Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1875-07-22

DAMASCUS SYRIA.
May 81, 1875.

lieve ii? 1t dates back to the days of
Aram. But that is not the wonderful
thing, it is that l am here by the
Adams Of which with Pharpar Naaman
thought so highly Of. 1t is a beautiful
river and far more useful for agricul-
tural purposes than Jordan or all the
waters Of Israel tho in Naaman's
case incidentally not SO valuable.
However we have been testing its
power TO refresh and cleanse our bodies,
for this afternoon, my friend and l
have been taking o Turkish bath, ]
have not told you how / came here,
came to-day, riding past the place
where Paul was converted about
that spot it seemed to me the glare Of
the sun needed only a little intensif,
cation to put o man blind to day.
But | am not blind. must give you
my stopping stations. that you may
look on the Map and see the course of
my wanderings. First we came by
Mob, then Ciheah. then Ramah, the
house Of Deborah, then "a Beeroth,
we lunched with the dirty looking
Arabs, around u.s. Then we passed
taking o look at Bethel, fixed in our
mind the place where Jacob slept
when he had his dream, as he was go>
ing for his wife, men are apt to have
dreams when bent upon such a mis-
sion. 1t is a small village now. We
drank from the fountain, and saw the
maidens coming with the water pots
upon their heade. They did not seem
very attractive. We passed across the
rugged hills and spent the night at
Ephraim. We were near the Rock
Rimmon which we visited, while Gabriel
our Dragoman prepared supper. The
next day we travelled over rough eoun>
try. We saw q battle after the ancient
style, between the men of two
towns, Misera, and Singil, they were
about rs men OF each side. The bat
tie ragged on q hillside, the Singilites on
tile upper side, stones, &C., flew rapid
ly. There was only one gun, but it
was not used. AS the men dashed
along the side of the mountain, the
stones fell thickly, [ was carried to
tleolden wars of the Bible. 1t ter
minated after a while with no one
wounded. We enjoyedit much.
We then turned aside 10 see Shiloh,
ruin in the midst of luxuriant wheat
fields, Leaving it we passed throf rich
plains of wheat. We come next to
shechem, passing thro' n Of the
richest valleys / have ever seen. There
IL Jacobs well, Josehp's tomb, Mt.
lbal. and Mt. Gerizim. We assembled
the latter and saw the ruins of the
famaritan Temple and looked dowu
upon the we'll where Christ talked with
the woman Of Samaria. AS we entered
Shechem or Nabulus as it is now call
ed, we passed thro' gardens and the
lemon bloom was very fragrant. The
singingof birds was delightful, and the
pure sparkling water was delicious.
From thence we came winding around
and over the ridge going out FROM Mt.
Ebal, Gown thro olive groves across q
deep and fertile valley to the foot Of the
hill on which Samaria, I~srael's capitol
city was but now we find only heaps
ruins and long rows of stone columns
standing in lonely Stiffness in wheat
fields and among grape vines accord
ing to prophecy. The hill is high and
still beautifully terraced the soil very
rich. We move on over another ridge
and down into a broad and fertile
valley along the road which Joseph,
went TO find his brethren to pothan
where he found them and from which
they could see him 'afar off" for the
plain is very wide and d, is on a hill,
good pasturage. We saw the pit into
which poorJ, is supposed to have been
thrown. 1t Is full of water and very
deep, but our Dragoman said it was
generally dry in the summer. You
know Elisha lived at that place too
and led along the same road we came,
the blind Syrians who had come to
capture him. We rode on across wide
plains Of wheat until we came to
Jezrcel rich and wide with Mt. Carmel
on the west Mt. Giiboa on the east,
Jezreel, just before us the hill Of
samaria behind us. We ride to Jczreel
a beautiful situation now q miserable
collection Of mud huts.
We read here the history of Ahab. and