The city is at present under the government of a sangiac, whose tyranny keeps the christian inhabitants so poor, that their chief support and trade consist in providing strangers with accommodations, and selling them beads, relics, &c. for which they are compelled to pay considerable sums to the sangiac and his officers.

The canton of the tribe of Judah was bounded on the east by the Asphaltite lake, and on the west by the tribes of Dan and Simeon. It was reckoned the largest and most populous of the Jewish territories, and the inhabitants were the most valiant. The land was charmingly diversified with hills and dales, meadows, lakes, and fountains; and exclusive of that part which lay Contiguous to Idumea, it produced an exuberant supply of fruits, corn, oil, and wine. It was probably in Judah that the Canaanites resided, and it was here likewise that Abraham and his descendants sojourned, previous to their removal into Egypt.

The lot of Dan was bounded on the north by Ephraim, on the west by the Philistines and the Mediterranean, on the south by Simeon, and on the east by Judah and Benjanin. Its greatest length, from north to south, did not exceed forty miles; and the whole tract was rather narrow; but what it wanted in room was fully compensated by the richness of the soil, and the valour and industry of its inhabitants, some of whom penetrated to the utmost verge of Palestine on the north in quest of new settlements. Here was the famous valley, Nahal-Escol, from which the Israel

Jud-k was the chief and royal tribe, from which the king

itish spies brought Moses such noble specimens of the fertility of the land. Among the most consider able cities of this part was Joppa, now Jaffa, the only port which the Jews had on the Mediterranean. It was seated on a high hill, which commanded a fine prospect of a fertile country on one side, and of the sea on the other. This city suffered so severely during the holy war, that scarcely any of its buildings were left standing, except two old castles. It is now rebuilt towards the sea, with storehouses, and is possessed of a considerable trade. On the western side of the haven is a copious spring, which yields an excellent supply to the inhabitants, and an acceptable refreshment to travellers.

The tribe of Simeon was confined to a very small territory in the most southern corner of Judea, bounded by Dan on the north, by the little river Sichor on the south, by Judah on the east, and by a small neck of land towards the Mediterranean on the west. The greatest part of it was sandy, barren, and mountainous; and the inhabitants were so harassed by the Idumeans on one side, and the Philistines on the other, that they were necessitated to seek their fortune among other tribes. Some hired themselves out to assist their brethren in the conquest of their lots, and others dispersed themselves among every tribe, where they served as scribes, notaries, &c., so fully was Jacob's curse verified on them, as well as on the tribe of Levi, on account of their cruel massacre of the Shechemites: "Cursed (said the patriarch) be their anger, for it was fierce; and their revenge, for it was inhuman: I will disperse them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel." Having thus completed the purposed descrip

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tion of the lots of the twelve tribes, it will be proper to speak of the five Philistine satrapies, prelusive to the geography of those nations which bordered on the Israelitish provinces.

These satrapies, viz. Gath, Ekron, Ashdod, Ascalon, and Gaza, were situated along the Mediterranean coast; and extended from the sea port of Jamnia to the mouth of the river Bezor. The extent of their inland territories cannot be satisfactorily ascertained, but they were upon the whole confined within narrow limits.

Gath, the birth-place of the gigantic warrior Goliath, was conquered by king David, fortified by Rehoboam, and retaken by Uzziah and Hezekiah. It was seated under the 35th degree of east longitude, and 31st degree, 56 min. of north latitude; six miles south of Jamnia, fourteen south of Joppa, and thirty-two west of Jerusalem. It recovered its liberty and pristine splendor in the days of Amos and Micah, but was afterward demolished by Hazael, king of Syria. After that period it was a place of small consideration, till the holy war, when Fulk, king of Jerusalem, erected a castle on its ruins.

Ekron, situated about ten miles south of Gath, and thirty-four west of Jerusalem, appears to have been a place of considerable strength and importance. Upon the first division of "The promised Land," it fell to the lot of Judah, but was afterwards given to the tribe of Dan.

Ashdod was a famous port on the Mediterranean, situated about fifteen miles south of Ekron, between that city and Ascalon. It was here the idol Dagon fell in pieces before the ark of God. The strength of the place was so considerable, that it is said to have sustained a siege of

twenty

twenty-nine years under Psammetichus king of Egypt.

Ascalon, another maritime town, and satrapy, lying between Ashdod and Gaza, was reckoned the strongest of any on the Philistine coast; but was soon reduced, after the death of Joshua, by the tribe of Judah. This city was made an episcopal see from the earliest ages of christianity, and during the holy war it was adorned with several magnificent edifices; but these have been demolished by the Saracens and Turks, and Ascalon is now dwindled into an inconsiderable village.

Gaza, the last satrapy, stood on a fine eminence, about fifteen miles south of Ascalon, four north of the river Bezor, and at a small distance from the Mediterranean. It was surrounded by the most beautiful valleys, supplied with an abundance of water, and encompassed, at a further distance on the inland side, with cultivated hills. The city was remarkably strong, and surrounded with walls and towers after the Philistine

manner. It was taken by Caleb, the son of Jephunneh, but soon after regained by the ancient inhabitants, who kept possession of it till the time of Samson. It passed from the Jews to the Chaldeans, Persians, and Egyptians, till it was pillaged by Alexander the Great. It was a second time destroyed by the Maccabees, and no further mention is made of it till St. Luke speaks of it as a ruined place.

It stands about three miles distant from the sea, and still exhibits some noble monuments of antiquity, such as stately marble colonnades, finely wrought sepulchres, &c. In the immediate vicinage of the city is a round castle, flanked with E 3

four

four square towers; and a little above it are the remains of an old Roman castle, the materials of which are so firm, that the hammer will make no impression on them. The Greeks have here a handsome church, with a fine roof, supported by marble pillars of the Corinthian order. The castle is the residence of the sangiac. The adjacent territory is pleasant and delightful; but beyond it the ground is rather barren, quite to the river of Egypt, and inhabited by wild Arabs.

Majuma, or New Gaza, was the ancient seaport to the former, and a place of considerable note in the time of Constantine the Great. It stood near the mouth of the river Bezor, in 31 deg. 41 min. north latitude, and 34 deg. 30 min. east longitude. It still possesses some curious antiquities, but it would be now difficult to determine whether they belonged originally to Majuma or Old Gaza.

To the south of Majuma stood the two maritime cities of Anthedon and Rhinocolura : the former was a port on the Mediterranean, destroyed by Alexander Junncus, one of the Maccabitish kings, and afterwards rebuilt by Herod, who called it Agrippius, in honour of Agrippa, the favourite of Augustus. The latter was seated on the northern side of the river of Egypt, which parted that kingdom from the tribe of Simeon. It very early became a bishopric under the metropolitan of Felusium; and in the time of the holy war it was converted into a strong fortress, under the name of Pharamica. It is at present an inconsiderable place, and the circumjacent territory a mere wilderness.

It now remains to conclude the present section with a concise account of the countries belonging

to