Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1848-12-28
The Dead Sea Expedition and
Foreign Missions.

with consent of the Hon. Secretary of the
Navy, beg leave through your columns, to re
deem pro Mise have made
Whch The small party Just se,urned from the
Dead Sea- first entered upon its waters. its mem
bers came, one and ALL TO the conclusion thai
having undertaken what others failed to accom-
Plush the honor of the American name was at
81 IKE, and that it were bette. to die like them
than return unsuccessful.
On the evening Of the 9th day, however, on
the southern sea, we were Frustrated by the hot
biasS Of smoom sweeping from the desert OF
Arn6la. which was followed by five days of in.
tense and sitting heat. On the afternoon of The
l4lh day, on the coast of Moab, to our surprise,
we were greeted by depuatlon of Christians
ton Kerak, the KeJa,h Moab of the Bible.
The joy OF this people at meeting us was un-
bounded Thcy caressed us, brought us water
and Iuban, (suur mllk,) all they had, and some Of
them spent nearly the whole night IN hunting
wild boar, whprewlth 10 regale US. When told
that our forms Of worship in America were dit
terenr FROM theirs, they replied: "What matters
| il? Chrst died for ali Do you not believe Ia
| Hump When Told that W. dad, tueV sad -
90 hen VIVA, forms before God He io0kS
10 the hear We are brothers," And brothers
they continued to call us TO the last
We could not rIce their origin, but concluded
that they are either the descendants of one OF
the lusl tribes converted TO Christianity, who, IN
The businesses of the mountains, had escaped the
Mnhammedan alternative OF "the Koran or the
sword" or the Crusaders under the Christian
Lord Of Kerak. They number about $50 FAINT
lies, and live in the town the onl one now lett
IN The once populOus Country OF Moab. Within
the walls are also the hus of 100 Muslin FAM
lies, aud outside are the black tents OF the fierce
tribe Kela Ceyeh, numbering 700 fighting inca.
/ The Christians gave Us an invitation to vsu
their town, about IL miles distant IN the noun
tains; but while Hospitality urging MS TO 20. they
did not conceal the perls OF the WISH for they
confessed that they were ouDunbered and over
awed, and in an emergency would not dare open
ly to assist
determined, however, to accept their invita-
Jon at all hazards; tor 1t was evident that, unless
recruited by more bracIng atmosphere We mus
inevitably perish. In this opinion the lamenled
Mr.. Dale concurred with me.
will not Tie you with an account Of the vis
-, tie ireache'y with wi lch we we're threat
ened, and our return, in battle array, with thu
hostile Shelkh as prlsoner-but simply express
my conviction that but for the timely lniOrna
ton gwen by the Christians, we should never
have seen our bouts again.
, These poor Chrsllans are much iyranniZed
over by their MuSlln neighbois. Their ouly
place of retreat when threatened with violence,
is their iIle cell OF church, which can scarce
y hold twenty families. Their account, which
IN It's narration bore the impress of truth, seems
cuuiirued oy the circumstances that IN the CEN
ire of their lIttle church there is a well which
, supplies them with water until their provisions
are exhausted, or the restless nature of their per
secutOrs takes them elsewhere. The object OF
all ihelT hopes Is Ia bulld church sutiilentl,
large 10 hold all wives ana chIldren; tor with
their intolerance, The Nuslims respect the House
1T Him whom they call " issa, the Prophet Of the
Christians"
a. IL.
church have been built, the slruccO aud the 10
Gust having swept their huryesls for several
y years. They gave me an appeal to their Chris
tan brethren III America, which l promised 10
denver Wnh many apologies for It's phraseal
ogy, they begged the to write it out more fully
tor them; but prefer sending it forth in its own
simple and touching breyy. ] will only add
that little should be given, and that discreeiiy, al
different times, so as not TO excite the cuplJity
nf the Muslims. The Board of Foreign MIS-
! sons al New York will doubtless receive whai
may he gwen, and forward II either to their breth
rem IN Beirut, or to the Anglican Bishop at Jeru-
salem, tor distribution. One cent from each hu.
" name person IN this land OF charity will DO more
" than sufficient
APPEAL.
BY Gods favor: May II, God willing, reach A.
o merica, and be presented to our Christian
=. brothers, whose happiness may the Almighty
e God preserve: Amen. lo6lR
/. BEDUAH.
e We are in Kerak, few very poor Christians
Il aud are buIdIng church.
We beg your kxcel.eucy to help us in Thu
Is under aking, for we are very weak.
Il The land has been very unproduclive aud Wis
- tied by the locusls for the last seven years.
y The Church is delayed in not BEN! acco n-
Is plisned, tor want of funds; for We are few
Pr Christians surrounded by Muslins.
~ TINS being all that IL necessary to write To you
Christian brothers IN America, we need say n,
! more
Is The trusters in your bounty,
Ii ABUALLAi EN- NAHAS, (Shekh,)
YAKOB EN- NAHAS.
sr Kerak, 81 Jamad Awak, 1864.