It is Islamism, and especially the Mussulman reaction against the Crusades, which has withered as with a blast of death the district preferred by Jesus.

The beautiful country of Gennesareth never suspected that beneath the brow of this peaceful wayfarer its highest destinies lay hidden.
[Footnote 1: This is the estimate of Captain Lynch (in Ritter, _Erdkunde_ xv., 1st part, p.

20.) It nearly agrees with that of M.de Bertou (_Bulletin de la Soc.

de Geogr._, 2d series, xii., p.

146.)] [Footnote 2: The depression of the Dead Sea is twice as much.] [Footnote 3: _B.J._, III.x.7 and 8.] Dangerous countryman! Jesus has been fatal to the country which had the formidable honor of bearing him.