The Brigade did not continue the march again until 19.00, when it moved along the old Roman road.  Still “down,” “down,” round sharp bends, and still along the edges of precipices hundreds of feet deep!  At length a final, particularly steep slope, brought us to Jericho,[15] on the plain of the Jordan Valley, and 820 feet below the level of the sea.  A halt was made here for a short time, and then the Brigade marched north-east (through clouds of dust), to its camping area in the Wadi Nueiame, arriving at midnight.  Here, on dismounting in the dark, one seemed to be standing in mud, but, upon closer examination, this was found to be merely several inches of fine dust!  Sec.-Lieut.  Cummer, whose turn it was to be with the advance party that day, was waiting to show the Squadron its camping ground, which turned out to be as good as could be expected, and alongside a stream.  A few bell-tents were already standing, which were appreciated.

FOOTNOTES: 

[15] The site of the present Jericho has only been occupied since mediaeval times.  The ancient Jericho lay near the spring Ain-es-Sultan and the City of Roman times was more to the south-west.  The Biblical references to Jericho are as follows:  Deut. xxxiv; Josh. vi, 26; I Kings xvi, 34; II Kings ii, 4, 5, 11.  Only a mound exists now, to mark the position of the ancient city, but excavations here have brought to light some interesting relics.

THE “BEAUTIFUL” VALLEY OF JORDAN.

The following are a few extracts from the notes of a member of the Squadron, which gives a vivid description of his experiences on the road to the Jordan.  He says:—­

“The sun was just setting as we approached Jerusalem, and the ancient walls of the Holy City were bathed in orange light against an opalescent sky.  The long dusty column of the Brigade toiled its way up the steep hill into the city, and passing close by the Jaffa Gate ‘turned left’ and followed the main thoroughfare towards the Damascus Gate.  Outside of Fast’s Hotel (a former German concern, but now famous throughout the E.E.F.) stands a group of officers and soldiers, watching our brigade pass, and cheering us on as we move into the dusk.

“Over the Mount of Olives, past the Garden of Gethsemane (the black points of its many cypress trees now silhouetted against the sky), what thoughts are ours as we cross this hallowed ground amid surroundings so deeply associated with our religion!  Some of us may never return, but yet we shall have followed to our fate along a path that still holds memories of that greatest sacrifice the world has ever known!

“Dark has fallen, and the stars shine bright in a velvet sky.  At length we approach the little Village of Bethany,[16] ’the town of Mary and Martha’; near which we dismount and breathe our horses for a space; finding a little shop close at hand, we buy some fruit