The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-12-25
PALESTINE.
..|. F...H 80. a. .fHH
LETTER FROM A WHEELING MAN.
His Impressions Of Joppa, the seaport Of
the Holy Land-vislt 10 n Mission -
.... Sehool-The Home Of Simon


.IH the Tanner, &C., dc.
Correspondence Of the Inteliigeneer. ''''' -' q. Z.
JERUSALEM, November Is.
We landed at Jatia, or ancient Joppa, at
about 10 A. NJ, November 10. Joppa has
a rather beautiful appearance as you ap-
proach it from the sea-. The ground on
which it is built gradually rises from the
shore to the back Of the city. Possibly we
might have had our estimation somewhat
elevated, by the thought that it was por-
ton of the Holy Land, the goal Of our long
cherished. hopes, the scene Of the sweetest
fancies OF our childhood, the land concern.
ing which we had so often read and hoped
to visit for SO many years. The city Is
really built on . little hillock-has the
merest excuse Of harbor Of any place we
have ever seen. The steamer anchored
about half mile from shore, and We were
soon surrounded by. q group Of boats
manned by Arabs, some in gay clothing,
but most OF them in the toughest kind Of
garb. Hardly had the stair gangway been
lowered ere fifty or more Of the boatmen
swarmed around the boat, and they began
the most terrific jabbering, jansling and
following and struggling for your baggage,
often three or four seizing your trunk or
yalise at a time. such Babel of noise,
such tumultand struggling and quarrel,
ing and howling never saw. thought
Alexandria bad enough, but 1t can't hold
4 candle to Jaffa. "a -.!y..
Here fortunately We were met by
Cooks AGENT" who took our party and
luggage in their own boat ashore. As we
approached the shore (for there are no
wharyes on the Mediterranean, not even ut
Port Said) We passed through o narrow
channel not more than twenty feet wide,
between the reefs Of. rocks that line the
small harbor. This Is the only entrance
for passengers and steam ships TO Joppa.
This chain OF rocks, as we approached II,
had the appearance OF an old ruin. We
were informed that on portion OF 1t the
Pbnnicians had built defense 10 the har.
Dor three thousand years since, but most
of those remaining were natural reefs.
These reefs are rendered famous in the
old legend as the rock where Andromeda
was chained by q cruel monster who was
afterwards slain by Perseus. II Is said that
| in Pliny's time the chains were still to be
seen. ..-....... 3
Passing through this narrow passage we
enter the harbor OF Joppa. II is not more
than 40 yards wide and extendsabout one
half the front OF the city and Is possibly
| Eve or six feet deep near the shore. There
IA another entrance on the north above
the rocks and close to the shore, through
which vessels OF small burden enter, and
vet this is said to be the hest harbor be-
tween Port Said and Beyrouty along the
whole coast OF Palestine. The city Of Jatta
mr. Joppa Is very ancient and noted. II Is
certain that Il was q maratime port in the
DAYS OF David and Solomon, and possibly
Tor centuries before. Hither were brought
ali the timber and lumber with which the
first temple was built. King Solomon
made n covenant with Hiram, King oil
Tyre. Of which the following was King
H,ram's part: "Wc will cut wood out Of
Lebanon, as much as thou shalt need, and
We will bring II TO thee'in floats by sea "a
Joppa. and will cause them TO be dis
charged there, and thou shalt carry 1t NJ
10 jerusalem Kings, so, and Chron. 2
i'd The material for the rebuilding OF the
Temple aiterthe captivity was also brought
10 dis port and from there hauled 70 Je
rusalem Ezra, 81 for "Zerubbabe
brought them from Lebanon to the Sea o
Jopps," II Is thought that at that tim.
there was an inner harbor, since tilleC
up and now cultivated as garden. -,
We were shown far within, nearly oacl
. OF the city, 9 circular piece Of low groun'
with narrow valley extending 70 the sea
which Is still called Solomon's Harbor
. This city existed in the original division
, OF Canaan among the Tribes and becam
A part Of the possessions OF Dan, at which