The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1874-07-08

coming of the Lord. Subsequently he cam'
to me on deck-a little black book in hi
hand-with mysterious look, and asked mt
if had ever heard of that book. 1t wal
the Revelation of St. John. answered
afirmatively, quoted passages from memory
and read him chapter from my Greek les
lament, translating it into his own language
He was astounded; how could know this
and not join the Jaffa colony! afterwards
found him reading the gospel of St. John,
and delighted him by telling him believed
it all true. This mans life had been spent
in Germany. His blended ignorance, belief
in the worlds universal ungodliness, and de-
light in couple of stray books Of the New
Testament published in his own LANGUAGE,
however, bysa British Tract Society, con-
stitute commentsry<on the religious veal
of his Fatherland.
1 spent day in Jaffa. However striking
the appearance of the place from without,
crowning the hill like a fortress running
boldly down to the sea, inwardly it has in its
narrow, uneven streets all the squalor, gloom
aud filth characteristic of oriental cities.
The old cracked wall and half-score of dis
mounted rusty little howitzers at the corner
towers, render it burlesque as city of
defence. Without harbOr it will always be
avoided as landing place, so long as diSem-
barcation is attended with 80 much danger
as at present. 1t is of very ancient date.
1t is, as is well known, the Joppa of the New
Testament, the Japho of the Old. The
legend preserving monks point out the house
of Simon the Tanner "by the seaside"
where Peter lodged as he saw the vision of
unclean beasts. A mass of ruins outside the
city is shown as the home of the good Tabitha
whom Peter brought to life. 1t was from
here, the ancient JaphO, that Jonas took
ship when he sought to avoid the command
of Jehovah to go and preach to the city of
Nineveh.
The vicinity of Juffa where settled and
built up by the colonists and foreign residents
is not without charms. At eveningtide as one
stands upon the fiat hOusetOp looking out to
the blue waves of the Mediterranean, where
the sun has left his golden path to the west,
and listening to the ceaseless roar of the
surf, when the air is perfumed with the fra
GRANGE of orange blossoms, whilst all around,
amongst the brilliant green of its foliage
there hangs the golden yellow fruit catching
a deeper color in the fading light, and the
stately palm and giant cactus tree lend orr
entail richness to the scene, ct such en- hour
even repnlsive Jaffs seems to wear a girdle
Of beauty. The orapgqt- here, as elseShare
in Palestine, are immense in size; but not so
finely favored as those of Italy. The native
wine is, when new, very good, but easily runs
into acetic fermentation when DID,
Hiring gaunt little Arabian horse and
an attendant for two days, l joined a party
which was just about setting out for Jerusa-
lem. l have learned to travel with little
baggage, and required therefore no long train
Of pack mules. Just before l left the hotel,
a gentleman was complaining to the landlord
that to bring his baggage from the landing
to his room had cost 81 and los. He was
doubtless looking forward to the figures
after months transportation of his luggage
in Palestine, when the only means is an
Arabs or donkey's back.
My travelling companions for Jerusalem
were gentleman and his lady-French peo
ple-from Brussels. They proved a jolly
myself mounted on sorry Ara
converted every inconvenience
into a jest. The gentleman was very fat
and announced repeatedly on the journey
by series of frog like CALCULATIONS, that an
Arabian saddle in hot weather did not agree
with him. 1t is May, aud l need not add, mid
summer in the east, at least, is intensely hot.
Our dragoman, an E gliShman by birth, and
a numerous pack of mule drivers, and atten-
dants completed our party. Our caValcade
left Joppa towards evening-thOugh the heat
was still oppressive, intending to ride that
night to Ramleh and complete our journey
the next day. For an hour or more our way
lay in the midst of gardens and cultivated
groves of olives, figs, oranges, and pome-
granates, with their crimson bloom and fruit.
Often we were shut in between splendid
hedges of cactus, with stems the size of a
mans body and prickly leaves as large as a
goodly meat dish. Emerging from this cui-
tivated belt, we crossed the plains of Sharon
no longer bespsngled with flowers as in the
early spring, but beginning to brown with
summers heat. The natives tell me the rose
is not found here: possibly the specific term,
"Rose of Sharon" is used in the generic
sense of flower. So the "lily of the valley
is not the modest little snow-cup that catches
the dew-drop in our western wales, but 8
large plant with blooms Of splendid purple
hue, probably allied to our common "tigel
lily" Thus the comparison of our Lore
between SolOmOu's glory and the lily of the
valley has a new significance.
Through all this plain, once famous fol
its fertile soil and rich verdure, I saw but {
couple of cultivated fields. A wealthy Jew
has established an agricultural farm south o
the Jerusalem road, to teach the natives agri
o,It,ra ond recla;m tbis still fruitfpl ragion