Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1869-08-06
Maine and Palestine.


A visitor to the remnants OF the Maine
Colony at Jaffa, Palestine, several months
since thus writes:-
1--WE took the French steamer at Alex
andria, and landed at Jaffa the last OF
October. We anchored more than halfa
mile from the shore, and were carried in
a boat manned by swarth Arabs over the
waters, full of rocks and shadows, as far
as we could 90, then the Arabs took US
on their shoulders, and, wading through
the water. carried Us on their backs to the
shore. There we met Mr. Moulton Of the
community, and James Rosedale, who
afterwards acted as our guide and drago-
man TO Jerusalem, and through the cen
tral district of Palestine.
From these we learned that the colony
had dwindled down to FIVE families, con-
sisting of twenty-five persons in all. El-
der Adams was absent in England, drum
ming up recruits. He had the respect
and confidence Of those who were left,
but all blamed his wife as an unworthy
woman
In the afternoon OF the day we landed.
we visited the colony. They are located
OH sandy plain, on the shore OF tho
Mediterranean. about mile north of The
city of Jaffa They had neat comfortable
homes, light built, but sufficient for pro-
lection in that in that mild climate. On
inquiry learned that they wer3 contentcd
and did not wish to return 10 America.
They expressed the hope OF betterlng
their fortunes there at least, before they
should return.
Mr.. Adams held out extravagant in-
ducements To them and they hal been
disappointed They carried out seed
wheat and sowed it. The season proved
unpropilious. and they got, ut harvest,
crop hardly equal to the seed sown. They
accordingly gave up farming aud engag-
ed in other business. Mr.. Moulton IS
good carpenter, and his services are much
sought after by the Arabs and Turks. But
it is difficult for him to get bis pay. The
natives stole his tools and his horse, and
he could get little satisfaction from the
consuls or the courts.
Another man runs stage coach from
Jaffa to Jerusalem, and carries passen-
gers when they wish 10 60. But the road
is wretched-the only road over which
carriages run in all Palestine. The road
was made by the Pacha, compelling the
Arabs along the route to give their labor
They are not used to such work, and
the engineering is most wretched. a
deep ditch is dug on each side OF the road.
Slaves are set up along the middle oil the
passage-way. and the land sloped OIL on
each side of the ditch. An attempt was
made to macadamize it with poor success.
Large Irregular shaped stones were
thrown into the road and covered with
clay and sand. In rainy weather the hor-
ses slump into the mire six inches or
| foot, and then it is better to ride outside
the passage-way. But the difficulty Is TO
pet off when once on, and 10 get Oh when
| once off, by reason OF the deep bitches,
across which there is nothing TO construct
bridge, no lumber or long stones oelhg
| 10 n hn hppn
pressed into service were right when they
said that the Pacha had spoiled good
mule path to construct poor road for
carriages. But this American { MIR Floyd
has surmoumted the difficulty, and in spite
OF the poor road, which is not quite yet
finished he carries passengers in four
horse. comfortable covered carriage from
,Jaffa to Jerusalem. The time is TIVE I've
hours. and the distance is thiity-five miles.
His charge is French Napoleon, four
gold dollars.
On reaching Jerusalem we called upon
the American Consul, and he told us q
pitiabIe story about Mr.. Adams and the
colony. They lost nearly all which they
invested, and came home destitute.
The Consul at Jerusalem represented
that the people were not somuch to blame
as their leader. He is a sort OF crazy re-
ligious fanatic. or something worse, hold
ing forth the idea that he was delegated
~ IL s.k
to redeem Palestine, and that Jesus CHRIST
in time would return to this land and per-
feet the work. On returning to London,
in February learned that he was stil'
there preaching to the people and trying
TO secure converts to go with him to Pal
estine. Those who are left there can pro-
badly get along better without than with
him. They seemed industrious and dis
posed to do something to help themselves.
A widow, whose husband died a few
weeks after they landed, was to marry
the dragoman, who was our guide thro
Palestine, in November last. he Is the