Virginia free press & farmers' repository. [volume] (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1827-1832, 1830-06-02

FROM Carne's Reco!lections Of Ira, els in The
East
THE TOMB OF RACHEL.

"a few miles further on. arc the
ruins OF the village Of Rama; fragments
OF walls, only few feet high, are now
tie only vesticcs OF the place where
che Prophet systematically predicted the
mourning Of the innocent. There Is
spot on the plain, 1T no great dis
tance from the ruined village, Of much
higher interest,-thc tomb Of Rachel
1t is one OF the few places where the
observer is persuaded that tradition
has not erred; as il fulfils literally the
words Of Israel in his last hour, when
dwelling on the only indelible remem
brance that earth seemed To claim from
him. The long exile, the converse
with tho angels Of God. the wealth and
greatness which had gathered round
him. all yield to the image Of the loved
and faithful wife; And as for me. Ra.
cbei died by ne. IN the way from Beth
iehem, and buried her there
The spot Is As Wild and solitary a.
can well be conceived no palms or
expresses give thcir shelter from the
blast; not single tree spreads il,
shade where the ashes Of The beautiful
mother Of Israel rests. Yet there is
something IN this sepulchre in the will.
derness, that excltcs deeper interest
than more splendid or revcred Ones
The tombs of Zacharias aud Absolen.
IN the valley Of Jehosaphat, or of the
Kings in the plain Of Jeremiah, the ira.
weller looks at with careless indifirr.
ence; beside that Of Rachel his fancy
wanders to the land Of the people Of
The East to the power of beauty that
could so long make banishment 5 geet ;
10 the devoted companion at the wan
derer. ~ho deemed all troubles li.ht for
her sake.
"1he Turks have surrounded most
OF the burial places of the chief charac
tiers Of the Old Testament, with more
pomp and stately Observance than this
over that Of David aud solomon, on
the declivity Of zion. a mosque :.
erected 4; the cave too Of Machpelnh. Of
Hebron. Is covered by a large and an
Gent mosque, and all around, the soil
Is held insiolable. Tie cave is in the
middle of the interior Of the .dilicc
- dark and deep entrance only isvisi
bic; and II Is rarely entered. even by
the steps Of the faithful. For more
than a century, not more than two or
ihree Europeans are known, either by
daring OF bribery. Co have visited ia
The last was as Italian Count. travel.
Ter, who. by paying very high. wa. al
lowed by his guardians 10 tread the
floor OF the mosque. and descend into
the obscurity Of tie hail0wcd cavern
th's Vas thirty years since. LISA great
pity That ~ memorable a scene should
be closed 10 the curious eye the bold
valley "a which the ancient town ol
Hebron stands, - often ViAied by the
step, OF the pilgrim aud the traveller
bot the penalty Of death to eycry Chris.
tan Who enters within tie wall, Of the
mosque. - too dear a payment Tor ,he
graiihcaii0D. The cave - said by ,,s
Turks 10 be deep and very spacious,
cut out Of the solid rock and ihat the
resting places Of the celebrated patri
areh' It'll exist, and are plainly to b,
diseerned
The tribute paid. however. BY a.,
followers Of the Prophet 90 the burial
place Of Rachel, IS far more sincere and
impressive. than walls o( marble o,
s'ced domesj the desire which Ii,