Page:Palestine Exploration Fund - Quarterly Statement for 1894.djvu/14

2 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 $3⁄8$-in. to the