Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/114

90 Information with reference to the discovery of these sarcophagi, together with descriptions of them and of the tombs in which they were found, and plans of the tombs were published in the Quarterly Statements for 1887, p. 69, and for 1888, pp. 5, 9, 140.

Herr Ton Schick sends a copy of a Greek inscription on an ancient tombstone found on the summit of Mount Olivet by the Greek Bishop Epiphanias, who translates the inscription as follows: "The tomb of our holy father Theogenos. In the year 220." The Bishop thinks this is the Martyrs' Chronology, and that 284, the year of Diocletian's reign, should be added, making the date of the tomb A.D. 504.

Herr von Schick has also forwarded impressions in wax of some scarabei said to have been found at Askelon, and drawings of some bronze (?) medals alleged to have been discovered at Et Tireh, north-west of Ramallah.

During the visit of the recent English pilgrim party to Jerusalem, lectures were delivered by the Rev. A. H. Kelk, on "Walks about Jerusalem"; by the Rev. J. Zeller, on "The Druzes"; by the Rev. J. E. Hanauer, on "The Present Walls and Grates of Jerusalem," and on "The Haram"; and by Mr. F. J. Bliss on "The Mounds of Palestine."

Mr. Baldensperger's "Answers to Questions" on Birth, Marriage, and Death among the Fellahin of Palestine are of special interest as illustrating passages of the Bible. The paper will be found in the present number, p. 127, et seq.

All Palestine explorers will be glad that Kerak is now occupied by a Turkish garrison. Doubtless under the protecting ægis of the sovereign power this remote and wild part of the country will be safer for travellers than it has hitherto been, and archæological discoveries of much interest and importance may be hoped for.

The Greek and other inscriptions from the Hauran, collected by the Rev. W. Ewing, have been reproduced, and will be published with translations and notes. Professor Ramsay and Mr. A. G. Wright, of Aberdeen, and Mr. A. Souter, M. A,, of Caius College, Cambridge, have kindly prepared them for publication.

The first edition of Major Condor's "Tell Amarna Tablets" having been sold within the year, lie has prepared a second edition, in which a new chapter is added, giving in full the Royal letters from Armenia, Elishah, Babylon, Assyria, &c., which are of great historical importance, and which contain allusions to the revolts in Palestine, and to the defeat of the Hittites. Major Conder has corrected his translations of the other tablets, and has added a