The Placer herald., 1861-01-12
The Tomb of Rachel,

The valley, or rather the dry plain of
Rephidim, stretches for miles without offer
ing any other shelter to the sunburned
traveller than modest and simple Turkish
coffee house, where the Arabs of the desert
sometimes assemble, but which the pilgrim
takes care to avoid. little further on are
the ruins of the village of Rama, whose site
nothing but few broken fragments of walls
and heaps Of stones are left to indicate -
In this plain and near tho deserted village,
is the tomb Of Rachel. 1t is one Of those
spots where the inanimate objects around
seem to attest most forcibly the truth of the
traditions which halI6w them. All around
is solitude. There is not even palm or
cypress TO be scen-nOt a sing e tree covers
with its shade the simple mausoleum where
repose the ashes of the mother Of Israel; and
yet this spot awakens more associations, ex
cites more interest than the most costly
monuments on which the luxury of the arts
is squandered. The traveller passes careless
ly by the tombs of Zachariah and Absaom
in the valley Of the Jehosephat- hardly
looks at the sepu chre Of the kings in the
plain of Jeremiah-but at the sight of the
tomb Of Rachel, fancy carries him back to
the cradle of the nations of the east, and
recalls to him the power Of the beauty which
softened her lovers long term of servitude
and exile, and he blesses the memory of that
tender and faithful companion whose affec.
and sorrows Of the patriarch.
The Turks have decorated with much
splendor the burial places of most Of the
personages Of the Old Testament. A mosque
rises over the tombs Of David and Solomon.
Another vast antique temble covers the
grotto of Macphelah at Hebron, and the
neighborhood is wholly inviolable ground.
The grotto, whose gloomy entrance is alone
perceptible, is in the centre Of the building,
into which none but true believers are ad
mitted. Within the last two hundred years
but two Europeans are known to have sue,
ceeded in obtaining entrance, by corrupting
the guards, and that not without running
the greatest danger. The last was an Italian
count, who, by means of large bribes, OBJ.
tained permission to enter the mosque. The
valley wherein is situated the Hebron Of the
ancieuts is often travelled by pilgrims and
travellers, but the penalty of death denounc-
ed against every Christian who shall dare to
enter tho mosque, is sufficient to repress the
curiosity the fame of the place excites.-
The grotto, we are told by the Turks, is
spacious, cut out of solid rock, and the burial
places of the ancient patriarchs yet visible
in it.
But the tribute of reverence paid by the
followers of Mabomet to the tomb of Rachel
produces far deeper impression than the
sight of marble pillars or costly ceilings
Their eager desire TO be buried near her re-
mains is especially remarkable. The envrons
Of her humble mausoeum are covered with
Mussuman tombs 1t is not merely for her
greatness, purity or sanctity that the Turks
honor Rachel, but rather for her domestic
virtues. She was devoted wife, tender
parent, the mother Of warlike people
such are her titles to the respect Of the
Mahometans.
Should Jew appear while a funeral pro-
cession was slowly crossing the plain Of Re-
phidim, moving towards the sepu|chre, bear
ing the remains of some beloved object to
rest in this hallowed place, be would be
driven away with blows and curses by the
very worsh;ppers that are knee'ing reverently
by the tomb Of one of bis ancestors-so
fallen is that unhappy people, who cannot
even approach the places filled with the re-
nown Of their former greatness.
EE The Calaveras Chronicle, lately pub