The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-07-17
OUR RELIGIOUS COLUMN.


The Waters of Genesureth.
Mr. Macgregor has printed some interesting
incidents and reflections appertaining to the
cruise of the Rob Roy in the sacred waters OF
Gennesareth. This lake. which is about twelve
miles long by seven broad, is surrounded by
mountains. save on the north, where the Jordan
enters, and where there is plain. On the west
ern shore ''the towers aud walls of Tiberas are
reflected in the water" and beyond these /" is
the smooth beach of the land of Genesareth,
n little crescent-shaped strip of plain, tecming
with vcrdure down to the shore, which is OF
clean, pretty gravel, and shells, and sand with
a row of oleander bushes growing in the
water At the other end of the charming
beoch--along which so often walked the
Saviour of the world-the mighty God-the
Prince OF Peace-we see the hill on which stoou
his own city'-'thou Capernaum, which ART eN-
allied to heaven but now not one house as mere
Next comes the white strand, where once Beth
saida stood" On steering towards IL, MI
NIacgrcgor says-"Soon around my boat saw
ten thousand fish, their heads and backs above
water and as close together they could ie
Outside of these was n circle of cormorants
and ducks waiting for prey. No wonder that
this was named Beth Saida, House of
Fishes Lately two fishers huts were built
here Twelve men came out and welcomed
the Rob Roy with admiration and applause.
One of them cast off his hshers coat
and waded out to greet me- These men
nav e1OO n wear to fish in the lake. The voyager
eurgests incidentally that a payment of this
kind might be the "tribute-money, to furnish
which the miracle was wrought. He spent three
aova IN Betbsaida. cone of them it was stormy
the waves rose rapidly, and heavy cross sea
very soon thundered on the gloomy beach.
have been Che remarks) in many lakes where the
wind is sudden and severe-in Scotland, in
Sweden, and in America-but never saw any
sheet of water so subject to squalls as this, ana
SO quickly moved from perfect calm into rough
and distracting waves, tossing about with ret
fulness altogether unusual. On the north
ern shore is the desert place to which
Christ withdrew for prayer. Near this
the thousand were fed. As went to
1t in my canoe saw men wadtng Jordan, Tor
there is ford near the place, and by this the
multtudes could have followed Christ as he
went. The northern beach is OF fine black
gravel. / discovered a channel 800 feet long,
and five feet deep, and a pier under water eX-
tending 100 feet more. The channel led me to
ruin and plainly this was little port inland.
Another not so large was further east From
one of these the apostles may have embarked
when they left Christ behind" Mr.. Macgregor
shore in every way remarkably adapted to the
incidents of the narrative of the legion of the
devils and the herd of swine There were the
rocks and caves, where tombs would be. There
was the wild feeding-ground covered with
dubious roots, where swine might feed. Even
at that moment great flock of horses, cames,
goats, and bullocks was actually grazing and
browsing on the rank herbage of the mountain.
Near them the hill soped steep to the strand,
in one spot only few feet from the water in
another leading straight to the high gravel
beach Now this beach, for a mile in extent,
is very.pecular in its conformation and quite
different from any other part of the shore of
this sea- The gravel shelves down at an angle
of forty-iye degrees, from about ten feet deep
in water. A scanty fringe of oleander partly
cOnceals the water. When / came close in my
canoe, | could not see the inner shore at all.
and therefore if herd of animals were to run
towards this, they would come very suddenly to
the top of the gravel bank and being urged on
by others from behind, they could not stop, but
must certainly run into the deep and be
drowned | compared all the various features
OF the hills and slopes here from different points
OF view, which could only be done by patient
Scrutiny from q boat for you cannot compare
two hills unless you are at proper distance from
both OF them, though, of course, you can see
each of them by walking under it upon the
Shore. came away much gratifed by this af-
ternoon's work, in having fully satisfied myself
as to the complete suitability of the slope near
Wady Fix for the scene of the only miracle of
our Lord where punishment was inflicted and
death."-LOndOn Freeman.