The great pyramid passages and chambers

covered with a layer of earth. In this way a series of terraces have been formed one above the other along the sides of the hills. As no plaster has been used in the construction of. the walls, rain trickles freely through them, but the spaces between the stones are too fine to allow the passage of much earth.

457 The soil around Jerusalem is very rich, and is of a beautiful golden-brown colour. It is interesting to note the contrast between it and the soil of Lower Egypt, which, though also extremely fertile, is of a deep black hue. This corresponds well with the Scriptural symbolism of the two countries. Egypt typifies ‘‘ this present evil world,” whereas Canaan, ‘‘the glorious land” (Dan. 11: 16), typifies the heavenly inheritance. Crops in both Egypt and Palestine grow with scarcely any effort, and where care is taken the results are wonderful. In the valley of the Jordan, a monastery possesses a vine which yields six tons of grapes. At one place tomatoes are grown which weigh three pounds each. Canaan must indeed have been a land “ flowing with milk and honey.”

458 Our sail across to Port Said was not agreeable; the cabins were stifling. It is warm now in the train, but it does not feel so hot as on the day when Stanley and | first arrived in Egypt. The harvest has now all been gathered, and everywhere we see the grain, mostly in bags ready for exportation, though in some places it is still lying in large heaps. In most of the fields we see yokes of oxen drawing the primitive ploughs which merely scratch the soil.

We are now nearing Cairo, and I must now close. We are all three feeling well, and hope to find Morton and Jack the same.

Your loving brother, JOHN EDGAR.

ON Vs,

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