Wisconsin herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1846-1849, 1848-02-26

only tokens Of hahifation that we met witt
were about Rihhah-hy some supposed
/ be the exact site of the ancient Jericho.-
This is now as miserable a village as anl
| in Palestine: and its inhabitants are as low
in character as in wealth. No stranger
thinks of going near il who is not well arm
ed and guarded. Yet there is no need "a
resort TO any means but honest and verl
moderate industry, TO obtain comfortable
subsistence here--if only honesty were en-
couraged, and industry protected by good
social state The fine fig trees that are scat
tered around, and the abundant promise ct
a few crops that are sown, show that the
soil and climate are not TO blame. At this
Iplace there is a square tower, conspicuous
from far above the trees, which scene sup
nose to be the sole remnant Of the great city:
hut il can hardly he ancient enough TO have
belonged TO the old Jericho.
On hiloek in the midst Of the brush
wood. We saw few birds of such aisle thar
zone of the party in a moment of forgetfu
mess. cried out, "Ostriches - There are
no ostriches in this country; but these cranes
looked very much like them, while on their
feet. One by one they rose, stretched out
their long-legs behind them-certainlv the
largest birds | ever saw hy-or probably
shall ever see. tN4fM
Though we had been told, and had read,
that the river couldnot be seen till the trav-
eler reached its very banks, we could not
help looking for it. Three broad terraces
have to be traversed; and then it is sunk 10
deep bed, where TRUSTEES hidden among the.
woodland. Its of depth water varies much
at different seasons; though less now than
formerly. The Scriptures speak so much
lof the overflow of Jordan, and of the lion
coming up at the swelling of Jordan, that IT
lis supposed that formerly the river was sub
Iiect TO foundations which may have formed
the three terraces above mentioned, and
lcaused the extraordinary fertility OF the
plain in old times; and that the wild beasts
which then harbored in the brakes, came
iup to terrify the dwellers in the fields.--
However this may have been, it is not so
now. The channel is no doubt deepened;
and the river now, in the fullest season only
Ibrims over its banks into the brakes, so as
to stand among the canes, and never reach
les the terraces.
Though we were all on the look out, aud
Though we reached the river at the spot
which is cleared for the approach OF the
Easter plgrms, we could not see the wafer
Itill we could almost tonch it. The first no.
Itice TO me of where il was, was from some
of the party dismounting on the Pilgrims
beach. When ! came up--O how hea,iti-
full it was how much more beautiful than
all the pictures and descriptions had led me
Ito expectl The only drawback was that
the stream was turbld-not only whitish,
from a sulphurous admixture, but muddy.
But it swept nobly along, with a strong and
rapid current and many eddies gushing thro'
the thick woodland, and flowing in among
the tall reeds, now shifting the white rocks
of the opposite shore, and now winding
away out of sight behind the poplars and
acacias, and tall reeds which crowd the
banks. Ii is not a broad river but II IS full
of majesty from its force and loneliness
The vigorous, up-sprnging character OF
the wood along its margin, struck me lnuch,
and we saw it now in its vivid spring green
The pilgrims rush into the sacred river
in such numbers, and with 40 little precan-
ton as TO the strength Of the current, that
no year passes without some loss OF life;
and usually several perish. This year only
one was drowned. Whatever superstition
there might have been among our company,
4 II was not Of this wild sort; and we bathed
in safety. The ladies went north; the gem
tlemen south. made way through the
thicket with difficulty, till found a llttle
cove which the current did not enter, and
over which hung sycamore, whose lower
I branches we're washed by the ripple which
the current sent in as it passed. On these
I branches the baiher might stand or sit With
out touching the mud, which lay soft and
deep below. The limestone precipice and
and wooded pronontory opposite, made the
river particularly beautiful here; and sorry
was TO leave it at last.
| II is useless TO attempt to make out where
the baptism of Jesus took place, or where
his disciples and John administered the rite.
And on the spot one has no pressing wish
to know. The whole of this river is so sa-
cred and so sweet that il is enough to have
saIuted il in any part Of its course.
One thing more we did: we remembered
friends far away, and carried away some
water for them, having provided tin eases
! far the purpose. The Queens children are
baptized in Jordan water; and ! brought
away casefuI for the baptism Of the child
of friend who lives farther away from the
Jordan than our Queen does. The busi-
ness done, we were summoned to horse,
and rode away southwards TO the Dead Sea.
p5- The editor Of the Chicago Democrat
I "a Long johnny writes from Washington
q =