Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-10-02

travel sometimes making twenty miles and
thirty, according to the kind Of roads we had u 81
days journey on horseback may be put down Al
twenty-five miles The whole country with tha ecar
uon OF few plains is mountainous and from Tia IN
Of setting out in the morning stopping in the
the traveller is climbing or descending mounta;n.
rugged pathways of rock Hence the usual way Of
lang distances in the East is by time three hours ma
De hteen miles or only fve but the average isabou three
miles 70 an hour. We found it best in consequences 30
he ateness OF the season. November and December to-
send back our tents from Damascus and carry nothing
with US but few mattresses and our cooking utensils
There are villages and khans all through Syria, where
there is little or no dcultyin obtaining lodgings for The
ght Dinner was always served in about an hour after
our arrival being purchased and prepared by our drago
ana MS servants SO that gave ourselves no trouble
except to eat what put before u.s. which was
easy enough The reason why travelling in the East is
SO much higher in proportion than the mere living Is that
stranger unacquainted with the Oriental languages ;s
Obliged to have an interpreter and number OF
anu mueteer besides the animals necessary for riding
ana baggage 10 remain stationary for any length Of
time in any of the principal cities costs mere rie
heard OF IN American gentleman living at Antioch who
complained that he could not spend $500 wear without
resorting to extravaganza In Beirut Damascus Jeru
saie and other large towns in Syria and Palestine there
are good hotels kept by Greeks Italians and French
where the ordinary rate for few days is about dollar
ana half day but by taking ROOM which can be had
Tor almost nothing one may live for any thing he peases
comfortably for ten fifteen dollars month. House.
rent is extremely low, say from hundred to two hundred
dollars year for very comfortable establishment
Horses cost from thirty to sixty dollars except the pure
pooded Arabans which have particular price attach
cd TO them In Alexandria you ride out to Pompeys
n on a dnn 1aU and has ho.xx~ -
you and another to follow up with sharp stick for ten
or twelve cents Any single person. therefore, who can
command five hundred dollars year. and who wishes to
study the antiquities of Palestine and Egypt need not be
afraid to start off Immediately provided time be ne par
tcular object to him and by good management he can
see the whole East in few years. and come back wiser
if not better man, without exceeding his income With
little experience might be done for considerably less
than that The besettng weakness American tourists
in Europe and the East generally is the dread of making
bad appearance. People will say this is not genteel
hotel and that is not gentee hotel and this is the
custom for persons Of respectaby and that is vulgar
and questionable and the second the third class cars
will not do for American where there is first class
and it looks shabby to pay domestic cents when he
expects at least two francs Of all this is very
well for rich travellers who afford pay for their
responsibility but is absurd for any young whose
primary object is the acquisition of knowledge be gov
erned by such motives Besides it is altogether mis-
taken idea that increases gentty or adds in any
way to his dignity of character No travellers in the
world cheated and laughed by the very persons
who pretend to do homage to them the Americans and
English ensaved by dread Of the opinions Of
those whom they hold in contempt the reest and
most powerful people in existence Lawyers and doctors
60 California and drive muecarts carry hods for
brckiayer but poor student who, after years Of toll,
few hundred dollars and out to accomplish
what he has dreamed of all his life-o visit the monu-
mens of past ages to ponder the history of man,
becomes suddenly mitten with the fear of Mrs Grundy
the moment he touches the shores of the old world and
spends all his in few weeks without really seeing
any thing and this contrary his own of dscre-
ton because people tell him is not genteel do other
WISE No position thought too despicable in the pur
suit of gold but every position which is not up to the
conventional standard is dreaded in the pursuit of know
ledge True, all not governed have by
the example of several who have given the world en-
during evidences of steadness of purpose selreance
and decision Of character That in Eastern countries
imposing show has effect it has every where else
is not to be denied but if be unable to make that
show cheap he should be deferred from going
ahead the best way he With strong will, plea
SAINT and accommodating disposition and firm reliance
in this principle that nothing is sacrificed while self
respect remains, there is difficulty in travelling all
over the world would therefore, say every young
man who hirss for knowledge that it is not out of books
alone he will get it; let him 60 out upon the broad face
Of the earth and look around him. and with the eyes
that God has given him what they who write books
do than let him drink deep into his soul the
beauties of let him forget all the petty preudces
that have hitherto held him in bondage, and learn that
there is good and evil everywhere; that
" Honor and shame from condition rise;
Act well your part, there all the honor lies"
j. r.. B.