The Port Gibson herald, and correspondent., 1850-01-04

lul mysterious passion OF the MESSIAH.
The Valley Of Jehosaphat stretches its dis
NAL length above and below the Garden,
entombing in its dark cliffs untold genera
tions Of the sons Of Abraham. 'Siloa's
brook that flowed fast by the oracle Of God, =
is dry and silent now, but the pool of ST.
loan. encased with timc-worn stones and
drapered with vines and flowers, still
yields its pure, sweet waters. Sweeping
round the base Of Sion is seen the deep
rugged glen Of Hinnow, where were per-
petratcd the ''dark idolatries Of alienated
Judah;' overhanging it is the traditionary
Aceldama, whose scanty herbago bespeaks
the wages Of iniguity and the price Of
blood. On the northwest of the city-is the
high rocky plain where the Assyrians, the
Romans, the Persians, the Saracens and
the Crusaders successfully pitched their
hostile standards, and with irresistible on
set dashed against the ramparts Of the de-
voted city. Towards the eastern horizon,
the eye ranges over a dreary desert waste,
then spans a broad murky abyss which
conceaIs the Shiny waters Of the Dead
Sea, till finally the vision rests on the dis
tant ridge Of the Moab Mountains, OH
which the Israeltes lowered before enter
ing the Promised Land. Above you, and
you can hardly think it an illusion, the
brave o'erhanging frmament," swells
fuller and broader than elsewhere, and
looks down more majestic and solemn.
The closing day is my favorite time for
visiting Olivet. The city at hat hour a.
ways wears a sad and almost sepulchral
appearance. Not voice is heard save
tnat Aluezzin's cry to prayer from the dis
tant minaret, and 10. figure IS seen, cx-
cept that Of some solitary ti!ager h9rry-
inc through the half-shut gates away to his
humble home. The evening breeze is
just beginning to sigh over the tombs Of
the valleys and rustic among the hoary
! olives around me, and the sun is casting
his last dying CLEAN athwart spirc and
/ dome, and canopFisg the sunken bed o.
j the Dead Sea with one vast pavilion o.
crimson and purple, and enveloping the
whole landscape with lurid glow tha
contrasts most sparingly with the cold grey
mass Of the city and the deep shades o
the valleys around it. If there is a spo
OF earh suited 10 pensive musings or {
thoughtful mood, il is the Mount Of Olive:
al an hour like this.
returned a day or two since from a
excursion. with Captain Hill, 10 the Dea,
Sea and the Jordan.-The co ntry arount
IS 50 infested with the Bedouins that it i
ndispensahly necessary for all who vlsl
these localities to hire the escort Of BE
douin chief and few Of his men. Fiv,
chiefs occupy the district, and they serv'
travellers alternately. They have fiNe,
price from which they never devia.e, I0l
piasters (or about 81 from each person 70
the chief, and 40 piasters from all for tn
men. 1t is 4 regular black mail system t
which all who have any regard to thei
own safety, must submit. AT the appoinl
ed morning our chief presented isl.ilSelt q
oag doof mounted on splendid arabian
He was a fine athletic black-beafded fel
low, with red mantle over his head,
: black cloth robe secured by a sash arom
. his body, and red Turkish boots on hi
: feet, and was armed with a Damascus gul
a pair Of pistols and an enormous Bcdoui
spear. Four Of his men followed on foo
each armed with a heavy gun, and dress
cd with mantle. tunic and sandals. Amoa
: them was full blooded negro who La
been adopted into this tribe,
! Starting at an early hour, we passe
round the base Of Olive, and after ride
! mile over cultivated tract, we reqcke
the village Of Bethany. Here di:
: mounted few minutes, to visit the Tom
5 Of Lazarus, VINO was raised from the dea,
: Entering a small door in the side Of bill
j. | made my way down some twenty step
: cut into the rock, and then creeping throug
I, a small aperture, found myself in the S
r called Tomb, which is simply chambC
: some eight feet square, eXcavated from tt
. solid rock. After leaving Bethany, the SC
: gradually lost its verdure, ana became MOI
!. and more arid and barren, Till at last i
e steriIity ard dreariness was almost f4ightfu
S 4 mere blasted scene Of desolation it was in
e possible to conceive The whole surface CO..
: sisted of friable rock, covered WIN yello
d sulphureoas heaps Of sand, and here az
= Illtlc 9uIiiCu W NllitGl tOlitlito iiitO NSS
n ragged ravines. A stinted, sapless shirt
# occasionally struggled above the groun
to mock its nakedness. No where was
i human dwelling visible, and no where
u human figure. The meridian sun pourt
o down its fiercest beams, and the heat al
. glare reflected from all around was almC
{ insupportable. This scene continued u
S changed forthree hours, when makinga lor
l. descent we approached the shore of Il
e Dead Sea. A dim, sickly mist hung ov
+. its blue waters, and a slight bitumnous smo
q infected the air. The ground was cover
e long way from the waters edge by athlC
e saline crust, and was destitute Of eve
d green thing save few canes and osiel
e Anxious to test the famous density
IT tie sea, we were soon foundering on
v surface, and our widest fancies were mo
$ than realised. To wade far without TO
Of pling over was impossible and swim WI
,e ease we could not, because it required co
,e tinual effort TO keep our arms from striki
,e out of water. But we could sit or stand u
ID right without any other exertion than ii
n. neces sary to keep our equilibrium. L
Ie water, though very clear, was most nausea
!. tothe taste. and caused tinrl ing senSati