Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-06-20


Personal Narratipe of Journey from India to England
6y Bussorah, Bagdad, The ruins of Babylon, Curds
tan. the Court of Persia, the Western Shore Of the
Caspian Sea, .Astiakan. Mshnsy NOrogorod' MOSQUE
and St. Petersburgh: in the year 1s24.-By C@p'a'"
the Hon George Keppei
This interesting work, which has lately oeen
reprinted in Philadelphia. deserves TO be recon-
mended. The author is an intelligent, liberal
English officer, and relates his travels ana adj
ventures in plain, familiar manner. The cou"-
tries through which he passed have been sei-
dom visited Comparatively speaking BY Euro
ne an travellers, and the accounts which we have
of their condition, are, for the most part, meaere
and barren of interest. We think Capt. KEEP
pe!'s "narra, will supply, in some measure
this deficiency. At any rate, We are sure MS
book will be a source Of amusement, as well as
instruction, to those who wish 10 know some
thing of the Eastern world. There are parts
Of his narrative with which we might, perhaps,
find fault; but we, are prepared for blemisheS
in works Of ,hi. nature. Without attempting,
therefore. 10 criicisc the authors style where ne
fails. or 10 expose "blunder in language
which we may discover in the coarse OF the 10
lu,ne, we shall extract. some descriptions Tor
the entertainment Of our readers.
Captain Keppel gives the following account
of what is supposed 10 have been the site Of the
Garden of Eden:
"Iea,ing the Euphrates 10 the. west, we pro-
ceeded up the Tigris, where we soon found our
selves in current running between six and Sc
ven knots an hour, which fully proved to us the
appropriate name Of Seer, (Arrow) which the
ancient Pcrsians gave TO this river, on account
of the rapidity of its course. Nv D miles above
Koorna, the plantations of date trees, which had
hitherto covered the banks, ceased; and the
country, on both sides, was overlooked. We
landed in the afternoon On the west bank 10
shoot, and walked several miles; The ground was
very wet, and the state of the vegetation indi-
Gated little fertility. This hesitate place,
which is called II Jczeerah, (the Islehd) is gene
rally held 10 be The seat of Paradise. If such be
the case, it certainly is not what the garden OF
our first parents is described 10 have BEEN
Only few shrubs have been visible, since we
left the vicinity Of koorna. The whole coun-
try is dead fat, and SO much flooded, in many
parls, that we could hardly pass through it,
The Few dry patches Of soil were covered with
salt. IL the present barren appearance OF this
SPOT be the only reason for rejecting il as the
site Of Paradise, the same objection would APP
DIV TO the surrounding district, which, though
now a sandy desert, has been celebrated for the
richness OF its soil. Plny calls il the mos, fer
tile of the East, (solum Orientis tertiiissin'nmj
and who does not remember the vivid descrip-
tons in the Arabian Nights, Of the delig
gardens Of BasdaG and Saisora?
Our authors account of the ruins Of Babylon
is interesting, but i, is too long 70 ap4is Saa-
eeas6Sos fail q taking notice, in reading this
part of the work how exactly the pr ophe cies Of
Isaiah, with regard TO the destruction of the
city, have been fulfilled. Wild beasts are hume
rous, and make their dens in The ruins.
"Mr. Lamb, Zone Of the party Says the au
thor, "gave up his examination, from seeing an
animal crouched in one Of the square aperlurcs.
| saw apo,her in similar siloa,ion, and the
large foot prints of lion was So fresh, that The
animal must have stolen away on our approach
From this place we had distinct view Of the
vast heaps which constitute all that now re-
VI oHSNHl A'a'li'h, q bOiC Soilp u
picture Of desola,ion could not well be imagin-
ed. The eye wandered over barren desert,
in which the ruins were nearly the only indica-
ton that it had ever been Inhabited.
Our readers, we are sure, will be pleased with
Captain Keppels description of he celebrated
city Of Bagdad The extract, though long, is
worth perusal
IA traveller coming by water from Bnssorah,
is likely TO be much struck with Bagdad on his |
arrival, Having been for some time accustom-
ed 10 see nothing but deser,-there being no
cultivation on that side Of the city BY which he
arrives--he does not observe any change that
would warn him of his approach to populous
city. He continues winding up the Tigris,
through all its numerous headlands, when this |
once renowned city of gardens bursts suddenly
on his sight. Its first view jus,i6es The idea
that he is approaching the residence of the re-
nowned Caliph, Hauron Alraschid, in the height |
Of its splendour;a crowd Of early associations
rush across his mind, and seems 10 reduce 10 |
reality, scenes which, from boysh recollections,
are SO blended with magic and fairy lore, tina,
he may, for a moment, imagine himself arrived |
at the city Of the enchanterS