[p.45]

Thence it is five parasangs to Tiberias, which is situated upon the Jordan, which is here called the Sea of Chinnereth.  The Jordan at this place flows through a valley between two mountains, and fills the lake, which is called the Lake of Chinnereth; this is a large and broad piece of water like the sea.  The Jordan flows between two mountains, and over the plain which is the place that is called Ashdoth Hapisgah, and thence continues its course till it falls into the Sea of Sodom, which is the Salt Sea.  In Tiberias there are about fifty Jews, at their head being R. Abraham the astronomer, R. Muchtar, and R. Isaac.  There are hot waters here, which bubble up from the ground, and are called the Hot Waters of Tiberias.  Near by is the Synagogue of Caleb ben Jephunneh, and Jewish sepulchres.  R. Johanan ben Zakkai and R. Jehudah Halevi[96] are buried here.  All these places are situated in Lower Galilee.

From here it is two days to Tymin or Timnathah, where Simon the Just[97] and many Israelites are buried, and thence three parasangs to Medon or Meron.  In the neighbourhood there is a cave in which are the sepulchres of Hillel and Shammai.  Here also are twenty sepulchres of disciples, including the sepulchres of R. Benjamin ben Japheth, and of R. Jehudah ben Bethera.  From Meron it is two parasangs to Almah, where there are about fifty Jews.  There is a large Jewish cemetery here, with the sepulchres of R. Eleazar ben Arak, of R. Eleazar ben Azariah, of Chuni Hamaagal, of Raban Simeon ben Gamaliel, and of R. Jose Hagelili[98].

[p.46]

From here it is half a day’s journey to Kades, or Kedesh Naphtali, upon the Jordan.  Here is the sepulchre of Barak the son of Abinoam.  No Jews dwell here.

Thence it is a day’s journey to Banias, which is Dan, where there is a cavern, from which the Jordan issues and flows for a distance of three miles, when the Arnon, which comes from the borders of Moab, joins it[99].  In front of the cavern may be discerned the site of the altar associated with the graven image of Micah, which the children of Dan worshipped in ancient days.  This is also the site of the altar of Jeroboam, where the golden calf was set up.  Thus far reaches the boundary of the land of Israel towards the uttermost sea[100].

[p.47]

Two days’ journey brings one to Damascus, the great city, which is the commencement of the empire of Nur-ed-din, the king of the Togarmim, called Turks.  It is a fair city of large extent, surrounded by walls, with many gardens and plantations, extending over fifteen miles on each side, and no district richer in fruit can be seen in all the world.  From Mount Hermon descend the rivers Amana and Pharpar; for the city is situated at the foot of Mount Hermon.  The Amana flows through the city, and by means of aqueducts the water is conveyed to the houses of the great people, and into the streets and market-places.  The Pharpar flows through their gardens and plantations.  It