The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1871-08-17

brink of ravine 1000 feet deep, we sud
denly emerged upon the plains of Jericho,
and another's hours ride brought US to
our encampment On, this route, few
years since an English nobieman fell
among thieves, and was robbed and beat
Ell, and nearly lost his life. 1t reminded
US forcibly of the certain nan who went
down to Jericho and fell among thieves"
and the good Samaritan who took him
to Gan inn" The ruins ofa1 old caravan
sary are pointed out, and the vicinity to
which it is supposed Christ alluded in
the parable The danger is said to be
imminent only when the travellers are too
few in number, and ev, n then only when
encountered by the wandering Bedouins
from the other side of the Jordan and
Dead Sea.
Half an hour after our arrival at Jeri
cho, our dragoman had pitched tent
for us under the fig and lemon trees, fur
nished with carpets, camp bedsteads,
stools and table, washbowl and towels and
such other necessities as our wants re-
CURED, and set before us well prepared
meal. We were bound to suppose it was
prepared with neatness, for it was net
our business to inspect his kitchen ar
engagements, and besides, we had already
learned to eat almost any thing except
snakes, dragon lizards and Egyptian
dogs. We satisfied our appetite ard
about three, a. M, on the morning OF
the Fourth Of July lay down to rest, and
slept till ten o'clock In the course Of
the morning we received call from his
Honor Howadji Mustapha, the Shiek of
the village, but as our conversation was
somewhat unintelligible, his stay was
short. The village of Jericho, contain
ing about sixty families, is best described
as being cluster Of novels in a large
barnyard. The grandeur of the once an
cient city, exists now only in history.
At two, p. M, we resumed our ride for
the Dead Sea and river Jordan,-the
former two hours distant distance l.
reckoned altogether by time in this coun
try). Our route was over parChct and
barren plain. The sun seemed to hang
in the heavens beneath a canopy of brass,
and pour down his fercest rays, which
the sand reflected in our faces like the
heat of furnace, with not bush on the
plain to protect US. At length, much to
our relief, light breeze sprang up and
continued till we reached the water.
The surface of the Dead Sea does not
differ materially in appearance from other
bodies of water,-it is remarkably clear,
with gravelly beach, which is strewn
with drift wood, brought down by the
river Jordan. The shores are bounded
by lofty, barren mountains as far as the
eye can reach except a portion of about
| five miles on the northwest, which is a
| barren plain, and more desolate, God
forsaken region could not we'll be con-
ceived by the mind of man, than that
which is seen from this point, looking III
any direction The clear water and
gravelly bottom were great temptation
to take swim. The specific gravity is
SO great that it is almost impossible to
sink ,andlwe lie on the surface at our ease.
An hour spent in the water and on the
beach, and we departed for the river
Jordan, a distance of two hours, over a
dreary plain, and we truly found Jordan
hard road to trabble."
We reached the banks of the river at
spot which is the Evolutionary scene of
various scripture events, the most noted
of which were the doings of Elijah and
Elisha Here again we could not resist
the temptation to plunge in. Our com
rade was content to merely obey the com
mand, ego wash In the river Jordan"
but we were ambitious, in p33i, on, to
reach "the other sldc Vi JvIu;.n.' The
current was strong, the opposite bank,
though buta few feet in height, was.
steep and unfavorable for landing, the
current for three OF. four yards adjoining
being gerg aaoift, while short distancel
below, running obliquely, across the
stream, were shallow rapids, the water
bounding over sharp stones, the current.
being strong still further below. We
made three desperate attempts to swim
the river, but were obliged each time by
the force of the current to turn and strike
diagonally for the same shore. 1t was
the sharp stones we, feared, more than be-
ing carried away, for we had already Sc
verely bruised one foot. If carried be- |
low we knew we could land somewhere |
In country similar to that in which |
Moses resided when discovered by |
Pharaoh's daughter--ln. the bulrushes. |
AT the third failure, by the urgent en-
treaty OF our comrade, lest "some acct
dent should happen" we desisted from
further attempts there, but were about
to proceed further up, the stream where
we could take a longer diagonal, across,
but the sun was already, sinking low IN
the west, and a ride OF full an hour and
a half lay between us and our. camp at
Jericho, and reluctantly, we wore COM
PEELED to leave the streau, with Jul, am
bit1on unqualified. - ,t.n..f.. ..s.,l,a,,s
4 In the evening we celebrated our Ma
tional. Anniversary by sentiments over
glass of flemonade-it was the best we
could do in the Arab desert after which