preface, and a list of contents, and closes with an index of natural history, an index of texts, and an index of miscellaneous topics. It is clearly and well printed, and externally is a handsome book. The quantity of real substantial matter is very considerable, as the author indulges in no rhetorical flights, but is mainly intent upon a clear and accurate record of facts and observations. Yet the book is not without sentiment, it is occasionally enlivened by flashes of imagination, and above all, it is pervaded by a spirit of earnest and enlightened piety. Therefore while pre-eminently distinguished for its scientific features, for which it will be of inestimable value to inquiring minds, it is a work which every intelligent person may read with instruction and satisfaction.

It is curious to observe how the work of exploring Palestine grows. Pilgrims from time to time jotted down their notes; but they rather left hints to later ages than real information to any. Travellers went over the land and prepared the way for fuller investigation. Explorers at length increased and multiplied, and the map of the land was partially reconstructed. Tourists flocked across, and for the most part never saw beneath the surface, although ten days in the Holy Land has (with the aid of Robinson and Porter, and others) been long enough to call into existence a book of travels. Still, all the time, little by little, facts have been accumulated in sundry departments, and we have began to read the Bible with much better light than our fathers had. Strange to say, the natural history has been specially neglected. Vegetable and animal life, and geology have had far too little attention. The observations of Shaw and of Hasselquist more than a century ago are counted worthy of attention even now; and the compilations of home writers from divers sources shew how deficient has been our knowledge of "the land which flowed with milk and honey," and of the physical character and productions of neighbouring territories.

Better times are at hand, and we gladly welcome the volume before us as an excellent contribution to our stock of knowledge. The Rev. Mr. Tristram, and several other gentlemen, in 1863-4, spent nearly ten months in examining chiefly the geology and natural history of the country. They devoted particular attention to the basin of the Dead Sea (of which an excellent map is supplied), and to the country on the east of the Jordan, which has often been visited, but never satisfactorily explored and mapped. The party of travellers comprised draughtsmen and a photographer, a botanist, a naturalist, and others, indeed all seem to have been gentlemen of scientific tastes, and with the requisite measure of enthusiasm. It is not to be expected that everything in the resulting volume is new, or that nothing remains to be told, but those who have any acquaintance with works about Palestine, cannot fail to see that this embodies an unusually large proportion of valuable materials. The consequence will be, that the book will retain its place and its honour, while mere moving panoramas painted in glowing colours by flying travellers, will find their level in a much inferior position. If we are not mistaken there is vitality in the work, and

it will not be so short-lived, although it may not be so much sought after at first, as some other more showy and pretentious books, which mainly consist of "leather and prunella." In regard to one such book we discharged an unwelcome duty in our last. Mr. Tristram is scarcely to be called brilliant, racy, dazzling, and the like, but his attainments in science, which are of no mean order, his evident conscientious regard to truthfulness, in short, the general furniture of his head and heart, give us all confidence in him when he is telling us what he saw. Nevertheless, when he touches upon questions which rather require a critical faculty than anything else, he does not seem to us to be always equally successful.

We have mentioned the map of the Dead Sea, and we add that this shews the route taken by the travellers. The other map likewise exhibits the routes which Mr. Tristram has followed on both sides of the Jordan from Bsherreh (in Lebanon) in the north to the south end of the Dead Sea. We see at a glance that he struck out paths almost or quite unexplored by Europeans; and we hope that others may imitate his example.

Mr. Tristram (a name which may be taken by our readers to imply the whole party) landed at Beyrout. Excursions were made into the vicinity, and among the first-fruits was the discovery of a mass of bone breccia, near the Dog River. Among the fragments are teeth of an ox, now extinct in Palestine, and perhaps the reem or unicorn of Moses! Other teeth are said to be those of the northern red deer or reindeer, and of the elk. It appears that traces of these animals have never before been met with so far south. Before long it became apparent that a rich harvest was in store for the lovers of natural history, and the handsome volume now in our hands shews to what an extent that harvest was gathered in. It is but what we might be expected to say perhaps, that the observations and discoveries in the department of natural history constitute the chief novelty in this excellent book.

Before leaving Beyrout the party had an opportunity of estimating the character of the work carried on by the American mission, and the result is highly satisfactory. A visit to Daoud Pasha is recorded, and becomes the occasion of a very favourable opinion of that important personage. From Beyrout the party proceeded southwards along the shore to Sidon, and after an inland excursion, advanced to Sarepta, where a night was passed. Tyre came next, and thence also a diversion was made into the interior. In due time Carmel was reached, and was very wisely made the scene of extensive operations. From Carmel the route followed took in Nazareth, Nablus, and other interesting localities, and in the end Jerusalem was reached. The holy city was left behind for an exploration of Jericho and its region, and especially for an examination of the Dead Sea. The western shore of this famous lake was traversed in its entire length, as well as its southern extremity. There is no part of the narrative more curious and valuable, perhaps, than that which treats of these latter performances. From the Dead Sea, the travellers crossed the hilly country

as far as the site of Beer Sheba, whence they moved northwards by way of Hebron to Jerusalem again.

Setting out once more towards the north, after a trip to Jaffa, Mr. Tristram found himself near the sea of Tiberias, around which many very important observations were made. This movement was followed by another of extreme interest, into the regions on the east of the Jordan, which have been, and we fear will for some time remain, far too little known. The last excursion thither has added considerably to our information, both by giving us new facts, and by correcting old Returning to the Jordan, the party crossed the country again by Nazareth to the Mediterranean, and resumed operations in that part of the land. As all roads lead to Rome, so we suppose all roads lead to Jerusalem, for we find ourselves there again preliminary to further action in the plain of Jericho and elsewhere.

errors.

Yet again at Jerusalem! and by dint of much perseverance arrangements are made for an exploration to the north of Moab, a thing which is always difficult, and sometimes quite impossible. How little we know about the regions where Reuben and Gad once dwelt will be demonstrated by Mr. Tristram's ominous words : "Even Van de Velde's map is on this side of Jordan hopelessly incorrect." He adds that unfortunately, and we would say unaccountably, he was unprovided with instruments to take observations or accurate bearings! Yet this excessively interesting region is that of Nebo and Pisgah, of Rabbah, and of Heshbon, of Gilead, and of Bashan. Many a time have we sighed over the obscurity in which it is shrouded, and we welcome every ray of light which falls upon it. We are therefore very thankful

to Mr. Tristram for what he has done.

At last the Jordan was reached and crossed, and the travellers were once more in "sweet Galilee," and not long in making their way to Nazareth, where every Christian must feel at home. The next few weeks were devoted to an exploration of the district between the sea of Tiberias and southern Hermon, after which the track led by southeastern Lebanon over to northern Hermon, and on to Damascus. Subsequently the party went by way of Baalbek as far north as Bsherreh, from which they wended along the western slope of Lebanon to Beyrout, and there terminated their long, laborious, and most useful wanderings.

A complete itinerary would shew that the party touched or investigated a much larger number of interesting and important sites than we have mentioned. The volume itself will be found to contain many things which the archæologist and the topographer will be glad to see; but we repeat that the scientific elements are those which are most prominent, varied, and valuable. The geologist, the botanist, and the naturalist will find themselves in possession of facts with which they were previously unacquainted. Flora and fauna, heretofore not observed in the country, have been collected, and these as well as many already known are assigned to definite localities, so that we both know what they are, and where they have been met with. The department of

entomology does not seem to be so well represented as we could have wished, but that of fishes has been attended to. Birds and quadrupeds have been particularly observed, and the same remark applies to vegetable productions. While, however, so much of the text refers to birds, beasts, fishes, and plants, it may be accounted an omission that they are not delineated in any of the illustrations which adorn the book. We do not wish to part with any of the illustrations in question, for although not always excellent, they seem to have been drawn with more regard to accuracy than to pictorial effect. Some of the chromolithographs are very good, but they are not of equal merit; on looking at the view of Jebel Usdum, for example (p. 333), we cannot help asking which is Jebel Usdum. But ubi plura nitent,' as Horace says, we would not be hypercritical. In the present instance it would be unjust, for the volume has been compiled in the most careful and conscientious manner, and all who have been concerned in its production appear to have been animated with one spirit.

The reader of Scripture will be delighted to meet continually with passages which serve to illustrate or to confirm the sacred record. By way of example, we may refer to the account of the locality of Hazazon Tamar, which was certainly so called from its palm-trees. It is true that the palms are mentioned by Josephus and by Pliny, but now there is not one; "not a palm-tree now remains," says Mr. Tristram, yet we found interesting proof of its former abundance in this wady in great masses of palm leaves, quite perfect, beautifully petrified in the rocks, and entire from the root of the stem to the last point of the frond." That these palm leaves belong to no previous geological era is plain, for our author has just observed: "The process of limestone making is here going on with great rapidity, and often one-half of a tuft of maiden-hair fern or of cane might be seen growing while the other half was already petrified" (p. 290). It is very apparent that the name of Hazazon Tamar was not given at random, for the very stones bear witness to its appropriateness.

The personal incidents recorded in this charming work are sufficiently plentiful to satisfy any reasonable appetite, and what we are told of the men and manners of the country gives to the whole a real and life-like aspect. The glimpses of particular localities are brightened and relieved by the perpetual allusions to animated nature, as well as to vegetation.

We have now glanced at most of the points which it has seemed necessary to mention, and our readers will have learned that our interest in the work is not only deep, but favourable. Our limits prevent us from pointing out its more remarkable passages, and equally forbid us to mention in detail the actually new discoveries here recorded. Neither have we room for extracts. But what we have said will be enough to shew our estimate of the volume, and will, we hope, induce some at least to obtain it. It is excellent in spirit, interesting in manner, and instructive in substance, and we cannot suppose it possible for any one to peruse it without pleasure and profit. Its value will

be permanent, and it will be quoted as an authority in the distant future, as the less complete and more superficial books which were written a century ago about these regions by scientific men are still appealed to.

By the

The Pentateuch and Book of Joshua critically Examined.
Right Rev. JOHN WILLIAM COLENSO, D.D. Part V. London:
Longmans.

DR. COLENSO is gone back to his Zulu-land home, after a very long sojourn among us, and no small amount of contendings. The ship in which he departed is called the Verulam,-a name which is suggestive in more than one of its applications. But whatever reflections may be made upon the bishop, and whatever the sentiments with which he is regarded, it is quite certain that he has done something to be remembered. The Zulu of South Africa is as well known a personage as the mythical New Zealander. The work upon the Pentateuch ("Is this South African ?") has been read and discussed all over the civilized world. The critical, doctrinal, and ecclesiastical questions which have been started are not by any means disposed of. The bishop goes from one scene of commotion to another, and when he reaches Natal, he will probably be called upon to try his prowess with the dignitaries and clergy of the South African Church. We need say nothing of his pending lawsuit here, which will tax the lawyers and others concerned in it, and probably take a place among the celebrated cases of our country.

But leaving these details, let us look for a few moments at the portly volume now before us, which far exceeds the proportions of any of its predecessors. It symbolizes the prodigious energy of its author, who dated the preface to his first part, "London, Oct. 4, 1862," and has dated this fifth "London, June 3, 1865." In the meantime he has found recreation in publishing an abridgement of the whole, in translating and publishing a volume from the Dutch by Professor Kuenen, and in a number of letters, pamphlets, and all sorts of things. His public labours have corresponded with his private ones, and we therefore repeat that the volume of six hundred and ninety pages now before us symbolizes his prodigious activity. It is divisible into three parts, a long preface, a series of twenty-two chapters, and an appendix of three hundred and twenty pages. In the preface, Dr. Colenso himself exhibits the contents of the present volume, which he says, he leaves behind him "as a token of farewell at once to his friends and to his adversaries." He believes that in chap. i. he has proved that a very large portion of Joshua was written by the author of Deuteronomy, from which it inevitably follows that Moses did not write the latter. He further supposes that the Deuteronomist revised the first four books of the Pentateuch. Nobody can question the ingenuity of this process; but the shadowy and evanescent phenomena to which appeal must be chiefly made, leaves abounding hope for any future speculator. The second chapter resumes the question as to Genesis, and this, with