Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1821-10-13
PALESTINE MISSION.

Extracts from a letter OF the Rev. Phny
Fisk. TO the Rev. Serene E. Dwight, OF
Boston.
Smyrna, May 4, 1891.
At 7 o'clock on Wednesday morning we
mounted our horses, and leaving the Sarco-
phsgus and The old mosque Oh our right'I'ue
10 Mount Pricn. and then sent our horses
back, and set out on foot to survey the ruins
of Ephpsus. The ground was covered with
high grass or grain and very heavy dew
rendered the walking very unpleasant. On
the east side OF the hill we found nothing
worthy OF notice; no appearance OF having
been occupied for buildings On the norm
side was the Circus or Stadium lis length
from cas-, to west is 40 rods, or one siadi-
um. The north or lower side was support
ed by arches which still remain. The area
where the races used to be performed Is
now field of wheat. At the west end was
the gate The walls adjoining it are still
standing, and of considerable height and
strength. North of the stadium, and sePara-
ted only by street, is large square inclo-
sed with fallen walls and filed with rams 81
various edihces. A street running north ana
south divides this square in the centre. West
of the stadium is an elevation OF ground, le-
vel on The top, with an immense pedestal IN
in the centre of it. What building stood
there it IS not easy to say. Between this
and the stadium was street passing from
the great plain north of Ephesus in the midst
of the city.
found on the plains Of Epbesus some
Greek peasants, men and women, employed
in pulling up trees 4. weeds rom the wheat.
II reminded me of Matt. xiii. 90. address
sed them in Ronaic, but found they Under
stand very little Oft as they usually answer
ed ME in Turkish. ] ascertained, however,
that they all belonged to villages at dis
lance, and came there TO labor. Not one
OF them could read, but they said there were
priests and scboolmaster in the village to
which they belonged, who coul! read.
gave them some Tracts, which they promis-
ed to give t, their priests and sChooImaster.
Tonrueiort, says, that when he was at =
phesus, there were thirty or forty Greek ia
miles there. Chandler only found ten or
twelve individuals. Now 10 human being
lives in Ephesv>: and in AiasaIuck, which
may be considered as Epiesus under apo-
Their name, though not on precisely the
same spot OF ground, tbare are merely
fyw miserable Turkish huts. "The candle
stick is removed out of bis place" CHOW
doth the city sit solitary that was full of peo-
pie"
While wandering among The ruins, it was
impossible not TO think, with deep interest,
of the events which have transpired on the
spot. Here has heen displayed from time
to time, all the skill of srchteGi, the musi-
clan, The tragedian, and the orator. Here
some Of the most splendid works of man
have been seen in all their glory, and here
the event has shown their transiory nature.
How inter, sting would il be TO stand among
these walls, and have before The mind !ull
view OF the history of Ephesus from its first
foundation till nov! We night observe tie
ldoiatrous and IMPURE rights, and the cruel
and bloody sports OF Pasans succeeded by
the preaching, the prayers, the holy and
peaCeable lives OF the first Chrstians-these
Christians, ma. yred, but their religion still
mphing--psgaD rites and pagan sports
abolished, and The simple worship OF Christ
instituted in their room H'e might see The
city conquered, and re-conquered, destroy
ed ard rebuilt, I'll finally Christianity, arts,
learning and prosperity. all vanish before
the pcstierou, breath of ''tbs only PEG
pie whose sole occupation has been TO des
troy.
The plan Of Ephesus is now very unbeal
thy, owing to tue ioss and mist which almost
continually rest upon il. The land, however,
is rich, and the surrounding country is both
fertile and healthy. The djacenl hills would
furnish many delightful situations for villa
ges, II the difficulties were removed which
arc thrown in the way by despotic govern
menl, oppressive .Agas, and wandering ban
dltti"
AT O'Clock p NJ. we set cut for Smyrna.
At ~ we put up for the night at the same
coffee house where we slept on our way
down. The Enylls travellers. having left |