Southport telegraph. [volume] (Southport, W.T. [i.e. Kenosha, Wis.]) 1840-1850, 1847-10-13

THE DEPTH OF JACoB's .WELL.-The
Rev. DIR. Wilson of England, who has re-
Gently travelled through the Holy Land and
published the results Of his travel under the
title Of The Land of the Bible Visited and
Described, '-prescnts the following rela-
ton his visit to Jacobs Well:
At Shcchem DR.. Wilson found a remnant
OF the Samaratons still, and had some inter
estino conversation with one of their priests.
In the Immediate neighborhood is Jacobs
Well, where our Lord encountered the wo-
man of Samaria, and with simplest images
instructed her in the sublime mysteries Of
spiritual truth. The well is situated amid
the ruins of church which once surround
ed it. The mouth was covered with two
large stones. Rolling away these, the tray
oilers, with their attendants, swung them
selves down to kind of platform, where
they kind!cd a light, and commenced prep
arations for 1sccrtaining the depth at Jacob 5
well.
1t was now time to disclose our plan Of
operation to our native attendants. ''Ja-
cob" said we, "a friend Of ours, an English
traveller, and minister, (the Rev. Andrew
Bonar, of Collace,) dropped the five books
of Moses and the other inspired records in
to this well, about three years ago, and if
Won will descend and bring them up we
shall give YOU handsome b0k$hiSh. -
'Bakshish!" said the Arabs, kindIing, at
the sound if there is to be bakshsh iii the
case, we must have it, for we are the lords
of the land "WelI down YOU co." said
We, throwing the rope over their shoulders,
land YOU shall have the bakshish.' NAY,
verify" said they, you mean to hang us
let Jacob do wha! he peases." Jacob was
ready at our command; and, when he had
tied the rope round his body below the
shoulders. he received our parting instruc-
tions. We asked him to call out to MS the
moment that he might arrive at the surface
of the water, and told him that we should
so hold the rope TO prevent him from sink
ing, if lhare was any considerable depth of
the element. We told him also to pull out
one Of the candles with which he had stor-
ed his breast, and to ignite it when he
might get below. As he looked into the
fearful pit on tkC brink of which he stood
terror took hold Of him, and he bctook HIM
self TO prayer in the Hebrew tongue. We
of course, gave him no interruption in his
solemn exercise, as, in the circumstance of
the case, we could not but admire the spirit
of devotion which he cyinced. On a sig
nal given. we let him 90. The Arabs held
with MS the rope, and we took care that he
should descend as gently as possible.
When our material was exhausted, he
called out Il have reached the bottom; and
1t is nj present scarcely covered with water. ="
Forthwith he kindied his light; and, that
he might have every advantage, we threw
him down 4 quantity of dry sticks, with
which he made blaze, which very dis
tinctlv showed us the whole Of the well,
from the top 10 The bottom.
We saw the end of the rope at its low
or part; and we put 4 knot upon it at the
margin above. Il at we might have the eX-
act measurement when Jacob might come
up. After searching for about five minutes
for the bible among the stones and mud at
the bottom, our friend joyfully cried out
lit is found il Is found il is found" We
were not slow, II may be supposed, IN Civ
ING him our congratulations. The prize he
carefully pat into his breast; and then he
UScIaFeu NIS Et"utheSS, " III our dIu 10 Hldhe
the ascent.
We found il no easy matter TO get him
pulled up, as we had TO keep the rope from
the edge Of the well lest it should snap as
under. When he came into orr hands he
was unable speak, and we laid him down
on the margin of the well that he might col
Iect his breath. "Where is the bakshishn.
were the first words which he uttered on
regaing his faculty of speech. 1t was i'm
mediately forthcoming, to the extent of
about sovereign. and TO his fullest salts
faction. A similar sum we divided among
our Arab assistants. The book, from hay-
ing been so long stepped in the water and
mud below, was, with the exception of the
boards, reduced 10 mass of pulp. In our