bushes—through valleys green with fennel, or rugged with rocks overgrown with gray lichens and amber-colored moss. Now and then we passed a clump of leafless bushes, every branch of which was covered with small, white, edible snails, which I mistook at first for buds. The only flowers I saw were the crane's-bill, goat's-beard, and small Indian pinks. Mount Tabor was full in view, like an irregular dark cone, rising above the other hills. In about an hour we entered a hilly and wooded district. The cool, pleasant shade of trees, and the songs of birds, roused and refreshed us, and, in groups of twos and threes, pleasantly chatting, we pursued our way. Mount Tabor, which had appeared to me to be gradually retreating as we advanced, was now quite out of sight; but after we had traversed some wood-crowned hills, and the dry beds of two or three Winter torrents, we saw it again, in all its beauty and grandeur. We hastened over a tree-covered slope, and down a fertile valley, and reached its base at about two o'clock. We gradually ascended an easy-winding path, pleasantly shaded, till we were about half-way up, when rocks and steep stone ledges, ancient masonry, and overhanging branches, obliged us to look cautiously before us, and to follow the steps of the leader carefully. Oaks—whence galls are procured—arbutus, pistacia vera, pistacia terebinthus—which yields what is called Venice turpentine—pistacia lentiscus—producing gum mastich—and locust-trees abound. They were wreathed with glossy-leaved creepers, but nearly every plant or shrub which I touched was armed with thorns as sharp as fine needles.
Looking down the steepest side, we could see the wide spread wings of eagles as they hovered just below us, or swept rapidly through the air. Black and fawn-colored vultures appeared with their bright pinions perfectly poised and almost motionless, supporting them in steady downward flight in spiral circles. As they rose again, their wings were set in motion, and I felt the disturbance of the air now and then when they passed near to us. In trying to
