Hebrides
NEW, a group of islands in the South Pacific, discovered by Quiros, in 1506. Captain Cook, who surveyed most of them in 1773, gave them their name, as being the most W. of the islands of the Pacific. They extend over 375 miles. Area, 4,200 square miles.
The soil in the valleys is fertile, but the islands are mostly mountainous, and some have active volcanoes. Since 1887 the group is under a mixed French and English commission. Pop. about 75,000.
HEBRON (hebron), one of the oldest cities in Palestine, belonging to the tribe of Judah, 21 miles from Jerusalem. It was anciently called Kirjatharba, and at a later period was the seven years' residence of King David before he conquered Jerusalein. The modern town, El Khalil ("the friend" of God, Abraham). Pop. (1919) 22,000. It lies low down in a narrow and picturesque valley-the HECLA and other fruits. The church erected by for its thick clustering grapes, its olives, and other fruits. The church erected by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, on the spot where Abraham is said to have been buried, has been converted into a mosque called El-Haram ("sanctuary"), built to inclose the cave wives. Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and their wives.
Iceland, about 20 miles from its S. W. HECLA or HEKLA, a volcano of Iceland, about 20 miles from its S. W. coast, about 5,000 feet in height, and having several craters. It is composed covered with snow. Many eruptions are on record. One of the most tremendous occurred in 1783, after which the volcano remained quiescent till September, 1845, when it again became active, and continued with little intermission till November, 1846, to discharge ashes, some masses of pumice stone, and a torrent of lava.