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

| splashing together in its swift current. Its
refreshing effect upon lbs you cannot re-
aliSe; but our luxury was prematurely cut
short by word from the Bedoun chief that
we must hurry away to avoid an attack
from hostile tribe over the river. After
a hasty lunch we again mounted, and a
brisk ride of two hours and half over a
barren waste brought us to Jericho. This
village is but squalid group of shapeless
stone novels, but its vicinity IS watered by
a beautiful little rivulet, which impars fer
1 tilty and yerdure to the soil. On this
stream we pitched our tent for the night,
and at an early hour the next morning we
turned into the highway between Jericho
and Jerusalem. This road is as much IN
tested with robbers as in Scripture days;
but, thanks 10 our Bedouin guard, we did
not ssfall among thieves The country
for the most part is extremely rough and
sterile, and does not afford a siligle object
on which the eye can rest with satisfaction.
Numerous cells in the rocks, where ancho-
rites and hermts have dragged out their
solitary lives, only added drearness TO the
scene
In FIVE hours from Jericho, we reached
an cncampment belonging TO tire tribe Of
our Bedouin chief. 1t consisted Of some
scores of large tents, made by stretching
black camel hair sack cloth over poles.
The chief ippited US to visit his quarters.
Ne asscnted and dismounting, We're con-
!, ducted into a tent in no way distinguish
able from the rest. Carpets and cushions
were at once spread on the ground to4 oar
accommodation, and coffee, without milk
or sugar, was soon presented US IN little
Turkish HnjauS. About dozen Of the
. better class Of the people dropped in one
after another, and seated themselves on the
ground in a circle around US. The mother
and the aunt Of the chief were the only
women present. They were half veile:i
; in the Egyptian style. were lneanly clad,
+ and were old, wrinLled and ugly. The
men were dressed simply with robe gir-
!, ded around them, and with Turbans and
! Turkish slippers. They were rather spare
f IN figure. but were hardy and sinewy in
f appearance, and lad remarkably well turn
. ed limbs. Owing to exposure and prlva-
: tion, they all looked much older than they
were; vet they assured US that their people
+ were never sick, and that they frequently
I lived l20 years. Tilere was All Indian like
, dignity in their attitudes, and perfect pro-
; prlety marked botA their cor ereation and
behavior. Before we left, many children
were trQagnt III. The youngest wore
! ! little red caps, paofusely hung around with
. y silver coins. OF the older ones, some had
= their heads shaven completely bald, some
, only in d broad baud between the forclock
: and the crown, and others merel y in patch.
es here and there at random.-At best, ma
: ture had not favored them with much beau
$ : tv; but with their heads thus tricked out
Z they were as ugly little wrctches as one
= = would care about seeing.
= The Bedouins call themselves Mahome
= tans; but on account J. their inability t
/ read the Koran and their insolatiQn from
;. other people, they know little of their re
Il ligion excepting its simplest rudiments
They hardly recognise any title TO property
!. except that which superior force gives, ant
! are constantly plunderng not only the
A Syrians, but one fribe or another. Yet
! they never fail to x.teleome and treat kindly
: one who trusts to their hospitality. They
i never taste spurious liquors-are neve
I guilty of Ealsehood or treachery-are al
: va honest in their business transactions
= ald are totally exempt from the most degra
i ding sensual wees Of the Eastern nations
Polygamy is. allowed among them a
Il among all Mahometans; but few, excep
or the chiefs, have more than one wife. Th'
J bride. instead Of bringing dowry, is palc
j for in 44orses and camels, according topre
i vious stipulation. All Of the mutual deal
! iags of the Bcdouins are done by barter
i the coin which they obtain from traveller
: they hoard with the greatest care. The.
IL migrate from district to district as the sea
>. sons vary and the wants Of their stock re
o. quire, aud with perfect freedom encamI
i any where except on private property
II They pay tribute to the Government; bu
re- Otherwise, they enjoy complete indeper
is dencc.
il. An hours ride over a well cultivate
n country. brought us to Jerusalem. Afte
n dinner, mounted my horse alone, and rod
Nv southwark over the plains of Rephain
nd famed in scripture story, 10 Bethlehem, 81
np miles distant. The village is situated Q
ub hill side, and looks very pretty in th
d, misunderstanding cayalcadc Of prest
a and monks. | entered the place, and wa
a at once struck by its superior appearance
ed The houses were of 5ewp stone and tw
nd stories high, the streets were regular an
ost clean, the population good-looking and We
m ciaa, and comfort and thrift were apparel
ng every where. The children were the pre-
he tiest 1 have seen, since | left the Christia
er villages Of Lebanon. The people are Catl
ell olics, and chiefly support themselves b
ed carving representations Of Scripture chara''
ok ters and scenes on shells procured from Il
nv Red Sea. This they do with no little a
rs. tistic skill. proceeded at once to til
of Church of the Nativity, which claims
its cover the identical spot where our savior
,re was born. 1t is a large and magnificel
,p- basilica, built by the Empress Helena,
ith the earliest Christian ages, and is no
IN Jointly occupied by Roman Catholic, Gree
no and Armenian Monks. 1t is hoary wit
-. ia Most y,ayppra hla IN anDearanc