Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1847-10-09
THE DEPTH OF JACOBS WELL.


The Rev. Dr. WILSON, Of England who has recently ira
yelled through the Holy Land and published the results of his
under the title of The Land Of the Bible Visited and
Described presents the following relation of his visit to ia
cobs Well:
AT Sheehem DIR. Wilson found a remnant of the Samar
ans STILL and had interesting conversation with one of
their priests In the immediate neighborhood is Jacobs
Well, where Lord encountered the woman of Samaria
and with simplest images instructed her in the sublime myste
of spiritual truth The well situated amid the ruins Of
church which surrounded it. The mouth covered
with two large stones Rolling away these the travellers
with their attendants, swung themselves down kind of
platform, where they knded light and prepare
tons for ascertaning the depth of Jacobs Well.
1t time to disclose our plan Of operation to our
native attendants. Jacob, said we friend of ours an
English traveller and minister he Rev. Andrew Bonar of
COLLAGE dropped the five books Of Moses and the other in
spred records this well about three years ago. and you
will descend and bring them up shall give you handsome
bdkshish.' Bakshsh said the Arabs kindipp at the
sound if there be bakshish in the case we must have
it, for the lords of the land well down you CO.
said we, throwing the rope their shoulders, and you
shall have the bakshish Nay, verify said they, syou
TO hang let Jacob do what he peases Jacob was
ready at command and when he had tied the rope round
his body below the shoulders he received our parting nstruc
tons. We asked him to call us the moment that he
might arrive at the surface OF the water and told him that
should hold the to prevent him from sinking there
any considerable depth Of the element We told him
TO pull out Of the candles with which he had stored his
breast and to ignite 1t when he might get below. As he
terror took hold of him, and he be,ook himself prayer in
the Hebrew tongue We of course gave him interruption
IN his solemn exercise, the circumstance of the case
could not but admire the spirit odevoon which he evnced
On signal given we let him CO. The Arabs held with
the rope and took that he should descend gently
as possible
tWhen material nearly exhausted he called out
have reached the bottom and present scarcely
ed with water Forthwith he knded his light and that he
might have every advantage we threw him down quantity
Of dry sticks with which he made blaze which distinctly
showed the whole Of the WELL from top the bottom
We saw the end Of the rope at its lower part and
put knot upon il the margin above that we might have
the exact measurement when Jacob might up Amer
searching for about five minutes for the Bible among the
and mud at the bottom friend ioyfuIy cried 1t is
found 1t IS found IL found r. We not slow, IL may
be supposed in giving him congratulations. The prize
he carefully put into his Breast and then he declared his
diness, with our aid to make the ascent.
We found it easy matter TO get him pulled up,
had to keep the rope from the edge Of the well lest should
snap asunder When he into hands he unable
TO speak, and laid him down the margin Of the well
that ne might collect his breath. where's the bakshish
were the first words which he uttered reganng his faculty
OF speech 1t was Immediately forthcoming, to the OF
about sovereign and to his fullest satisfaction similar
sum we divided among Arab assistants The book, from
having been long stepped in the water and mud below was
with the exception Of the boards reduced TO Of pulp
In our effort to had asceraned the depth Of the
WE'LL which is exactly seventy five feet Its diameter about
nne feet IL is entirely hewn out Of the solid rock and is
work OF great labor II bears marks about Of great antiqui-
y The well is Deep, the description given Of by the
woman OF Samara 10 Lord. II still, noticed has
the character, although extent perhaps filed
with the stones which thrown into it to sound il by
velers and pilgrims.
"Ihe adventure which have noticed being over,
emerged from the well and, sitting down at its mouth
could not but think Of the and events of other days
We were to the very parcel Of ground that Jacob gave
Joseph Jacobs We'll here Here Jesus, the Saviour,
sat- weaed with his journey suffering from the inrmes Of
that owy human he had assumed when he from
heaven to accomplish the work Of redemption, which his
Father had given him do Here he spakc with inmabe
simplicity and majesty spake, setting himself
forth as The Source and Giver Of the copous and satisfying
waters Of Eternal Life"