Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1825-07-04

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te plain OF Jereniah commences and tic best ood
ed tract in The 'Shole negiborhood, In this direction
hu ather on the historian of the siege sveats
tower, That afforded prospect OF Arabia at s,inrisng
ana oil the utHos limits Ot the Hebrew posses al
the sea westward. r-Ihc former IS still cnioy,d rom
the city but the latter could only be had much
greater distance north, where there is no hill in front
About half mile from the wall the tolfs of the
Kings In the midst of hollow, rocky and adorned
WIN lew trees is the entrance; YOU then find a large
aPai tmeut above fifty feet lcr.. at the SIDE of which
low door, which Is beautiful trieze lends into
series OF small chambers the walls of which are
several deep hewn out of tue rock OF the size
OF the human body There are SIX or seven of tI,es.
low AM dark apartments, Of Inch are aorn-
ed with vine leaves and ciustres o grapes MANY parts
Oh Tie stoe co's, beautifully ornamcnted in the Sara
ceic manner, are strewed on The floor should seem
t't som" baud VI raYage bad broken them to pieces
WIN The view of Hiding something valuable Within
he sepuciIfes OF ibe Judges called are situated
IN Wild spot about two miles from the city. II,cy
Dear much resemblance 10 those Of the Kings but are
not so handsome spacious.
Returning tn the foot of the Mount of Olives -o,,
proceed Up the vale of Jehoslapiat line with tic
pam; IL wIdens as advance, and is more ;h,cv
sprInk!ed with olives. When arrived ut the hill IN
winch II terminates the appearance of the city and IFS
enFirons IS rich and magnificent; and Won cannot helm
iinklng were an English party suddenly transported
mere they would not believe the sad and tlIea,v
Jerusalem they were gazing This is The Gre:,
point 10 view ii from, for its numerous tnnarets aud
superb mosques are 10 great advantage over the
trees OF the plain and valley and the foreground is vnr
@ la T,Irif.
stood IN tbs spot. and had trcspasscd on the rude
garden OF one of them, where the shade of spreadinr
tree invited us to linger The prospect For some
days mere had been heavy fails OF vet the bed of
the Hebron was still dry and has been so most probabv
Tor many centuries. The climate of the CITY and com,
try IN general very healthy The elevated position
pi hn former, and the numerous hills which cover the
greater part of Palestine must contribute greatly e,
the purity OF the One seldom sees q country ~
run with hills in the this Isl in general tIe,
are not III ranges but more or less isolated and of
picturesque form. Few of them approach to The cha
racter OF mountains Carnfef the Quaranti,a tIa
shores o the lakes, and those which bound the VALLEY of
the Jordan. 10 account for the existence of so large
population in the promised land, the numerous hills
must have been entirely Guilty ated at present their
appearance on the sides and SUBMITS for the most part
bare and rocky In old time, they were probably
formed INTO terraces, as Is noy seen the few cult
Nated ones, where the vine, olive land fig flourish
On delightful evening rode the wilderness of
ST John. The Monastery that name stands at the
entrance 1t is good and spacious building and its Ter
race enjoys fine prospect i'll which is the lofty hill
OF Modn, wit, the ruins of the palace ofhc Aaccabocs
on IFS summit small village adioins the convent in
which are shewn the remains of the house of Elizabeth
"her" the meeting with Mary took place. But few
monAs reside in Tie convent wIcn affords excellent
accommodations for trav elier.
German pilgrim had found his wav here: q rasnec.
faoie dul KIND OF man. One can fauc, Greeks and
ilalans seeking with ardour the add but heavy
German with pipe IN his mouth, tr ~ ng about the
desert OF 81 John and the valley IF Lia Is rather odd
Having suppcd, aud the air being chill vessel C;lcd
With charcoal was brought, and having taken tie usual
last resource Of the pipe and coffee lay down 10 rest
IN lee small cell But had very nearly found my tornb
IN That wilderness for of the monks placed nuan.
tity oil fresh charcoal on tie le during my secp and
closing the door of the cell after bin, there was hardly
PossblItyo escaping destruction. In about two ~
three hours awoke T state of utter weakness AMI
agony OF mind caused by tie suGocating effects of tie
vap"ur, which had long filed the apartment II was
lnpo-~.Hc 10 rise rom the bed, and all consciousness
being soon lost my travels would have terminated hid
ICl apl hDO mob fol he, i,c
die burning in the adjoining cell and hearing some frt
cries instantly run IN, and CmI ying into the air by
dJshs torrents OF cod water oycrmc brought life back
again. Lives are frequently lost in the Vast from rho
same cause In the convent cells above all placcs II,
Tire fathers wish to have rich dcvotec out of tie way
they have only To put pan of fresh charcoal beside him
al night In the church rich altar is erected on the
spot wiec St John born, with ins cription over
IT. The next morning visited the wilderness. il i
narrow partially cultivated and sprnkIcd will, irccs
ue mis- rise rather steep each silo from that on tho
right small stream flows into the ravinc below Tho
whole appearance OF the place is romantic aud the pio
phct nlg have resided here while exercising his minis
TRY with very little hardship the ncghbonrhood still
no doubt, produces excellent honey, wichs TO be had
throughout Palestine High up the rocky side of the
hill on the left amidst Il prUfrsion OF trees is the cave
or groto Of ST. John fountain gushes out close bv
When talk Of wiIIernes,cs mountains and mains IN
Palestine II IS 10 be understood they seldom answer f.
The SIZE OF the objects in more extensive countries
that they sometimes present but beautiful miniature
Of them II certainly deserved the term given by the
ISa"llSt 'o the CITY, Ui being compact" country.
The Baptist in his wild garb surrounded bv an Assem-
b'aGe OF various characters, warning them to rcpen
lance, IN this wild spot must lave presented ine shb
jec for the painter.
In wandering the country we feel persuaded that
ITS very cenery lent wings to the poccal and igurave
disconTsos OF IFS prophets and secrs Sublime and III
versIhed Is yet confined and minute ~ ~ a.;ri -
aeepet SeclusIon in the midst ola numerous populs
nc monks IN he convent are Of the Catholic o1 4
and have tie advantage Of all their brethren in POI
situation sud comfort: vet nothing will induce a
Franclscans 10 keep their babtations clean; the
Armenian nonastcrics are palaces compared to ttens
The fathers are IN general very ignorant If mon
chiefly from tc lowest orders ofsocctv. Their tables
except during Lent spread pcntifulIy twice 4 dav
with several dishes of meat and vino; aid So we'll do
many OF them thrive, that they would consider it bars
nCn to be sent home to Europe to their friends
the cast end Of The wilderness, You eutcr the famous
valley Of Ela where Goah was slain by tic clsrn,op
of Israel Ii IS pretty and nerestirr looking sro
the bottom covered with olive trees us present an
pearance answers exactly 10 the description given IN
Scripture; ilic two hills which the armies stood en-
grnIu rDrrin trcr n f,rf -