The weekly Butte record., 1861-01-12
NO. 10
The Tomb of Rachel.

The valley. OF rather the dry plain Of Re-
phidium, stretches for miles without offering
any other shelter to the sunburned traveller
than modest and simple Turkish coffee house,
where the Arabs of the desert sometimes as
semble, but which the pilgrim takes care to
avoid. A little further on are the ruins of the
village of Rama, whose site nothing bat few
broken fragments of walls and heaps of shones
are left to indicate. In this plain and near the
deserted village, is the tomb of Rachel. 1t is
Que of those spots where the inanimate objects
around seem to attest most forciblY the truth
of traditions which hallow them. All around
is solitude. There is not even a palm or G
cypress to be seen-not a single tree covers
with its shade the simple mauseleum where re-
poses the ashes of the mother of Israel and
yet this spot awakens more association, excites
more interest than the most costly monuments
on which the luxury Of the arts is squandered.
The traveller passes carelessly by the tomb of
Zachariah and Absalom in the valley of Jehos.
aphat-he hardly looks at the sepulchre 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
seryitude and exile, and he blesses the men,
ory of that tender and faithful companion
whose affections so often sooihed the manifold
cares and sorrows of the patriarch.
The Turks have decorated with much splen-
dor the burial place of most of the personages
OF the Old Testament. A mosque rises over
the tombs of David and Solomon Aaother
vast antique temple covers the grotto of Mac
phea at Hebron, and the neighborhood is
wholly inviolable ground, The grotto, whose
gloomy entrance is alone perceptbIe, Is in the
centre of the building, into which none but
true believers are admitted. Within the last
two hundred years but two Europeans are
known to have succeeded in obtaining entrance;
by corrupting the guards, and that not with
out running the greatest danger, The last was
an Italian count, who, by means of large brhes
obtained permission to enter the mosque The
valley wherein is situated the Hebron of the
ancients is often Travelled by pilgrims and trav-
elers, but the penalty of death denounced
against every Christian who shall dare to enter
the 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 are yet visible in it,
But the tribute of reverence paid by the fol-
lowers of Mahomet to the tomb of Rachel pro-
duces a far deeper impression than the sight of
marble pillars or costly ceilings. Their eager
desire to be buried near her remains is espe-
cially remarkable. The environs of the humble
mausoleum are covered with Mussulman tombs.
1t is not merely for her greatness, purity OF
sanctIty that the Turks honor Rachel, but ra,
ther for her domestic virtues. She was de-
voted wife, tender parent, the mother of
warlike people-such are her titles TO the re.
spect of the Mahometans.
Should Jew appear while funeral process
sion was slowly crossing the plain of Rephi-
dim, moving toward the sepulchre, bearing the
remains of some beloved object to rest in this
hallowed place, he would be driven away with
blows and curses by the very worshipers that
are kneeing reverently by the tomb of one of
his ancestors-so fallen is that unhappy people
who cannot even approach the places filed
with the renown Of their former greatness.
DESPERATE ENCOUNTER WITH BuLL.-Tbe
following thrilling adventure happened day
or two since to well known gentleman Of this
city, tailor by trade, but whose name we for
bear to mention. On New Years Day he
took his double barreled shot gun and proceed,
ed to the Mission, in quest of small game, and
the birds being quite shy he loaded his gun
pretty heavily. While crossing large field
he was observed by ferocious bull, which i'm
mediately gave chase. The frightened sports,
man ran as fast as his legs could carry him