The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-04-23
I Correspo noence of the Boston Journal.
THE STAR OF BEiHBEHEM.
Letter from Carleton. !"
BETHLEHEM, Feb. 10, 1868.

BETHLEHEM, Feb. 10, 1868.
1t is only an hours ride from Beth
lehem TO the Cave Of Adullum, IN
deep ravine or mountain gorge, rather
southeast of the town. Our ride Is
through pastures Of which l wrote
Yesterday. where David, when a shep-
herd boy. tended, his fathers fOcks.
We leave the smooth plot Of ground
which, as is supposed, are the fields
where Ruth gleaned-Wind among the
hills, with a high conical mountain
on our left hand. It is known by va
rious names: Frank Mountain, Para
disc Mountain and HerOdian. The
Arabs call It JebeI Fareidis. The
hills are covered with stones. There
are signs Of former CIVILIZATIONS; but
now the land Is mostly in pasture.
The mountain IS shaped like a sugar
loaf with the top cut off, and rises
about 400 feet above the ridge of rocks
from which 1t IS projected. 1t is, as
is supposed, the site Of a fortress
erected by Herod the Great, and
where he was buried. He died at
Jericho, and his body was brought
here for interment.
THE BEDOUINs.
We are here in the land of the
Bedouius. Our guide will not let US
leave Bethlehem without a guard.
Just imagine, therefore, that you have
a tail Arab In front of you with long
flint lock gun on his shoulder and
another behind carrying a sword of
tremendous proportions, and of such
workmanship as any New England
country blacksmith would turn out
before breakfast, with the blade of a
harvestman's cradle scythe for stock
to work upon. A half mile before
reaching the cave you come upon an
encampment of Bedouins-ten black
tents, the cloth made of camel's hair
or the wool of black goats. They are
spread on the hillside, sheltered from
the west winds, banked with earth,
but giving very poor shelter at-the
best. An Arab girl Is filling a g at
skin with water at the brook as we
pass, and looks up at US with laugh
ing eyes. This water skin is probably
lust such a bottle as that which Abra-
ham gave to Hagar when he sent her
and the knocking Ishmael out intothe
desert.
The entire male population of the
encampment turn out to escort Us to
the cave. Tall, stout fellows they
are, with good muscle for building
stone walls, or hoeing corn and peta-
toes; but they despise labor, and
labor In turn despises them; that is,
being too proud, too lazy to work,
they drag out a miserable existence,
and are but little In advance of-the
most AFFECT tribe of Indians in our
own land.
.u0On all the hills and in the valleys
around US are ruins-blocks of stone
In confusiOn-here and there a wall
of masonry, a crumbling arch or tot
tering tower There is massive ma
sonry at different points as we ap-
prOach the chasm where the cave is
located 1t is doubted by some
whether this is the cave of Adullum,
for through the entire country there
are caves, such as are usually found in
limestone formations, but this one
fully answers the description of that
in which David took refuge after fee
ing from Saul
We creep along a shelf Of rock,
looking down into the gorge, climb
over block of stone which has fallen
from the cliff above, and come to a
narrow opening. Lighting our can
dies and advancing a few steps, we
of which is supported by natural pill
lars. We pass from chamber to cham
Der and if we choose to creep
through low passages, may go
far underground. The Arabs say il
reaches all the way to Hebean, twelve
miles distant.
There can be little doubt that this
was David's hiding place after fleeing
from Saul to Gath, among the Philis-
tines, where he was obliged to feign
himself fool. His brethren and his
father came to him here. aud all the
distres sed and DISCONTINUED. and he
who had already shown his bravery
and also his ability as captain was
made their leader. He gathered a COM
pany Of four hundred men, and was
ever after their captain till he came
to the throne. i-dt
Our Bcdouin friends were very
much afraid We might-get lost in the
cave, and came with a long line, which
they stretched through the passage
for guide. 1t is said they have a
habit OF blocking up the mouth of
the cave upon those who come with
out guard to keep watch, and then
demanding a good amount Of back
sheesh before taking away the stones.
The Shelk very courteOusly invited