The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1874-08-01
PETRA AND HABRON.
BY THE REV. H. Il. RIDGAwAY, D. D.

BY THE REV. H. b. RIDGAWAY, D. D.
No object in the jurneyings Of Israel is
more clearly defined than Mount Hor, or
Jebel Harun. 1t stands out sharply cut
from its surroundings, with its double cone
summit. After the children Of Israel had
been commanded to turn back from Kadesh
they encamped at this mountain, that is,
suppose, on line with it, Or just out Of
the Wady Arabah.
How simple and yet how affecting the
narrative of Aaron's death. "And the
Lord spake unto Moses and Aaron in Mount
Hor, by the coast Of the land of Edom,
saying, Aaron shall be gathered unto his
people. And Moses did as the Lord COM
manded; and they went up into Mount Hor
in the sight of all the congregation. And
Moses stripped Aaron of his garments and
put them upon Eleazar, his son, and Aaron
died their on the top of the mount. Mum.
k, 1928. Aaron was denied entrance
into the Promised Land, but he had a sub
lime spot in which to die-one worthy of
his dignity, and from which his aged dying
eyes could catch at least glimpse of the
country for which he had so ardently longed.
Our ascent of Mount Hor was from the
east side, in about one hour and fifteen
minutes. The climb would not have been
hard had we not been obliged to make it
with the hot afternoon sun upon US. Com
ing first to a wide plateau, we then from
the west side made the top of the larger
cone by very steep stairway, partly nat
ural, and partly artificial. The pathway
passes over a large deep cistern of water.
On the top there is small mosque about
35x32 feet, popularity known as Aaron's
Tomb. Pushing aside an old rickety door,
which scarcely hangs upon its hinges, we
enter the open chamber, where is the tomb
proper. 1t is like an ordinary Moslem
grave or tomb of the higher class, is made
of marble, with Arabic characters inscribed
upon it, with bits of cloth hanging about
it, and ostrich eggs and other simple en-
bems suspended above it. The room is
plain, with arched ceiling, the sides pierced
with small windows, and some fragments
of tessellated pavement on the floor, after
which the real tomb below this in the crypt,
into which the superstitious Mohammedans
are 10th to allow infidels to enter. But we
went down, pushed through an old iron
door, and by aid of candle and magnesium
light saw-nothing. We're these Bedouins
as cunning as some of our Christians they
would long since have provided skull and
some bones to crafty the curiosity of the
relic seeker. Craft in one direction, how
ever, they have enough of. One of our
company happened to be behind in getting
up, and they refused him admission on the
plea that the whole number had been in.
Their only object was to extort extra back
this tomb with great sanctity-to scorn the
pollution which Christians impart-but
backsheesh dispcls all their scruples.
From the top of the mosque there is a
superb view in all directions. Lying near
around are the variegated sand stone cliffs
on which Petra nestles, bounding the east
ern horizon is the long line Of Jebel Wady
Musa; stretching southerly is the Sherah
range and the valley Of the Arabah; in
front, westerly, is the same valley, with
its streaks Of white and green, the TIN
mountains and the wilderness of the forty
years wandering beyond, and northerly the
heights of the hill country of Judea and
the mountains of Moab, with the waters of
the Dead Sea lying between them. One of
the hardest rides, being obliged frequently
to dismount, was that by which we found
our encampmsnt that evening. In the
descent we passed a large Bedouin camp,
with its black tents, surrounded by numer.