New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-21
The River Jordan, the n edron, and Dead SEA

By PROF >. WOOD JOHNS.
Mr.. Johns delivered his second lecture in
South Brooklyn on Wednesday evening, which COM
prsed description OF his Trip from jerusalem to Jer
cho, Bethany the Desert Of Judea the Valley OF Jehos
sphat the River Kedron the Jordan aud the Dead Sea
In commencing, he remarked tina: ne should occupy
the attention OF bis hearers by narrans his visit those
places which called the enyrons of Jerusalem Our
route said he, viii be therefore through Bethlehem 20
Herodian Mar Saba on the Kedron and thence TO Neb
Nooea tae River Jordan through Jericho and Bethany
back to Jerusalem.
Leaving Jerusalem the first object of attraction thai
meets our view is Mount Zion. 1t was prophesied that
this mount should be powed az & field" AMI 50 Il is
Yves there men blowing and sowing their seed as
we passed along The whole country is hired ont 70
farmers, who are permitted 70 reet the land TO various
Others On night several beautiful anu extensive
quaries OF stone We now arrive At the Castle OF Mar
Saba. Next arrive at very interesting spct the
Tomb OF David which giied By Hcrod. At the vii
lage OF Bethlehem we were well received and hospitality
entertained The valleys around tns place compose one
Of the productive districts 10 be found In the dis
lance the plains where the shepherds were watching
their locks when they received the aings OF the birth
Of Savior During h stay 40 the Of Bethlehem,
the lecturer remarked that he visited the Shrine Of the
Nativity the Hin o. Evil Council and ;ho Pilgrims Bath
ngpace The town consists Of but one long street. and
neither famous for beauty Of scenery OF arcntec
ture Here We met with one Of our American N.ssona-
riea, M. Whiting aud Travelled together through
Hebron which very beautifully situated and divided
into three parts The country Is exceedingly rich and
fertile. Josepus says that Abrahnms descendants built
tOmbs in Hebron, aud some are now to be seen. The
Jews Of Hebron appeared 20 be the ceancst end best
looking Israees have met, and shall ever feel
greet regard FOX them. The ony mandatory in He'r
ron IL glsss manuiactory. Leaving Hebron we came
10 large pile OF stones supposed to be the runs OF some
ancient building Of Juiinan Passing by circuitous
route through billy country. catch fret view of
the Convent Of Mar Saba. Here obtsined admission
after while, by lester Of Introduction which we hal
Arriving az the guest chamber found very beautiful
apartment After refreshments asked permission to
inspect the various parts Of the building. This was
granted This Convent il named after 81 SABA Greek
Monk who w6s called away from here (a5 the legend
ssys) by the Virgin May We passed the night In this
Convent and started on journey again In the morn
ing and entered the elevated plain OF Tekca, whence we
had a view Of Bethlehem irem the north Approaching
toward the Dead Sea descended by great toruOsic&
through plains and over mountains the River Jordan
On the shorcs OF this river rcwn branches OF trees
showing that the wttc1 much hi cher asone sessons
than ohers After the latter rains in March and April
the wHer becomes very high On the western shore Of
the Dead Sea s a mountain hundreds of feet high.
This Is what is called tie "P,lar of Salt, Lots Wife
THE lecturer exhibited piece OF this salt
We nov turn our taee toward the River Jordan ana
are the mountains o. DBb and Judah Here Joan the
Baptist descended ntv The and bsp.ised Savior
When were there the trees dressed in their an
their branches into toe OF the river Above
mountain summit, clothed in is dun blue. Leaving
the banks OF Jordan we took way toward Jericho,
which reached after sunset In this place, al
though IL 2lst December slept in the open air,
with only umbrella 10 keep OF, the dew. Tue heat Il
here Excessive the year round.
We passed through the village Of Bethlehem which is
small inconsideIBble town. Here we visited the Pool
OF silcsm and then the Valley of Eshcol, the Cave
Of Macpesh &c. and at last return to jerusalem This
city IN divided into four quarters sqnsres occupied
one by the Jew, by the hohammedans and the
other two by the Christians. The Jewish portion s TO
ward Mount Zion, and the Christian portion near the
Church Of the Holy Sepulchre.
After few more remarks, the Professor said that he
should give his third aud last lecture on next Monday
evening when he hoped have the pleasure OF address
ing larger audience than had honored him with their
attendance on this occasion His lecture next Monday
evening will embrace SOME remarks upon the Mount OF
OKves the Mosque of Omar the Holy Sepulchre, tho
Pool Of SLOAN, the Garden of Geh-emnne the Vale OF
Hebron the road along the Via Dooroso 20 the Pachas
official resdence the Seraglo and the Vales of Gihon
Lud the Ben IIiIuOL.