Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-07-12
The sea Of aaIfIee.

AS We approached the Sea Of Tiberias
OF Gslilee from the North, we we're some-
what disappointed in its size, for it then
scarcely appeared to be thirteen miles
in length and six miles in width. 1t is
so surrounded by hills, however, that its
depression makes it appear smaller than
it really is. Not a wave disturbed its
bosom as it lay in quiet beauty sur
rounded by the hills or mountains which
encompass it. There was no evidence Of
life visible. .Notasail Of the many boats
that at one time foated upon its waters
could be seen, and Of all the fourishing
cities that at one time bordeFed its shores
only the forbidding places of Tiberias
and Magdala now remain. Not sue
eessor of Peter and Andrew and the
many fishermen that once dragged their
nets there could be noticed, and it was
only after we had walked long time on
the beach that we suddenly came upon
three degenerate descendants whose ma
kedness, ike that of Peters was appa-
rent, but whose modesty did not prompt
them, like him, to cast themselves into
the water.
Where the Jordan enters the sea it is
quite broad, and then gradually widens
until near Tiberias, when it again con-
tracts until the place where that river
leaves it for the Dead Sea- 1t is, con-
quently, somewhat Of an oval form, or
egg shaped, as it may be most forcibIy
expressed, and it is of a greenish tiuge.
On the right shore, as you look from
Capernaum, the ground rises to con
siderable altitude, but is somewhat bro
ken, and in some places there are little
plains or tracts reaching from the water
to these elevations, which are quite pre-
cipitous. The first object that attracts
attention is the Plain of Gennesaret,
with its verdure and fertility, and here
and there little clusters Of trees. Some
attempts at civilization could be noticed,
but only partial attempts, for the greater
portion of it lies idle and profitless.
Just at the end of Gennesaret, and on
the coast is the little village Of Magdala,
known as the birth place of Mary Mag
dalene, out of whom seven devils were
cast. Judging from the character Of
the village, which consists of a score or
two of miserable huts, and the odor
which arises from its filth, there could
with great propriety be greater num-
Der of devils cast forth there even at
this day.
Further on and the battlements of
Tiberias can be seen, and the minarets
rising above the collection Of buildings
a little more distant are the warm baths
which were famous even in the days of
Roman occupation. To the left of US
from our standpoint, and very near at
hand, the rank vegetation and the scat
tered ruins tell Bethsaida and Chorazin,
against which cities the Savior pro-
nouneed such fearful judgments, and but
a short distance beyond the Jordan en-
ters the sea of Galilee. On the other
side the mountains rise to greater
altitude. and are barren and entirely
destitute of vegetation. They seem to
rise quite abruptly, and are broken by
Representatives,. Along the range there
is pointed out the same steep places
where the whole herd of swine, after the
devil had entered into them, ran vio-
leutly down into the sea and perished in
the waters. If we but partially turn
about, the rounded hills of Bashan can
be seen, and there, too, is snow-clad
Hermon towering in all its grandeur,
and which seem to have followed us
ever since we intruded upon its SHOWS
in examining the ruins of the many
temples which cluster about its sum-
nit.
This, then, is the Sea of Galilee, as
it appears from the elevation which
marks the site of Capernaum, and as we
looked SO long upon it from amidst the
ruins Of that ancient city on one pleas
ant afternoon. Though the splendid |
cities that once thronged its shores had |
most fearfully realized the judgments /
pronounced by the Savior, and though /
the sails that at one time dotted its wa
ters had all disappeared, yet we could /
not but think that the sea itself still re-
mains, and the mountains still rise in
their majesty, and in fact the whole nat
ural features are just the same as when I
our Savior looked upon them.