The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1875-05-08
Our @lio.
From tie Nss Fork 0S.srrsr.
MOUNT HoR.
~ nEv. TALB0r v. cnAMnEas. .. ..

or rather salm0n-c0l0red tint, contrast
finely with the dark cliffs around. Il il
the more noticeable because Of its .doubl.
peak, the summit being forked into two
unequal projections which resemble the
horns Of a saddle. This is Mount Hor
the one gigantic hill which commands the
entire Arabah frcm end to end. 1t be.
longs to the few sites connected with the
wanderings Of the children OF Israel, about
which there is no reasonable doubt. It's
relative situation corresponds with that Of
the Hor mentioned in the Pentateuch. Il
is the most conspicuous object in the
whole region. Il answers TO the ,noun-
tain encircling Petra, which Josephus
mentions as the place Of Aaron's death.
And these evidences are confirmed BY lis
present Arabic name, JeBei Harun (Mt.
of Aaron and by It's traditional sanetity
recognized alike by Jews, Christians and
Mohammedans.
The traveller who has entered Petra by
the SIX, leaves it by ravine on the SOUTH
west, which ia half an hours ride brings
him to a long white limestone rock lying
east Of Mount Hor. From this rises up
the mount itself, rugged mass Of red
sandstone, in sheer nakedness, unrelieyed
BY single tree or bush. The ascent to
the top Is made by very good path which
winds around in the usual sigzag way. AT
one or two places there are wells or rather
cisterBs Of water, which, however, is not
very Palatable. As the summit is ap-
preached little plain appears, compared
by some to the well-known plain little
below the summit Of Jcbel Mousa. From
this rise the two peaks which are SO con
spicuous far and near. The southernmost
and shorter one is Of conical form the
other is truncated and surmounted by a
rude mosque or chapel, supposed to cover
the very place where Aaron was buried.
The little building is Of rude masonry, and
covered with fiat roof, at one end Of
which is the white dome usually placed
over saints tomb. Within are two apart
ments, one above the other In the lower
is semi-circular projection guarded BY an
iron grating, which is said to contain the
bones Of Aaron. Ia the upper is an or
binary cenotaph Of marble, covered with
a ragged pail, and sarnished with the
shawls and beads and ostrich eggs which
are always found-I know not for what
reason--in Moslem tombs. On the ceno.
taph are inscriptions, some Of which arc
in Hebrew. But the building with il
contents is assuredly modern; although a
part Of it at least must date back as far as
the Crusades. The chief interest Of the
spot lies in its associations, and in the view
It commands. The latter svery complete.
On clear day one sees in the north the
Dead Sea shining distinctly in the sun,
and full outline of the curious projection
from It's eastern bank, called the Lisau.
On the west is the wide expanse Of the
Arabah, broken here and there by dry
water courses, and bounded by the hills
which shut it of from the Negeb. On the
west is wilderness Of jagged SUBMITS Of
every shape and size. But quite agree
with an old observer, that no part of the
prospect is more impressive than the crags
Of Mount Hor itself, which stand up on
every side in the most rugged and fantas-
tic forms, sometimes strangely piled one
upon another, and sometimes yawning in
chasms Of frightful depths.
1t was here that Aaron took his last
view Of the world. He participated in his
brothers sin at the waters Of Meribah, and
he shared in the retribution. Neither was
permitted TO enter the promised land, al.
though both approached it, Moses laid
his bones in one of the mountains Of No
alb, east Of the Dead Sea. But Aaron had
his course arrested at an earlier period,
when the Israelitcs stood on the southern
+.
verge Of their destined Inheritance. 1t
must have been keen disappointment.
To escape from Egypt, TO see the great
theophany at Sinai, to eat miraculous
bread and drink miraculous water, to fol-
low the pillar Of cloud forty years, to sur
yive nearly all the contemporary genera
ton, and when at last just within sight Of
the goal, to lie down and die. What a
fearful privation Yet il received all the
mitigation Of which 1t was capable. The
place, the manner and the circumstances
Of the high priests death gave il an un-
equalled solcmnity and grandeur. Not
under cover Of tent in the slcampment,
not beneath the shade of palms fed byrip.
ping springs not anywhere in the broad
plain was Aaron 70 meet his end, but fan
up on the loiiisst, most distinguished and
most peculiar hilltop in all Edom. Hith.
er he proceeded " in the sight Of all the
=
congregation" For miles and miles around
lay spread out the goodly tents Of Israel,
with their herds and hocks but no work
was done, no sport INDUCED that solemn
day. With breathless interest the whole
people saw the procession set forth on III
singular journey Moses, Aaron, in fnl
pontifcals, and his son Eleasar- these thre'
and no more. Three were to go up, buI
only two to return. With what fcarfu
interest the multitude watch the trio Al
they make slow ascent Now q windin,
Of the path hides them from Wow, bu
presently they reappear, and slowly renew