13; John vi.

17.) The difficulties about Bethsaida are still greater; for the hypothesis, somewhat generally admitted, of two Bethsaidas, the one on the eastern, the other on the western shore of the lake, and at two or three leagues from one another, is rather singular.] The lake, the horizon, the shrubs, the flowers, are all that remain of the little canton, three or four leagues in extent, where Jesus founded his Divine work.

The trees have totally disappeared.

In this country, in which the vegetation was formerly so brilliant that Josephus saw in it a kind of miracle--Nature, according to him, being pleased to bring hither side by side the plants of cold countries, the productions of the torrid zone, and the trees of temperate climates, laden all the year with flowers and fruits[1]--in this country travellers are obliged now to calculate a day beforehand the place where they will the next day find a shady resting-place.

The lake has become deserted.