sketch by the Author; looking north.

CHURCH OF ST. ANNE, AT SEFFURIEH 71

      From a photograph by Lieut. Kitchener, R.E.; looking east.

CARMEL 88

      From a water-colour sketch by the Author; looking west from near the village of Mujeidil.

CONSTANTINE’S BASILICA AT BETHLEHEM 145

      From a photograph by Lieut. Kitchener, R.E.; looking east.

MAR SABA 157

      From a photograph; looking north-east.

THE DOME OF THE ROCK 160

      From a photograph; looking north.

THE TEMPLE WALL 182

      From a sketch made by the Author in a chamber outside the west wall, near the north corner.

GILGAL 199

      From a sketch made by the Author on the spot; the view is north-west, over the Plain of Jericho.

DEBIR 236

      From a sketch by the Author; looking south-west.

THE VALLEY OF MICHMASH to face 256

      From a photograph by Lieut. Kitchener, R.E.; looking east.

ENGEDI 260

      From a sketch by the Author; looking south.

GATH 273

      From a sketch by the Author; looking south-east.

COLUMBARIA, NEAR BEIT JIBRÎN 275

      From a photograph by Lieut. Kitchener, R.E.

THE SEA OF GALILEE 289

      From a water-colour sketch by the Author; looking north from Kaukab el Hawa.

A DERWÎSH 298

      From a sketch by the Author.

COSTUMES OF MOSLEM PEASANTRY NEAR SHECHEM 315

      From a sketch by the Author.

MALE DANCERS 325

      From a sketch by the Author.

A BEDAWI WOMAN 336

      From a coloured sketch by the Author.

HAIFA 364

      From a water-colour drawing by the Author. View from the shore west of the German Colony; looking east.

INTRODUCTION.

THE Survey of Palestine was actually commenced at the end of the year 1871. Preliminary reconnaissances of parts of Palestine had been previously made by Captain Anderson, R.E., and Captain Warren, R.E., and the Ordnance Survey of the neighbourhood of Jerusalem, with the line of levels from the Mediterranean to the Dead Sea, and from Jerusalem to Solomon’s Pools, had been executed by Major Wilson, R.E.

It was by the advice of these experienced explorers that the Committee of the Palestine Exploration Fund undertook the Survey of Western Palestine, to the scale of one inch to the mile, the object being the complete examination of the whole country, with an amount of accuracy approaching that of Ordnance work.

The officer to whom this great work was entrusted was Captain Stewart, R.E., and his staff consisted of Sergeant Black and Corporal Armstrong, R.E.; Mr. C. F. Tyrwhitt Drake was also appointed as linguist and archæologist to the expedition.

The work met with a most serious check at its commencement. Captain Stewart, arriving in the most unhealthy time of the year, and engaged in a most unhealthy part of the country, while measuring the base line, was struck down with fever and invalided home. The Committee then honoured me with the offer of the command, as his successor, and I was instructed to proceed as soon as possible to Palestine.

In the meantime the