supply valuable information respecting new discoveries and changes in and around the Holy City. He also sends this quarter some further notes on the "Tabitha" ground near Jaffa.
Mr. Glaisher's paper on the rainfall at Jerusalem during the last 32 years is of great interest. It appears that the average annual rainfall during the last 16 years has been no less than 5·94 inches greater than in the previous 16 years. Whether this indicates a permanent increase, or merely the highest amount of a cycle of years, cannot yet be determined. The diagram appended to Mr. Glaisher's paper will show at a glance the amount of the rainfall in the several years.
It is reported that a Turkish expedition is about to examine the shores of the Dead Sea, and that two boats manned by Jaffa sailors have been transported from Jaffa, and are now afloat on the Dead Sea for the purpose.
We are enabled this quarter to publish a paper by P. J. Baldensperger, Esq., on the "Orders of Holy Men in Palestine," and a paper by Major Conder on the Jews of Palestine under the Romans during the first two centuries of the Christian era.
A lecture by the Rev. Canon Curtis, of Constantinople, on the sarcophagi found at Sidon, and now in the Imperial Museum at Constantinople, is in print, and will, it is hoped, be published, with illustrations, in our April number.
Professor Ramsay, of Aberdeen, has favoured us with upwards of 200 Greek and other inscriptions collected in the Hauran by the Rev. W. Ewing, whilst attached to the Scotch mission at Tiberias. It is intended to publish them shortly.
The recent publication of a book in Jerusalem by Mr. G. R. Lees has given offence to the Turkish authorities, who seized the copies and prohibited the sale until certain alterations were promised. The matter is mentioned in these columns because everything connected with Jerusalem and the relations of our countrymen with the authorities concerns us. The Society has nothing to do with the work in question or with any works on the Holy Land except those published by themselves. We are, however, sure that Mr. Lees would be the last writer willingly to offend local feelings.
Mr. G. Armstrong's Raised Map of Palestine is attracting much attention, and it is difficult to supply promptly all the orders that come in for it.
The "Times" of September 18th contains the following remarks on Mr. Armstrong's new raised map of Palestine:—"After five years of untiring industry Mr. George Armstrong, the Assistant Secretary to the Palestine Exploration Fund, has produced and perfected a work of which he may justly feel proud. A raised map must prove of the greatest interest to all who have visited or intend to visit the tract of country which it represents, affording, as it does, a picture, au vol d'oiseau of all the physical features. Mr. Armstrong's interesting work will faithfully present to those who have had the advantage of touring in Palestine the old familiar routes they have traversed, and will give to those who have yet to enjoy such a journey a clear idea of the sort of country they may expect to see. The map, which is constructed on the basis of the Surveys of the Palestine Exploration Fund, on a scale of 38-in. to the mile, embraces the whole country from Baalbec to Kadesh Barnea, and shows nearly all that is known on the east of the Jordan. The natural features of the country stand out prominently, and show at a glance the relative proportion of the mountains, heights, valleys, and plains. The seas, lakes, marshes, and perennial streams, are shown in blue, the watercourses on the plains and the main roads are marked by a grooved line, the Old and New Testament sites in red, and the hills and plains in white. Names are given to the coast and a few inland towns, but other towns are numbered to correspond to a reference list of names. The map measures 7 feet 6 inches by 4 feet. It will, perhaps, be specially interesting at the present time, when railway operations are going on in the country. The course of the new railway from Haifa to Damascus can be clearly traced, and the nature of the country it crosses can be seen at a glance. No doubt, too, the educational use to which the map will be put will be very considerable. Casts in fibrous plaster can now be had."
The "Jewish Chronicle" recently suggested that no Jewish school should be without a copy of the Raised Map. The same might also be said in reference to other schools, and especially Sunday Schools. With this map before the eye of the scholar a Bible lesson takes on quite a realistic character.
The construction of the Haifa-Damascus Railway is proceeding. By the kindness of Mr. Pilling, arrangements have been entered into for archæological discoveries made in the course of the works to be reported to the Fund, and, if necessary, to be carefully examined.
The Rev. Theodore E. Dowling, Jerusalem, asks for reliable information as to the origin of the "Jerusalem Cross." Four theories of the early history of this cross are current in Jerusalem. Can any date, prior to that of the Crusading Kingdom of Jerusalem, be assigned to it? (See page 81.)
The annual subscriptions for 1894 from the Presidency of Bombay, collected in November, 1893, by the Rev. Theodore E. Dowling, of Jerusalem, during his present tour through India, were received too late to appear in the January number of the Quarterly Statement.
Index to the Quarterly Statement.—A new edition of the Index to the Quarterly Statements has been compiled. It embraces the years 1869 (the first issue of the journal) to the end of 1892. Contents:—Names of the Authors and of the Papers contributed by them; List of the Illustrations; and General Index. This Index will be found extremely useful. Price to subscribers to the Fund, in paper cover, 1s. 6d., in cloth, 2s. 6d., post free; non-subscribers, 2s. and 3s.
The following gentlemen have kindly consented to act as Honorary Local Secretaries:—The Rev. I. W. Johnson, M.A., Benthall, Broseley; The Rev. J. C. Newton, Kobe, Japan; The Rev. Thos. M. B. Patterson, Hamilton, N.B.; Professor James S. Riggs, Auburn Theological Seminary; The Rev. Jeremiah Zimmerman, Syracuse; Walter Gr. Webster, Esq., Providence.
The new railway from Jaffa to Jerusalem has been laid down on the sheets of the large and small maps. Copies of these sheets are now ready.
The museum of the Fund, at 24, Hanover Square, is now open to subscribers between the hours of 10 a.m. and 5 p.m., except on Saturdays, when it closes at 2 p.m.
The Committee have to acknowledge with thanks the following donations to the Library of the Fund:—
"Palestine Explored." By the Rev. James Neil, M.A. Published by James Nisbet and Co. From the Author.
"Kissing." By the Rev. James Neil. Published by Simpkin, Marshall, and Co. From the Author.
"Palestine Re-peopled." By the Rev. James Neil. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Pictures and Stories from the Holy Land." By the Rev. James Neil. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Bridal Song." By the Rev. James Neil, M.A. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Strange Figures." By the Rev. James Neil, M.A. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Strange Scenes." By the Rev. James Neil, M.A. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Palestine Life." By the Rev. James Neil, M.A. Published by Lang Neil and Co. From the Author.
"Ægyptiaca." Comprising a catalogue of Egyptian Antiquities, by Sir Charles Nicholson, Bart., U.C.L., LL.D. Published by Harrison and Sons. From the Author.
"Baedeker's Palestine and Syria." From the Editor.
Pamphlets on "The Lycian Language," Royal Asiatic Society's Journal, October, 1891; "Dusratta's Hittite Letter," Royal Asiatic Society's Journal, October, 1892; "Notes on the Hittite Writing;" "Notes on Akkadian," Royal Asiatic Society's Journal, October, 1893. By Major C. R. Conder, D.C.L., R.E. From the Author.The Committee will be glad to receive donations of Books to the Library of the Fund, which already contains many works of great value relating to Palestine and other Bible Lands. See list of Books, July Quarterly Statement, 1893.
It may be well to mention that plans and photographs alluded to in the reports from Jerusalem and elsewhere cannot all be published, but all are preserved in the offices of the Fund, where they may be seen by subscribers.
The third and revised edition of "Heth and Moab" is now ready.
A new edition of "Twenty-one Years' Work" is in course of preparation, and will be brought down to date.
The first volume of the "Survey of Eastern Palestine," by Major Conder, has been issued to subscribers; it is accompanied by a map of the portion of country surveyed, special plans, and upwards of 350 drawings of ruins, tombs, dolmens, stone circles, inscriptions, &c. The first 250 subscribers pay seven guineas for the three volumes; subscribers to the "Survey of Western Palestine" are privileged to have the volumes for this sum. The price will be raised, after 250 names are received, to twelve guineas. The Committee are pledged never to let any copies be subscribed for under the sum of seven guineas. A. P. Watt and Son, 2, Paternoster Square, are the Sole Agents. The attention of intending subscribers is directed to the announcement in the last page of this number.
Mr. H. Chichester Hart's "Fauna and Flora of Sinai, Petra, and the Wâdy Arabah" has been completed and sent out to subscribers.
The translation of the first portion of M. Clermont-Ganneau's work, "Archæological Researches in Palestine," is completed. The second part, it is expected, will be in the hands of the translator soon.
The books now contained in the Society's publications comprise an amount of information on Palestine, and on the researches conducted in the country, which can be found in no other publications. It must never be forgotten that no single traveller, however well equipped by previous knowledge, can compete with a scientific body of explorers, instructed in the periods required, and provided with all the instruments necessary for carrying out their work. The books are the following (the whole set (1 to 7 and 9 to 18) can be obtained by subscribers to the Fund on application to the Head Office only (24, Hanover Square, W.), for £3 10s. 0d., carriage paid to any part in the United Kingdom only):—
By Major Conder, R.E.—
(1) "Tent Work in Palestine."—A popular account of the Survey of Western Palestine, freely illustrated by drawings made by the author himself. This is not a dry record of the sepulchres, or a descriptive catalogue of ruins, springs, and valleys, but a continuous narrative full of observations upon the manners and customs of the people, the Biblical associations of the sites, the Holy City and its memories, and is based upon a six years' experience in the country itself. No other modern traveller has enjoyed the same advantages as Major Conder, or has used his opportunities to better purpose.
(2) "Heth and Moab."—Under this title Major Conder provides a narrative, as bright and as full of interest as "Tent "Work," of the expedition for the Survey of Eastern Palestine. How the party began by a flying visit to North Syria, in order to discover the Holy City—Kadesh—of the children of Heth; how they fared across the Jordan, and what discoveries they made there, will be found in this volume.
(3) Major Conder's "Syrian Stone Lore."—This volume, the least known of Major Conder's works, is, perhaps, the most valuable. It attempts a task never before approached—the reconstruction of Palestine from its monuments. It shows what we should know of Syria if there were no Bible, and it illustrates the Bible from the monuments.
(4) Major Conder's "Altaic Inscriptions."—This book is an attempt to read the Hittite Inscriptions. The author has seen no reason to change his views since the publication of the work.
(5) Professor Hull's "Mount Seir."—This is a popular account of the Geological Expedition conducted by Professor Hull for the Committee of the Palestine Fund. The part which deals with the Valley of Arabah will be found entirely new and interesting.
(6) Herr Schumacher's "Across the Jordan."
(7) Herr Schumacher's "Jaulân."—These two books must be taken in continuation of Major Conder's works issued as instalments of the "Survey of Eastern Palestine." They are full of drawings, sketches, and plans, and contain many valuable remarks upon manners and customs.
By Walter Besant, M.A. —
(8) "The Memoirs of Twenty-one Years' Work."—This work is a popular account of the researches conducted by the Society during the twenty-one years of its existence. Out of print; new edition preparing.
(9) Herr Schumacher's "Kh. Fahil." The ancient Pella, the first retreat of the Christians: with map and illustrations.
By George Armstrong—
(10) Names and Places in the Old and New Testament and Apocrypha. This is an index to all the names and places mentioned in the Bible and New Testament, with full references and their modern identifications, as shown on the new map of Palestine.
(11) Besant and Palmer's "History of Jerusalem."—The "History of Jerusalem," which was originally published in 1871, and has long been completely out of print, covers a period and is compiled from materials not included in any other work, though some of the contents have been plundered by later works on the same subject. It begins with the siege by Titus and continues to the fourteenth century, including the Early Christian period, the Moslem invasion, the mediæval pilgrims, the Mohammedan pilgrims, the Crusades, the Latin Kingdom, the victorious career of Saladin, the Crusade of Children, and many other little-known episodes in the history of the city and the country.
(12) Northern 'Ajlûn "Within the Decapolis," by Herr Schumacher.
By Henry A. Harper—
(13) "The Bible and Modern Discoveries."—This work, written by a Member of the Executive Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund, is an endeavour to present in a simple and popular, but yet a connected form, the Biblical results of twenty-two years' work of the Palestine Exploration Fund. The writer has also availed himself of the discoveries made by the American Expeditions and the Egyptian Exploration Fund, as well as discoveries of interest made by independent travellers.
The Bible story, from the call of Abraham to the Captivity, is taken, and details given of the light thrown by modern research on the sacred annals. Eastern customs and modes of thought are explained whenever the writer thought that they illustrated the text. This plain and simple method has never before been adopted in dealing with modern discovery.
To the Clergy and Sunday School Teachers, as well as to all those who love the Bible, the writer hopes this work will prove useful. He is personally acquainted with the land; nearly all the places spoken of he has visited, and most of them he has moreover sketched or painted. It should be noted that the book is admirably adapted for the School or Village Library.
By Guy le Strange—
English, and no attempt has ever been made to systematise, compare, and annotate them.
This has now been done for the Society by Mr. Guy le Strange. The work is divided into chapters on Syria, Palestine, Jerusalem, and Damascus, the provincial capitals and chief towns, and the legends related by the writers consulted. These writers begin with the ninth century and continue until the fifteenth. The volume contains maps and illustrations required for the elucidation of the text.
The Committee have great confidence that this work—so novel, so useful to students of mediæval history, and to all those interested in the continuous story of the Holy Land—will meet with the success which its learned author deserves.
By W. M. Flinders Petrie—
(15) "Lachish" (one of the five strongholds of the Amorites).—An account of the excavations conducted by Mr. Petrie in the spring of 1890, with view of Tell, plans and sections, and upwards of 270 drawings of the objects found.
By Trelawney Saunders—
(16) "An Introduction to the Survey of Western Palestine, describing its Waterways, Plains, and Highlands, with special reference to the Water Basin—(Map. No. 10)."
(17) "The City and the Land."—A course of seven lectures on the work of the Fund, 2nd edition, with Plan of Jerusalem, according to Josephus, now ready.
(18) "The Tell Amarna Tablets," including the one found at Lachish. By Major C. E. Conder, D.C.L., R.E.
The New Map of Palestine (scale 38 of an inch to a mile).—Embraces both sides of the Jordan, and extends from Baalbek in the north to Kadesh Barnea in the south. All the modern names are in black; over these are printed in red the Old Testament and Apocrypha names. The New Testament, Josephus, and Talmudic names are in blue, and the tribal possessions are tinted in colours, giving clearly all the identifications up to date. It is the most comprehensive map that has been published, and will be invaluable to universities, colleges, schools, &c.
It is published in 20 sheets, with paper cover; price to subscribers to the Fund, 24s.; to the public, £2. It can be had mounted on cloth, rollers, and varnished for hanging. The size is 8 feet by 6 feet. The cost of mounting is extra (see Maps).
In addition to the 20-sheet map, the Committee have issued as a separate Map the 12 sheets (viz., Nos. 5–7, 9–11, 13–15, 20–22), which include the whole of Palestine as far north as Mount Hermon, and the districts beyond Jordan as far as they are surveyed. See key-map to the sheets.
The price of this map, in 12 sheets, in paper cover, to subscribers to the Fund, 12s. 6d.; to the public, £1 1s.
The size of the map, mounted on cloth and roller for hanging, is 412 feet by 634 feet.
Any single sheet of the map can be had separately, price, to subscribers of the Fund, 1s. 6d. Mounted on cloth to fold in the pocket suitable for travelling, 2s. To the public 2s. and 2s. 6d.
Single copies of these maps in sheets, with cover, can be sent by post to all foreign countries at an extra charge of 1s.
A copy of names and places in the Old and New Testament, with their modern identifications and full references, can he had by subscribers with either of these maps at the reduced price of 2s. 6d.
New Raised Map of Palestine.—The want has long been felt, and the wish often expressed, that a map showing the physical features of the Holy Land on a scale sufficiently large to show at a glance the relative proportions of the mountains, valleys, plains, &c., should be produced on the basis of the Surveys of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
This has now been accomplished by Mr. George Armstrong, Assistant Secretary to the Fund. The Raised Map embraces the whole country from Baalbek to Kadesh Barnea, and shows on the east of Jordan nearly all that is known. It is a reproduction in bold relief of the recently issued map, on the scale of three-eighths of an inch to the mile.
The seas, lakes, marshes, and perennial streams are in blue, the watercourses on the plains and main roads are marked by a grooved line, the Old and New Testament sites in red, and the plains and hills are in white.
Names are given to the coast towns and a few of the inland ones; the others have numbers corresponding with a reference sheet. The map measures 7 feet 6 inches by 4 feet, and is on view at the Office of the Fund, 24, Hanover Square.
Casts of this Map in fibrous plaster, partly coloured and framed, can be had for £7 7s. by Subscribers to the Fund, fully coloured £10 10s.; to the public, £10 10s. and £13 13s.
Photographs of the Raised Map are now ready. Size, 1612 inches by 812 inches, price 5s.; 8 inches by 412 inches, 1s.
Subscribers to the Palestine Pilgrims' Text Society will shortly receive the Annual Report for the past year. The "Anonymous Pilgrims" is ready, and will be issued shortly.
The following are a few of the translations in hand:—Brocardus; Qualiter sita est Civitas Jerusalem; also extracts from various early writers illustrating topographical details of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, viz., Aristeas, Hecataeus, Origen, Cyril, St. Jerome, The Patriarch Sophronius, &c.
Branch Associations of the Bible Society, all Sunday School Unions within the Sunday School Institute, the Sunday School Union, and the Wesleyan Sunday School Institute, will please observe that by a special Resolution of the Committee they will henceforth be treated as subscribers and be allowed to purchase the books and maps (by application only to the Secretary) at reduced price.
The income of the Society, from September 18th, 1893, to December 20th, 1893, was—from annual subscriptions and donations, including Local Societies, £549 3s. 8d.; from all sources—£734 10s. 11d. The expenditure during the same period was £640 17s. 5d. On December 22nd the balance in the Bank was £343 16s. 4d.
Subscribers are requested to note that the following cases and casts can be had by application to the Assistant Secretary at the Office of the Fund:—
Cases for binding Herr Schumacher's "Jaulân," 1s. each.
Cases for binding the Quarterly Statement, in green or chocolate, 1s. each.
Cases for binding "Abila," "Pella," and "'Ajlûn" in one volume, 1s. each.
Casts of the Tablet with a Cuneiform Inscription found at Tell el Hesy, price 2s. 6d. each.
Casts of the Ancient Hebrew Weight brought by Dr. Chaplin from Samaria, price 2s. 6d. each.
Casts of an Inscribed Weight or Bead from Palestine, forwarded by Professor Wright, Cambridge, Mass., U.S.A., price 1s. each.
Photographs of Tell el Hesy, showing the excavations, price 1s. each.
Back numbers of the Quarterly Statement.—In order to make up complete sets, the Committee will be very glad to receive any of the following numbers:—
No. II, 1869; Nos. VI and VII, 1870; No. III, 1871; January and April, 1872; October, 1873; January, 1874; January and October, 1875; January, 1883, and January, 1886.
While desiring to give every publicity to proposed identifications and other theories advanced by officers of the Fund and contributors to the pages of the Quarterly Statement, the Committee wish it to be distinctly understood that by publishing them in the (Quarterly Statement they neither sanction nor adopt them.
Subscribers who do not receive the Quarterly Statement regularly are asked to send a note to the Secretary. Great care is taken to forward each number to all who are entitled to receive it, but changes of address and other causes give rise occasionally to omissions.
The authorised lecturers for the Society are—
(1) Research and Discovery in the Holy Land.
(2) In the Track of the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan.
(3) Bible Scenes in the Light of Modern Science.
(4) Eastern Palestine.
(5) The Dead Sea and the Cities of the Plain.
(1) The Work of the Palestine Exploration Fund.
(2) The Survey of Palestine.
(3) The City of Jerusalem.
(4) Eastern Palestine.
(5) Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
(1) Explorations in Judea.
(2) Research and Discovery in Samaria and Galilee.
(3) In Bible Lands; a Narrative of Personal Experiences.
(4) The Reconstruction of Jerusalem.
(5) Problems of Palestine.
(1) Modern Discoveries in Palestine.
(2) Stories in Stones; or, New Light on the Old Testament.
(1) The Building of Jerusalem.
(2) The Overthrow of Jerusalem.
(3) The Progress of the Palestine Exploration.
(1) Work in and around the Holy City.
(2) Work outside the Holy City.
(3) Popular Lecture upon the General Results obtained by the Fund.
Application for Lectures may be either addressed to the Secretary, 24, Hanover Square, W., or sent to the address of the Lecturers.