The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-20
the HOLY LAND.
An Interesting Journal Of Travel.
Number One.

the Goth Of January, our party Of four.
consisting of Mir. and Mrs. :Judson, Mr..
Hanna and myself, left Jerusalem for =
short trip in the Holy Land, taking in
Shechem, Nazareth, the Sea of Galilee
and Caitfa, where We took ship. s
The weather did not look very promis-
ing, the sky being heavily overcast, anda
cold raw northwest wind 1.-THE storm wind
! of this country blowing. As we had
heretofore enjoyed such faultless weather
in the rainy season, we had every reason
to believe that our favors in this respect
were ended, and had made up our minds.
not to complain, whatever might happen.
We had only short three hours ride
that day as far as Roumk-alah, near the
ancient Beeroth, where we were to spend
the night at Latin Convent, but even in
this short distance, the sacred localities
crowded upon US.
We left Jerusalem by the Damascus
gate, and followed the Damascus caravan
road which for long distance showed
traces Of a very old pavement.
Passing the mountain, called Neby
Samuel by the Arabs, on our left this is
supposed to be the old Mizpah, one of the
three cities from which Samuel judged
Israel) in about one hour we came to
another hill, the site of the old city Of
Mob, and just beyond it, the higher one
of Gibeah of Saul, which latter We as.
cended. Here we had our last view Of
the Holy City, and saw in addition the
sites of Ramah of Saul, Anathoth, Mick.
mash, and others. and had a fine view of
the Jordan valley, the Dead Sea, and the
Mountains of Moab. Not long afterwards
| we came to the town called Birch, the
ancient Beeroth, and ten minutes more
brought US to the end of our journey for
that day. We reached the edge Of the
hill on which the convent stands. just in
time to see glorious setting Of tho sun
| in The sea. A long stretch of the sea-
| coast is visible from here in clear weather,
but at that time, there was q heavy fog
| on the lowlards, and as we left long be-
fore daylight in the morning we missed
the view.
1 The article of furniture on which I
slept that night was the worst thing that
ever experienced that went by the name
of bed. It consisted Of an iron bedstead,
Ithe uprights of which were far from be-
ing perpendicular, and the mattress was
:lgathered in hump at the head of the
bed, and ran down below the frame at the
middle, and gave out entirely about ten
$or twelve inches from the foot. The pill
flow, too, was as hard as stone. would
be afraid to say how many times I awoke
THAT night, as every little while it was
necessary to pull myself up to the head
again, for kept sliding down continually.
i hnl r.
/ at half.past Eve in the morning, but he
mistook the time and called us at half
1 past three. At four o'clock, when we
] were dressed, and had breakfast or rather
offee ((or cup Of black coffee and a lit
tie dry bread constituted our breakfast in
ithis trip, and however early we break
tasted, we had nothing more until lunch
time, which was at noon.) was ready, he
came around and apologized, saying that
the ,nu)eteer seeing the bright noon
light, thought that it was the day break
ling.
+ AS this was our first morning out, OF
course we could not grumble much, and
so We took everything coolly.
! When Gabriel took the luggage from
Mr.. Judson's room. he shut the door.
which being provided with spring lock
| q was fastened with the key inside. OF
course there was no other key in the
house, and there was some little head
work among the Arabs as to how the
door should be opened. At last happy
thought struck one of them "a perfect
miracle)-to let a boy down from
the roof to the window Of the room
and so open the door. This was done as
quickly as an Arab can do anything, and
in about half an hour the door was open.
We were on the move at i've o'clock,
and reached Bethel in time to see the sun
risc over the hills. This is the place where
Jacob saw the vision Of the ladder and
where after yards a city was built which
was one Of the chief cities Of Israel. We
climbed ruined building on the top Of the
Ehill, and had still another fine view. From
here we could see the Mount of Olives,
and very small portion of the city; on
the opposite hill nearly to the south OF
Bethel was Al, the city which
Joshua took by stratagem. Directly
| after leaving Bethel, we came in sight Of
1.-THE Rock of Rimmom, on which the six
Hundred Benjamites who escaped from
the Israelites. dwelt for four months. II
II We now passed through a very fertile
and partially cultivated land, not passing
|anything worth noting except the Rob:
|bers' Fountain, until we come to Shiloh.
The Robbers Fountain is a spring in the
side Of a rock, in lonely valley, even
now. as understand, frequented by bad
characters. We amused ourselves for
the greater par: of the way by watching
for different kinds of flowers, many Of
which are very beautiful. A short time
before we come to Shiloh, the:c is quite