The Daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1845-1850, 1848-12-23

the iollONiHS iuteTeSllUgilel from Lieut.. VIM.
F. Lynch, under whose command the perilous
expedition to the Dead Sea was so successfully
prose cuted =
To the Editor ofthe Union.
With the consent OF the Hon. Secretary of the
Navy, beg leave, through your columns, to re-
deem promise have made.
When the small party, just returned from the
Dead Sea, first entered upon its waters, its mem
bers came, one and all, to the conclusion, that
having undertaken what others failed to accom-.
plish, the honor of the American name was at
stake, and that it were better 10 die like them
than return unsuccessful.
On the evening OF the 9th day, however. on
the souther sea, we were Frustrated by the hot
blasts OF simeon, sweeping from the desert Of
Arabia, which was followed by five DAYS OF in.
tense and sitting heat. On the afternoon of the
l4th day, on the coast of Moab, to our surprise
we were greeted by deputation of Christians
from Kerak, the Keath Moab of the Bible.
The JOY OF this people at meeting us was un
bounded. They cal essed u.s. brought us water
and leban, (sour milk,) all they had and some Of
them spent nearly the whole night hunting
wild boar, wherewith TO regae us. When told
that our forms of worship in America were diff.
erent from theirs, they replied "What matter
it Christ died for all DO you not believe in
Him." When told that we did, they said :
"Then what are forms before God IL looks to
NuO hSdlt' w Z are DTOtHeTS AND brothers
they continued to call US to the last.
We could not trace their origin, but concluded
that they either the descendants of one of the
last tribes converted to Christianity, who, in The
businesses OF the mountains, had escaped the Mn
hammedan alternative of ''the Koran or the
sword" or the crusaders under the Christian
Lord OF Kerak. They number about $50 families
and live in the town-the only one now left in
the once Populous country of Moab. Within the
walls are also the huts OF 100 Muslin families
and outside are the black tents of the fierce tribe
Kera- Keyeh, numbering $50 fighting men.
The Christians gave us an invitation to visit
their town, about seventeen miles distant in the
| mountains; but, while Hospitality urging us to
| go, they did not conceal the perls of the visit:
tor they confessed that they were outnumbered
| and oveTawed, and in an emergency would mot
| dare openly to assist US.
determined, however, to accept their invita-
uoh al all hazards; for 1t was evident that unless
recruited by more bracing atmosphere we
must inevitably perish In this opinion the Ia.
mented Mr.. Dale concurred with me.
VIII not tire you with an account of the visit
| OIL the treachery with which we were threat
ened, and our return in battle array, with the
hostile Sheikh as prIsoner-but simply exnress
my conviction, that but for the timely informa.
ton given by the Christians, we should never
have seen our boats again.
A"NSS POOl SHiistldHS are much tVFaDni1pd
over by their Muslin Neighbors. Their onlv
place OF retreat, when threatened with vioIences
Is their little cell OF a church, which can scarce
~ mold twenty families. Their account which
In Its narration bore the impress of truth seems
confirmed by the circumstances that in the cen
tire OF their little church there is well. which
supplies them with water until their provision.
are exhausted or the restless nature of their per-
secutors takes them elsewhere The chico, If
| all their homes lie IN mil -
large to hold all their wives and children 70.
with all their intolerance, the Muslims resnec,
the mouse OF Him, whom they call ssIssa the
Prophet of the Christians '1'
Inc foundation and part of the walls of =.
church have been built, but the work ia dsoo,,
unued from the want of means-tbe sirocco ana
inc locust having swept their harvest for sever
al years. they gave an appeal to tbeir
on.lstian orethren IN America, which promis
60 ~ ueil s WIN many apologies for its phra-
seology, they begged me to write it ONT ynoro
July Tor them but prefer sending il forth ~
us own simple brevity. | will only add that IL.
lie should be given, and that dscreetlv ~ diaon
ent times, SO as not to excite the cupiditv If tho
Muslims. The Board of Foreign Miss;ono -" -,
New York will doubtless receive what NO.. ~
gwen, and forward it either to their brethren in
Delfut or TO the Anglican bishop at Jerusalem
Tor distribution. One cent from each hrnaa.a
han
sufficient. Ho4o .ldh
APPEAL
by Gods favor may it, God Willing re.cb
nmerlca' and be presented to our Christian
orolhers, whose happiness NAV the AImigbtu
God preserve: Amen IVY
8642 prnr
We are in Kerak, few very poor Cbrist.n,
and are building church. F0'' "''S"'ns
we beg your excellencv TO helm no i, mi, 49,
uer.aKlng' Tor we are very weak
ne land has been unproductive and visited NV
the iocusts for the last seven years. '''''" y
me Inc church is delayed in not being accom-.
Pnsheu' Tor want OF funds; Tor we are few Chris.
tlans, surrounded by Musims.
ms being all that is necessary to write 70
you' Christian brothers in America. we need Gov,
no more. . eeu say
The trusters in your bounty,
ABDALLAH EN- NAHAS, (Sbeub\
YACOB EN- NAHAS. |
kERAK, 2S Jamad Awak, 1864.
CURiosITIEs FROM THE DEAD SEA The