New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-04-25
NBW pI1BLrCATTONs.


SCENES AND SCENERY or THE EoLY LAND.
o,s 3 sy S T. S NIL
me author Of this volume has long been distin-
xnishs ip connection With the Biblical history go
oernps,y. and Antiquities Of Palestine by his
ary lsbors and researches extending over q period
"a nearly hslf a century and his valuable standard
work on the subject. which for nearly twenty-five
years has held an eminent rank both in America and
ENGLAND for the correctness of its views descriptions
and Illustrations. During the interval which mas
slapsed since tie publication OF that work' Ut
Thomson has many times revisited the holy Lanu'
has renewed and extended his explorations ~ Una'
country, and has embodied the fruits OF ms 10,
searches III the present volume with the iuoors u
other emincnt scholars and travellers, Iorn |.
sng library of Palestine exploration 70 recen ;.
dates ea,,aily adapted to the inquiries OF learned
mem and the usc Of Biblical students in the COM
mon walks of life. The first Impressions OF the au-
flor. corrected and improved by subsequent stuoy
and examination, are now reproduced IN CON
eactiye narrative as interesting in manner as " Is
affiuent Ia Information.
THE arrival of DR. Thomson at Jafia afforded him
tha first view Of the Land Of PROMISE 1t was JUST AT
che close of tedious storm, and the prospect was Ir
from reassnring long low reach of coast dlIniy
yfsble through the spray, was oil that co1ld Deseen
ON approaching land. Not hill, nor house, not
even boat. relieved the dismal solitude. Upon en-
tarinr The town IL was not easy to thread ones way
through the narrow and crowded streets Inc httle
pnrty was nearly run down by q huge bale OF goods
horne on poles by eight stout porters keeping step
to n monotonons chant. They next encountered q
troop of Bedawin Arabs carrying long spears, and
mounted ON horses wilder than themselves The
ops and cames I'M the streets gave Biblical aspect
4. hon yvpr
godeedlin agdelightful @biarah," that had been
placed at their disposal by an old friend. This was
the local name for an enclosed garden, planted with
orange and other fruittrees, which were kept fresh
by water from we'll. The transition from the dis
comforts of the ship to the quiet and fragrance OF the
uarden was like scene of enchantment -
Jafa is in reality one of the oldest cities in the
world. 1t was given to Dan In the distribution OF
the land by Joshua. and it has been known to MS
fCry ever since 1t owes its existence to the low
lege Of rocks which extends into tho sea from the
extremity of the little cape ON which the city stah9s
md forms a small harb0r lnslgnlhcanC as ~ Is,
and insecure yet there being no other on all thls
ccasf &c was sufficient to cause city to spring up
ground in the earliest times ana 70 SSn
races and religions down to the present hour. Ii
was. in fact. the only harbor OF any notorety pos
sessed by the Jews throughout the greater part OF
THAR national existence To it the timber for both
the temples OF Jerusalem was brought from Leb,
anon; and no doubt lucrative trade IN CEDAR ana
nine was always carried on through 1T with the
nations who had possession of that goodly noun
TuiI, Through it, also, nearly all the foreign com;
ce o the Jews was m Ha,d Sp' H XVI Jonah
came 70 find ship in which to ice from the presence
of the Lord, and from 1t he sailed for Tarshish
The fruits of Jaffa are the as those of Sdon,
but with some variations of character. Sdon has
the best bananas, Jaffa the best pOnegranates The
oranges of Sid excel those of Jaa in uiciness and
flavor but the latter ara larger hang much later on
ebi M nIapqe THE
fragrant blossoms encirclng golden fruit are here
seen to perfection. In March and April the gar
iens are in their prime. The air is loaded with the
perfume of orange, lemon, apple, apricot, ounce,
plum, and China trees in blossom The people then
zreqnent the gardens sit on mats III the pleasant
shade sip coffee smoke the nargiloh sing, talk, or
sleep till evening when they slowly return to their
homes In the city. The markets are held In the
Suburbs. and present o lively scene to the curious
visitor =;
Before entering the city, let us stop and study this
motley crowd OF busy townsfolk, country peasants,
Camcls kprses, mules, and belligerent donkeeys-9
yery Babel OF confusion every one for himself, and
each and all ambitious to make the ioudest noise
aRS yoT have 6SfOEe
The city for such gathering and it is, therefore,
held here, In this large open space outside the en-
trance. You may well study it with attention, for
fambles through the land. Lemons and oranges,
pomegranates and ounces, apples and apricots ana
al kinds of fruits and vegetables IN their season
which these extensive gardens produce, are here
exposed for sale. The fellahin, also, from the
villages bring their sheep and goats, their lambs
butter and cheese, their poultry and eggs, their
hss and olives and every other KIND Of frat' mss6
or dry, which they possess IN baskets OF round a
sin-botties on camels mules, or horse or donkey
on the heads of mon boys, women or girls are
Z they brought and set down here TO be sold With
the proceeds In hand they enter the city and shop
spending their gains and carrying nome Win tnenl
in return every conceiyaDle arkee .S
adjournment
q Tho journey from C@sarea to Samaria afforded a
succession of peculiar incidents which supplied the
author with abundant materials for one of the
picsuresque descriptionsof which many arc found
In the volume Starting from tho broken buttress
az Hcrods Tower the way passed through adense and
slnlost inperyious jungle of yellow daisies. which
covered the ruins of tho ancient city. The Arab
guides took care TO keep the horses In what was
once q path before 1t was hidden by tho daisies
that reached higher than their backs. The whole
region was fall Of old, wells, pits and broken
vaults and you conld not enter tho jungle without
danger of falling into theln;-
= In ali that ride of five hours VIC did not pass
sipgie village Arabs and Kurds have possession OF
fbe entire region and hence the numerous robberes
along that route but as we had the chief OF the
robhcrs and two mounted police OF the government
for 4 ctard. we were not molested Bakah is con-
riderable village, where the district governor re-
fieIes and we had abundant opportunity to sec the
nofabilities Of the neighborhood. Around II are
crsSsrds OF olive fix, p0megranate and other trees
& and IA the valley below are immense fields OF
s,nions Tie only we'll Is at least half mile From
the village and women and girls In merry groups
were passing 10 and from 1t all the day long,
witl tall black Jars perched npon their heads, They
were we'll clothed; and noticed one, who appeared
Ia Ia 2ih aiffT0ItndDd DV her mal06nS. ono NOIe
!, ncarlet-colorod silk ganbaz over her other gar
aents with profnsion of native jewelry about her
I,sad rpsa but her feet were bare. She carried her
saY like fthe rest but somewhat coquettishly, at a
Slight angle while her walk was proud and stately:
ii syns evening, the time - when the daughters OF
fls f,, az the city came ont to draw water;e and
-. rnInirlad If Rahnkah and ElieZeT