79 On the valley of the Nahr Ibrahim, its scenery and monuments, see Edward Robinson, _Biblical Researches in Palestine_3 (London, 1867), iii. 603-609; W. M. Thomson, _The Land and the Book, Lebanon, Damascus, and beyond Jordan_ (London, 1886), pp. 239-246; E. Renan, _Mission de Phénicie_, pp. 282 _sqq._; G. Maspero, _Histoire Ancienne des Peuples de l’Orient Classique_, ii. (Paris, 1897) pp. 175-179; Sir Charles Wilson, _Picturesque Palestine_ (London, N.D.), iii. 16, 17, 27. Among the trees which line the valley are oak, sycamore, bay, plane, orange, and mulberry (W. M. Thomson, _op. cit._ p. 245). Travellers are unanimous in testifying to the extraordinary beauty of the vale of the Adonis. Thus Robinson writes: “There is no spot in all my wanderings on which memory lingers with greater delight than on the sequestered retreat and exceeding loveliness of Afka.” Renan says that the landscape is one of the most beautiful in the world. My friend the late Sir Francis Galton wrote to me (20th September 1906): “I have no good map of Palestine, but strongly suspect that my wanderings there, quite sixty years ago, took me to the place you mention, above the gorge of the river Adonis. Be that as it may, I have constantly asserted that the view I then had of a deep ravine and blue sea seen through the cliffs that bounded it, was the most beautiful I had ever set eyes on.” _ 80 Etymologicum Magnum_, _s.v._ Ἄφακα, p. 175. 81 Melito, “Oration to Antoninus Caesar,” in W. Cureton’s _Spicilegium Syriacum_ (London, 1855), p. 44. 82 E. Renan, _Mission de Phénicie_, pp. 292-294. The writer seems to have no doubt that the beast attacking Adonis is a bear, not a boar. Views of the monument are given by A. Jeremias, _Das Alte Testament im Lichte des Alten Orients_2 (Leipsic, 1906), p. 90, and by Baudissin, _Adonis und Esmun_, plates i. and ii., with his discussion, pp. 78 _sqq._ 83 Macrobius, _Saturn_, i. 21. 5. 84 Lucian, _De dea Syria_, 8. M22 Phoenician colonies in Cyprus. 85 F. C. Movers, _Die Phoenizier_, ii. 2, p. 224; G. Maspero, _Histoire Ancienne des Peuples de l’Orient Classique_, ii. 199; G. A. Smith, _Historical Geography of the Holy Land_ (London, 1894), p. 135.