New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1852-08-27

| den run to waste. Abundant streams, PouIeo "o"
the generous heart of the mount OF blessing, leap
and gurgle with pleasant noises through thickets
of orange, FIX and pome eranate, through bowers Of
roses and tangled masses of brars and wild vines
We halted in grove of olives, and after our tent
was pitched, walked upward through the orchards
to the Ras el Ain, (Pronontory Of the Fountan,)
on the side of Mount Gerizim. multitude Of
beggars sat at the city gate, and as they cOntin.
ued to clamor after had given sufficient aims,
paid them with .1Hah deelek!" (God give it TO
you THE Moslsn's reply to such Importantly
and they ceased in an instant. This exclamation,
it seems, takes away from them the power OF de-
manding second time.
From under the Ras-el-Ain gushes forth the
Fountain of Honey, so called from the sweetness
| and nur;tv of the water. We drank Of it and
found the taste very agreeable, but my companion
declared that it had an unpleasant wooly flavor.
| Wbsn We climbed little higher, we found that the
true source from which the fountains supplied was
above and that an Arab was washing flock OF sheep
in il! We continued our walk along the side Of
the mountain to the other end ofthe city, through
gardens of almond, apricot, prune and walnut
trees, bound each to each by great vines, whose
heavy arms they seemed barely able to support.
The interior of the town is dark and filthy, but it
has a long, busy bazaar extending its whole
length. and cafe where We procured the best
coffee in Syria.
Nablons is noted for the existence of small
remnant of the ancient Samaritans The stock
has gradually dwindled away, and amounts to
only 40 families, containing little more than 100
Individuals They live in particular quarter OF
the city, and are easily distinguished from the
other inhabitants, in the cast Of their features
After our guide, native of Nabons, had pointed
out three or FOUR had no difficulty in recognizing
all the Others we met. They have long, but not
prominent noses, like the Jews small, Oblong
eyes, narrow lips, and fair compilations, most of
them having brown hair. They appear to be held
in considerable obloquy by the Mosems. Our at
tendant, who was Of the low class of Arabs,
took the boys we met very unceremoniously by
the head, calling out: I" Here is another Samar-
itan!n He then conducted as to their synagogue,
to see the celebrated Pentateuch, which is there
preserved. We were taken to a small open court,
shaded by apricot tree, where the priest,
an old man in green robe and white turban, was
seated in meditation. He had long gray beard
and black eyes, that lighted up with sudden ex-
preston of eager greed when we promised him
bscksbish for sight of the sacred book. He rose
and took us into sort of chapel, followed by
number of Samaritan boys. Kneeling down at a
niche in the wall, he produced from behind a
wooden case piece ragged parchment, written
with Hebrew characters. But the guide was IA
miliar with this deception, and rated him so
soundly that after little hesitation he laid the
fragment away, and produced large tin cylinder,
covered with piece of green satin embroidered
in sold. The boys stopped down and reverently
kissed the bazoned cover, before it was removed.
The cylinder, sliding open by two rows Of hinges
opened at the same time the parchment scroll,
which was rolled at both ends. 1t was indeed avery
ancient manuscript, and ia remarkable preserva-
ton. The rents have been carefully repaired and
the scroll neatly stitched upon another piece OF
parchment covered On the outside with violet
satin. The priest informed me that it was written
by the son Of Aaron, but this does not coincide
with the fact that the Samaritan Pentateuch is
different from that of the Jews. 1t is, however,
no doubt one of the oldest parchment records in
the world and the Samaritans look upon it with
unbOunded faith ard reverence. The Pentateuch
according to their version contains their only form
of religion. They reject everything else which the
Old Testament contains. Three or four days
age was their grand feast Of sacrifice, when they
made burnt offering of lamb, on the top Of
Mount Gerizim. Within a short time it is said
they have shown some curiosity to become &C
quainted with the New Testament, and the High
Priest sent to Jerusalem to procure Arabic
copies.
asked one of the wild-eyed boys whether he
could read the sacred book. "Oh, yes, said the
priest, call these boys can read it," and the one
l addressed Immediately pulled volume from his
breast, and commenced reading in fluent Hebrew.
1t appeared to be part Of their church service,
for both the priest and boab, or door-keeper kept
up running series Of responses, and occasionally
the whole crowd shouted out some deep-mOuthed
word in chorus. The old man leaned forward,
with an expression as fixed and intense as if the
text had become incarnate in him. following with
his lips the sound Of the boys voice. 1t was a
strange picture OF religious os.i--i~-.,, aud was
of itselfsuicient to convince me Of the legitimacy
of the Samaritan's descent. When | rose to
leave gave him the promised fee, and a smaller
one to the boy who read the service. This was
the signal for general attack from the door
keeper and all the boys who were present They
surrounded me with eyes sparkling with the de-
sire of GAIN kissed the border of my jacket, stroked
my beard coaxngly with their hands, which they
then kissed, and we're ready, as it seemed to me,
to fall on my neck in heap, after the old Hebrew
fashion. The priest, clamorous for more, followed
with glowing face, and the whole group had a
rotous and bacchsnalian character, which |
should never have imagined could spring from
such passion as avarice.
On returning to our camp we found Mentor