most ancient buildings; while out of the cracks of the domes, and on the terraced roofs of many of the houses, straggling herbage sprang.
In the streets there was renewed activity; for already the Latin pilgrims were beginning to flock to Jerusalem that they might celebrate Easter at the Holy Sepulcher. English and American travelers were to be seen in the principal streets, sketching under difficulties in the midst of crowds of lookers-on, or making bad bargains with the turbaned salesmen in the bazars. Outside the town, too, the scenery had changed. Wherever the earth rested on the rocky hills verdure appeared, and the plains, and the cemeteries, and valleys were gay with flowers. Bulbous plants abounded, especially asphodels, and the hyacinth, squill, garlic, and star of Bethlehem. Every evening at sunset large companies of people, of all tribes and nations, might be seen entering the city gates, after having enjoyed their evening walk.
I made pleasant excursions in the neighborhood, and revisited many of the chief places in Jerusalem with parties of English travelers, and thus the time passed till March 18th, when to my delight my brother arrived soon after sunrise, in company with the Pasha and his troops. During the day a fierce hot sirocco wind prevailed, and threatened to scorch and destroy the crops. Before sunset we rode out with a large party to see the Jewish plantation, where newly-grafted olive-trees were putting forth new leaves, and apricot, and nectarine, and other fruit trees looked flourishing. But the fields of wheat and barley and the beds of vegetables thirsted for the "latter rain." The gardeners and farm-laborers had been praying for it for many days. They called our attention to a small group of dense black clouds which were then slowly rising out of the west, and one of them said, "Our hope is in those clouds." As we rode home ward a few large drops of rain reminded us of the gardener's words. During the night the west wind rose with
