Morris tribune., 1880-12-16
THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
A Visit to its Reputed Site---Its Location and
Appearance.
From, the Chicaeo Alliance

A Visit to its Reputed Site--Its Location and
Appearance.
From the Chicago Alliance
A couple of hours ride over a most
wretched bridle- path, up and down rugged
mountain passes, brought US to this charm
ing oasis called Eden. The Arabs assured
us this spot was the real Garden of Eden,
and, Judging from the intense curiosity
they evinced concerning ourselves and our
traps, we had no difficulty in believing this
to be the garden where our first mother,
Eve, dwelt ere she grew too fond of apples.
This eden is situated in a pretty little
valley in the heart of the mountains, at an
elevation of some 5000 feet above the level
of the sea- Water is abundant here, and
consequently everything is green and fruit
is plenty. The valley is full of vineyards,
with pomegranates and fig trees, and olive
and mulberry plantations, and overlapping
the whole can be seen some immense wal
nut trees that look as old as the world.
AS am writing these lines. sitting on a
camp stoolin front ofmy tent, can see the
whole population of Eden collected round
our camp staring at us. Young and old, men,
women and children are pressing forward to
have good look at us; and some Of these
wild children of Eve have climbed up the
trees to have the luxury of bird 's-eye view
of our camp. Long before We reached our
camping ground the news had been brought
that caravan of people from beyond the
mountains, and perhaps, oh, wonder! from
beyond the sea, was coming to camp in their
oasis.
The news spread like wildfire among the
tribe, and there was general rush for the
best place to see US come in and get of our
horses. The women left off their work in
the fields, the men left off playing on the
reed pipes, and the children left off crying
| to see us coming. Barnum's circus arriving
in village ''out West" never created such
a sensation as We did on approaching this
earthly paradise. AS We filed past through
ed with shouts, and mock salution. The
women gggled, the men smiled, the children
reared at the queer figure we cut in our
European costumes. Two ladies with us
were made the object of very popular
ovation.
The green goggles which some of my
companions wore seemed to raise the en-
thusiasm of the crowd to its highest pitch,
and many sworthy finger was raised from
among those Arabs, pointing to those green
goggles, and the women called to each other
and raise5 their children in their arms to
make them enjoy the treat. Meanwhile my
friends, quite unconscious of their great
popularity, did not know what to make of
all this crowd. But as we drew near the
texts, and helped Mrs. E. from her horse,
the crowd pressed so much on us that Hal
il and his men were obliged to drive them
off and to have ropes stretched around our
camp to keep off the intruders.
Here, with plenty of elbow room, en-
Joy the scene, which indeed is very pictur-
esque When the excitement had some
what subsidized, I strolled out to enjoy the
gorgeous sunset The western sky was
aglow with luminous tints of orange, pink
and purple. This glory lasted but for a
minute and all was hushed in the gray tints
of the evening.
Later in the evening some young men
and young women were admitted to ou1
dining room tent. These Arab women were
dying with curiosity to see and handle the
clothes and trinkets of our lady friends
Velvet seemed to attract their attention and
admiration more than anything else, save
perhaps, our watches and gloves.
The gloves especially seemed to puzzle
them. The Countess took out her repeater
and made it strike for them. They seemed
delighted, Just as little children would b.
with the tinkle of the tiny bell. Some o.
these pretty Arab girls asked me through
our dragoman if all the ladies in our countr,
, were like the two that were with US. told
Hall to ask these girls what made them asl
that question. They answered with gigglt
and shy look from their roguish eyes, Il
; they are all so large it must be very hare
work for the poor horses to carry them.