The expectations which have been excited in the minds of men by the
prophecies contained in Scripture, and the hopes which have been roused
by them, have ever invested Palestine with an exceptional interest to
Biblical students; while its sacred conditions, historical associations,
and existing remains prove an attraction to crowds of pilgrims and
tourists, who annually flock to the Holy Land. As, however, the
impressions of a resident and those of a visitor are apt to differ
widely in regard to the conditions which actually exist there, and the
former has opportunities of researches denied to the latter, I have
ventured to think that a series of letters originally addressed to the
New York ‘Sun,’ and extending over a period of three years passed in the
country, might not be without interest to the general reader. Many of
these will be found to deal chiefly with archæological subjects, which
must, indeed, form the main subject of attraction to any one living in
the country, and conversant with its history.
A flood of light has been thrown of recent years upon its topography,
its ancient sites, and the extensive ruins which still exist to testify
to its once teeming population, by the prolonged and valuable researches
of the “Palestine Exploration Fund” of London.
As, however, these are embodied in volumes so expensive that they are
beyond the reach of the general public, and are too technical in their
character to suit the taste of the ordinary reader, I have in many
instances endeavoured to popularise them, availing myself extensively of
the information contained in them and in Captain Conder's excellent
‘Tent Work in Palestine,’ and quoting freely such passages as tended to
the elucidation of the subject under consideration, more especially with
regard to recent discovery at Jerusalem; but which, as I was grubbing
about, I have not been able to define as exactly as I should have liked
to do had all the publications been beside me at the moment.
The experience and investigation of the last three years, however, have
only served to convince me that the field of research is far from being
exhausted, and that, should the day ever come when excavation on a large
scale is possible, the Holy Land will yield treasures of infinite
interest and value, alike to the archæologist and the historian.