Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-03
CLEVELAND, SATURDAY MORNING. DECEMBER 3, 1859.

chief Of the tribe Of Bodouins who possess the
land below Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, Joined
us on horseback, with five Of his mounted and
armed men, and with this force we proceeded
down ona mountain, up another, by the most
intoierabe road mortal Travelled, all day long
seeipg no fields, no houses no man, no trees,
nothing but barren rocks with dried tufts Of
grass and shrubs, until at a depth of 2, 500 feet
below the level of Jerusalem, l stood on the
beach Of the Dead Sea, near to where II 70
ceives the waters Of Jordan. On lie eastern side
the mountain rises as abruptly as ON is west
ern shore. The western shore he land Of Ca
naan, the eastern tie land Of savage enemies.
The sun was shining brightly upon the rnys-
terious lake, but wholesome and genial
breeze came of from its surface, and it looked
for all the world like Cayuga or Eeneca Lake.
But its waters were acrid and bitter the taste,
and painful 10 the touch Two absolutely na.
ked Arabs were carrying skins Of the Dead Sea
water TO some cabins of theirs in the rocks,and
they were the only human beings whom saw
during the whole day-from Bethlny to the
/ Dead Sea.
The sailors bathej in the lake and found its
waters buoyant The lanl Of Moab was as
desolate as the land Of Judea. Its mountains
even higher We gathered our party together
after an hours rest and rode across the dry,
sandy, desolate white plain. two hours, until we
AehAah uhAnNNto IA AAkuk ol AoiK EoWo VI AAtNH
and shFubbery refreshing to the sight, and heard
the rushing of waters beneath them Follow.
ing the path along this pleasant shade we came
70 place where the banks were low, and we
all rushed ineOntinently into the River Jordan.
IL was the only running stream VIC had seen in
Judea, and it was the second place where we
found water for our animals in our whole march.
| found it both natural and inevitable that the
inhabitants Syria should deem their only river
a sacred one. We drank Of its waters, we
bathed in them, we felt that they were not only
refreshing but healing. But the Jordan like
Jerusalem is q mOurner. We could see the
valley through which it flowed for many miles,
flat intervale land covered with white sands.
We could see the steep mountain or either side
for fifty miles in length, but there is not one
plantation OF haUitation there. Tearing our
selves away reluctantly from the fellowship OF
the River, we hasteEed over the sands, seeing
only one living being on our way, and that q
wild Notwithstanding the mountain side on the
west until we attained plain at ten o'clock at
night, where we found some half dozen cot.
tages with fires outs de the doors Paesing
thence we arrived at the banks Of a spring, from
which flowed small rivuIet, On the side Of
this stream upon tho dry sand, without proteo
lection OF roof or tree OF shrub having dis
mounted our horses, we spread our blauketl
i and laid down under a bright starry sky {,
sleep in what once was, and yet bears the mann
: of Jericho
! Our Arab guides had determined TO bog o
, us sheep as q backshish; we resisted. W,
i ate our simple supper, while they improvident
and avaricious hungeIed, said their players, ant
then rallied at us in Arabic, because after pay
ing them the tribute for permission to 60 through
their country and compensation for their pro
!. lection and defence, which they had asked us
! we would not give them a doueeur sheep
i for their supper.
= Attwu O'Clock in the morning the Sheik call
/ ed us up; wo mounted and proceeded on ou
= way backward toward Jerusalem by starliph ht
!. up and down all kinds of staireasea The SUI
\ rose. and the days heat began before we reache
" the Mount of Olives At ii we reached Je
= rusalern, alter a ride oftwenty one hours out G
!, twenty eight in tho saddle.