BETHLEHEM. — In sacred interest this village, though it be “little among the thousands of Judah,” is only second to Jerusalem itself. Few will climb the terraced acclivities that lead up to it from the Mar Saba road, or pass along the winding path that approaches it from the Holy City, without calling to mind that wondrous event which has given its name to our era. But independent of all associations its appearance is striking.

Mar Sâba to Bethlehem. — By making an early start from the convent and crossing the mountain to Bethlehem, the traveller will have sufficient time to visit all the places of interest there, and to return to Jerusalem in the evening. Thus a day may be saved. The road leads for ½ hr. back again along the S. bank of the Kidron, and then turning to the l, passes a low ridge, and crosses a succession of naked plateaus.

Convent of Mar Sâba.—In the wild grandeur of its situation Mar Sâba is the most extraordinary building in Palestine. Just at the place where it stands, a small side ravine tumbles down into the Kidron, and the buildings cover both sides of the former, and the projecting cliff between the two, the irregular masses of walls, towers, chambers, and chapels, here perched upon narrow rock terraces, and there clinging to the sides of precipices.

The Dead Sea to Mar Sâba.—The direct road from the little peninsula at the north-western corner of the Dead Sea to Mar Sâba can be ridden in about 4 ½ hrs. It first leads for 1 h. across the plain, passing to the right of a jungle of canes and thorn-bushes, nourished by a brackish fountain called ’Ain Jehâir, and winding among a succession of deep furrows and pits, wrought by winter torrents in the white chalk strata, not inaptly compared by Maundrell to a collection of gigantic lime-kilns.

From the Jordan to the Dead Sea: —The Jordan, a short distance below the pilgrims’ bathing-place, sweeps round to the W., and then to the S.E. and S. again; widening gradually as it advances, and becoming more sluggish. Towards the mouth of the river the banks are low and muddy. At the mouth the width is 180 yds., and the depth only 3 ft.; but there is no ford, owing to the soft and slimy nature of the banks and bed. The embouchure is considerably inclined to the north-eastern angle of the Dead Sea, and immediately in front of it are 3 small mud islands from 6 to 8 ft.

Jericho to the Jordan.—The distance from Jericho to the banks of the Jordan is about 1 ½ h. The bathing-place of the Latin pilgrims is nearly due E., beside the ruined convent of St. John, now called Kusr el Yehud, “the Jews’ Castle.” That of the Greeks is lower down, and is the one usually visited by travellers. We shall make a slight détour, so as to take in an ancient site, and as the road is good we can make up for it by a canter across the plain.