Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1861-03-10

The valley, or rather the dry plain Of Rep
hidim, stretches for miles without Offering any
other shelter to the sun-burned traveller than
modest and simple Turkish coffee-house, where
the Arabs Of the desert sometimes assemble,
but which the pilgrim takes care TO avoid. A
little further on are the ruins Of ths village Of
Rama, whose site nothing but a few broken
fragments Of walls and heaps Of stones are
left to indicate. In this plain and near the
deserted village, is the tomb Of Rachel It is
one Of those spots where the insnimate objects
around seem tc attest most fOrcibly the truth
OF the traditions which hallow them. All
around is solitude. There is not even a palm
or a cypress to be seen-Bot single tree COW
ere with its shade the simple mausoleum where
reposs the ashes Of the mother Of Israel; and
vet this spot aWakens more associations, eK-
cites more interest than the most costly monu-
nents on which the luxury OF the arts is squan-
dered. The traveller passes earelessly BY the
tombs OF Zachariah and Absalom IN the val
lev Of Jehosephat-he hardly looks at the sep
ueheT Of the kings in the plain Of jeremiah
but at the sight OF the tomb Of Rachel, fancy
carries him back 10 the cradle OF the nations
Of the East, and recalls to him the power Of
the beauty which sofsened her lovers long
term Of servituds and exile, and be blesses sc
memory of that tender and faithful companion
] whose affections 30 often soothed the manifold
cares and sorrows Of the patriarch.
The Turks have decorated with much splen-
Z dor the burial places Of most Of the person
] ages OF the Old Testament. mosque rises
I over the tombs Of David and Solomon. An
/ ether vast antique temple covers the gretto Of
l Mscphelah at Hebron, and the neighborhood
/ is wholly iRviOlable ground. The gTotto,
/ whose gloomy entrance is alone pereeptible,
/ is m the centre Of the building, into which
{ none but true believers are admitted. Within
1 the last two hundred years, but two Europeans
are known to have succeeded in obtaining en-
/ trance, By corrupting the guards, and that not
without running the greatest danger. The last
was an Italian Count, who, BY means OF large
! brides, obtained permission to enter the mos
/ que. The valley wherein is situated the Heb
! ron Of th sneients, is often Travelled by pill
/ grims and travellers, but the penalty Of death
denounced against every Christian who shall
dare TO enter the mosque, is sufficient to re-
uress the curiosity the fame Of The place ex-
cites. Tue grotto, we are told by the Turks
il spacious, cut out Of solid rock, and the
burial places Of the ancient patriarohs are yet
visible in It, -
But the tribute ef reversnte paid by the fol.
lowers Of Mahomst to the tomb Of Rache
produces a far deeper impression than th'
sight Of marble pillars or costly ceilings
Their eager desire to be buried near her re
mains is especially remarkable. The environ
Of her humble maus0leum are covered Will
MuHsnlmsn t0mbs. Il is not merely sor be
greatness, purity or sanctity that the Turk
RI. 1or Rachel, but rather for her domestic viz
, tues She was q devoted wife, tends : par
, ent, the mother Of 3 warlike people, a tT