The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1873-04-26

An acquaintance with the country, time,
manners and customs of the ancient peo-
pie will be Of great interest to those who
are fond of the Scriptures.
The country in which the Jews ancieutly
lived was distinguished by several appella
lions, such as the land of Canaan, land of
Promise, Holy Land, &c.
Palestine was mountainous country.
and was interspersed by two large noun
tains, one ON the east and the other on the
west side of Jordan; but this mountain
was called by different names, viz: Gilead,
! Gilboa, Lebanon, &c. The climate of Pal
estine was Gery much like our own, the
year was divided into six seasons each
consisting of two months. First came
Harvest, Summer, Hot Season, Seed Time,
Winter, and lastly the Cold Season.
Of all the winds the East Wind was the
most injurious, and wherever it would
pass it spread desolation. This wind was
sometimes called the Simeon. 1t is of the
most terrible character; it comes in
stream over the burning desert, and with
it carries the awful king, Death. Persons
who are travelling on this large desert, in
order to save their lives, throw themselves
fiat on the earth and breathe as little as
possible until it has passed ever. The
camels and the other animals are instinc-
lively taught, when they perceive its ap-
proach, to thrust down their heads and
bury their nostrils in the sand. But men
and animals are often destroyed by its
blast; sometimes it comes on so rapidly
that it overtakes them before they are
aware of it. As soon as they have inhaled
it they fall down dead, and if any one
attempts to touch any part of the body, it
Immediately falls to pieces.
Of the vegetable productions, the Cedar,
Oak, Terebinth, Fir, Shittim wood, Gopher
wood, are the most important. They had
several trees such as we have in our coun-
try, as the Apple, Almond, &c. 1t is said
if the Terebinth tree was allowed to stand
it would live one thousand years, and then
it is sosn supplied by new trunk, rising
on the same spot and flourishing to an
equal age. 1t is supposed by some, that it
was of this wood the Ark was built; by
others, the Shittim wood, and some sup
pose it to be the Gopher. The latter is
correct.
The horse, which is the most useful ami
NAL with us, is first found to be mentioned
in the history of Jacob and Joseph. But
it was not like the horse of the present
day; it was then in its wild state. The
Jews did not make much use of them until
the time of Solomon. The country was
too billy for them to travel any distance.
They also had the OK, Ass and Mule, but
they were not as tame as they are at the
present day. Wild dogs also inhabited the
East, but they could be tanned, and they
were mostly kept to guard large flocks of
sheep; and they were taught to drive the
sheep from one place to another, without
struggling or wandering.
The inhabitants of the east did not live
in nice houses like we have. They dwelt
in tents, for they generally led wander
ing life, and preferred the tent. The floors
of their tents were covered with mats or
carpets, and in one corner of the room,
they had box filled with coarse mattresses
on which they slept. Their culinary uten-
sis were pots, mills and plates, cups of
different kind. Their bottles we're made
of goat skins. In these they carried water
nj frav ho
They eat their meals on the floor and sat
cross-legged. Now this mode of living
would seem rather singular to the inhabit-
ants of the 10th century. Their fiocks
were attended to by their servant. In
the Summer they removed to the North,
and in the Winter towards the South. The
Shepherds were obliged to watch their
focks by night, and so they were frequent
iy exposed to the inclemency of the wealth
er. The focks often received different
names to distinguish them, and then they
would come when called. Wells were dug
all through the country, on account of
their wandering.
The dress of our ancestors was very di f.
ferent from that of the present day. Their
clothing consisted of the Tunic, Upper
Garment, Girdle, Sandals, ..Mitre, Veil, &c.
The hair of the Jews in the East, was ex-
tremely long and generally black, but the
men wore theirs very short. The beard
was considered of very great Importance
among the males; they thought it splendid
to have long heavy beard, hanging down
on their breast. When they wished to
show any contempt, they would catch hold
and pull it, and if they wished to gain
their affections, they would Immediately
run up to them and kiss their beard. This
would appear very strange to us, but it is
true. They generally married at the age
of twenty, and thought it great disgrace
to remain unmarried. They were often
divorced; but the husband was always left
to decide, whether sufficient occasion for
separation was found in his wife, if so he
gave her bill of divorce.
l shall now speak of the manner of at
tending funerals, and their mode of bury
ing the dead.
When person died, some of his friends
Immediately closed his eyes, the relations
rent their garments from the neck Down
and cries of sorrow filled the room. Their
grief generally lasted thirty days. They
usually employed to act as mourner on the
occasion, those who were not their friends,
they would sing in a solemn strain, until
they raised the sorrowful feelings of the
relations. After the dead body was washed
they used to embalmed them. They
drew out their brains with an instru-
ment, which they would put drought their
nostrils. they would then take out their
intestines, and fill them with spices, in this
manner bodies have been preserved to the
present time. They used no box or coffin,
but wrapped the body in cloths, and bound
the face with napkin, and then stood it
up in one corner of the room.
Their modes of punishment were very
severe. The condemned was made to carry a
cross to some particular hill and then they
nailed him to it. If the victim refused to
carry his cross, he was beaten and dashed
until he did, and besides he was Knocked
and laughed at. They had several other
ways of Furnishing, but have not time
to record them all here.
The last thing shall give description
of is the Tabernacle. 1t was made in the