, 1872-11-07
MOAB.

The Expedition for Its Exploration.
From the London Mail
Among several papers Of interest which we're
read before the British Association at Brighton.
there was one by the Rev. DR.. T1istram, F. r. s.,
obtaining an account Of the results Of the ex-
pedition for the exploration of Moab, which
owed its origin to the Committee Of the Geo
graphical Section.
The direct line Of country between Heshbon
and Petra has been traYersed and described by
some half dozen travellers within century,
but east and west OF this nothing was known
prior to DR.. Tristram's visit. Names hitherto
scattered broadcast over the map Of Moab at
the suggestion of Arabs pointing from dis
tance we're identified and kept, others were cor
rected or erased, and some added. Making Unm
Rasas their headquarters, and working from it
as centre, the diminished party first struck
virgin ground on the 18th of February. Tho
Pilgrim road from Damascus to Mecca WAS en-
countered some twelve miles further east than
it was supposed to run, and was found to form 8
striking feature on the level and otherwise M
broken plain. For sone fifty yards in breadth
parallel furrows run in perfectly straight lines,
the result OF the tramp, year after year, OF con-
tinuous files Of came1s and men.
Ziza, mentioned in the Antonine Itinerary as
the station of q squadron Of cavalry, became
another centre for exploration, and from here
was made most important and remarkable dis
covey. The ruins Of magnificent palace, far
more perfect than anything of so early date
hitherto discovered in Moab, were found on the
borders of the DESERT east-southeast OF Heah-
bon, and furnish 3 new problem for antiquaries
at home. A quadrangle Of freestone incloses =
palace of brick !; the quadrangle measures ITO
yards on every side, and is furnished with semi
circular bastions. On either side Of the only
entrance is facade of carved work, 180 feet in
length and II feet in height. Animals, birds,
flowers, fruit, and even men arc chiselled with
great thoroughness OF work and de1icacy Of
touch, and the whole is in a marvellous state Of
preservation. The vaulted roofs of eight Of the
chambers Of the palace yet remain, and the
plan and details have led h1r. Ferguson to con-
lecture that the Persian conqueror Chosroes
was the founder, Sir Henry Raw1inson
ground that military invader who merely
crossed this tract on his way to Egypt would
not have had sufficient hold upon the country to
attempt such work. Be this as it may, the
A. D. 600. The Arabic name 'tUmm Shittah,"
gives no clue to the history OF the place.
To the west Of the pilgrim road already men
toned, the gorge Of the Kallirhoe, the site OF
the hot baths where Herod the Great sought to
obtain cure. WAS thoroughly explored. This
which from it's modern name and from the re-
semblance OF it's position to the description
given By Josephus must also certainly be Mach
mrus, Was reached for the first time. Other
probably, have had the direction Of it's site
pointed out to them, and have then marked it
erroneously on their maps but DR.. Tristram is
the first who in modern times has stood upon the
spot where John the Baptist suffered imprison-
ment and death. The names and details OF
othor ruined towns are far too numerous to be
giGen for, as Mr. Stanford afterwards expressed
it, Dr.. Tristram's report ''porfect1y brist1ed"
with new facts, most OF which could only be
conveyed clearly by the aid of plans and Illus
trations. We may mention, however, that re-
narkable addition to our knowledge Of the Dead
Sea was one Of the fruits of the expedition