Byeways in Palestine

Rural paths, village lodgings and ancient ruins shape James Finn's account of travel in Palestine. Drawn from notes made during his residence there, these sketches concentrate on places away from the principal towns and familiar roads. Finn describes riding through summer heat and winter weather, meeting villagers and local officials, and sleeping in tents, convents and other shelters. The opening expedition leaves Jerusalem for the Jordan in May 1855, with guides, interpreters and muleteers accompanying the party.

Close attention to the landscape gives the writing its particular texture. Rock formations, water channels, crops and the remains of a Roman temple sit beside discussions of biblical place names. Near the Kishon, Finn considers how seasonal water and soft ground affect passage across the valley. Readers interested in nineteenth-century travel accounts can follow both his practical observations and the biblical associations through which he interprets the country.