tectural style of the building was somewhat like that of the double-storied cloisters of the medieval and Renaissance periods. The portico was furnished with 48 columns of cipollino marble on the ground-floor, and as many smaller columns of breccia corallina on the upper story. The Atrium was surrounded by state apartments in the lower story and by the private apartments of the Vestals in the upper story. A hall corresponding with the tablinum of a Roman house was paved with colored marbles and walled with marbles, and a number of smaller rooms around it are presumed to have been used for the deposition of archives. The situation having been very damp, elaborate arrangements were provided for warming and ventilating the building by means of hot-air furnaces and flues. The marks of the ruins indicate that the Atrium may have originally contained more than a hundred honorary pedestals with statues and eulogistic inscriptions of Vestales Maxima; but in several of these cases more than one of the pedestals appear to have commemorated the same lady. Most of these works have disappeared by having been burned into limestone. Twenty-eight of the inscriptions have been recovered in the Atrium, and eight other inscriptions, some of them older than any in the Atrium, have been found in other parts of the city. The earliest of the pedestals in the Atrium bears the name of Prætestata, daughter of Crassus, whose mother, Sulpicia, is mentioned by Tacitus in his history, iv, 42. These names occur, in the order of date: Numisia Maximilia, A. D. 201; Terentia Flavola, A. D. 215 (on four pedestals); Flavia Publicia, A. D. 247 (on seven pedestals); Coelia Claudiana, A. D. 286; a pedestal from which the name has been erased, A. D. 294; and Coelia Concordia, the last or the last but one of the Vestales Maximæ. Three statues were found in a comparatively perfect condition. One, which is supposed to represent Flavia Publicia, is described as an "exquisite statue." One upper part of a statue has the head in a fine state of preservation; and several headless parts of statues have been found.

Eight hundred and twenty-nine Anglo-Saxon coins, bearing the names of Alfred, Edward, Athelstan, Edmund, Onlaf, Sitrice, and Archbishop Plegmund, have been discovered within the Atrium.

Exploration of Palestine. The Palestine Exploration Fund has completed its survey of western Palestine, and has published the report of its work in seven volumes, with maps and drawings. It has identified, with more or less of certainty, the greater part of the more important places mentioned in the Bible, and has made as thorough examinations as local conditions and regard for the rights of property-owners would permit, of walls and ancient structures at Jerusalem and other cities. In its maps are noted down all of the springs, the caverns, the tombs; the ancient synagogues; the old "high places," now called

mukanes; the names of Roman temples constructed of materials previously used for synagogues; of Byzantine churches made of the same stones taken from the Roman temples; and of crusaders' forts made from these same stones worked over again; of which any relics have been found. Some ten thousand names have been corrected and translated or transliterated; and a plan has been drawn and published of every important ruin. A geological survey has been completed by Prof. Hull, which clearly illustrates the physical structure and topographical features of the country, and throws light on those parts of biblical history that are connected with such features.

An important identification has been probably fixed, independently of the surveys of the Palestine Exploration Fund, of the site of Kadesh-Barnea. The location of this place, which was an important station in the wanderings of the Israelites, had been a difficult problem to geographers, and they had not been able to agree upon it. The most generally accepted location was that of Robinson, who fixed it at a place called Wady-el-Jayb, where are certain springs called Ain-el-Weibeh. His identification was not sustained by any special evidence, either in the traditional name or the topographical features of the place. Shortly after 1842, the Rev. John Rowlands, whose attention had been directed to the spot, but who had not visited it in that year, made his way to a place called Gadis, or Ain Quadis, southwest of the Ain-el-Weibeh, and a little west of north of a third conjectural location at the Wady Jerafeh, where he found a spur of solid, naked rock, from the base of which issued a considerable stream that was lost in the sand at three or four hundred yards away. The conditions, in the name, the character of the situation, and its features, its position in the order of stations, and in other respects, all favored the identification of the spot with Kadesh-Barnea. No one, however, had succeeded in finding this place after Rowlands's account of it was published, and his theory was ignored, while that of Robinson became current. In 1881 the Rev. Henry Clay Trumbull, of Philadelphia, whose account has been published during the past year, succeeded in reaching Ain Quadis, and found it to correspond accurately with the description given of it by Rowlands, nearly forty years before.

Survey of Moab.-Capt. C. R. Conder, R. E., has published, in a book entitled "Heth and Moab," an account of a survey of part of the land that is supposed to have been included in the empire of the Hittites, and of the Moabite country north of the river Arnon, which he made in connection with the work of the Palestine Exploration Fund. The primary object of the survey was the exploration of Moab proper, but this was prevented by the interference of the Turkish officials; so that the investigations in that region were confined chiefly to what formed the north western part of the territory

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allotted to the tribe of Reuben. It was during this survey that Capt. Conder visited and identified the site of the ancient Hittite capital of Kadesh. Three places had been indicated as possibly occupying the locality of this city Antioch, Emesa (the modern Homs), and an island in the middle of the long lake near Homs. Capt. Conder gained satisfactory evidence that the real site was not at either of these places, but was at a spot now called Kedes, on the river Orontes, south of Homs. Two pictorial representations of Kadesh are given on the Egyptian monuments, in connection with the documents relating to the wars between Rameses II and the Hittites; one, which is slightly injured, on the walls of the Ramesseum at Thebes, and another at Aboo Simbul, fifty-seven feet by twenty-five feet in dimensions, showing the battle of Kadesh. All the features of the scene, as depicted in these views by contemporary artists, correspond with the situation examined by Capt. Conder, while no agreement was found between them and the other situations. The features of the place also correspond with the requirements of the textual descriptions of the battle; and the very name of the mound by which the ruin stands -Neby Mendeh-the surveyor observes, recalls the Egyptian war-god Mentu, or Mando, whom Rameses is said in the poem of the Pentaur to have invoked during the battle. The supposed situation in the lake was visited, and found not to fulfill any of the conditions of the problem. On the way between these two places, the party passed a curious inclosure which is called the "Ark of Noah." According to the Koran, the Tannûr, at Oven, south of Kadesh, was the spot whence the flood is sued and whither it returned. This "Ark of Noah" is an earthen inclosure about three hundred yards square, with mounds at the angles, which may mark the place of corner towers, and is surrounded by a ditch forty feet deep and wide. The building within lies with its angles to the cardinal points. At Tyre, a Phoenician votive tablet to Moloch Astarte was unearthed, and a text in eight lines, invoking a blessing from Baal, Lord of Heaven. The temple of Melkarth was apparently one hundred feet wide and one hundred and eighty feet long, with three walls and a peristyle. It faced north of northeast, and its pillars were only eighteen inches in diameter. Among remains on the site were those of two altars similar to those of the so-called "libationtables" of the Egyptians. One of them had an eagle carved on the side, and in its upper surface were sunk two flat basins, a foot square and a few inches deep. The other altar was plain, and had a single-basin of the same size as those in the former altar. A peculiar distinction is remarked between the altars of the Egyptians, Phoenicians, and Moabites, and those of the Israelites, that the former have been artificially prepared, and contain libation-vessels, while the latter were required to be made

of earth, or of stone on which no tool should be lifted. Before he was finally driven from the Moabite country, Capt. Conder succeeded in surveying nearly five hundred square miles of territory, discovered seven hundred rude stone monuments, and obtained a volume of notes, plans, and drawings, with forty photographs. Among the spots explored were the "Springs of Moses," the ancient "Ashdoth Pisgah," and the "Ridge of Nebo," the height of which was measured to be 2,648 feet. Here, at the "Field of Zophim," as well as at Banuth, Baal, and Peor, which was identified with a spot now called Minyeh, were found ancient stone monuments that appear to have been arranged in sevens, recalling how at each of these places, Balak, with Balaam, built seven altars. Passing the ancient Rabbath Ammon, where are distinguished the ruins of the Roman city of Philadelphia, dating from the second century, the party came, in the Wady es Sîr, upon the ancient trans-Jordanic Tyre, where were found, in the spot now known as the Arâk-el-Emir, or the Prince's Cliff, traces of the cave fortifications that were erected by Hyrcanus, when, after the death of his father Joseph, he was obliged to retire from Jerusalem before the superior force of his brothers.

The Empire of the Hittites.-Recent discoveries relating to the Hittites, and pointing to the former existence of a great empire of that people, were mentioned in the "Annual Cyclopædia" for 1882. The Hittites are often referred to in the Bible; they appear, under the name of the Kheta, on the Egyptian monuments, as formidable rivals and afterward as friends of the Egyptians, in the nineteenth dynasty, and under the name of the Khatti on the Assyrian monuments; and are probably the same as the Khretot enumerated by Homer among the allies of Priam. Numerous remains of hitherto unexplained origin that have been found in parts of Asia Minor and Syria, are now attributed to them. Among them are gigantic statues and stele, and inscriptions, which it has not yet been possible to decipher. Some of these inscriptions, called the Hamath inscriptions, from the place where they were found, have engaged the attention of antiquaries for several years. Two capitals of the Hittites have been identified, at Carchemish, on the Euphrates, and at Kadesh, on the Orontes, both of which are mentioned in the Egyptian or Assyrian records contemporaneous with the period of Hittite power. All that has been ascertained respecting these people and their empire, together with an exposition of the conclusions that have been deduced from the known facts, has been collated and set forth in a book on "The Empire of the Hittites," by W. Wright (London, 1884).

ARCTIC EXPLORATION. The Greely Expedition.-The commission appointed in December, 1883 (see "Annual Cyclopædia," 1883, p. 424), to consider plans for a new expedition for the relief of Lieut. A. W. Greely and his party of

observers at Lady Franklin Bay, received suggestions, orally and in writing, from various experts in Arctic navigation and exploration, including Capt. George E. Tyson, of the Hall Expedition; Lieut. W. I. Hunt, U. S. N., one of the officers of the Rodgers in her search for the Jeannette; Lieuts. Garlington and Colwell, and Capt. Pike, of the expedition of 1883, Lieut. Schwatka, and Dr. Emil Bessels, chief of the scientific corps of the Polaris Expedition. The report of the commission, based on the results of its inquiries, was submitted early in February. A programme for the expedition

expense, and to require that only volunteers should be sent on the relieving vessels. These restrictions were not adopted. The Secretary of the Navy had already made arrangements for the purchase of two Dundee sealers, the Thetis and the Bear, the former of which was obtained in London, and the latter at St. John's, Newfoundland, and an inquiry having been made as to the possibility of obtaining from the British Government the Alert, which had been the advance ship of the Nares Expedition, that vessel was presented to the Government of the United States without condition.

CBrainard

Greely ord

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CLookwood ARTHUR LAND

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Smith Sd.

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was mapped out, which was substantially that subsequently followed.

In the mean time a joint resolution had been adopted by the two houses of Congress, giving all needed authority for the expedition, and placing its preparation under the charge of the Secretary of the Navy, practically without restriction. Some controversy arose between the two houses over propositions to limit the

Before the vessels were received, the principal officers for the expedition had been already selected-Commander Winfield S. Schley, of the navy, being chosen for the chief command, and ordered to take charge of the preparations. The three vessels were brought to the navyyard at Brooklyn, and there fitted and supplied for the special service, the Loch Garry being also chartered to accompany the expedition,

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and carry a supply of coal. While preparations were under way, the Secretary of the Navy received a letter from Capt. Sir George S. Nares, embodying his own suggestions, and those of other experienced officers of the British Navy, in regard to the practical conduct of the expedition. In addition to other provisions, Congress authorized a reward of $25,000, "to be equitably paid or distributed to such ship or ships, person or persons, not in the military or naval service of the United States, as shall discover and rescue, or satisfactorily ascertain the fate of the expedition of Lieut. A. W. Greely," etc. A proclamation offering this reward was issued by the Secretary of the Navy on the 17th of April. The three vessels specially designed for the rescuing expedition were fitted for the Arctic voyage at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, under the direction of Commander Schley, and supplied with every equipment that experience suggested, including material for a house to be erected on the coast of Greenland, and the necessary boats and sledges. The Alert, being the largest, was used as a supply-vessel, and provisions for two years were placed on board. A large supply of coal was also provided, the bulk of which was placed on the schooner Loch Garry. The Thetis was the flag-ship.

The members of the crews were specially enlisted as volunteers. The Bear was the advance vessel, and left for St. John's, Newfoundland, April 23d, the Thetis following May 1st, and the Alert May 10th. After taking additional supplies of seal-skin clothing, and obtaining dogs for sledging, the vessels left for the Greenland coast, the Bear sailing from St. John's May 5th, the Thetis on the 12th, and the Alert a few days later. The next information of the expedition was contained in a dispatch to the Secretary of the Navy from Commander Schley, dated at St. John's, from which the following are extracts:

Thetis, Bear, and Loch Garry arrived here to-day from West Greenland. All well. Separated from Alert 150 miles north during a gale. At 9 P. M. June 22d, five miles off Cape Sabine, in Smith's Sound, Thetis and Bear rescued alive Lieut. A. W. Greely, Sergt. Brainerd, Sergt. Fredericks, Sergt. Long, Hospital Steward Biederbeck, Private Connell, and Sergt. Ellison, the only survivors of the Lady Franklin Bay Expedition. Sergt. Ellison had lost both hands and feet by frost-bite, and died July 6th at Godhaven, three days after amputation, which had become imperative. Seventeen of the twenty-five persons composing the expedition perished by starva tion at the point where found. One was drowned while sealing to procure food. Twelve bodies of the dead were rescued and are now on board the Thetis and Bear.

Greely abandoned Fort Conger Aug. 9, 1883, and reached Baird Inlet, Sept. 29th following, with entire party well. Abandoned all his boats and was adrift for thirty days on an ice-floe in Smith Sound. His permanent camp was established Oct. 21, 1883, at the point where he was found. During nine months his party had to live upon a scant allowance of food brought from Fort Conger; that cachéd at Payer Harbor and Cape Isabella by Sir George Nares in 1875, but found much damaged by lapse of time;

that cached by Beebe at Cape Sabine in 1882, and a small amount saved from wreck of the Proteus in 1888, and landed by Lieuts. Garlington and Colwell on the beach where Greely's party was found camped. When these provisions were consumed the party were forced to live upon boiled strips from their seal-skin clothing, lichens, and shrimps, preserved in good weather when they were strong enough to make exertion. As 1,300 shrimps were required to fill a gallon measure, the labor was too exhausting to depend upon them entirely to sustain life.

The channel between Cape Sabine and Littleton Island did not close, on account of violent gales all winter, so that 240 rations at latter point could not be reached. All of Greely's records, and all instruments brought by him from Fort Conger, are recovered and are on board.

From Hare Island to Smith's Sound I had a constant and furious struggle with ice in impassable floes. Solid barriers of ice were overcome by watchfulness and patience. No opportunity to advance a mile escaped me, and for several hundred miles the ships were forced to ram their way from lead to lead through the ice, varying in thickness from three to six feet, and, when rafted, much greater. The Thetis and Bear reached Cape York June 18th, after a passage of twenty-one days in Melville Bay, with the two advance ships of the Dundee whaling-fleet, and continued to Cape Sabine. Returning seven days later, fell in with seven others of the fleet off Wostenholme Island. Returning across Melville Bay, fell in with the Alert and Loch Garry off Devil's Thumb, struggling through heavy ice.

The Greely party are very much improved since rescue, but were critical in the extreme when found in reaching them would have been fatal to all now and for several days after. Forty-eight hours' delay living.

The season north is late and the closest for years. Smith's Sound was not open when I left Cape Sabine. The winter about Melville Bay was the most severe for twenty years.

On the same day dispatches were received from Lieut. Greely by the Chief of the SignalService Bureau at Washington, from which the following extracts are taken:

Abandoned Fort Conger, Aug. 9th. Frozen in pack off Victoria Head, Aug. 29th. Abandoned steamlaunch, Sept. 11th, eleven miles northeast of Cocked Hat Island. When on point of landing were three times driven by southwest storms into Kane's Sea. Finally arrived, Sept. 29th, in Baird Inlet. Learning, by scouting parties, of Proteus disaster, and that no provisions had been left for us from Cape Isabella to Sabine, moved and established winter quarters at Camp Clay, half-way between Sabine and Cocked Hat. Inventory showed that by daily ration four and one third ounces ineat, seven bread and dog biscuits, four ounces miscellaneous, the party would have ten days' full rations left for crossing Smith's Sound to Littleton Island, March 1st. Unfortunately, Smith's Sound remained open the entire winter, rendering crossing impossible. Game failed despite daily hunting from early February. Before sun returned only 500 pounds of meat obtained. This year minute shrimps, sea-weed, sassafras, rock-lichens, and sealskin were resorted to for food, with results as shown by the number of survivors. The last regular food was issued May 14th. Only 150 pounds of meat left by Garlington, compelled me to send in November four men to obtain 144 pounds of English meat at Isabella. During the trip Ellison frozo solid both hands and feet, and lost them, surviving, however, through our terrible winter and spring until July 8th. Survivors owe their lives to the indomitable energy of Capt. Schley and Lieut. Emory, who, preceded by three and accompanied by five whalers, forced their vessels from Upernavik, through Melville Bay, into

saw the northern shore termination, some twenty miles west, the southern shore extending some fifty miles, with Cape Lockwood some seventy miles distant, apparently a separate land from Grinnell Land. Have named the new land Arthur Land. Lieut. Lockwood followed, going and returning on ice-cap averaging about 150 feet perpendicular face. It follows that the Grinnell Land interior is ice-capped with a belt of country some sixty miles wide between the northern and southern ice-caps.

In March, 1884, Sergt. Long, while hunting, looked from the northwest side of Mount Carey to Hayes Sound, seeing on the northern coast three capes westward of the farthest seen by Nares in 1876. The sound extends some twenty miles farther west than shown by the English chart, but is possibly shut in by land which showed up across the western end.

The two years' station duties, observations, all explorations, and the retreat to Capo Sabine were accomplished without loss of life, disease, serious accident, or even severe frost-bites. No scurvy was experienced at Conger, and but one death from it occurred last winter.

The story of the relief trips, as gathered from the officers of the Thetis and Bear, may be briefly told. The Thetis arrived at Disco, on the coast of Greenland, May 22d, ten days from St. John's. The Bear had arrived on the 15th, and, after one ineffectual attempt to proceed to Upernavik, had departed a second time for that point on the 21st. The Thetis proceeded in the same direction, accompanied still by the Loch Garry, on the 24th, and after severe struggles with the ice, using torpedoes to open the way, arrived at Upernavik, May 29th, and joined the Bear. Several Dundee whalers were encountered, anxious to join in the search.