New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-31

after half embracing the mound, swept off acros:
the meadows to the Waters of Merom. There
could be no doubt that this was Tell ell Kad, the
ste oil Dan, the most northern town Of ancient
lsael. The mound on which it was built is the
crater OF an extinct volcano.
The Anti'Lebanon nov rose near US, its north
ern and western slopes green with trees and
grass. The first range, p.rhaps 5000 feet in hight,
shut outtoe snowy head of fIermon, but still the
we" was sublime in its large and harmonious out
Ines. Our road was through country resem-
bling Arcadia--the earth hidden by dense bed
Of grass and flowers; thickets Of blossoming
shrubs OLD, old oaks with the most gnarled Of
trunks, the most picturesque OF boughs and the
glossiest Of green leaves olive trees of amazing
antiquity and, threading and enlivening all, the
clear.cold foods Of Lebanon. In another hour we
reached Banias, the ancient Cesarea PhllIppi,
now noor v;Ilape imso wersd in mag ni6cent trees
and washed by glorious waters. There are album
.dant remains of the old city: fragments Of i'm
mense walls. broken granite columns, traces Of
pavements. great blocks of hewn stone, marble
pede staIs and the like. In the rock at the foot
Of the mountain there are several elegant inches
grotto. Below them, the water gushes I'D
through the stones in hundred streams, forming
food Of consider able size. We made our camp
in an olive grove near the end ofthe village beside
an INNER Sc terebinth tree, which was inclosed in
an open court, paved with stone. This is the
town-hsn Of Baniis, where the shekh dispenses
Justice, and at the time the resort Of all the
oilers of the place. We went up among them
and were given seats of honor near the shekh
who talked with me long time about America.
The people exhibited very sensible curiosity
desiring to know the extent Of our country, the
number Of inhabitants, the amount of taxation,
the price Of grain, and other solid information.
The shekh and the men Of the place told US
that the Druses were infestrng the road to Oa-
mascus. This tribe is in rebellion in Dlebel
HauaTen, on account of the conscripton, and
some OF them, it appeared, had taken refuge in
The Businesses Of Hermon, where they were be-
ginning to plumber travellers. While had been
talking, Druse ctme down from the mountains,
and sat for halt an hour among the villagers,
under the terehinth, after which he went n.
This isct gave us some anxiety, as he might have
been spy sent down to gather news, and il so,
we were almost certain to be waylad. IF we had
been well armed, would not have feared
dozen, but all our weapons consisted of a sword
and four pistols. Afte, consulting together, we
decided TO apply to the shekh for two armed men,
to accompany us. accordingly went to him
again and exhibited the Grnan of the Pasha Of
jerusalem, which he read, stating that even with
out 1t he would have felt it his duty to grant our
request. This is the graceful way in which the
OnentaIs submit to peremptory order. He
thought that one man would be sufficient, as we
would not probably meet with any large party,
and promised to send him next morning.
We rose early, so as to he ready for long
march. The guard came-a mid-looking Arab,
without arms; but on our refusing to take him
thus, he brought Turkish musket, terrible to
behOlJ, but quite guiltess of any murderous in-
tent. We gave ourselves up to fate, with true |
Arab resignation, and began ascending the Anti |
Lebanon. Up and up by stony paths, under the
oaks beside the streams and between the wheat
fields We climbed for two hours, and at last
reached 4 comb or dividing ridge, whence we could |
look into valley the other side, or rather in
closed between the main chain aud the on-hoot !
named Diebel Heish, which stretches away to-
ward the south. east. About halfway up the
ascent we passed the ruined acropolis OF Crsarea
Phillpp GROWING the summit of lower peak
The walls and bastions cover a great extent ct
Ground. and were evidently used as a stronghold
in the Middle Ages.
The valley INTO which we descended lay directly
under one Of the peaks of Hermon, and the rlllS
that watered it were fed from his snow-felds. 1t
was inhabited by Dmses, but no men were to be
seen, except few poor husbandmen, plowng on
the mountain sides. The women, wearing those
enouoous horns on their heads which distinguish
then, from the Mahometan females, were washing
at pool below. We crossed the valley, ana
slowly assembled the hight on the opposite side,
taking care TO keep with the baggage mules. Up
to this time we met very few persons, and we i'r-
cot the anticipated perils in contemplating the
rugged scenery of the Anti-Lehanon. The noun
tsn. sides were brilliant with flowers, and many
new and beautiful specimens arrested our atoen-
ton. The asphodel grew in punches beside the
streams and the large scarlet anem0ne outsaone
even the poppy, whose color here IS the qu'ntes-
sence Of flame. Five hours after leaving bah'ts'
we reached the highest part OF the pass" urea!
volcanic region, covered with fragments Oh ia'"'
Just at this place an old Arab met US anu a''0'
scanning us closely, stopped AMI occosted ths ger
wish. The latter Immediately came running
ahead. quite excited with the news that tno o'D
man had seena company OF about fifty D"ses
descend from the sides Of Mount li7m'n' iowa"
the road we were to travel. We Immediately or
dered the baggage to halt, aud Mr.. Harrison Fran
co.'s and m, self rode on to reconnolter' "u'
ousrd the valiant man of Banits, whose teeth
already chatteTed with fear, prudently kept WITH
the beooaee. We crossed the ridge, and watched
the stony mountain-sides for some tnnei oat no
spear or ghttering gun.bauei could we see Inc
-. A.. - ,u,tinD mud hal not