Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1859-12-02
cLEvELAND. FRlpAY MORNING, DEcEMBER ?. la5g.


have mentioned already one monasterg or
more in the Holy Land The early European
Christians conceived Elat there was great merit
IN whiting, by way Of ofpilgrimage, the scenes Of
The suiierings Of the Saviour, but they found
the whole country in the hands of ferocioua and
savage enemies to the religion OF the Cross -
Travel could not be safely performed here, nor
could entertainment be found. European
Strangers and religious men founded monster
les every where, often ftrongly fortified, as places
Of safety for the pilgrims and Of hospitality, and
these yet remain. They are Catholic, Greek,
Protestant Greek, Armenian and Abyssiniau;
and inasmuch as the dangers of travel still re.
main In large Districts ana there are f,w taverns
FOR the accommodation Of Europeans they are
the resort OF The traveller of the present day -
You are received and lodged generally snp.
plying your own provisions, They furnish You
security and place to eat and 70 sleep. If
you have any peculiar claim to respect OF CON
sideration, they furnish you every thing else
gratuitously in all cases; but all rightminded
persons, on leaving them, present pilt 10 the
establishment equal TO the cost Of the accom-
modatons. These exceedingly useful institu
tions are located, with pious reverence, on the
OFT of the s. Saviour 'r Rhd h4pSJdpts in ash9 life
ing been go early located, they are interesting
monuments.
DHL IalC5Nlnt IN us HAgiai NuUAitluH pIthNhAA
other and more reliable monuments Of the same
character. You see a party Of SyTians or
Arabs at rest in their camp, or on their march,
and you have exactly before you the rest or the
progress OF a party Of persons 10 the samo
country two thousand years ago. Pttriarchs,
women, children, maidons, amid swarms OF
camels, asses and goats. LoathsOme lepers
meet you as you enter or depart from the gates
of ths city, begging bread, but there is no divine
person here now to heal them The blind, the
lame, the epileptic, are always in your way,
soliciting relief. Medical aid, or medicine that
will afford relief is expected by the sick at the
hands Of any person Of condidition who passes
| by. You see two intimate friends meet or dc.
part Thev cover each other with kisses. You
| see party at dinner CT at supper. There is
one dish, which always is liquid. Each eats
by dipping a sop into the common dish. SO
YOU see how rational and probable are the his
tories ofIhe betrayal Of our Lord by Judas.
But must on with my Joufnal:--
We left the good Monks OF kamiah at I
o'clock on Thursday morning. and, though in
couceivably crooked and narrow pathways
emerged into the plain of Sharon. Al hour OF
two sufIiced to bring US into the mountains o.
Jordan and the Dead Sea. The ascent Is steep
the mountains are a mass OF sy stem irTeguai
and almost unrelieved by valies. la fact al
VI L Glehtllet liciuulhB tuo Aho VI 'SiuAoi9h IA
the sceneB of Scripture history consists oi thes
mountains, except the beautiful plain OfSharor
which lies between them and the Medittrran
can Sea- Ten weary hours we toiled in mas
ing our way up these mountains to fnd the
Holy City Reaching the summit OF one, w
descended it only TO ascend another still high
er, aud the roads often sharp steep. stone stair
ways, which only trained animal can aseen'
safely Nor have you ever seen any such
mountain scenes. Gardens, felds, trees, plant
and shrubs, disappear, chalky rocks lie heape
on heaps, no house or habtaiion OF maa o
! beast, no verdure, except hero and there tut
OF brown dead bushes or grass whithered 70
. want of water or shade-no sign OF life, exceI
. here and there a shepherd armed, with b
4 reed and his dog and his flock Of sheep an
! goats, which extract some juices from the Ioo
Of this dwindled and stuuted vegetation. The
. once IL long way VIC find ravine whe
!. wateres detained during the dty season, an
: here are small fields and gardens, but the gel
, eral and almost exclusive aspect of the scel
is is one of desert and desolation
n [CoIeluded To.MOrro,Ol