The Wilmingtonian., 1824-04-08

ever been thrown down, and we advanced
so as to touch it; is covered by ragged
Ipall. We were obliged to descend bare
footed, and were not without some ap-
prehepsion of treading on scorpions or O.
ther vile reptiles in such place"
On the 5th of June the travellers "reach'
lod Rubba, formerly Rahbath Moad, alter.
wards Areopolis the ruins are situated
lon an emnence, and present nothing OF
Interest, except two old Roman temples
land some vaults. The whole circuit OF the
town does not seem to have exceeded
: mile, which is small extent for city that
was the capital of Moab, and which bore
such sounding Greek name. We were
|yet more surprised at not finding any
traces of walls about it. We passed the
/. might at a small camp near the ruins; il
lis the only Christian camp we have ever
been in they told us there were altoge-
|ther five encampments of Christians.
They were poor people, but connected
with families in Kerek; occasionally they
take their turn in the town, and send o.
thers to take theirs in the camp. A deep
lgully behind their tents led to the Dead
Sea. This evening about sunset, we
were deceived by a shade on the sea,
which assumed so exactly the appear
Iance of an island, that we did not doubt
of it, even after looking through teles-
cope. 1t is not the only time that such a
phenomena has presented itself to US; in
two instances, looking up to the sea. from
tits southern extremity, we saw it apparen-
lily closed by low, dark line like bar
of sand to the north ward and on another
occasion two small islands seemed to pre-
sent themselves between a long sharp
Ipromontory and the western shore. We
lwere unable to account for these strange
appearances, but felt little doubt that they
are the same that deceived Mr.. Seetzan
into the supposi!ion that he had discovered
an island of some extent, which we have
had opportunity o. ascertaining, beyond
alI doubt does not exist. II is not ab-
solutely impossible. however, that he may
have seen one of those temporary islands
of bitumen which Pliny describes as be
ing Of several acres in extent, and from
which, he adds, that the Egyptians drew
tlClt SUITE vi TSSlUUuS IifdltCE iCf
ing their mummies."
From Moab the journey was directed in
to the land of the Amorites, where werel
seen two rude unsculptured stones about
ten feet in height and conjectured to be-
long to the bound stones SO frcGucntlvl
mentioned in Scripture; and also on the
top Of knoll near rivulst, ca large
quadrangular platform. constructed ofrude
stones laid together without cement. III,
ia possible that this may be one Of the al.
tars Of tie high places. 1t IS still place
in same measure consecrated there is a
tomb at the top, with paltrY Bed"ulnI
votiye offerings hanging about il" Othrri
and similar antiquities sre thus spoken of
near Moyne, perhaps the Baal Neon olI
the Bible, the hot springs still remaining,
to which "the direct track is continued
from this first round the southern side of al
rocky knoll rising to some height, and in a
great measure detached from the surround
inghiIs Some remarkable obiects Of which
we got a glimpse, induced Us to pass
around on the other side of this knoll i
they are rude aud sepnichral monuments, j
nf the same nature with those we discover.
ed on our road from Isalt to Jordan on our
last tour; set, as the formed are rude
throughout, without any mark whatever of
the tool about them, whereasthc others have
universally door in one Of the small
er ends, it is possible that they may date
from remoter period. or have belonged to
IA still Older people. Their proportions
vary considerably, as does their aspect,
though the construction is uniform; onel
flat stone is laid in at the bottom, and this |
there can be little doubt, covers the grave
of the deceased and as there is no ap-
pearancc of the tombs ever having been
violated, it protects them TO this day
They wonld be highly interesting object d
for excavation, as it might possibly lead
to the ascrTtaining of the form of some
weapons and warlike apparel mentioned
in Scripture. 1t is worth noticing, that
however remote NAV be the period to|
which these sepulcbres are to be referred /
the stature of those contained in them, j.,
50 FAR from gigantic. that it seems to have
Ianounted to no more than the middle sizeI
Iot :no,sern times"
Not only this rocky eminencr, upon
which we first observed them, is covered
lover an all sides with these barbarous
structures, but some few are scattered inI
lthe fields upon lover level, and great
many upon the sides of the surrounding
hills, insomuch that notless than iifty were