The house of Simon the Tanner was destroyed some centuries ago, but another house, which is probably of the same character, stands on its site, and tanning is still done in the neighbourhood. At least, it seems so by the smells. This house is now used as a second-class inn. It is a rocky structure, built high up over the sea, with steps outside which lead to the second story and roof. I climbed to the top, and there saw about the same view as did St. Peter. In front of me the blue Mediterranean stretched out toward the west. At the north were the glistening sands reaching toward the ruins of Cæsarea and the foothills of Mount Carmel, while at the south were the hills near which stood Askalon. It was here that St. Peter had that wonderful dream, in which he beheld all the beasts of the world let down from heaven in a sheet, in order that he might eat of them. You remember that he refused, saying: “Not so, Lord! for I have never eaten anything that is common or unclean.” And then came a voice which said: “What God hath cleansed that call not thou common.” It was these words that first led to the preaching of the Gospel to the Gentiles, bringing about the conversion of Cornelius, the Roman centurion, and later on the preaching of Christ to all the world. As my guide refreshed my biblical memory with this story, he told me of an American who had visited this place with him last week. Said Moses: “This American was a funny man, and it seemed to me a foolish one. He was not satisfied with seeing this house, but he asked me to show him the vision that St. Peter saw, and demanded to know what had become of the sheet. He said he did not think he ought to pay me unless I could show him the vision, but I told him that I could not do that unless he had St. Peter’s heart, and I was sure that he had not.” [Illustration: The men of Palestine are very strong and carry amazing loads on their backs. Both men and women think little of walking twenty miles a day. Many are too poor to keep even a donkey] [Illustration: Impenetrable hedges of giant cactus bushes intermingled with thorn are often used as fences to separate land holdings. One seldom sees a man carrying a water jar, for that is “women’s work” in the Holy Land] This American was probably facetious, but his questions are not unlike those of many of the tourists whose ignorance and superstition surpass belief. Many of them credit the most extravagant stories of every guide, and go about kissing spots which they imagine to be hallowed by their connection with the Bible, but of whose authenticity no one knows.