Richland beacon., 1877-03-31

unrival!ed. While we waded cautiously
near the shore, sitting down in the clay
bottom II got as much of the water with
rs little OF current as possible. we were
startled by a crashing OF undcrbrush
and thunder of feet. | thought of
Warburton, kinglake, Dixon and all
those lucky fellows who are continually
having hair breadth escapes, and was
glad; for who would not willingly die
in the Jordan? Our frightened animals
were upon the point of stampeding, and
We rose in the midst of the waves to re-
ceive the last tribe that had unexpected
come in from the wilderness. In a mo-
ment our enthusiasm was blighted.
Out of the brush emerged the Russian
pilgrims in the widest excitement. Each
strove to be the first to plunge into the
stream. Many of them were already
half naked, and they speedily stripped,
put on long, white garmen:-a kind of
shroud in which it is their wish to be
buried-and having
IMMERSED THEMSELVES IN THE JORDAN
and shouted aloud in barbaric delight,
they took off the shroud, rolled il care
fully u, and having placed it in their
Luggage, they returned quite naked to
pass half an hour in the river. The
men were allotted one portion Of the
bank, the women, another; but there
was much indiscriminate bathing, and
not little that would dampen the re-
ligious ardor OF any pilgrim who had not
already been pretty thoroughly schooled
in Jerusalem. We were driven from the
Jordan by fellow enthusiasts. 1t was
rather trial to our Polygot, who,
though thoroughly eastern in his tenn
permanent, has not yet Outgrown the
natural modesty of his twentieth year.
I had long grown used to every state of
nature in the latitude of languor, lotos
and love. South sea nudities have
steeled my heart. You don't scare us
with any Russian pilgrim, though he were
as holy as at the hour of his birth. We
wandered up the stream under arbors
Of vine and tangies of thorn: through
deep beds of fern and trailing creepers
in the midst of rich growth of timber,
exceedingly wild and picturesque.
WE rICNICKED
in nook at the head of the river. Great
cliffs, steep and rugged, lowered above
us. The stream came tumbling out OF
a gorge into the plain on its headlong
course TO the sea. Refreshed, stayed with
apples which were not of Sodom, com.
forted with aagons spicy and cool. We
once more mounted our four legs and
ct out on an hours gallop to the Dead
sea. Those Russians, having donned
their earthly garments, returned by foot
and donkey to Jerusalem over the old
road. They had finished the round Of
their experiences, fulfilled their duties
and were at last ready to set out on thcil
homeward journey by sea and land
'. journey long and peiileus, and ONT
: that is seldom accomplished without
: sickness or death, fever, famine
vermin and as much penance a
should secure each pilgrim = beavenl,
home. OFF fer the Dead sea. A rapid
run in the fresh morning air over thu
, parched plains. Much Of the way VI
, followed the Jordan bank and we're shell
!, tered somewhat by the foliage tina
fringts it. All this time, though w
, could have leaped into the stream will
A HOP, SKIP AND JUMP,
we caught only occasional glimpses o
the river as it rushed like a mill-rac
between its steep clay walls and wa
{ buried out of sight in luxurious grove
: of willow. The current was often broker
> by the tiny islands crowded with bushes
and the frequent rapids and abrup
: turns in the stream amazed me. I an
still puzzled to know how the American
expedition succeeded in bringing tw
4 metal boats down the river from liberia
s to the Dead sea; the little Rob Roy b
course, skated over the ripples like
5 water-bug, and came out in book-iOrn
: with flying colors. Until We were actu
5 ally upon the shore of the sea, plowin
q through pebbles and soft sand, W
strained our eyes IN vain toward tn
!; valley of death, eager to catch a glimps
L of its bitter waters. Our trail woun
/ through dense growth of cane, olear
$ ders, cactus aud tamarisk. We trotte
;. over the baked soil in Indian file, think
e ing of the wild boars, wolves, jackals an