The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1839-08-10

and would also feel little Of his equestrian
inspiration, IL you had just been whirled over
i four miles OF desert on as feet an Arabian as
Mahomet rode when he made the tour Of the
seven heavens In one night
When we arrived at the end Of the great
| plain, we found that the river flowed through
/ a second plain Of much lower level than the
one we had rode over We descended the
steep bank, which is all sand, and in few
minutes we were on " Jordan's banks"
We had not time to make much observa-
ton, for the sheik and his party (who would
not venture down from their place OF security
on the high bank,) were constantly calling on
us TO make good our retreat; but we had our
horses with us, and needed not their cautions
and prayers. We washed seren times" in
Jordan's stream, picked up some pebbles,
pucked some flowers, filed boille with its
waters as souvenirs, and then remounted our
horses. The Jordan, at this point, was not
over sixty or eighty feet wide, the current
very rapid, and the channel deep. The wa
ter turbid, although the Sea of Galilee is so
very clear It's banks were lined for some
distance from the shore with very luxuriant
vegetation and tall shrubbery--a fit cover for
bandtti, who might at any moment have
sprung upon US, as the g hon from the sue|-
ling ofLhs J0rdan."s
But we escaped unscaihed, and were soon
upon the top OF the bank when the shelk
gave the signal, and then it was, /" To your
tents, 0 Israeli" with vengeance. The
Bedouins now had the advantage Of us /; be-
fore, they were running into danger, but now
they were fleeing from it. After couple
Of miles more Of this sort Of scampering, the
sheik refined up, and we were nothing 10th to
follow his example. now had time to con-
template the extraordinary scene around me.
Here were three peace travellers, escorted
by troop OF mounted and armed Arabs, them
selves as wild and robber-like in appearance
as can well be imagined, gallopng across
the plains, TO steal a peep at that stream, upon
whose peaceful banks reposed the patriarchs
of old, with their families, focks and herds
and yet more consecrated by the perfor-
nance Of the rite Of Baptism upon our Sa-
viour himself. Still, we were compelled TO
approach it with all this caution, and almost
with our lives in our hand though, amid all
the hurry and confusion attendant upon our
flying visit TO the banks of the Jordan, my
mind required 10 the many sacred scenes o.
which they had been witness, and the mar
'ohouo VI DlNlHC SOoducSS WHICH
had been wrought upon them.
When we returned to where we set out on
our Gilpin race, we found our tent pitched
close beside that Of the sheik. The sun had
just set, and we had sufficient time to recon-
noitre our ,rhereab6uis. We found that we
were in the midst of an encampment of wild
Bedouins, who are permitted to CLEAN scam
ty harvest in valley among the mountains,
under the jurisdiction Of the Governor Of Ma
blous, by their paying him certain tribute
This valley is well watered By stream which
rises from several copious springs.
The Bedoun encapment was on stubble
field, the tents arranged I'M circle. The tents
were made of the same dark brown striped
camel's wool cloth, which is prevalent among
all the nomade tribes of Asia.
4 The short sticks support square piece OF
cloth in the centre, and several cords serve to
dstend it in each direction. Another piece of
cloth serves as curtain between the mems
apartment and the I" hareem." A few pieces
Of primitive household stuff are ranged around
the interior. The whole village, tents, furni-
ture, provisions, women, and children, can he
packed up in marching order at a moments
warning.
During the evening we had visit from the
shek. We offered him pipe and cup 81
tea. We were amused to see the awkward
work he made with our Delft utentials, and the
grimaces he made al the warm detection OF
the China weed. A cup of coffee, however,
put all things straight After tea, dozen
other chief men of the tribe came to pay their
respects to us !; and if you, or any Of our other
trans Atlantic friends, could have seen this
group OF protectors, you would have exclaim-
ed in utter consternation, Heaven defend you
from them You might well have supposed
that we were in the situation of the man who
went down from Jerusalem 10 Jericho, and
fell among thieves. The sheik fell terribly in
love with fine pair of Turkish pistols that
hung up in our tent. We desired him to ac-
cept OF them for his hospitality, mot to be deli
vered, however, until morning.)
Before night the area in the midst Of the
tents were entirely unoccupied; but when we
came to look out by tho light OF the stars, we
found it completely filled with the flocks and
herds Of the tribe, which had been driven in
from the mountains for security during the
night.
1t was a beautiful night, and we felt that we
had no very great cause to fear treachery on
the part of our Bedouin neighbors, who,
though wearing so rough an exterior, we doubt
ed not possessed hearts too much impressed
with the sacred rites ofhospitaliiy, to offer the
least harm to those who had thus thrown
themselves upon their protection in the midst
of their tents.
went round to make evening calls upon
such brown ladies' rs were cat home" but |
was guilty Of the Improperly Of not leaving
cards upon those who had not yet returned
from milking. forgot to mention to you, in
the right place, an unfortunate incident that
occurred in the camp while we were gone to
the river. Monsieur Francois had erected his
| Kitchen Iarno nlnnad thrnn lar.ra .Ianes L.,