Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1870-08-07

mstoOk The preparations found upo
landing st Jaffs, as being those for a
prince. No. l. From this I supposed
| the dragomaG would treat me as became q
prince. No. 2. Long ago, l had found
these mistakes The dragoman was sore,
| impoiite, stiff, wicked, impudent and a
pest generally. The pleasure of the trip
was not little disturbed by this savage
specimen Of human nature. Some IF the
party was difficult to please, but that was
to be expecttda Some would want one
thing to eat, some another; some would
travel loo fast, others too slow; some
wopld want to start soon, others did not
want to be disturbed. All of this was
true, but no excuse for the meanness
of the dragoman. The same annoy
ance is met with in. cities. Never en-
ploy a dragoman or guide when if
can be avoided. When you are
admiring some object of interest or ex-
pressing an opinion to friend, the drago-
man has to disturb you by remarks which
throw no light on the subject. They are.
as class, ignorant and thievish. Don't
| allow them to make purchases. Let them
be interpreters only. Many travellers al
low them to pay for articles and extras.
and are nearly always fieeced. The best
plan is to contract with them for carriage,
bucksheesh, and fees for SO much per day
or trip. . Els Aca lLa a' -,
We found the road good and interest
ing, and lodged again in houses. The
rooms were higher and better arranged,
the village, .Zebdany, being rather better
than the common run,
During the day we met an Individual
whose guide had led him wrong, which
prevented him from crossing the noun
tain. He tried to persuade us to return,
but no; we would not risk it. A mind
! full of determination is nearly as needful
to q traveller as a pocket full of Napo-
Icons. ...--....-... -....-.-..- hss 40
The next day, and the one on
which we were to Zee the
most wonderful ruins in the world,
Palmyra excepted, in company with
several other gentlemen l set out early with
special guide, and q very clever one.
We took a short cut over the mountains.
The snow was deep and the ground soft.
Our guide was fond of fast riding. We
moved like so many troopers. The inhab-
lls1illS UCUClQ dsuO WC4C eobOl11cuCQs IVA
rocks, through mud, through snow, along
brooks-away we flew. The horses were
hardy and seemed to like it. By this time
| had quit speculations as to the certainty
of breaking my neck and found myself
all the more comfortable as conse-
quence. If the neck had to be broken it
had to be done. For the time was fa-
talist-a "Hard-shell. AS we were going
ahead, the horse of one of the party chose
to stand on his hind feet; as close upon
which as effect can follow cause, the rider
found himself brushing off the mud; he
had fallen, was unhurt-what was the use
of wasting breath on cold day. In eV-
cry litter there is a runt aud in every
crowd there is quite apt to be a trouble
some member.
The representative of this demand of
usage in our party was a long, thin
Visaged-mouth wide enough for mill
stone-forward, but rather smart young
Englishman. His parents and friends
evidently impressed him with the idea
that he was a very big fish. This prom
Using lad had been accustomed to riding
against his companions, running ahead,
AOoNllS LIE lAtlSC IL bLAO 1oAho1 pushing
his neighbor into dangerous places,
striking other persons horses, giving his
opinion when not desired, and sundry and
various other troublesome acts. On this
day he was of the advance party, but
thanks to some cause, was compelled to
stay in the rear all the time. How true
that absence often is required to make US
understand the benefit OF the company of
some people. Five hours in the saddle
and we were across Anti-Lebanon and in
the splendid valley of Beka. Seven
hours in the saddle and we were in
sight of a scene l never shall for
get. The history of Baalbek and
its extraordinary temples is lost
in the sight of far gone ages. Who
built the grand temples, remains of which
are left far SURPRISING those of Rome and
others, is not known. By what powerful
hands the stupenduous stones, SO feet
long by II feet deep and IA broad, were
raised to their present position, history
does not tell Us. Whose chisel carved
the exquisite decorations of the temples
of the Sun and Jupiter no one can tell.
What people first worshipped their gods
on these affairs has long since been for
gotten. To what nation the priest be-
longed who here offered sacrifice cannot be
told. There these ruins stand, going to
farther decay, monument strange and
lonely of what men once could do. No
modern churches at all compare with
them. Six columns of the temple, called
here, of Jupiter, alone remain, silent and
grand, seeming to brood over the dead
years, dead men, and unknown events
which lie at their bases. How impress
sive to see these, all that is left of surely
a once refined and learned people.
What a comment on the works OF
man What lesson to moderns-
of the reverence the ancients had for the
deities. The Temple of the Sun, So
called, is much more perfect than the
others. The beauty and delicacy of its
carving are remarkable. Many of the
designs have served as a model for later
artists. A night spent amidst these re-
mains was one of the most impressive |
ever passed. A visit to them, with the
contemplation it affords, is worth the trip
to Asia. No artistic skill is required to
unfold their beauties; no learned dis
course to make them impressive. They
have tongues of their own, and though
silent, yet that silence is eloquence. When
far away it was pleasant to turn and get
last glimpse of their fair and attractive
forms, but sad to know so little, to know
nothing of their history. If the future
had no other attraction, it is delightful to
know that in it all such mysteries will be
unvei led.
Back to the diligence road, which is
struck at the foot of Mt. Lebanon, is
good days ride. This road, however, is
quite level and smooth. From the study
of Baalbek my mind was drawn by quite
a different object. This object belonged
to the class antique it is true, but things
having the same name, you know, are not
always the same. A man and his wife
generally answer when called by the same
name, but just about as often are very
different Notwithstanding. l always rev.
erence age; was taught to when young.
am quite charmed at the idea of coming
in contact with the aged. Age is cool,
usually wise and possesses some other de-
sirable qualities, Homer tells us. In fact,
l.