The native American. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1840, 1837-10-07
I e'oMMHNI!eAFIONs.


Description of the Jordan aud first view Of Lake Tberas
The Jordan leaves the lake with serpentine COURSE
giides into the low and mafshy plain of Esdraelon
ABOUT nfty feet from the lake; passes on, slightly
agitated and emitting its first murmurs beneath the
ru'nous arches Of Roman bridge. 1t was thither
turned our steps, by steep and rapid path, and where
We ionged to salute those waters consecrated by the
"reminiscences of two religions. In few minutes we
are on It's banks--we descend from ouFhorses--we
bathe our heads feet and hands, in the sweet waters
warm and blue those Of the Rhone when it escapes
from the Lake of Geneva. The Jordan, this spot,
which Is about the middle Of its course, would not
Dc worthy OF the name Of river in country Of larger
dimensions; but II supasses nevertheless considerably
Ihe Eufopas aud Cephias, and all other rivers whose
fabulous or historical echo early in memo
~, and give us an image Of Tapdity and abundance
winch the reality destroys The Jordan here is great
err than aforementioned at the end Of dry autumn
fo'is on smoothly in bed Of about hundred feet
broad volume &c Of about three feet deep clear
lmPd, and transparent SO that the stones at the bot
tom may be counted; Of one of those lovely
rivulets which reflects all the deep color OF an Asatic
SKY; oiuer even than the Heavens, like image which
IS niore beautiful than the ohlect-ke mirror, which
coiors what u reflects Twenty thirty steps from
the water the Shore present dry Is covered with
pebbles, Hays, and cnps of the laurel rose vet in
bloom. The beach issx feet below the level Of the
p'an' y bears witness TO the size Of the river during
opinion is from eight to ten feet deep and hundred
to one hundred and twenty feet broad It is narrower
and deeper III the plain, but then more pent up, and
the spot from whence We viewed it is one of the four
lords during the whole course of the stream. drank
In the hollow of my hand the water of the Jordan that
water which so many divine poets had drank before
me- which was poured on the innocent head of the vol
untary victim found ii perfectly sweet, of an agree
able taste, and Of great transparency. The customs
wnch our oriental traveller contracts Of drinking moth
ing Dut water and that ofen makes the palate an ex
ceent Judge Of the qualities of that which is new
The only thing which is wanting in that Of the Jordan
IS freshness. Il was quite rapid, and although my
hands and lips were heated by amarch Of twelve hours
Without any shade, under devourng sun, my hands,
lips, and forehead experienced feeling of warmth, on
touching the water Of this river. Like all travellers
who come through so many fatigues, distances, and
peril, TO visit in its solitude this once mighty river
nied several bottles with its waller, to carry to my
friends less Fortunate than myself ais also nv pistol ca
SEES, with pebbles which gathered on the banks WHY
was II also that could not carry with that sacred
and prophetic inspiration with which formerly rift
ed the bards Of its hbly banks-and above all, some
OF mat holiness and purity Of spirit and heart which it
contracted beyond doubt by bathing the hoer and pu-
rest OF the sons of men! I mounted nv horse and
rode around some Of the shattered pillars which sup
ported the bridge aqueduct of which have before
spoken saw nothing but the degenerate masonry Of
the age, neither marble, nor sculpture, inscription;
not one arch remained, but ten pillars yet stand
Ing and the foundations Of four or five others were yet
TO be detected; each arch was about ten feet wide
which agrees vey we'll with the dimension of hun
dred and twenty feet which, Judge by the eye, ought
te De given, as believe, TO the Jordan.
In ine what here write about the size of the Jor-
DAM Is Tor no other object than that Of satisfying the
curiosity OF those who wish to have just and exact
measures even of their thoughts, and 10 lend
arms elmer to the foes friends Of the Christian faith
arms contemplate for both. What boots it whether
the Jordan De a torrent or a rver!-that Judea be
heap OF sterile rocks, delicious garden!-that such
. mountain is only ah, and such kingdom prov
lnce. Men who heat themselves, who quarrel about
10 fhnco lie
lhat they have overturned religion of thousand
years. when they have laborfousIy sought dscredl
the Bible, and ridiculeihe Prophets. Would not one
oeeve' whilst hearing these grave disputes about a
wora Dadiy understood badly translated, by both
parties, that religions are matters Of geomery DESTROY
60 ny ngufe or an argument!--and how many gene
ratlons O. faithful are prepared at the clse of the ar
guent TO 60 over Immediately the side Of the best
scPnlst and antiquarian. the most learned and nge
NOUS! Sterile disputes which neither pervert nor con-
vert the SOUL Religion is not Proved explained
~ not exposed to view, is established, ia not des-
oyed by logic. Il is, of all the mysteries of nature
ana the humane MUD, the most mysterious and mex
plcab'e 1t Is matter Of extinct not of reasoning;
like the winds which come fiom the east and west oil
the cause and starting place Of which we are Ignorant
It s scattered God only knows where, and why, and
Tor how many ages, and over what sections Of the
slooe. Religions are because they are; they not
embraced or deserted at will of words; they
enter more into the Of the heart than into the
mind OF man. Where is he WOO will exclaim: | am
Christian, because have certain positive answer in
certain book, an ncontrovertibIe objection in ano-
Their! All reasonable Of whom reason for their
faith Is demanded, would reply--I am Christian, be-
cause the milk that mbibed at my mothers breas,
was Observation-Disclosures the sympathies Of my soul
are with the doctHnebecause live upon the air of
the present, without diving into The future We then
mounted our horses to along as far as the sea
iberias, the sacred borders of the beautiful lake Of
Seuezarerh. :ss3
The caravan left the village where we had reposed
in silence, and marched the western shore of the
lake. some steps from its waves over sandy and peb
bly, beach,. strown here and there with cumps Of the
laarel rose and delicate placelike shrubs which bear
flower resembling the lilac. To our left chain of
peaked hills, black, bare, and followed by deep ravi-
nes spotted from distance to distance with large VOL
canc stones, running thalength Of the shore which WEI
coasted, and advancing ina dark and bold pfomontory
nearly to the middle, the sea, hid from view the1
town Of liberals and the extremity of the lake to-
wards Lebanus. NonAo amongst 'us spoke aloud;
every thought was intimate, secret and profound, so
strongly did the holy souvenirs re-echo in the souls
US all. AZ TO myself, never any spot upon earth APP
peaed TO my heart stronger deliciously. Ihave
ever loved to pass the physical scenes Of places
Inhabited by men-whom have known, admired, low
ed, or revertd, among the dead, well among the
living. The land where great man has dwell, and
min all Al