"I've been reading about it as we rode along," said Fred. "It is the spot where King Omri placed the capital of the kingdom of Israel, and where Ahab built the temple of Baal after marrying Jezebel, the daughter of the King of Sidon. We can find much of the history of Samaria in the Books of the Kings in the Old Testament. The names of the prophets Elisha and Elijah are connected with Samaria, and it was here that King Herod the Great devoted much time and effort to make the most beautiful city of Palestine." When Fred had finished his account of Samaria the travellers moved on. They reached the village in a quarter of an hour or so, and were taken at once to the ruined Church of St. John, which is now used as a mosque. The inhabitants gathered around the door, and at first refused permission for the strangers to enter; but the dragoman had taken the precaution to bring a permit from the Governor of Nabulus, and to engage a soldier from the same official. The permit and the soldier had the effect of opening the doors, and also of keeping the natives in order. The modern residents of Samaria have none of the qualities of the good Samaritan of scriptural renown, and show no hesitation at the robbery of travellers when the latter are without protection. The tomb of John the Baptist is pointed out in the space enclosed by the walls of the church, but the tradition concerning it is on very doubtful authority. The places of his imprisonment and execution are also shown, but there is no mention of them by the early writers until after the third century. The summit of the hill is covered with ruins, and there is an open space once surrounded with columns, of which fifteen are still in position, but without their capitals. Partly down the hill are the remains of the colonnade erected by King Herod, and intended to form the great street of the city. There were two rows of these columns about fifty feet apart, and they were more than half a mile in length: enough of the columns are standing to give an idea of the original magnificence of the place. [Illustration: VIEW OF JENIN, THE ANCIENT ENGANNIM.] Leaving Sebustieh, our friends continued their ride, and just about sunset came to Jenin, where the tents were ready for them. It began to rain as they arrived, but as there was no wind, and the clouds soon broke away, nobody suffered any special inconvenience. Frank was about to ask a question concerning their camping-place, when the Doctor proceeded to give the desired information. "Jenin," said he, "is the ancient Engannim, and is just at the entrance of the Plain of Esdraelon. The plain is sometimes called the battle-field of Palestine, and was probably the ancient Plain of Jezreel. The battle in which Saul and Jonathan his son were slain took place a little beyond here, near the modern village of Zerin, the ancient Jezreel."