New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1854-10-04
THE PALESTINE MISSION.

We have been favored with the perGsal Of an in
terettirg private letter from lady connected with
the Palestine Mission which we have before noticed
IN connection with the laudable efforts and excellent
arrangements for Introducing improvements in agri-
culture into that once fertile and fruitful, but now
otchodly cultivated country. The letter vas writ
ten 10 this ady's sou, who has been himself at the
Mission but obliged account Of health TO relin-
quish his abors temporarily, and az it was no, intend
cd for publication, we cOndense some of the most
important facts, which we give with extracts from
the ktter We learn that the postage upon this letter
epistle comparing sheet and hall OF thin ietter
paper is fifty seven cents. 1t had TO be sent in the
Austrian mail from Jaifa TO Trieste; thence in the
FL ish mail ~ England and by British mail steam.
er TO New.YoIk.
The letter i. dated at the Mission farm north Of Jaf
ia, July IS, 1854. Mrs. VI. Gays;
IRRIGATION.
"The dry weather is here and we now have the
additional labor OF raising water for the fruit trees
and summer crop Of corn and vegetables. Our mules
work constantly aud yet improve in appearance,
which greatly surprises our ueighbors, who lose 60
many by neglect of proper care"
METHOD OF RAISING WATER.
IAN endless willow rope, bound thIckly with
earhen Jars, pours constant stream of water over
the pulley wheel into reservoir wheace it Is taken
in many small channels among the trees and plants
orange or pomegrane trees watch the rapid growth
which the i-~'catiOD products
PRODUCTIONS.
"Weh ,st gathered some Of the finest spec
mems of corn We have ever seen; ears more
thanafo ength. and containing over 600 large
keruas present system of watering is expen-
siye, an fresh soil, we have ascertained that all
kinds OF sir eud most all vegetables can be per-
fected SOC Isons, without irrigation, or only
twice year ,e would iuigate gardens and fruit
trees add improvements in field culture,
for staple e. lch cotton, silk, wheat barley,
corn. potato 4 sim-sim for oil. All of which
can be grove. suitably without water by deep p0w
ing and good filling. The NEST melons and grapes,
probably in the world grow here; also olives ADD
tgs."
ARAB PLANTATIONS.
AT first we have to occupy houses and ands ar
ranged after the Arab fashion. These near AHA,
consist of an immense orchard, with garden, dwell
ing.house and well, and machinery for irrigation.
The orchard cannot be left as in the United States,
to take care of itself but must be dug aud waerei
every dry season. Ii is better for Americans TO get
unoccupied land because III leasing dwelling the
orchard must be taken with 1t, and taken care or
But upon unoccupied land buildings aud farm can be
arreneod TO suit our system which is much better
than that of the Arabs it will not require half the
labor to produce greater retarps-st least double"
THE BEDouINS.
! "We have many friendly visits from the BedCun.
and heve tried TO learn and profit upon their know-
edge of the climate, SOIL seasons aud suitable crops
Many Of their simple methods are peculiarly edapte1
TO tbs country. This lawles- people are generally
much feared aud Stunned b. Europeans AT hrst the
poor women came TO US bringing laps full of barley
End wheat TO sell, and to buy medicine They were
Wild and at fret apprehensive, when we closed the
gates upon their entrance 10 our courtyard Mind
treatment soon gained Their confidence, and as We
ms infested fear they grew friendly, and often on
their way Jafa called to get water for themselves
and beasts Of burden. A poor woman, with a suck
ing infant upon her back, IL sding two small children
had come a long distance to CLEAN after the reapers
near our place. She begged permission to leave her
children in the shade in our yard while she pursued
the ZANE labor that Ruth did in the field Of Boaz In
the evening, when she came for her children che was
surprised find them contented and happy, and one
little girl who wss covered with q dirty rag now
wa,heo and dressed in q neat slip. As an expression
of her gratitude when she came again next morning
to pursue her hard and illpad toll IN the hed, she
brought us large earthen jar OF milk Ihis pleasant
interchange Of civilities continued some days Nett
came one OF the principal men under the :" Great
Sheik" of the River Bedouins, 10 eel two camel
loads Of barley. II was measured and paid for, to
his satisfaction and then he highly battered tina.
we should invite him TO take breekias. at our table
with the family. This q bond of peace. He had
broke and eaten bread with and in return begged
us TO fix a day and CO me TO their camp and eat wih
them This we defined as a mere compliment OF q
wellbred man Of his class but few days afterward
he came again with q present OF " hrst fruits, and
insisted upon our accompanying him home IL Wa
novel thing for Christian family TO De invited ~ Vsu
their Bed-uin neghbors, and several OF o0r family
1 volunteered for the occasion TO accompany me-
VISIT TO THE sHIEk AND BEDOulN CAMP.
1--WE inquired The distance, and he, as we aferSard
learned fearing should not consent TO go % Tar
| replied "Only half hour this side OF the mills.
/ So anticipating only morning ride, we set on 90
/ mules and dorkies with Mabmoud and his camel IN
the lead norfbward, Abdsah, Mordecai and eur Ger
helper and Interpreter John Steinoeek following
I After riding hour l inquired, DO" mueh iaI,
/ theri' He replied, "Swsycoh,' ionly ltue.l
/ Again and again the came inquiry was made, ana tne
same answer returned. lie was very talkat'ei ahd
showed US al interesting ancient rum oy me way
stuated the top Of what seemed to De an ar'lu
HILL rising all sides abruptly from the PLAIN lie
assured that il the remains OF Cnrsuan tofi
! which "Mahommed destroyed when be took poeees-
sion of this country. After the hrt hour the rosl Hu
up al extensive valley by the side OF the River Ogee,
Of which and its ancient mills three miles north OF our
Bisnah, have before written 10 you. de lniormed
US that this rses in the mountainous region De-
yond Nablons; its course seemed about weet Al
length we came 10 a dam the river Of very an
Gent masonry at one end Of which had been miro
| duced two modern arches through which the river
! row passes Tie dam extends several rods a,ross,
beyond the present width and course OF the rver on
the further end Of which considerable ruins OF an
| ancient mil-hewn stone broken arches and s,one
causeways for the water, half filed With ruboish ana
| oyerrrown with bushes As the dam forms q good
bridge we crossed here and following the river upon
/ the other side soon after entered upon an immense
plsn Of bottom land, widening on each side OF 1ee
| river. The soil appeared 20 be very. rich; we
passed droves of tame buffsoes shepherds with large
| cocks Of sheep and goats and many herds OF TAT
cattle Of larger size than any have before seen
in this land. One droveof eamels that were pa<tI'