vaulted tunnels.

Boshneck, who had partaken

pretty freely of the grape juice, undertook to lead the van. We all kept on our huge boots for fear of serpents, and a massive torch having been prepared, our expedition started, bent upon discovery. We talked of gold and jewels which might be secreted somewhere. Nothing but a damp, dripping cavern was as yet to be seen; yet we had progressed a pretty good distance-perhaps eight or ten minutes walking-when suddenly a huge bat flapped her wings violently and extinguished our light in an instant. All was now confusion, every one turning round instantly and attempting flight. Such falling about in the dark, and treading upon each other's heels-such mingled curses and bursts of laughter-such a mixed scene of anger, fear, and mirth was never before witnessed. We were compelled, from the many stunning knocks received from various projecting stones, to slacken our speed till it got to a snail's pace, and, by dint of feeling one's way, and occasionally crawling on all fours in the damp cavern, we at length arrived safely at its mouth. I asked Boshneck how it was that such a valiant man as he was, should have been the first to run in our dilemma. He

replied, laughingly, that he cared not for men any hour of the night or day, but that he lacked courage to combat Shitan (the devil) on his own ground.

At daybreak next morning a strong armed party from the hadji arrived with their own camels and mules, to transfer the loads from those we had escorted, and the moment this operation was completed, we started on our way homewards, as the report was current that numberless tribes were gathering in the vicinity, intent upon attacking Boshneck, to whom they owed many a grudge. We had hardly mounted ere random shots were fired at us. The distance, however, protected us from any serious results; the cameldrivers mounted their camels, the muleteers their mules; all carried light weights, and we returned at a speed very different from that at which we had come.

For the first few hours, the Arabs annoyed us exceedingly, and balls came humming unpleasantly near; but the soldiers, who formed our rearguard, bore all the brunt of this, and returned the enemy's fire with interest. As soon as we got fairly into the plain all this skirmishing ceased,

and the next day at mid-day we were safe at Gaza.

"And David and his men were in the wilderness of Maon: Saul also and his men went to seek him, and they told David: wherefore he came down into a rock, and abode in the wilderness of Maon."* Doubtless, one of the very caverns I had just visited had given this shelter to David in his troubles.

* I. Samuel, xxiii, 24—25.

Greek lady-Excursion round the coast-Sea-side caves -Goatherds-Mirage-The ruins of Askalon.

ALL Orientals, especially women, have an innate delight in pic-nic parties, and rural pleasure excursions. Spring is hailed with the utmost glee, and, during the fine season, feast days and holidays are invariably celebrated in the open air; even in Gaza, where, Heaven knows, there is not much of the picturesque to tempt one abroad on a broiling day, large parties of women may be seen issuing from the town, some mounted on donkeys, others on foot, all wending their way to the sea-shore, here to enjoy their frugal mid-day repast of bread, fruits, and curdled milk-to bathe in the sea-to

hear and recount tales, and fritter away the long sultry hours under the friendly shade of a ruined wall or some desolate fig-tree.

Amongst the harems of the great men of the place, such as the Governor, the Cadi, the Mufti, &c., are Turkish ladies, born and bred at Constantinople; and these beauties of the Bosphorus, thus placed in temporary exile, and deprived of all the attractive amusements of a Stambouline existence the daily visits to tinselled and highly aromatic bazaars-the intercourse with other harems, that spur to rivalry in costly silk robes and Cashmere shawls, bewail hourly their sad doom, and endeavour in some measure to atone for the want of amusement and gaiety by inviting each other on pleasure excursions to the gardens of their several lords and masters. On these occasions every endeavour is made to outvie each other in the splendour of their establishments. But, alas for them! and luckily for their husbands, the resources of the place are so very limited, the shops so poorly furnished in costly luxuries, that, beyond a few Damascus preserves (which are justly renowned in the East), some melons, water-melons, and fine pomegranates and figs, procured from