Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-07-17
Special Correspondence of the Nashville Union and
American.

a We E- 81
Special Correspondence of the Nashville Union and
American.
DAMASCUS, -, 1870.-The morn
ing we left Jerusalem ! was energetic
enough to rise early and see sight which
all who visit the Holy Land should see,
viz, from the top of the Mt. of Olives
saw the sun rise. The moon was clear
and nice, so in company with young
gentleman and lady, was off to welcome
the King of day. These young people
were inclined to talk that sort of talk
known as ''soft"-a thing which was
unwilling to allow, so walked so rapidly
as to require them to husband their breath
for other purposes than trying to make
love. We were on the minaret of the
mosque long before the sun had left his
bed, but not too soon to hear the everlast-
ing backsheesh; so here for the 49th time
the party was put to flight. But in spite
of all hindrances the grey and then the
red streaks did come, and close on to
them magnificent Sol, with his face clean
washed, and bright as the yellowest of
gold. Floods of light poured forth
from him, and chased away the gloom
from the North, South and West, gen
tie breeze followed and the day was duly
ushered in. Surely day so propitiously
began would favorably end. If you
have never had the inclination or energy
to see how days are made in Tennessee,
don't fail when you visit the Mount of
Olives, to find out the process in the
East. You will have felt proud at having
seen the Dead Sea and the Jordan; but
this sight will chain them in your men,
DRY, for just over, just beyond them the
sun first Salutes the waking world, and
give the stars to sleep. Did not the sun
look so bright and new, you would sup
pose the Jordan had been the scene of
his publication.
Upon returning to camp, breakfast was
ready, which being served as became it,
we turned our backs on Jerusalem and
all her sacred scenes and began to look
in the direction of city second in at
fractions to my mind only to that
we were just leaving. Not far
from the Damascus gate are the
tombs of the Kings. There are quite a
large number of vaults cut out of stone
much below the surface. The entrance,
which is small, is decorated with very
handsome carvings The road then
passes on a hill from which the last view
of the city is had. Gas the mountains
are reared about Jerusalem is by no
means a mistake. Depart by any side you
may, mountains are to be crossed. The
first place of note is Bethel, TO which so
many churches owe their names. 1t is
Bethel in name; beyond this, there are no
attractions, but a poor dirty tent vii
lage. How much good have been pre-
vented from doing by not knowing
Arabic. Many lecture would | here
give these earth-clad wretches could l
have spoken their tongue. Many asolemn
warning against persisting in their filth.
Many a word to beware lest, they be
taken for potato hill and destroyed by
hungry quadrupeds for their contents.
But all of this l have had to fOTegO.
Judea still continued billy, stoney and
barren, a soilless country, shiftless peo-
pie. Before reaching Jacobs Hill the
country has changed for the better, and
we1indt watering place of the Patriarch,
situated in a rich valley, or vista, in the
edge of it. This well, like Rachel's tomb,
is agreed to on all hands, but between SO
many stools has come to the ground. 1t
is in neglected condition, and affords no
water. The incident of Christ's CONVEX
sstion with the woman was read, and en-
joyed more than ever. 1t has always been
of peculiar force, but to hear it read on
the spot where it occurred, gave it ten
fold power. My enjoyment was some
what marred by the bullheadedness of a
Scotchman, who persisted in trying to
take offence from an act of friend of
mine, which was far from such. These
Scotch are good people, but some Of them
are rather too matter-of-fact for
travelling companions. Jacobs well
is almost between the mountains of Geiz-
rim and Ebal, where the Israelites
had to hear their law read, and repeated
by themselves and echoed by the noun
tains. The spot is quite well adapted for
an open air courthouse, as the mountains
are close together, and steep enough to
furnish room for large crowd, arranged
after the manner of a theater. Only a
little distance is Shechem, now Nablous,
where Rehoboam was proclaimed King;
where Abraham first found a resting
place in Canaan, and where the honor of
Dinah was so fatally avenged. Close by
is what is claimed 10 be Joseph's tomb,
and accords with the Bible statement
The country around Samaria, to which
we came next, is beautiful-so different
from Judea. Samaria must have been a
great city, Judging from the ruins now
seen. The situation is lovely, and gave
the city the advantage of showing its
beauty to the beholder a great way off.
The tomb of John the Baptist is shown
here in the ruins of the Church of ST.
John; also those of his parents.
The history of this city is peculiarly
interesting and striking. 1t should be
read. In the proper place l ought to
have mentioned that the remnant of the
Samaritans-150 only in all the worlds
found in Nsblous. saw their High
Priest, a descendant of Aaron, by whom
the very ancient manuscripts, claiming to
be the original, anterior to the Pentateuch
was shown. There are very few and
scarcely visible remains to show where
Shiloh stood. The country becomes in
teresting all along the route from Jacobs
Well. The plain of Dothan still retains
its ancient name, and shows that the sons
of the shrewd old farmer knew as well as
their father where the latest grass grew.
The road is still travelled over which their
cousins passed who were cruel, and kind
enough, too, to buy their young kinsman.
Dothan is as handsome little nook a S /
have seen. Hills are around il so that the
Dreamer could easily be seen, as also the
traders at some distance away.