Daily national Democrat., 1859-05-03
1allp 0atlOaal 1rmutrat.
.gassa Traditions of the East.

Ever since the third aud fourth cen turies,
all Palestine has been covered with ecclcsias-
teal traditions, many of which are absurd
and utterly at variance with the ancient to-
Biography of the land and the assertions of
authentic historians Ii is q singular feature
Of these traditions. Of which there are four
the Christian, Jewish, Mohammedan, and
the Samaritan-that they will frequently
differ concerning the locality of a particular
event: for instance the Samaritans point out
the summit of Mount Gerizim as the spot
where Abraham built the altar for the sacri
flee of his son Isaac, while. according TO the
Jewish tradition, that event transpired upon
Mount Moriah. at Jerusalem. Again, with
wonderful accuracy, they VIII all agree, as Is
the case with Jacobs well, in Samaria; and
there can be no doubt but that it is the iden-
teal well of jacob, as it answers the exact
description given of it in the Scriptures.
Mr. Banvard, the artist and traveller. re-
lates an amusing adventure OF his while in
the East, in the explanatory lecture of his
panorama of the Holy Land, and which for
chilly illustrates how much reliance may be
placed upon the traditions of the East -
When l was at Jerusalem had u Moham-
medan guide who was showing me up the
lions of the city, as we would say out here
in the commonplace occident. StandingIby
the Jatfa gate one day, he pointed up to the
tower of Hippicus, saying DO you see that
tower? that is the castle of King David
that is where David lived when he ruled
over Jerusalem Do you see that window
up there at the north that is where David
looked out when he saw Bathsheba bathing?'
He then took me up into the tower and show
ed me the print Of David's elbow; and, by
the way, David must have been long time
gazing at Brthsheba. judging from the hole
his elbow wore in the window sill-stone at
that. He then pointed opposite to the house
of solomon, and next door to the house of
Napoleon. 1t seems the ignorant natives
associate the name of Napoleon with the
calendar saints from the fact that when he
was in Syria, although he was never in Je-
rusalem, he fought one of the battles upon
the plain of Esdreon where most of the
important battles recorded in the Old Testa-
ment transpired; and from the fact that
Napoleon fought there, they think he must
be saint
Hearing this man mix up Solomon, King
David. Bathsheba and Napoleon altogether,
thought | would question him, and see
what he knew about ancient history. 'Ah,'
said |, when was Napoleon in Jerusalem
/ never knew Napoleon was here The man
looked at me with astonishment: why,
Howadji Banvard, don't you know ? No.
said |; the Howadji Banvard don't know
why, don't you never read your BibleT
yes, read my Bible; but my Bible says
nothing about Napoleon 'Ah. yes, had
forgotten, the Howadii Bible amt true; you
ought to read the Koran-that will tell you
all the particulars lie then continued to
enlighten my ignorance by opening a new
chapter which | had never read before
why, Howadji. said he, swelling with the
Importance of the knowledge he was about
to impart Napoleon was here when Solo
mon was; he was the Commander-in-Chef
of King Davids forces, and took Zion from
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