Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1853-06-02
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.
NUMBER XII.
Central
Com.
Btrnour. Syria. March IS. 1853

BtYRoUT, Syria, March H. 1853
Nv DEAN SIR,-Nablous the Sychar ofthe
New Testament, is situated about forty m les to
the north Of Jerusalem. passed on the same
way then, over the same mountains and desolate
regions heretofore described until | arrived
within about five miles, when descended into
that fertile valley which Jacob gave to his son
Joseph. 1t is entirely surrounded by mountains
having no outlet for the water, which in some
seasons renders large portion of it unfit Tor
cultivation. Near the head of tins valley. and
at about half mile distant from the city of Ma
blous, is Jacobs well where our Saviour sat
and held converse with the woman of Samarla
and told her all things that she ever did OF all
the events narrated in the life Of Christ, know
of no one in the identity of the location Of
which all christian denominations so fully con
cur as in that Of Jacobs well. The woman
spake truly when she said, the well is deep"
as those curious in such matters have ascertain
ed that 1t is lO5 feet deep and nine square, tho
at present dry, and the top much encountered
with rubbish. At short distance from the well
is the tomb Of Joseph, where his body was in
tered after having been brought up out of
Egypt About one hundred and fifty Sanarltans
still reside in that city, and are the only REM
nants of the sect known to exist They have
no more dealings with the Jews than their IA
theirs had before them, and they still 90 up to
their temple on the mountain in the rear of the
city to hold an annual religious festival. though
they have a synagogue within the city. They
showed me a copy of the Pentateuch which they
claim as being the Oldest in existence Thirty
miles further to the north, came to the PLAIN of
Esdraleon, lying between Mt Carmel on the
south and the mountains of Nazareth on the
north, and extending inland from the sea abou,
thirty miles When seen from the summit Of a
high mountain this PLAIN seemed almost like en-
chantment. 1t had the appearance OF being COW
cred with rich and uxuriant crops but nearer
approach dispeled the illusion Though com
posed Of the richet soil, three quarters at least
were covered with wild grass and rank weeds 49,
Government owns the lands and demands such
enormous rents that the poor peasants prefer to
gain scanty subsistence from the hill lands to
paying the rents. Through the centre of this
plain runs the brook Kshon, where Elijah slew
the false prophets of Baal, and which is men
toned both in sacred and profane histories as
powerful stream, in which armies have been
swallowed up, but at present it has dwinded
down to an insignificant stream that could ca
silly Jump over. In the north east quarter of
this place is Mt. Tabor, most perfectly shaped
mountain, rising boldly from the plain to an ele-
walton Of a thousand feet, from the summit of
which most extensive prospect is had in all di-
tons. Mt Carmel and the sea are seen in the
distance, while nearly the whole plan including
that portion where Napoleon fought one of his
important battles, seems spread beneath your
feet few miles to the south rises Mt. Endor.
less elevated, but not less renowned having near
her summit small white chapel, which tradition
says covers the grotto where dwelt the woman
that had a familiar spirit" at the time Saul
went to consult her Nazareth, three miles to
the north OF this plain, is approached by hard
climbing. 1t is located on the mountains. The
houses are mostly built of rough stone laid in
mortar with Hat roofs, and giving TO the town a
very Shiny appearance. The population is a.
bout three thousand, large proportion Of whom
are christians. here is no house of public en-
tertanment in the place. but a convent of con-
siderable extent, where strangers are received
and entertained, as at all the other converts in
the country. They are very useful establish
mens to the traveller, being almost the only
places IN the interior where any comfortable ac-
Communications can be obtained. They ask no
compensation, still they receive thankfully what
ever may be given them. There are two or
three schools in the place, and some progress
has been made in educating the rising genera
ton. Twelve years since commencement
was made TO educate females by sending four
girls to the school-the first attempt that has
been made there for centuries TO educate females,
but the project was not iayorably received, and
has made but small progress. Throughout the
whole Mahomedan country very little attention
is paid to female education They are not
treated as the equals or companions of males
I / have never heard Of such a things as the diff
ferent sexes meeting together for social amuse.
ment as in christian countries. Each sex has
its own circle of acquaintance and visits sepa-
rstely. Such is the case IN the higher grades
of society Amongst the lower class, females
are treated much as squaws aaougst our Ind-
ans-comPe'led to do the drudgery, while the
men indulge themselves in deness and smoking.
looked into one of their native schools
Teacher and scholars we're all seated On mats
IN the floor. They had no books, but each
scholar had piece of painted board or tin, on
which he wrote his lesson. When called to re.
cite he sits down directly in front of his teacher
and they commenced nodding in concert and re-
peatng the lesson together. When the scholar
proved dull the teacher sliced his right foot with