Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1852-09-25

strike "ohop said he, psrceivng that the man only
moved little without falling down utering single
groan "you the devil Pm very glad to you old
gentleman Yusef Bada is not afraid of the devil or any
thing else besides have small account to settle"
Upon which, drawing his sword he urged his frightened
horse up to the spot and the mysterious stranger
clean through the body 1t not until then that he
discovered his mistake He had shot and pierced through
the body dead man The corpse hung to branch
of the tree by the neck and the feet being in the shade
were invisible at a short distance II poor travel
Ter whom the robbers had murdered that night Yusef
cut the corpse down. he informed and pinned upon
it these words which he wrote upon piece of paper by
the Light Of the moon "R Yusef Bada meets the
wretches who murdered this man, he win cut their heads
on and hang them by the heels to this tree"
THE VALLEY OF Ell HULEH.
On the road leading down into the Valley Of Ell Huleh
we crossed Baneas the chief source Of the Jordan
At this point it is nothing than good spring Of
clear wafer enlarged to the size Of ryuet by conrbu-
tons from several smaller springs comes from large
in the mountain little beyond Baneas In an hour
and half having descended long slope over bed Of
rocks reached old bridge with three arches which
stream called by the natives the true source Of
the Jordan 1t is disputed point among biblical writers
which Of the two is in reality entitled to the name the
size being nearly equal but the best authorities seem to
in giving the distinction to the stream nearest to
Baneas Before reaching the bridge we passed several
fine olive groves, and had distant view Of the Lake Ell
Huleh, whose bright waters cleaned like sheet Of sill
yer in the hollow Of the great plain
From the bridge we struck ont into marsh directing
towards the base Of Jebe Eg the range of
mountains on the right Of Ell Huleh. We soon found
that the recent heavy rains had flooded all grounds
and our horses and mules sometimes scarcely able
to exrcae themselves from the mud Our baggage was
frequently thrown off the backs Of the mules in their
struggles and recovered with great difficulty and delay
We waterfowl all around us, chiefly cranes snipe
and such common in swampy grounds and by
dint of great deal of firing at the expense Of i'm
mense quantity of powder and shot, accidentally killed
two that flew up suddenly within feet of
sportsmen In the afternoon for the first time
Bedouin village. 1t consisted of dozen or fifteen low
black tents in the midst of the marsh with population
of lean and sayage-lookng Arabs who looked scowngy
at passed. Soon AFTER we passed another en-
campment-an extensive village of tents and ca
bins Horses tied to stakes about the DOORS and
herds of buffalo, with short thick horns twisted back
grazed in the surrounding marshes Several lean and
wolfsh dogs ran fercey at u.s. but fed bowling we
presented guns These Bedouins the genuine
descendants of Hagar the supposed wild Ishmaeites
who still the deserts Of Arabia. They partially
civilized by inermxture with the Syrian Arabs and lead
rather pastoral than predatory fe Those who abide
in the Valley of Ell Huleh pay tribute to the Turkish Co.
vernment for the of the land, and reside upon the
plains permanently, moving their villages from one part
to another the sheiks direct Large herds Of tame
buffalo find excellent pasturage here during the entire
year. and upon the produce of these and the cultivation
to extent of the soil they contrve to obtain toe
rable subsistence The land in parts of the valley
is exceedingly fertile and well adapted the pro-
duction of Indian corn, Of which the Bedouns raise
small quantity. Around the bases of the mountains,
where the land is not too marshy, wheat thriyes well by
the scratching up Of the ground with rude wooden
ploughs such used in scptural times and suf
hcen -four for the people Of the valley is produced
with very little labor Rice is grown in the marshy lands
and grass abounds naturally throughout the plain In
the vicinity of Lake FL Huleh tall rushes and flags grow
in great quantities which found useful in building
and roofing the huts 1t seemed little strange to us
that these people should live in the low grounds their
tents and cabins floating in water half the time exposed
TO the full glare of the in and the piercing
winds in winter while not than few hundred yards
distant the sides of the mountains some very
pretty sites for villages pleasantly shaded by bushes and
protected from floods and storms But there is no a
counting for tastes certainly accounting for the tastes
OF the Bedouins Some Of the women and children were
remarkable for the beauty of their features the men had
also fine features and commanding air about them even
in their rags but they swarthy unwashed set of
yagabonds at best and lived in style suitable to
village of beavers.
In the winter the greater part of the plain of FL Hueh
is covered with water all the small streams,rom the
mountains swell the lake till it overiows its low banks
and spreads around for many miles The sources of the
Jordan may be considered as flowing chiefly from the
neghborhood Of Baneas but every that runs into
the Lake Of I'll Huleh forms in reality an additional
source they all unite in the lake. and eventually find
their way through the Sea of Gaee the main river
Jordan, which winds from thence distance of seventy
miles into the Dead Sea.
On leaving the Bedouin villages rode on towards Ain
Ill NJ. - Al r.
had maintained profound silence for some hours while
those sudden paroxysms Of fury which had frequently
alarmed with apprehensions Of attack from some
hidden enemy. We riding along very pleasantly,
dreaming Of the least DANGER when Yuse without the
slightest warning dashed mady out of our ranks yelling
like the very demon of wrath and whrng his gun fierce
ly his head The rwhoop Of an American Indian
could not compare at all with the battlecry OF our fe
rocious dragoman. Away he secured over the plain,
causing the earth to fly up from his horses hoofs in a
perfect shower turning and rearing charging and chas-
ing the enemy. Arrived close Quarters he fred his
gun then drew his pistols and fred them and then with
savage yell drew his sword which he fourished With
hand and his dagger which he fourished with the
other and then he lay about him in front and behind and
the left side and the right side cleayng skulls ripping
cutting and hrusting and charging over dead bodies
and shriekng mady for live ones 10 come on VII
lains towards dogs the whole you together come on
on and die by the avengng hand Of Yusef Badia
declare the veracity of traveller it was the most
desperate and exciting conflict ever beheld By the
time had ridden up to the assistance Of our friend who
was bravely defending us, could perceive that
there single live person left and even the dead had
disappeared "why, in the name Of common sense"
-. L. n ~ 80