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266 it could not be found. In such a case he thought we ought to show a little consideration and forbearance. "Would we come to his tent to talk it over?" He was very humble, and came up to my saddle and kissed my hand — a great act of humiliation for the mudir of a powerful tribe, I felt humbled for him, that he should be so humbled before me, and if I could have followed my impulse, would have fallen on his neck, and not only forgiven him, but pledged him eternal friendship. But Dr. Post insisted that this was no light matter; that other travellers were exposed to the same indignity and insult; and that for their protection it was our duty to make an example. I could but acknowledge that he was right at least so far as this, that the man should be severely punished. With this stern sense of duty, the Doctor waved away the proffered hospitality as if it had been a guilty temptation; we resumed our march, the camels took their long strides, leaving the mudir standing in the path, to return to his tent "a sadder and a wiser man."

We now quickened our steps across the valley, and up the hill. The view on every side was enchanting. The sun had just risen, but as it was behind us, it did not dazzle us, but cast a soft light on the green fields that waved round us like a sea; and as it shone along a chain of mountains on our right, it brought out in alternate sunlight and shadow their projecting masses and their more retired recesses. That was the Hill Country of Palestine! Could we but stand on the top of that ridge, and look down on the other slope, we should see nestled among the hills the city of Hebron, where David reigned seven years before he removed to Jerusalem, and where an aged tree still bears the name of Abraham's oak. There is the burying-place of the patriarchs in the Cave of Machpelah, to which Jacob, dying in Egypt, charged his children to