The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1879-01-17

needed, IOrthe waters Of the Dead Sea had
become cakes or crusts OF salton our hands,
face, whiskers and hair, that not only
was unpleasant 10 our feelings and ap-
pearance, but rendered our beard and
hair stiff almost as porcuplne quilts. AZ
ter leaving the neighborhood Of Bethle-
hem, even down TO and In the Valley OF
the Jordan, the whole country nearly 10
sterile and waste. Not that It was not sus.
ceptible OF cultivation, for wherever
there Is any soil, our observation was that
II Is good-really an extensive limestone
region, but the land lies desolate and
untitled. The great reason 10 here, there
is no security OF property or crops, and
the Arabs and Bedouins would rather steal
than work. We often passed near en-.
campments OF Bedouins, and our only
safety consisted in the fact that we were
guarded by their own Shieks. Another
thing that struck Us, was that the stories
we had often heard that nothing can live
on the borders OF the Dead Sea, that has
llte-and especially no birds, we found 10
be without any foundation. Il Is true
there are more bushes and trees along the
banks OF the jordan, but still we found
the same kind OF animal life on the shores
OF the Dead Sea as elsewhere.
The waters OF the Dead Sea are very
clear and beautiful, and our experience in
bathing In the waters showed the wonder.
full specific gravity, TO be such that we
could float without any effort. Indeed II
i was quite difficult to keep the body I'm.
der the water while swimming. Another
thing that was quite agreeable TO US, we
tounda very pleasant breeze blowing In the
valley OF the Jordan, which made The trip
an enjoyable trip rather than season Of
great heat. We found the River Jordan
to be small rapid STRAIN, and It's banks
to be covered with vigorous growth OF
trees. II Is a,question with the tourist
whether the place where we.lunChed at the
Fotds Of Jordan was not the place at
which John baptized. Here Is 4 shore
that would accommodate the vast multi.
tudes that flocked to his baptism, and The
only place with the exception Of one some
six OF eight miles further north. Apain.
tins IS contiguous to Jericho and on the
great road that was travelled TO Jerusalem,
Again, this Is the place adopted by large
bodies OF Christians, who annually make |
In vast throngs 10 this spot,
and y is probable that here or near here
was the place where Joshua passed the
Jordan, wheu he encamped against and |
took Jericho; still the place will probably |
never be settled, and nothing OF any adj. |
vantage to the world could occur by hay.
ing the question definitely settled.
Leaving the Jordan we pass at gallon
across the plain Of the Jordan to ancient
Gilgal and then TO the fountain OF Elisha,
which is atthe foot OF the hill on which
ancient Jericho was built. This fountain
was healed by Elisha, as recorded In 2d
Kings2, 10, %. The whole place Il now 10 ~ n
vast ruinous heap. The site Of ancient
Gilgal, now called Riha, is the Jericho Of |
modern times and the days OF Christ,
There is an ancient tower said to have been
built on the site Of the house OF Zacheus,
II was here the Israelities first pitched
their tents after crossing Jordan and lei
up the twelve stones; Joshua 4, 10, 90.
Here the mamma ceased, Josh. s, ~. Here
Christ healed the blind man. Il is now
The most filthy place in Palestine, 30 The
guide book reports. Near this place and
between It aud tho Jordan, we passed the
valley OF Achor, where Achan and his
tamlly were stoned, Josh. Z, q, %. To
the left is Mt. Quarantani, the traditional
place OF the temptation OF our Lord,
Leaving our encamDment at Old Jericho
We pass up through the valley Of Inc
brook Chuith. where Elijah was fed by
the ravens. This is now pretty good
road, and was the road over which our
Lord travelled on his last entry into Jeru.
salem. 1t was. on this way whore the man
who went down from Jerusalem iell
among the thieves. We were shown the
remains Of the Inn, said to have been Inc
place to WHICH he was taken by the good
samaritan. Tho road Is very steep and
IN three hours We come TO Bethphare
and q little further on to Bethany
where Jesus spent so many quiet hours
in the house Of Mary and Martha, and
where he raised Lazarus, their brother,
10 life.
AS matter Of course wo stopped 10 visit
he reputed sites OF these friends Of our
I.ord. Leaving Bethany we pass over the
Mount OF Olives and down the steep sides
to the Garden Of Gethsemane, which is
ENCLOSED by modern wall covered with
stucco, where We are shown three olive
trees OF immense size and having the M.
pearance Of being possibly 1000 Year, old.
which arc said to be the spots where Peter
slept; tree No. 2where Jesus endured tho
bloody agony, and tree No. 8 where Judas
gave the kiss OF betrayal. There are eight
olive trees in all in the enclosure, all very
old. These were the places pointed out 10
US by the monk who had the kew OF the
garden, though since, have seen It stated
in some guides book that the three places
are located within "the Chapel OF the
agony, which was not shown us by eth.
or the dragomen or the monk. From
hero We pass down tue Valley Of Jehose.
phat past the Pillar OF Absaloni, the tombs
Of Zachariah and st. James, the, latter AMI
in the rocky cliff. Then on to the Foun.
lain Of Joab, and up through the Valley OF
Himnom into the Valley OF Gihon, and
past the pool Of Sloan, which Is IS feet
long, IS feet broad and 10 feet deep. Pass,
ing, this we ascend the rugged hillsides
and passing through the Iata gate are |
soon at our home, Tie Mediterranean Ho. |
tel, on Mt. Zion, well satisfied that we have
passed down to the Dead Sea, bathed in |
Its wonderful waters, visited the Jordan and |
been washed from the scums Of the Lake
Asphaltites, and afterwards passed through |
Iopheth (the place OF Fire., which is In |
the Valley OF Himnom-Kings Il, 1910.
without being half roasted, as we were
Taught to expect when we started on our
three days Journey to the regions that lie |
90 Jar below the level OF the great sea, and |
here we will rest for while. 1