The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1875-04-20

we reached Jacobs we'll, very near
Shechem. :, The we'll is very deep, and
now ruinous ard unused, as there is plenty
Of good water above ground much more
convenient. In fact it seems very strange
that such we'll should have been dug 50
near large stream of good water. A
short distance ahead is an Arab t'city'
or tomb, marking the supposed place
where Joseph's remains lie. Here Mr..
Hanna and dismounted. and assembled
Mount Gerizim, which rises 1850 feet
above the plain. There is no path, and
the climb was very fatiguing, being, for
the first portion of the way, over
pleughed fields, and then among loose
stones. Tho view from the summit by
no means repaid the trouble Of the ascent,
as we only saw the sea, the plain of
Esdraelon, and some hills IF no import
ance. The wind was piercing cold, and
we hurried down to the village, which we
reached just about dark. There was q
crowd of boys outside of the gate, who
gave us greeting not the most pleasant.
They hooted, yelled and spit at. us until
we were within the walls. We found
some one to guide us where We wished to
go. for all the rest had proceeded us, and
l damned away at the crowd as I would
anywhere, in blisful ignorance that this
was the most fanatical city in Palestine,
and that it is absolutely not safe for
Christians to stay in the city. When we
reached the Latin missionary's house.
where we were to spend the night, We
found that the others rad not got off so
easily as we, perhaps because Of tho lady.
Gabriel had gone before to make prepara-
tons and they had only the muleteers
with them, and the young scoundrels
stoned them, frightened their horses, and
annoyed them in every possible manner.
There are but very few Christians in the
town, and they are liable to be mastered
at any moment. l was very unwsll that
night from over-exertion and cold. After
nine hours of hard riding, and three
hours Of sightseeing, l had climbed
the mountain, and was absolutely
soaking wet with perspiration. The
night was cold, and we had no fire Of any
kind. Hay down on divan in perfect
chill, and could not get warm even with
heavy double flannel blanket over me.
Fortunately although We had dinner
that was rather below par, We had excel
lent beds and all slept we'll.
Nabulus is the old Shechem and lies in
beautiful valley between the mountains
Gerizim and Ebal. It was in this valley
less than mile from Shechem that
Joshua read the blessing and the curse in
the presence of all of the children Of
Israel, six tribes on one side of the valley
ard six on the other. have read since
Of the wonderful acoustic property of this
valley, but, unfortunately, we all forgot
to try it.
At three o'clock we were up again, and
at half-past four were started in driz'
cling rain, which, however, did not last
but half an hour. We had now two
hour ride to Samaria, which turned out
very pleasant. The prospect was rather
dreary for me though, as could scarcely
sit on my horse, in consequence Of my
over exertion the day before, and the cold
which had taken, and we had thirteen
hours Of hard riding to do.
After we came in sight Of Samaria we
had deep valley to cross, and another
hill to climb. The old city filled nearly
the whole of this hill, but the present
village is very small and miserable. As
we were approaching the town We saw
numbers Of women balancing large water
jars on their heads, in every position i'm.
aginable, just as they did Of old. The
empty one they generally set on the side,
and the full ones they often balanced at
an angle that would surprise one.
The people of this town do not bear a
very good character, but as we had little
to do with the present village. we had no
trouble. There are some ruins standing
which give US faint idea of the size and
magnifcence Of the old city. The col
umns Of temple, and long colonnade
of which hundred columns still remain,
the greater part PROSTATE. They origi
nally lined large broad street along the
wall. As we left the city We saw the ole
terraces, by means of which the whole
had been built upon or cultivated, but
now unused.
! Our course now was first over large
hill and then we entered plain sur
rounded by mountains on every side, ano
with no outlet. Consequently, III The
rainy season, it is lake, though wher
we crossed it there was very little water
in it. Gabriel said that the year before
it was impossible to ride through it at all
After crossing this we assembled another
low ridge, and saw before us the plains Of
Dothan, where Joseph was sold by his
brethren, and Esdraelon, the ''battle
field Of nations We stopped for lun
cheon on the side of the hill overlooking
tho plains. We now hurried on as fast al
possible, passing Jamin and the old cities
of Jezreel and Shunem. A modern bat
tie was fought on this plain that was
enough to make it famous in ITSELF a bat