Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1855-10-13

As the gates of Jerusalem are always CLOSED
at sunset, and only opened afterwards by al
order from some consul, two of our party, Mr.
b. and the French gentleman left us and has
tened on with guide, in order to arrive il
time to secure our admittance at a later hour
We made what speed We could, but the roads
in many places were truly terrific. Night
came upon us, notwithstanding all our efforts
at miserable little village called Beer, and
we were still three hours distant. Here Mr.
f., who had complained much of fatigue, gave
out entirely and declared he conld 60 nc
further. T. and myself were weary too, but
knew not how to give up reaching Jerusalem
if possible. We knew our friends there would
be anxious about us, and the good beds and
good fare which we knew awaited US looked
tempting. Still humanity whispered that we
ought TO stop. and so we did Shall we ever
forget that night i'm the mud dwelling, which
an Arab family vacated that we might occupy
it? Our WORKOUT fellow traveller threw him
self atfuli length on his mattress as soon as
he had swallowed the cup of tea which Elias
hastily prepared, and in moment was in q
sound sleep. For US, tired as We were sleep
was impossible. Myriads of feas assailed us
of enormous size and strength.
We bore the torture until about O'Clock
in the morning, when, rousing Elias, we made
ready with the moon shining brightly over Us,
to proceed on our way, dispensing with break
fast and only anxious to be off, As we drew
near Jerusalem the sun rose in all his splendor
We had been climbing, climbing, long time,
when suddenly between two hills we saw the
holy city with its minarets and its mosques,
looming up in the distance, welcome and |
must say thrilling sight not so mnch for
what itself was in that moment, but for the
thoughts, teachings and lifelong associations
which clustered and crowded around that con-
secrated spot. \ long weary way We had vet
to 20 before we should see it distinctly At
length on the brow of the last hill it lay clear
IL spread ont before US. We had heard SO
mach of the present leanneSs and desolation
of this once glorious city, that we were dis
appointed, most agreeably So at the picture it
presented. We looked at it across the valley
Of jeremiah, as it stretched up gradually from
Mount Moriah TO Mount Zion, and with its
minarets and domcd houses, its strong walls
and background of mountains, we felt no wise
indisposed to exclaim-' Beautiful indeed for
situation is Mount Zion, the city Of the Lord. .
But still il is desolate. Outside its walls,
no pleasant farms or tasteful country house
greets the traveller. The hard, stony difficult
road and the waste loneliness continue to the
very gates and as We entered, the same mar
row, dirty streets, paved with the same rough
uneven rocks, the same disagreeabic SMELLS the
same mixture OF doakeys and anels, dogs.
children, AMI p-o, l. of all races and colors,
met US here tLat We have encountered In So
MAN. Others of these miserable Turkish towns.
We found most comfortable quarters, however
At a small hotel in the heart of the city. kept
by a German, and all else for momeht lost
sight Of in the luxury of comfortable wash.
clean attire and a hot breakfast Our
friends had surmi>ed that We had stopped by
the wav. although JaRisSarv had been kept
outside TO await US. 1t was nearly O'Clock
when we reached the hotel and a calm. s4lm-
mer-like. beautiful Sabbath morning OF what
we did the rest Of the dag | will write else
where.
Our first act was 10 decide upon commeRc-
ing our present expedition this very morning
M0nday. for fear Of change of weather 1t
is an expedition Of three days through the
wilderness Of Judea, where we shall meet with
no habitaton to give Us shelter in case of
storm, 50 that it Is doHbly important TO escape
n.
the horses were again at the door for a fresh
start We rode ont of the city By the St.
Stephens gate. near which it i said the first
martyr vas stoned We crossed the valley of
Jehosaphat and wound round the side of the
Mount OF Olives. In the delicious morning
atmosphere, eTerything looked green and beau
tifgl The chief OF our Bedouin guard was
with Us, but the mules and Arabs had gone
on before, and we therefore could move as We
liked The first part OF the way the roal
vas pEetty good, and 4 gallop or trot vas
quite enjoyable. We overlook the mules
and getting sailong the mountains which border
the plains d jordan, we went on more slowly
passing u4ny a Wild aRd savage sceRe, where
j. was caSY cEoach 10 understand how travel
la-s might fall among there's At last the
plain itself came in sight, and OF on our right
lar the Dead Sea, "still and dark. at the feet
Of tie mountains of Moab We cOuld not
see the waters of Jordan. the sacred stream.
bat we knew where they were flowing from the
line Of trees which Swallowed rs hanks
As we descended info the valley. group
o: horseEnen i'm the distance, canght the quick
eye If our leader, and instantly our BeiOuins
were of Fke louads upoa the scens while
we waited, drawn up in a line, short time in
suspense a 10 whether they were friends or
foes For short time the romance and excite
nseas Of probable attack occupied Is by way
" variety. aud then the signal was giren
back, friends We Eset no other adventure,
and are noE. as ] have todd you, resting under
cover of cur teatS --as- n
-Basiea Pct
EZP Tac f-est i1e- Of n thunder storm Is