The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1875-03-26
FOnElaN TRAYEI..

EDITOR NEWS IL have the satis-
faction of believing that the sever
est portion of my journeyings have
been accomplished, unless steam
ships and railroads should prove
unprOpitious. Ny journey from
Jerusalem was accomplished on
horseback, and occupied about q
day and a half, and l came with no
one but an Arab boy, who accom-
panied me IN order to take charge
of my effects and the horses. Hsv-
ing approached Jerusalem from the
opposite direction, and wishing to
take the necessary time to observe
whatever might be of interest along
the way to this port, arrangements
were made in nay behalf by the
worthy proprietor of the Damascus
hotel, by which / could control nv
time and move in accordance with
my inclinationR. 1t is not many
years since it was not practicable to
safely perform this journey without
an escort. But watch towers have
been erected at convenient dIstanc-
es along tho way, which are each
occupied by two mounted soldiers
or policemen. who are responsibIe
for the safety of travellers. Il is q
dreary mountain road, aud here, as
elsewhere In the country, the peO-
pie who cultivate the land most all
live in villages. The few villages
along the way are not directly
along the roads, but in valleys or
upon the most fertile hill sides,
which would not be regarded as re.
markabiy fertile in other countries.
L passed out from the Damascus
gate of Jerusalem at hslf-past eight,
and reached the border of the plain
of Sharon, through a deep mount
ain gorge, about o'clock. The
plain is often interrupted by hills
until Ramlsh is reached, where we
arrived in eight hours from Teresa
lem. This village of about seven
thousand inhabitants, was formerly
without a hotel, and travellers must
needs resort to the convent for no.
tel accommodations. There is quite
as much substantial comfort to be
obtained at its present hotel as in
any but the very beat in Kansas.
The proprietor is a German, who
has spent q number of years in the
United States, and came here with
colonies which are occupying
at RAmhah, Jaffa, and Heifer,
which Is at the foot of mount Car
mel The proprietor of the Jerusa-
lem hotel, where am now sojourn-
ing at Jaffa, was also a member of
the German colonies, and is United
States Consular Agent for Jaffa.
The road from Ramlah to Jaffa,
which is about fifteen miles, Is about
equal to the poor and unfrequented
roads at home. The plain of Shar-
on from the mountain pass to Jaffa
Is mostly under cultivation, but by
methods that are extremely rude,
exc spt where they are occupied by
German colonists.
The grounds occupied by these
people, just outside of Jafa,
were first occupied by ap American
colony which came here in 1866.
This colony sailed from 9 port in
Maine, having chartered q vessel
and provided themselves with lum-
Der and the necessary materials for
building, their houses. When they
arrived here the land which they
supposed had been purchased was
still not paid for, and the agencies
they employed proving treacherous
to their interests, they were left up.
on the sea shore for several weeks
with such shelter as they could OBJ
tain. As they arrived during the
sickly season of . sickly year, near
ly all suffered from Syrian fever,
and many were carried to their
graves before the close of the year.
OF the fifty-twO families and one
hundred and 6fty-six persons but
twelve remain, and Mr.. RolIa Floyd
and wife constitute the only heads
Of families who maintain relation.
The lady from whom obtained
the details OF this narrative follow
cd her husband TO the grave within
one month after their arrival. She
is now the wife Of q respectable
German, after having remained 81
widow for four years.
The vicinity Of Ja6A is much oc-
cupIed by groves Of oranges, lem.
oOs and dates, and the trees ere
now heavily loaded with the rfpoI
fruit. As ! have seen many boxes
Of the fruit ct the landing. ! inTsrI
that hess fruits are the principal