One finds there many casks filled with the bones of Israelites, as the members of the house of Israel were wont to bring the bones of their fathers thither and to deposit them there to this day[86].

[p.42]

Beyond the field of Machpelah is the house of Abraham; there is a well in front of the house, but out of reverence for the Patriarch Abraham no one is allowed to build in the neighbourhood.

From Hebron it is five parasangs to Beit Jibrin, which is Mareshah, where there are but three Jews[87].  Three parasangs further one reaches St. Samuel of Shiloh.  This is the Shiloh which is two parasangs from Jerusalem.  When the Christians captured Ramlah, the Ramah of old, from the Mohammedans, they found there the grave of Samuel the Ramathite close to a Jewish synagogue.  The Christians took the remains, conveyed them unto Shiloh, and erected over them a large church, and called it St. Samuel of Shiloh unto this day[88].

From there it is three parasangs to Mahomerie-le-petit[89], which is Gibeah of Saul, where there are no Jews, and this is Gibeah of Benjamin.  Thence three parasangs to Beit Nuba[90], which is Nob, the city of priests.

[p.43]

In the middle of the way are the two crags of Jonathan, the name of the one being Bozez, and the name of the other Seneh[91].  Two Jewish dyers dwell there.

Thence it is three parasangs to Rams, or Ramleh, where there are remains of the walls from the days of our ancestors, for thus it was found written upon the stones.  About 300 Jews dwell there.  It was formerly a very great city; at a distance of two miles there is a large Jewish cemetery[92].

Thence it is five parasangs to Y[=a]fa or Jaffa, which is on the seaboard, and one Jewish dyer lives here.  From here it is five parasangs to Ibelin or Jabneh, the seat of the Academy, but there are no Jews there at this day.  Thus far extends the territory of Ephraim.

From there it is five parasangs to Palmid, which is Ashdod of the Philistines, now in ruins; no Jews dwell there.  Thence it is two parasangs to Ashkelonah or New Askelon, which Ezra the priest built by the sea.

[p.44]

It was originally called Bene Berak.  The place is four parasangs distant from the ancient ruined city of Askelon.  New Askelon is a large and fair place, and merchants come thither from all quarters, for it is situated on the frontier of Egypt.  About 200 Rabbanite Jews dwell here, at their head being R. Zemach, R. Aaron, and R. Solomon; also about forty Karaites, and about 300 Cuthim.  In the midst of the city there is a well, which they call Bir Abraham; this the Patriarch dug in the days of the Philistines[93].

From there it is a journey of a day to St. George[94] of Ludd:  thence it is a day and a half to Zerin or Jezreel, where there is a large spring.  One Jewish dyer lives here.  Three parasangs further is Saffuriya or Sepphoris.  Here are the graves of Rabbenu Hakkadosh, of Rabban Gamaliel, and of R. Chiya, who came up from Babylon, also of Jonah the son of Amittai; they are all buried in the mountain[95].  Many other Jewish graves are here.