Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-12-23
Glstoutal.
From the Peoples Journal.
The Holy Land,
BY MISS HARRIET MARTINEAU.
vi. THE JORDAN AND DEAD seq

by MISS HARRIET MARIINEAUs
vi THE JORDAN AND DEAD SEA.
This day, (April 6th) we were to visit the
Jordan and the Deld Sea. In the early morn
ing, about FIVE o'clock, assembled steep mound
near our encampment, and saw view as differ
ent from that of he preceding day as change
of lights could make it. The sun had not risen;
but there was a hint of IFS approaching in gush
of pale light behind the Moab Mountlns. The
strip ofwoodland in the middle of the plain look
ed black in contrast with the Frightening yellow
preciplces of Quarantania on the west South
wards, the Dead Sea stretched into the land,
grey and clear Below me, our tents and horses,
and the moving figures of the Arabs enlivened
the shadowy banks of the stream.
We were off soon after six, and were to reach
the banks of the Jordan in about two and half
hours. Our way lay through the same sort of
forest land as we had encamprd in. 1t was very
wild and almost the only tokens of habitation
that we met with, were about RihhaIl-by some
supposed to be the exact site of the ancient Jeri-
cho. This is now as miserable village as any
in Palestine; and its inhabitants are as low in
character as in wealth. No stranger thinks of
going near it who is not we'll armed and guarded
Yet there is no need to resort to any means but
honest and very moderate industry, to obtain
comfortable subsistence here-if only honesty
were encouraged, and industry protected by a
good social state. The fine fir trees that are
scattered around, and the abundant promise Of
the few crops that are sown, show that the soil
and climate are not to blame. AT this place
there is square tower, CONSPICUOUS from afar
above the trees, which some suppose to be the
sole remnant of the great city; but it can hardly
be ancient enough to have belonged to the old
Jericho.
On hock in the midst of the brushwood,
we saw few birds of such size that one of the
party IN moment of forgetfulness, cried out,
"OsrlcheS !" There are no ostriches in this
country; but these cranes looked very like them,
while on their feet One by one they rose,
stretching out their long legs behind them-cpr-
tany the largest birds ever saw hy-or broba-
=. bly, shall ever see.
Though we had been told, and had read, that
the river could not be seen till the traveller reach
ed its very banks, we could not help looking for
1t. Three broad terraces have to be traversed
and then it is sunk in deep bed, where it rush
es hidden among the woodland. In depth, the wa
ter varies much at different seasons though less
: now than formerly. The Scriptures speak sc
much of the overflow of Jordan, and of the lior
coming up at the swelling of Jordan, that it i:
| supposed that formerly the river was subject tC
, foundations which may have formed the three
terraces above mentioned and caused the extra
ordinary fertility of the plain in old times anC
that the wild beasts which then harbored in the
brakes, came up to terrify the dwellers in the
fields. However this may have been, it is not Sc
: now The channel is no doubt deepened; anC
the river now, in the fullest season, only brim
over It's banks into the brakes, so as to stand a
mong the canes, and never reach the terraces.
Though we were all on the lookout and though
we reached the river at the spot which is CLEARED
for the approach of the Eastern pilgrims, we coulC
} not see the water till we could almost touch it
t The first notice to me of where it was, was from
S some of the party disnountng on the Pilgrim
be lch. When came up-O how beautiful i
f was how much more beautiful than all pictures
t and all descriptions had led me to expect Th
2 only drawback was, that the stream was turbid
not only whitsh, from sulphurous admixture
g but muddy. But it swept nobly along, with
= strong and rapid current, and many eddies
: gushing through the thick woodland, and flow
e lug in among the tall reeds, now shifting tn
white rocks of the opposite shore, and now wind
ing away out of sight behind the poplars and AGA
cls and tall reeds which crowd It's banks 1t i
not broad river; but it is full of majesty from
its farce andlovehness The vigorous, upspring
t ing character of the wood along its margin struc
J me much; and we saw it now in its vivid sprn
S green.
f The pilgrims rush into the sacred river in sue
n numbers, and with so little precaution as to tn
e strength of the current, TINT no yelr plsses with
II out some loss of life; and usually several perish
e This yelr only one was drowned. Whttever st
n perstltlon there might have been among our con
If plny, 1t was not of this wild sort; and we battle
r IN safety. The ladies' went north; the gentle
T, men south | made way through the thickt
u with difficulty till | found little cove, which tn
4 current did not enter, and over which hung
n sycamore, whose lower branches were washed
E, the ripple which the current sent in as it passed
;e On these branches the bather might stand or S
lie without touching the mud, which lay soft an
re deep below. The limestone precipice and wooC
ed promentory opposite made the river pirtlcl
,p larry beautiful here; and sorry was to leave
" at last.
IN 1t is useless to attempt to make out where tn
to baptism of Jesus took place, or where his disc
1t piles and John administered the rite And on II
"a spot one has no pressing wish to know. tt
whole nf this river is en- Saered and or uuyaet III